Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1922-06-15
river CLAIMS
FOUR VICTIMS
THREE YOUNG WOMEN AND
HEROIC YOUNG MAN
IN TRAGEDY

of the Marathon County Normal school
were drowned in Lake Wausau at
about S;15 p. M, June s, three ladies
and one young man who heroically
rushed to their rescue though he was
unable to swim. So much time
elapsed before the bodies were re-
covered that resuscitation proved inn
possible The drowning occurred near
the Marathon County home and hospi-
tai
The calamity has caused mourning
among hundreds of our citizens and
at the Normal school the spirit was
one of complete detection and grief.
Those who lost their lives were as
follows:
Marguerite Bradley, aged sew
genteen, town of Cleveland.
Ethel Genrich, aged eighteen,
Wausau
Dorothy Hawks, eighteen, Alb
botsford
Martin Hannemann, nineteen,
Wausau.
Attending Party
The drowning of these young peo-
pie, all of whom were attending an
entertainment given to the gradual
and Mrs ID. A. Swartz, the former of
whom is principal, at their home on
Sturgeon Eddy road, occurred near
the home and hospital at point in
Lake Wausau frequently used by
bathers, After enjoying short time
at the Swartz home, a number of the
girls donned their bathing suits and
proceeded to the beach which is To-
Gated about half a mile from Mr..
SwartZs home and on county prop
erty.
The three, Marguerite Bradley,
Ethel Genrich and Dorothy Hawks,
entered the water, accompanied by
Edna Hammond and Esther Bartell.
| The first four locked arms and pro-
ceeded to walk out into greater depth
though all thought It was not over
their heads. Miss Bartell, being more
timid than the rest did not join them.
Miss Hammond had preceded and
when in three feet of water was
Joined by the other three when hands
Of all were clasped. But a little dis
ltance further out and the young ladies
reached the old river bank. complete
/ ly submerged by the level created by
the Rothschild dam and suddenly dis
appeared In fifteen feet of water.
One Could Swim
None but Miss Hammond was able
to swim and she, after prodigious ef-
fort, freed herself from her COM
panions. They shouted for help and
Miss Bartell standing near shore,
motioned to companions. Miss Ham
mond also appealed to those on shore.
Miss Beatrice Weir of Brokaw,
when she realized the imminent dan
ger Of her friends, fearlessly jumped
into boat which was near at hand
and sought to reach them with 1t.
However when she believed she was
near enough to assist them, one of
the drowning girls reached for an
oar and selling II, wrenched 1t loose
from Miss Weir's grasp. The boat
drifted away and Miss Weir could not
gain control Of 1t.
| IL was at this juncture that Martin
| Hannemann, another member of the
class, grasped the Importance of rem
dering aid. He was strolling along
with Henry Burnett and noticing the
plight of the girls, the two started to
wade out. The latter turned back, to
obtain boat, while Hannemann, de-
spite the fact that he was unable to
swim a stroke, rushed on plunging
into the same depth OF water as those
who preceded him and suffering the
same fate. Mr.. Hannemanns drown
ing was entirely due to his heroic ef-
fort to save the young ladies.
Not Present
At the time OF the drowning neither
Mr.. Swartz nor any of the teachers
were present. The former had start
ed TO make trips back and forth TO his
home, his automobile filled each time
with members OF the class whom he
was bringing to the beach. Before
the second trip was completed, the
tragedy was over.
Without delay efforts were made
to recover the bodies. Members of
the police and fire departments were
notified by one OF the teachers, who
rushed TO the county home and hospi-
tai. DR.. G. ID. Partridge, Frank
zielsdorf. chief OF the fire department,
and others Immediately hastened
down taking the pulmotor with them.
Various physicians responded to the
urgent call. The body of Marguerite
Bradley was first recovered, but all
efforts at resuscitation failed. Miss
| Genrich's body was located a half
hour later and those of Miss Hawks
and Mr.. Hannemann an hour after
wards. In all cases the physicians
exerted every effort but found that
life was extinct.
The tragedy OF this sudden drown
ing Of three promising young women.
on the Threshold Of womanhood, and
an heroic young man, has never been
equaled in Wausau. The shock re-
suited In several breakdowns among
the girls OF the class and II will take
many months to overcome the depres-
sion experienced. The occurrence will
ever be one of sorrowful recollection
for the twenty-nine remaining gradu-
ates OF the Normal school I'm the class
OF 1922.
Miss Ethel GenrIch
Miss Ethel Genrich was born in
this city on March IL, 1904. the daugh-
ter OF Mr.. and Mrs. Fred M Genrich.
Miss Genrfch having aIwayg resided