Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1925-08-05
FOUR MEN LOST LIVES
Tragedy on West Bay Lake
Thursday When Small
Launch Sinks With Party.

ANAL launch containing three
men, IN eighteen year old boy and
woman sank last Thursday even
~. aa West Bay lake while the
.atv we're on their way to the
"a,4Iaod from the Bullock cottage.
81 thc entire party four were
aIowocd'
Iohn Hanson, aged As.
George Hanson, aged Is.
Frank Johnson, aged 81.
Wm. Welsh, aged 81.
Mis- Warren T. Bullock, the wo-
nam member Of the party saved
hen life By swimming ashore. The
death Of the three men and the
r8d has broken into the homes Of
rur Hanson, Johnson and Welsh
aara residents of the Tamarack
district i'm the towns Of Conover
aad State Line, while George Han
.o0 .las "a resident Of Racine. The
three men leave families.
John Hanson and his crew, COM
missing Frank Johnson, a farmer;
WIN. Welsh, farmer and guide, and
GEORGE Hanson, a nephew to John
Hanson, were building fireplace
H lac Warren Z. Bullock home on
Wcs. BAY lake about a couple miles
west Of Bcnt's resort and but a
short distance from the Lamont
summer home on West Bay lake.
m order to save the men long
walk TO The car, Mrs. Bullock put
hen launch to use to take the party
around the point to the Lamont
dock. The launch was a small one,
and .hIue of the men and Mrs.
Bullock sat ahead of the engine,
While George Hanson, the boy,
slccrod In rounding the point the
wave, were rolling somewhat and
Mrs. Bullock suggested nosing the
craft closer into shore. Young
Hanson gave the rudder a turn
Just as a wave hit the bow, swamp
ing il. 1t went to the bottom at
once. Mrs. Bullock, Mr.. Hanson
and George Hanson jumped, while
Johnson and Welsh, who could not
swim, went down with the boat.
Mrs. Bullock, Mr.. Hanson and the
boy started swimming ashore with
their heavy clothing; they we're
cautioned by Mrs. Bullock to take
their time, and they all three were
swimming toward. land about a
hundred yards distant apparently
in good shape. When Mrs. Bullock
reached shore, which is deep at the
beach she discovered both men
sinking, but could not aid them.
George Hanson was about fifteen
feet from shore and his body was
found in ten feet of water; Mr..
Hanson was over twice that dis
lance and in greater depth. The
bodies of Hanson and the boy were
found by searchers early in the
evening, while the bodies of John
son and Welsh were not taken out
until about midnight. They were
found alongside the launch in
about forty feet of water.
The coat Of George Hanson was
found near the body and the idea
Is given that he discarded it while
on shore in order to re-
turn and help his uncle. His train
mg as a Boy Scout would bear out
that idea, and also his chummy
respect for his uncle. The bodies
We're taken to Eagle River that
night. The body of the boy was
shipped to Racine Friday evening,
accompanied by the mother, father
and brother. John Hanson and
VIM. Welsh's funeral were from
Tie congregational church Satur-
day afternoon; Frank Johnson's in
terment was held Sunday from the
C0uover church.
John Hanson had resided in the
tamarack section on Glare lake for
the past five years, coming to
Chat place from Lake Forest. He
was a mason by trade and master
OF the art. He was building a home
Tor his wife and daughter and had
taken his nephew George in training
in order to fit him with a trade. He
leaves a wife and little daughter,
and a sister in Racine. He was a
native of Denmark, coming over to
this country in his younger days.
George Hanson, nephew, was a
son Of MIR. and Mrs. John Hanson
OF Racine. For the past year he
had been with his uncle and aunt
ON Clare lake and was a clean gen.
InH aNaI. 4