The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1917-07-05

Lake Michigan claimed its first vic
TINS of the bathing season, when Mr..
and Mrs. Lancelot Bowman of Norman
avenue, and Walter Jensen Of 615 Ra-
cine avenue, were drowned in a series
of circumstances of unusual tragedy
and heroism. Julius Nielsen, likewise
of Norman avenue, narrowly escaped
the same death and was rescued only
through the aid of thoughtful and ac-
tive spectators. The three men in
volyed in the fatal accident proved
themselves heroes. Especial honor is
due Walter Jensen. With a rare dis
regard of self, he volunteered his
services and sacrificed his life in a
courageous effort to save Mrs. Bowman.
The bodies of the victims were recov-
cred early Sunday evening by citizen
volunteers, dragging with huge seine.
They were taken Immediately to the
Hansen Undertaking rooms and prepar-
ed for burial. Mr.. and Mrs. Bowman
leave no children. Jensen is survived
by two children, and a widow, who is
near prostration from grief
"A Lake Shore Tragedy.
A little woman with fearful eyes
riveted upon ripple in the blue waters
of Lake Michigan, in her arms a baby
crying because it's mother did, a six
year old boy clinging to her skirts and
babbling father; these were the
fragments of tragedy which told the
heroic story of Walter Jensen 3 I'M
awaiting and fatal attempt to save the
lives Of Mr. and Mrs. Lancelot Bow
mar, drowned on Sunday afternoon,
while bathing a few yards from the
shore near the mouth of Pike Creek.
Beside the unhappy group lay pair
of trousers, a coat, and pair of shoes,
in a disorder that revealed the haste
with which they had been discarded
by their owner before the death plunge.
They were closely guarded by an Irish
terrier, who from time to time left his
post to swim out toward the circling
eddy above which has masters head
had last been seen. Near the fateful
spot coast guards were already work
ing with drags with the hope that the
lake might give up its victims in
time for resuscitation.
A little farther up the shore was
Julius Nielsen. In broken sentences he
was expressing his thanks to j. E..
Diehl, August jain, N. P. Beck, Ed.
Schultz, and Emil Schultz, the men
whose rare presence of mind and ready
service had just saved him from the
grave that had closed forever above
his fellow-bathers and friends. Tn
affected by the crowd Of people that
surged around him, he made his express
sions of gratitude with tone of sim
certify that was unmistakable. This
obligation discharged, he proceeded to
tell the story Of the triple tragedy,
which had brought death to his
neighbors and the man who had
sacrificed his life to save them.
A Summer Outing.
Nielsen in company with Mr.. and
Mrs Bowman had left their Normsn
avenue homes early on Sunday after
noon for little outing along the
beach The air was warm and the lake
was cool and the inevitable plunge soon
suggested itself as a pleasing escape
from the heat of the summer dav.
Anticipating such an impulse they had
equipped themselves with bathing
suits and other paraphernalia and wore
soon swimming in the lake just
above the life-saving station.
Caught in the Current.
Finding the water a little cold here
they went farther up the beach with
the intention of striking the warmer
water as it flowed in from Pike Creek.
They had not reckoned on the under-
tow set up by that same action, how
ever, and were only few yards from
the shore when they were caught
IN the resistless current. Realizing
sseir danger they hsttled valiant