WALTER B. VOIGT

Miss Rose Krueger, who resides on Wisconsin Avenue, and Walter
Voight(sic), a Normal school student, whose home is at Tisch Mills,
were drowned in the river near the Clifford Lumber Company's saw
mill Wednesday afternoon. The engineer at the Stevens Point water
company's plant happened to be looking at the river when he saw a
young man and lady start to change seats in a row boat. To his horror,
the occupants fell into the water. As soon as word and an organized
effort could be made, ropes, grappling irons and boats were on the
scene in an endeavor to locate the bodies.
Fond Du Lac Daily Commonwealth,
Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin, Thursday, June 26, 1913
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ALL STEVENS POINT IS IN MOURNING
THE DROWNING OF MISS ROSE KUEGER AND WALTER VOIGT IS SAD IN THE EXTREME
THEIR BOAT CAPSIZED
Bodies Were Found Within Ten Feet of Each Other and at a Depth of Eighteen Feet.
Nothing that has occurred in recent years has created such an air
of profound sadness and sorrow among residents of Stevens Point as
has the awful tragedy Wednesday afternoon, when Miss Rose Krueger
and Walter Voigt met death by drowning in the waters of the Wisconsin
river. On the one hand was a young lady, the oldest daughter in a
family, and one on whom the responsibilities of a home had rested since
the death of her mother thirteen years ago April 16, last; on the other
hand was a young man, a Senior in the rural school department of the
Stevens Point Normal school and one whose future promised much. The
accident has been the one topic of conversation throughout the city
since the first reports were circulated and words of sympathy for the
two families so sadly afflicted are on everyone's lips.
The two young people had been intimate for about a year and during the
summer of 1912 had made a number of trips together on the river, although
on each occasion they went in a launch, never before venturing out in a
row boat.
On Wednesday afternoon Miss Krueger and Voigt left the former's home, 609
Wisconsin avenue, at about 2:40 o'clock.
They went immediately to the river, where they secured a row boat, one of
the common round bottom variety, and started up stream. The accident which
cost them their lives took place at about 3:20?? o'clock, several hundred
feet above the Clifford Lumber Co's. saw mill and within twenty-five feet
of the boom which serve as a pocket in which the logs are secured.
Although there were a number of eye-witnesses to the accident, none are
better qualified to give a detailed description of it than Frank Nowak,
aged thirteen, who, with four companions, was fishing nearby. According
to his version, which in the main is corroborated by others, Miss Krueger
was seated in the stern of the boat, while Voigt occupied the seat directly
ahead and was rowing. For some reason they decided to exchange places and
while they were directly opposite each other in a stooping position the boat
began to rock. Miss Krueger appeared to lose her balance and fell against
her companion. Before they could recover their poise the boat had capsized
and both occupants were floundering in the water.
The boys on the boom called to them to cling to the overturned craft while
one of the lads went for a pole with which to reach out and pull them to
safety. Miss Krueger grasped the rear end of the boat while Voigt clung to
one side, but after only a few moments Voigt attempted to spring to the top
of the boat. In doing so he missed his hold and fell off entirely. The prow
of the boat rose up high in the air, forcing Miss Krueger to release her
grasp, and then shot outward toward the middle of the stream.
Voigt sank almost as soon as he left the boat and never came to the surface
again. Miss Krueger, who had a slight knowledge of swimming, held her head
above the surface for several seconds, and then went down. She appeared on
the surface two or three times afterward but the little boys on the boom had
no way to give her assistance.
Without waste of time a rescue party was formed and began a search for the
bodies. The river at that point is over fifteen feet deep and this fact made
it unusually hard to drag the bottom. No one knew who the young people were
and the names of five or six were mentioned as being the probable victims,
adding to the horror of the situation. The suspense was dreadful, hardly any
of the hundreds of those who had learned of the tragedy being certain of the
safety of friends or relatives. Shortly before 5 o'clock Lyman Rowe, one of
those engaged in the dragging process, located the bodies in about eighteen
feet of water and nearly fifty feet below where the accident took place. He
was unable to bring either to the surface with the equipment he had. Charles
Packard and Joseph Eickendorf were in another boat, the later with two poles
spliced together, and came to the spot. The body of Miss Krueger was recovered
at 5 o'clock and that of Voigt about fifteen minutes later. They were lying
on the bottom within ten feet of each other.
Miss Krueger's body, as soon as it was found, was placed in a launch owned by
Emil Seidler and brought to the foot of Main street, where a crowd of several
hundred people filled with great anxiety, had gathered. It was then taken to
the Boston Undertaking rooms and positively identified by Miss Bertha Krueger,
a younger sister, who is employed in Kuhl Bros. dry good store. Miss Bertha
Krueger was then taken home and the pitiful scene of breaking the news to her
father, Herman F. Krueger, and two younger sisters, Elsie and Clara, was
enacted. As soon as possible the two brothers of the deceased, Edward Krueger
of Fort Dodge, Iowa, and Albert Krueger of Fond du Lac, were notified and the
latter arrived here early this morning. Edward is expected at any time.
When the identity of the girl's body was established it was at once deemed
certain that her companion was Walter Voigt. The latter's body was brought
to Main street in a launch run by Myron Moen and was also taken to Boston's
Undertaking rooms…
(The obituary information here for Rose Krueger was not transcribed as burial
did not seem to be in Manitowoc County)…
Charles W. Voigt, father of the unfortunate young man, was notified by telephone
by President John F. Sims of the Normal, Wednesday evening, and arrived in the
city on the Soo line train at 12:28 this afternoon. He was met at the depot and
taken to Boston's Undertaking rooms, where he viewed the remains of his son,
later going to the house of a relative, Mrs. Moss, who resides on Main street,
near Michigan avenue, after which he went to the residence of M.C. Hetzel, 207
East avenue, where his son had been rooming since entering school.
When seen he stated that his son, Walter B. Voigt, was born in the town of
Carleton, Kewaunee county, on March 22, 1895, and was therefore eighteen years,
three months and three days old when he met his untimely death.
He entered the Normal summer school in 1911 and since that time had attended all
the summer and regular sessions.
Besides his father and mother he is survived by four brothers, Elmer, Irving,
Ruben and Leslie, all of whom live at home. The body will be taken to his home
tomorrow and the funeral held Sunday afternoon at 1 o'clock from the family
home, Rev. Otto Frey of the German M.E. church officiating Interment will follow
in the parish cemetery.
The deceased was a bright, promising young man and always had a pleasant smile for
those whom he knew. The sad accident has to a great degree lessened the ardor and
enthusiasm of those who completed their courses at the Normal this morning, and all
join in extending their heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved father, mother and
brothers.
Stevens Point Daily Journal, Thursday, June 26, 1913 P. 1



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