----Source: NEILLSVILLE PRESS (Neillsville, Clark County, Wis.) 07/14/1927

Gebauer, John (31 MAR 1908 - 10 Jul 1927)

Sunday afternoon two young men, John Gebauer and Harvey Haupt, met death by drowning in Lake Arbutus at Hatfield beach. The young men were in bathing and Harry Haupt was on a long but a few rods from shore. Suddenly he was heard to cry out and was seen floundering in the water, but as he could not swim he sank and rose again. John Gebauer, who had come to the Lake with him, started to swim to his relief, but according to some on-lookers, sank before reaching him; others state that he did get hold of him, but was pulled down. Probably 50 or more bathers were in the water at the time, but no one felt sufficient confidence in himself as a swimmer to go out and attempt a rescue. Louis Bradbury was swimming some distance out in the lake and swam as rapidly as possible to the place, but before he arrive, both young men had disappeared from sight. Louis was somewhat out of breath from his strenuous effort to swim to the place, but he began to dive and grope on the bottom, a most difficult task, as the water was about 15 feet deep. However, he soon came upon one of the young men, but had difficulty in bringing him to the surface; others came to his assistance and the body of John Gebauer was brought to the shore. The time he was under water was estimated by different spectators to have bee 8 to 20 minutes. Efforts were made to resuscitate him, while boats were brought and a long chain attached to two boats, dragged along the bottom in an effort to recover the other body. After 2 or 3 hours this was successful. All efforts to revive the Gebauer boy proved to no avail; the pulmoter from Neillsville was sent for but as it was at least three hours after the recovery of the body before its arrival, it proved useless. Several hundred people stood on the beach and saw the drowning, but were powerless to assist, as there was no boat available. This is the first fatality recorded in the history of Lake Arbutus and it is hoped that hereafter some measures of rescue work May be available for bathers.

John Gebauer was the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Martin Gebauer, whose home is in the town of York, Clark County, Wis., about a mile east of Romadka. He was born in Austria and came to this country with his parents when a small boy. At the time of his death he was 19 years, 3 months and 10 days old. He was a fine young man and very helpful to his parents, and much liked by all the neighbors. The funeral will be held this Wednesday morning at 9 o'clock in St. Mary's Catholic Church, Neillsville, Rev. Fr. Weber officiating.

Harvey Almon Haupt was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Haupt, whose home is north of Romadka in the town of Loyal. He was 18 years and 11 days old and is also reported to have been a fine promising young man and a great favorite with all who knew him. He leaves to mourn his death his parents and a young brother. The funeral will be held this afternoon at Woodmen Hall in Loyal.