Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1919-06-20
RIVER CLAIMS LIFE
OTTO I4AUERMANN rs DROWNED
WHILE BATHING NEAR up
PER BRIDGE.

in the Mississippi river near the upper
bridge Monday evening at about 1880
while in bathing.
.Lauermann had been in swimming
only very short time when he met his
fate. He attempted to swim out to the
boom against strong current but be-:
Ecame exhausted and the current carried
him downstream. Archie Blake> and
Louis Richard, who had swan out to
the boom, noticed that he was making
no headWay toward the boom and they
took to the water again and started af-
ter him.. Richard got hold Of him but
was unable to hold him and he sank
about ten feet from the boom, and did
not come up again.
I. A call was sent in to the city hall
Eand the truck brought up graphing
hooks and the pulmvtor. All available
boats were pressed into service, about
twelve, in all, and dragging for the
body was begun, some Of the better
iswimmers also diving down in an at
tempt to locate the body. Owing to
the fact that the river at this point is
about twenty feet deep, the work of
dragging for the body was difficult.
Finally after an hour and forty.fve
minutes Of persistent work the body
was located about ten feet from where
it. went down. It was pulled up by
Mamie Ware.
| The body was .hurriedly brought to
shore and the pulmotor was pressed in
to service, doctors working over the
body for nearly an hour but without
avail. The body was then taken to the
Lefty hall, where another attempt at re.
fsuscitation was made, with no response.
Otto Simon Lauermann was born in
Little Falls September 20, 1896 He
lived here all his life and received his
education in the local schools, being a
graduate Of the high school. On De-
cember 8, 1917, he enlisted in the avia.
tion. section of the army and reported
at the ground school at Berkeley, CAL,
on December Is for training. He grad
uated from that school March 23, 1915
and was J, then sent to Dallas, Texas
where he entered the flying school at
Talaferio Field. There he was award.
| ed a commission as a second lieutenant
Of flying early last summer, after which
he was stationed for time at Ft. Sill
Oklahoma, an air service training sta
ton. From there. he returned to Ft
Worth, where he received his discharge
early last February and returned home
Since returning home he has been EN-
iplbyd at the local postofice, which work
he also did before entering the service.
! Mr.. Lauermann was well known il
ftLittle Falls and vicinity and was vel
liked by all who knew him. Among the
younger set he was very popular and
while the blow to the family is a very
hard one, his demise is also most sad
dening to the entire community, wht
deeply sympathize with the bereavee
family. He was a member of the loca
lodge Of knights Of Columbus.
Surviving Mr.. Lauermann are his
mother, Mrs. Barbara Lauermann, five
brothers and one sister. The brother:
are John, who is located in Kansas
|P. J.. Of this city; Joe Of Thor
the west; P. J. of this city; Joe Of Thor
aid, Ont, Can; Ed, who is with the
army of occupation at Altweid, Ger
many; Alfred of Portland, Oregon. The
sister is Mrs. Frank Smith of Portland
! Ore. Mr.. P. J.. Lauermann, the father
passed away in April Of last year.
The funeral was held at 9 o'clock yes
terday morning from Sacred Hear
church, FIR. Altendorf officiating. In
terment was in Sacred Heart cemetery.
| The attendance at the funeral was
very large. Members Of the K. G. lodg'
attended in body and about thirty sol
diers also attended in a body. Soldiers
sailors and marines acted as pail bear
ers. The floral tributes were numerou
land beautiful.