Obit: Fredrick, Melvin (1911? - 1925)

Contact: Stan
Email: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Fredrick, Schwarze, Volk, Barnes, Boeckman

----Source: Greenwood Gleaner (Greenwood, Clark Co., Wis.) (13 Aug 1925)

Fredrick, Melvin (1911? - 9 AUG 1925)

Melvin Fredrick, the 14 year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Fredrick, residing one mile south of Spencer, was drowned at Tourist Park (Greenwood, Clark Co., Wis.) last Sunday forenoon while in bathing.

Melvin, together with his parents, had come to Greenwood to attend the band concert and picnic, and at about ten o'clock went in bathing. He could not swim and at first stayed where the water was shallow, but later ventured into deeper water. It is thought that he went a little too far and stepped off the sand bar, losing control of himself.

The accident happened shortly after eleven o'clock and there were about 5,000 people at the park at the time, but not many were in swimming. He was seen to go under by some of the spectators on shore, who at once spread the alarm and several men put on their bathing suits and started diving where he was last seen. Others got into boats and raked the river, but it was not until an hour and eight minutes after the accident happened that the body was found by Adolph Schwarze, wh was using a rake.

Perry Volk of Loyal then dove to the bottom and brought the body to the bridge where Dr. Boeckman and Dr. Barnes both worked on the dead boy for over an hour trying to bring back life. A polmotor from Neillsville had also been ordered and was there when the boy was found. It was also used but without any effect to restore life.

Deceased was the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Fredrick and his sudden death was a great shock to his parents, as well as to the spectators.

He is survived by his father and mother and two married sisters. One sister was killed by lightning eleven years ago.

Funeral services were held at Spencer yesterday afternoon and the body was laid to rest in the Spencer Cemetery.

The parents have the heartfelt sympathy of all throughout this community, as well as from their (the rest of my copy was cut off)