Evening star., 1946-07-10
NeuroIogist' sWhe UnoworeSon
Was Swept to Death Over Falls
Mrs. Freeman Drivinq
To D. c.; Ex-SoiIor
Killed Trying Rescue


former sailor who died in an un-
successful effort to save the boy
from being swept over 3l7-foot
Vernal Falls near Merced, Calf
Monday.
Police of the Midwestern States
have been alerted on general look
out for Mrs. Walter Freeman, moth
er of the boy, and her daughter,
Lorne, 20, who are driving to Wash
ington from the West. DR.. Freeman
told The Star by telephone from
Yosemite early today that his wife
and daughter are still unaware of
the tragedy.
DR. Freeman has remained at the
scene since his son and Mr.. Loos
were swept over the cataract Mon
day, leading the volunteer searching
party of rangers and vacationerS in
the search for the bodies among the
jagged rocks and rapids at the foot
of the waterfall.
May Be Held Under Water.
Park Supt. Frank Kittridge said
he thought the bodies might be
recovered soon but that extreme
water pressure at the foot of the
falls could hold them down for sew
eral days.
Exhausted by lack of sleep and
grief, DIR. Freeman said he had no
idea what his future plans might
De. He said he did not know Mr.
Loos but added that he would never
forget that the Dayton (Ohio) vet
eran had given his life in an effort
to save Keene.
DR.. Freeman, father of six, gave
this account of the struggle by the
former sailor to pull Keene from the
raging waters and slippery boulders
at the brink of Vernal Falls:
"Keene was trying to retrieve a
canteen he had dropped into the
water about go feet above the falls.
The swift current must have caught
him. 1t was just like millrace.
Doctors Back Was Turned.
my back was turned but I heard
scream. 1t might have been my
son. I don't know.
THE young man Ioos) vaulted
over the guard rail and plunged
into the current. He finally caught
up with Keene and clutched him
only IS feet from the edge Of the
falls. Keene was too small to have
a chance in that ecurrent.
II was on the outside of the guard
rail 10 feet from them, but I couldn't
get to them. Loos struggled to keep
his hold, but the water was too
strong for him and he slipped.
Then they went over
Two Others Regain Shore.
Two other men who went into the
stream behind Mr.. Loos regained the
shore safely.
1t was some time before a search
ing party was able to make its way
to the base Of the precipice.
Keene, who lived with his family
at 4501 Linnean avenue NV. was
graduated from the sixth grade at
Ben Murch Elementary School last
DR.. Freeman left Washington by
automobile on June Is, accompanied
by his wife and three of the chill
dren, Lorne, Randolph and Keene,
to attend the American Medical As
sociation convention in San Fran
cisco. When the convention ended
last week the Freemans began a
leisurely journey back to Washing
ton and Yosemite was the first stop.
Was First Vacation Since 1s41.
DR.. Freeman and the two boys
stopped at Yosemite, the national
park in Eastern California, while
Mrs. Freeman and Lorne drove on
to Yellowstone
There are three other sons, two of
them serving in the armed forces
Paul, 18, is in Palo Alto, Calf. ::
Walter, one of 19-year -old twins, is
a seaman first class in the Navy and
the other, Franklin, is in Japan with
the 18th Air Force.
The tragedy ended what was Dr.
Freeman's first vacation since 1941
He lectured in neuropathology at the
United States Navy Medical School
in addition to his regular duties
which include professorship in
neurology at the George Washing
ton University School of Medicine
He is attending neurologist at Gal
linger Hospital.
DR.. Freeman, one of the world S
leading brain surgeons, pioneered
the prefrontal brain operation. He
is internationally known for his
writings and research in the field
of brain surgery.
Mrs. Catherine Murray OF the
Westchester Apartments, who taught
Keene in the sixth grade at Ben
Murch Elementary School, charac-
terized him as an exceptional stu
dent. She said he was determined
to make a name for himself and
he ofen told me he intended to
follow In his fathers footsteps"
Keene was to have enrolled at
Deal Junior High School this fall.