Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1923-06-30
Dro wned in Walker Lake

One OF the most pitiable casulties
we have ever been called upon to
chronicle occurred at Walker Lake
last Sunday when Rex Tanner and
Thelma Littell were drowned after the
boat in which they were riding had
capsized.
Several autoloads of Yerington peo-
pie drove to the Lake early Sunday
morning for an outing and picnic at
the Boerlin camp, one mile south OF
the quartz mill. The Tanner and
Mathews cars, loaded principally
with young folks were the first to ar
rive, and immediately the children
put out i'll the boat Cleo and Bob
bic Payne and lone Carol going in
the same party with the two victims
OF the tragedy.
When about l00 yards from shore
the boat began to leak and the water
pouring into the craft so frightened
the children that they capsized the
boat lone Carol and Bobbie Rayne
managed to reach shore where they
were taken from the water by Henry
Boerlin and his wife and Mrs. Leo
Osborne. Cleo Payne weakened be-
fore reaching shallow water and was
helped in by young Ed. Dyer and
Lester Morgan who swan out to
meet her. Rex Tanner is said to
have been an excellent swimmer, but
in endeavoring to assist Thelma the
terrified girl clung to him so tightly
that both went down.
A number OF people were rowing IN
the vicinity, and although they hurried
to the upturned beat, they were un-
able to rescue the drowning boy and
girl, who did not come to the surface
after they went under.
Sheriff Balzar of Mineral County
was notified, and hurried to the scene,
as did also Mayor Penrose and Chief
of Police Kelly of Yerington. Mr..
and Mrs. Tanner were at the lake at
the time of the tragedy and the Lit
tell family were notified by kilograms
from Schurz, and left Immediately for
the scene, accompanied by DIR. Leavitt.
About 30 automobiles loaded with
people went from Yerington to the
lake to render what assistance may
have been possible.
Amateur divers went down where
the unfortunate boy and girl were sup-
posed to have sunk, but were unable
to locate them. Drag hooks were i'm
provised from material at hand by L.
Osborne, and boats patrolled the wa
ters in the vicinity of the accident for
nearly three hours before Miss Littell
was brought to the surface. Hall an
hour later Rex Tanner was brought
ND. The bodies were found in about
20 feet of water.
Every possible effort was resorted
to in an effort to revive the boy and
girl, Chief Kelly proving that he was
an adept at resuscitation, but all to
no avail.
DR. Leavitt of Yerington and DR.,
Schock of Schurz were indefatigable
in their efforts but both the children
were dead before their bodies were re-
covered.
Th scene at the lake shore was most
heartrending. The parents OF both un
fortunates were there, as were their
brothers, sisters and friends. Nearly
200 Mason Valley people, all neigh-
bors and friends of the dead boy and
Girl were on the beach when they
were brought in
The Hawthorne coroner was sum-
moned and the jury returned verdict
of accidental drowning.
Thelma Littel vas Is years OF age.
She had Just graduated from the Yer
inpton grammar school and was pre-
nar;pp for her freshman year Ill high
school. She was most attractive
and loyeable little girl. Her immedi-
ate relatives are her parents. Mr. and
Mrs. Fred Littell, two sisters, Mrs
Georgia Donnelly and Miss Elizabeth
I ittel. and one brother, Lee Littell.
Rex Tanner was also i'll the grad
uating class Of the Yerington gram
mar school. being fifteen years and
ten months of. age. He was most
manly lad and had large circle oi