The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1919-07-05

VIM. Harris, Dell Rapids.
Esther and Susie Holmes, sisters,
Howard.
Marion Warner, Salem.
Earl and Pearl Winklepleck, Col
nan.
Ruth Pickard, Colman.
Lizzie Roach, Salem.
Ben Olson, engineer on the Re-
lance, Cotton.
AS a fatal ending to n of the
greatest Fourth of July celebrations
ever held at Lake Madison, at which
between ten and twelve thousand
people from this section of the state,
and also from Iowa and Minnesota,
were in attendance, an appalling dis
aster with a large list of dead re-
suited when a launch owned by j. A.
Erickson went down with thirty-two
people on board, shortly after eleven
O'Clock last night.
There were two gasoline launches
plying the lake all day carrying ex-
CuI SlO1loNS vi plClouAN tips OhS VI
these is a new boat and put on the
water by parties from Chester and it
was this one that struck out for the
scene of disaster Immediately after
coming in to the pier with its last
load of sightseers. The other craft,
also gasoline propelled, and known as
The Reliance" was the hapless vic
tim of a tragic fate. With her load
of thirty-two people, among whom
were a dozen or more children and
several young folks whose ages
ranged around IA TO II years, the
Reliance left the pier shortly after
the pyrotechnfc display began on the
lake between the hotel and the house
devoted to the use of bathers. All
was gaiety and joy on the Inflated
boat and no mind had any other
thought than of keen enjoyment in
the anticipated trip. An ideal eve
ming, placid waters and the festive
scene of celebration, all contributed
to great delight on the part of those
who had not taken a ride on Lake
Madison in years.
Onward the Reliance went, headed
directly across the lake and towards
a point of land a mile or so to the
southeast. Skirting along the shore
with its human freight, the boat Ell
countered a sunken tree that lay di-
rectly in its path and 80 to 100 fee:
from land, creating panic and con.
sternation among the passengers
Ben Olson, the engineer, and Mr.,
Erickson perceived at once the ter.
rible predicament they were in and
did their best to keep the engine in
operation, hoping to beach the in.
, jured craft, which was impaled Over
water known to be very deep. I'm.
awaiting We're their efforts, however
and when full realization of the i'm
pending danger broke upon all,
, general scrambling occurred t.
mount the canopy, since water filled
, the boat very rapidly. putting thu
engine entirely out of commission
9 A wierd, appealing cry for hell
sounded out across Lake Madison
!, quiet surface, reaching the ears O
: many who were gathered on the banl
watching the greatest display of fire
works yer beheld in this section.
~plaintive, ringing alarm that sen
r sudden shock through the thousand
2 OF chautauqua visitors, all unsuspect
ing of that which was transpirinI
n just across the lake. 1t is said b
. one of the survivors, a son of Crit
r Owens, that the boat water-logge,
speedily and rolled a couple of time
: when people in rising to their fee
O threw too much weight on one side
e He stated that a S he chung to tn
side, two men grasped him by tn
( legs. One of the party, a man abb
e to swim, reached shore hastily an
fastened to the poor farm, where h
e phoned the chautauqua hotel, appris
ing the clerk of the tragic disaster.
The report that people were drown
) ing across the lake soon sprea
= Through the great assemblage at tn
celebration grounds and the dane
then in progress broke up at ono,
Skiffs and small motor boats were q
once manned and started to the poir
where Pickering lights seemed (
designate as the spot where the fata
ity occurred. Before a few of thes
got far on their way the new launc
made pier from it's trip around til
lake, and, after landing the last pa.
senger, it, too, proceeded to the poif
with throttle wide open, and hayin
on board a select crew of assistant
among them III. III. Holdridge, Sheri
Keller and a couple of doctors. A
rescue craft this launch and III
motor boats did quick service. TIL
apprehensive and almost Breathe.
crowd on shore on this side of til
lake anxiously awaited the return
the rescuers, fearful lest the toll
lives include some of their relative
One redeeming feature of IL
whole regretable affair was the will
ingness of everybody to assist in sa'
ing drowning people. The fact
H. -no.~sLs1sk- A. - r,