Bio: Kloster, Dwight/Vernon (Save Friend - 1913)

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Kloster, McEwen, Oakes, Wade

----Source: Greenwood Gleaner (Greenwood, Clark Co., Wis.) (17 Jul 1913)

Kloster, Dwight/Vernon (Save Friend - JUL 1913)

Dwight and Vernon Kloster, 17 and 19 yearsold, sons of the Methodist Episcopal church in New Richmond, and who was formerly pastor of the church in Greenwood, and members of the Boy Scouts, through their presence of mind and skillful execution of Boy Scout methods of resuscitation, saved Archibald, the 5-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert McEwen of Superior, Wis., from death by drowning at Shell Lake, Wis.

Archibald and his 7-year-old sister were playing with a log in the water close to the shore, and not far from the Kloster cottage. Archibald attempted to get onto it. He missed the log and fell into the water and did not come up. Vernon Kloster, some distance away, saw what happened and ran to the rescue. He plunged into the lake and began diving for the McEwen child, but did not succeed in catching him. Then Dwight Kloster began to dive and the second attempt was successful. The McEwen boy, apparently dead, was brought to the surface and taken to a scow on the water nearby. There Vernon and Dwight took him in hand and began to use the Boy Scout resuscitation methods taught by Scoutmaster George Oakes and Dr. F.S. Wade of New Richmond. After ten minutes' work the child began to show signs of life and soon was breathing again. The boys kept up their work until he was out of danger.

The Kloster boys will be accorded the usual Boy Scout honors for their deed and their act of heroism will be called to the board in charge of the Carnegie hero fund, with a view of securing for them medals and proper recognition of their deeds.