News: Medford (19 Jul 1923)

Contact: Robert Lipprandt
bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Hartman, Lakies, Werner

----Source: The Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune (Wisconsin Rapids, WI) 07/19/1923

Find Four* Year Old Boy Who Was Lost in Woods

Medford, Wis. – All the available men of the community were called out here recently to look for Walter Lakies, the 14 – year old son* of Emil Lakies, who was lost in the woods for two days.

The lad was finally located in the timber a mile and a half from home. When found he was still carrying the little pail with which he wandered off to pick berries.

The little fellow seemed little the worse for his experience and was not particularly scared by remaining out in the woods alone overnight. The pail contained a few green hazelnuts. He was found by Anton Hartman, the end man of the searching line, and John Werner, who heard the boy call. The boy was scratched by brush and his face was bitten by mosquitoes.

More than 400 men took part in the scramble through the swamps and brush in the search for the youngster. All the famers left their fields and the plants of the Medford Lumber Co., the Hurd Lumber Co., and the Medford Veneer Co. shut down in order to let their men held look for him. The cement walk men of the city also helped.

When found the boy inquired “What are all the men doing in the woods?”

Note: *News headline is printed ‘Four Year Old Boy’ and the first paragraph was printed ‘the 14-year old son.’