Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1922-10-18
One LIFE Lost, TWO IMPERILLD
WHEN HUNTING BOAT CAPSIzES
E. Basten Meets Death In Long Lake Two Other Men Rescued
When Physically Exhausted @#

One life was lost and two others
narrowly avoided the same fate when
small hunting boat in which three
hunters were riding on Long Lake
near the city, capsized early Sunday
morning. Albert E. Bastein of Little
Falls, employed as bookkeeper for
John McKusick, paving contractor in
Willmar, met death in the waters of
Long Lake and the lives of Ralph Fors-
berg and Robert, Howes, paving sup
erintendent, were saved in the last
moments by rescuers from shore.
The tragedy occurred a few min
utes after five o'clock Sunday morn
ing when the three hunters, occupy
ing small hunting boat, attempted
to reach an island about half mile
from the North shore of Long Lake.
A strong southwesterly wind, stirred
up high waves, one of which filled the
boat and caused her to capsize, throw
ing the occupants into the water. Bas~
tein in trying to swim towards shore
sank into the depths of the lake after
covering but fifty feet.
Together with Bastein, Ralph Fors-
berg, son of A. O. Forsberg of Will
mar, Robert Howes of Bull and Her
bert Wadell of Willmar had set out
from Willmar by motor car for Long
Lake contemplating a duck hunt dur
ing the early dawn. They had taken
hrr
Arriving at the lake they made pre-
paration for rowing to the island
which lies about half mile from the
North shore. WadeN remained on
shore while the three companions set
out in the boat. The water was quite
calm on the side of the point from
which they made their start and they
were therefore surprised to find the
waves dangerously high short dis
tance out towards the island.
Without warning and with the pal
est light of dawn about them to see
what was coming, large wave sud
denly struck the boat and filled it to
the extent that it capsized, throwing
the, men. into. the waters This occurred
but a few minutes after five o'clock.
iBastein realizing that the overturn-
ed boat could not hold the three men
and being 9 good swimmer determin-
ed to swim towards the island.
They had then arrived some 250
feet from the island when the catas-
trophe took place. Being lightly clad,
his comrades believed Bastein could
make the shore without too great diff.
ficulty. They were Mortified however
but fifty feet towards the island
Forsberg and Howes clung to the ov
erturned boat and sent cries of help
towards shore where Wadell heard
them.
Realizing the gravity of the situa
ton Wadell found a fairly stoutly built
boaton the shore but minus oars. Co
ing to the Dengerud farm home a half
mile away he found the members OF
the family asleep. Mr.. Dengerud, who
cannot speak English, did not under
stand what Mr.. Wadell wanted until
a boy in the family finally understood
and oars were secured. Returning tC
the boat Mr.. WadeA prepared to. set
out This took about 30 minutes. His
search for the oars and his mental an
xiety doubtless worked a great strain
upon him.
Good fortune so designed it how
ever that motor car carrying Pau
Olson, Edwin Olson and Russell Ack
erman arrived at the place where Wa
dell had his boat and the situation was
hurrldly explained. Paul Olson got
into the boat with Wadell and thu
strenuous row to the island began.
They arrived at the island and founG
no one. Calling they were answered
family from a distance out into the
lake. Rowing towards these weak
sounds they came in vicinity of the
overturned boat and it's clinging be
ings. Forsberg and Howes were sub
merged to their heads, frozen and ex
hausted. The rescuers had arrived
just in time. They could not have helt
on but few minutes longer. For for
ty minutes they had been steadil,
growing weaker in the cold water
The boat had f1oated several hundre,
feet.
Wadell and Olson succeeded in tax
ing the two helpless men into thei
boat and rowing to the island. Her
they were Joined by Parker Erickson
Ed Ray and Max Hook who had bee1
on the island for some time but ha,
not heard Of the accident.
The two men were then rowed t,
shore and taken to the Jalmar Larson
farm home, given hot drinks and p.a
ced in bed. Both of the men are no,
up and around but their experience
was both physical and mental shock
During the morning large number
fastened to Long Lake to aid I'M TIL
search of the body. Apparatus o
various kinds was sent out and use