South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-03-26
DARKNESS And
RAGING WATERS
IMPEDE RESCUE
Lack of Motor Boats Is Also
Handicap in Search for
Bodies of Victims.

Magician Lake became a raging
sea last night. it's trescherous wat
ers driving from it those men who
had labored for hours in an effort
to recover from the depth Of so feet
the lifeless bodies of three men and
five boys. who met death about 2:40
o'clock Saturday afternoon when
the scout boat carrying them to
Hemlock island. their island in the
Michigan lake, "a miles from South
Bend. sank. leaving them TO fight a
losing battle against the cold rag
ing waters.
Darkness. too. played its part In
forcing from the lake the rescue
party, forcing it into rest until dawn
today when the workers again will
take 20 the lake to remain until the
bodies of the members of the i'll fat
ed party have been recovered.
Relief Rushed To Scene
With the receipt or the message
of tragedy at Dowagiac soon after
it occurred Saturday afternoon all
available ambulances. physicians
and nursee were rushed to the scene
The towns limited police force.
Sheriff Wyman and Coroner Bryant
also answered the call and llnme-
diately engaged in the relief work
While Dowagiac was dispatching
its forces TO Magician Lake. South
Bend police, led by Capt. Cordier,
loaded hooks and nets into the po-
lice Cadillac and departed for the
scene. The machine carried Capt.
Cordier, Driver James Lavelle and
Detectives Kish and Winters.
Coast Guards Summoned
From st. Joseph, Mich. came the
government coast guards, William
Havley, Stanley Carlson and II. 3.
Brown. This crew. composed of
expert swimmers and divers. dragg-
ed the waters in an effort TO recover
the bodies. but the row boat from
which they worked was unsafe. be-
cause of the raging lake. and it be-
came necessary for them 10 leave
their posts until morning. when mo-
tor boats and additional tools and
apparatus reach the scene from
South Bend s.. Joseph and Benton
Harbor. Three motor boats. includ-
ing the local police boat. Will be
used in the rescue work Sunday.
Among the first on the lake Sat
urday afternoon I'm the body search
was George A. Cooper physical di-
rector - the Y. NJ c.. A.. closely
associated with Executive Taylor IN
scout work and a personal friend Of
the chief other members Of the
crew were the South Bend police.
detailed 20 assist in the work. Drag
hooks We're used in the water. but
the so feet Of rope from which they
hung suspended would not permit
them TO touch bottom. More rope
was used but the workers were UNI
successful in their efforts. Poor
condition OF the boat. with mean
waters and darkness rapidly fall
ing. caused them TO discontinue
their efforts for the night They
however. viii be among the party
Sunday
City Stunned by Tragedy
Word OF the tragedy reached
scout headquarters early and Leo
Berner accompanied by others of
the Chamber OF Commerce and
News-Times reporters Immediately
rushed 10 the lake by motor. They
were the first there News-Times re-
porters quickly flashed back 10
South Bend the accurate informa-
tion relative 20 the tragedy. Hun
dreds OF telephone calls received at
the News-Times editorial Offices
kept the city informed OF develop-
ments az the lake and gave first in
formation of the verified list Of
dead. Hundreds OF others kept in
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