Surnames: Patzer, Kilps

----Source: Colby Phonograph (Colby, Clark County, Wis.) 07/14/1921

Four Drown in Eau Pleine River

One of the most shocking tragedies that ever occurred in Marathon county happened shortly after two o’clock Sunday afternoon when Otto Patzer, aged twenty-eight, and three brothers, Arthur Kilps, aged twenty-five, Clarence Kilps, aged eighteen, and George Kilps, aged seventeen, lost their lives in the Big Eau Pleine river. The accident occurred a short distance south of the bridge in the center of town, about three miles south of Moon and three and one half miles from Dancy. The Patzer and Kilps families reside about two and one half miles from where the accident occurred, on the Dancy-Rozellville road.

It was a merry party which left just after the noon hour Sunday for the Eau Pleine river where it was planned to spend the afternoon in the cool waters of that stream. The members of the party were Otto, Charles, Edward and Herbert Patzer and Arthur, Clarence, George, William and Rudolph Kilps. Locating a shady place the young men disported themselves for about an hour in comparatively shallow water when it was suggested that they cross the stream to the other bank. The four drowned men and Charles Patzer started across. Patzer warned the others to wait until he had safely landed, which he did after a struggle with the current, being almost exhausted when he clambered up the bank. The others started to follow and when in the center of the stream one of the members of the party went down and grasped a nearby swimmer. Almost at once, Arthur, Clarence, George and William Kilps and Otto Patzer were all struggling together. William Kilps luckily released himself and was pulled to shore almost unconscious by Charles Patzer, who reached him with a long pole, and he was revived with difficulty.

After a short struggle, Otto Patzer and Arthur, Clarence and George *** Note: The remainder of this article was missing.