Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1921-05-04
MISS WEPKING'S FUNERAL

The body of Esther Wepking, drown
ed in Lake Mendoza Sunday of last
week, reached here Friday evening.
The father, Adolph Wepking, Henry
Belz, an uncle, j. G. Vesperman and
w. J. Brennan, accompanied the body
home. In the party also were Misses
Gwendolyn Billstad, Cambridge, and
Martha Boese, Ripon. University CO.
eds, who represented the girls OF
Chadbourne Hall.
The funeral was held Saturday
morning at ten o'clock at the home,
Rev. Guy Campbell officiating. Burial
was made in Hillside. Esther's six
uncles acted as pallbearers.
The relatives of the dead girl and
Mr.. Brennan could not say enough in
praise of the University officials and
student body for their attitude in this
sad affair. From the time the five
young men and one girl heroically
embarked in the face of death to save
two lives until the body was recovered
the university people exhibited the
most splendid spirit of sacrifice and
helpfulness. The days until Thurs
day, when the body was recovered,
were ones of agOnizing suspense for
the relatives, college officials and
students, and the friends of the fami-
ly. During that time everything was
done that could be done. In speaking
of the recovery the Friday State
Journal said:
The body of Esther Wepking, uni
versity coed who was drowned Sun
day, was recovered from Lake Mendo-
Of
a quarter mile from Rocky Roost and
an equal distance from Farwell point.
Adolph Wepking, a retired farmer of
Lancaster, watched from Governors
island while his daughters body was
raised to the surface by students who
had worked all day with graphing
hooks. He accompanied the body to
the university boat house in the Car
dinal with Capt. Isabel The girls
uncle, Henry Belz, had waited at the
boat house all day with w. j. Bren-
nan, an intimate friend of the family,
and father of Miss Workings child
hood chum.
hearse waited beside the armory,
and the body was taken to the Fraut-
schi undertaking parlors. Arrange
ments were made to ship the body to
Lancaster today for burial.
The students who found the body
had determined to remain at Rocky
Roost cottage and work from sunrise
to sunset until the body was recover
ed. Capt Isabel complied with their
two requests, to be supplied with the
daily papers and with simple pro-
visions. Ten fishermen who had
dragged the lake since early Monday
morning had taken vow similar to
that made by the students.
H. ]. Thorkelson, business manager
of the university, went with Mr..
Wepking to Governors island yester-
day morning and remained there all
day Dean S. H. Goodnight motored
to the place yesterday with Mr.. BelZ
and Mr.. Brennan. The two men had
accompanied Mr.. Wepking to Madison
Wednesday. Mrs. Wepking has been
under the care of physician since
the news of her daughters death.
The body had apparently drifted but
little from the spot where it was lost
when three canoe parties Of students
were thrown into the icy water, after
rescuing Miss Wepking and her escort
Arthur Harwood of Cassville. Their
canoe had capsized near Picnic Point.
PowerleSs to fight the high wind which
raised perilous waves, the students in
the three canoes which put out from
Picnic Point to the rescue were swept
across the lake until the canoes filled.
Harwood and Miss Wepking, both
semiconscious, sank beneath the sur
face and the dive to save Miss
Wepking failed.
Response is Immediate
The response of students. and 9TH
ers was immediate and 100 volunteers
pleaded with Capt. Isabel to be al
lowed to aid in the search The first
signs Of success in the four day hunt
with graphing hooks and fisherman's
nets was the recovery of one Of the
girls shoes, which was brought up by
the graphing hooks yesterday morn
ing, and the finding of Harwood's vest
which Miss Wepking had worn.
Capt. Isabel was absolved Of any
blame and commended for the part he
took in effecting the rescue of at least
25 other students, who were imperiled
in the Sunday afternoon storm which
cost Miss Wepldng her life and caused
many to abandon their canoes and re-
turn to the city on foot from the OPP
posite side of the lake.
The Daily Cardinal, student news
paper, is demanding immediate action
in reforming conditions and improving
and replacing life saving equipment,
to guard against a repetition OF the
tragedy.
Miss Wepking was the Oldest OF
four children.