The Sauk Centre Herald

FATAL ACCIDENT AT BIG BIRCH MONDAY

FRED PAULLY OF WALLA WALLA, WASH., DROWNS IN THE SIGHT OF FRIENDS

HE WAS A POOR SWIMMER

SEARCHERS HAD NOT LOCATED BODY LATE WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON

A most distressing accident occurred at Pleasant Beach, Big Birch Lake, about four miles southeast of Grey Eagle Monday evening shortly before 5:00 o'clock when Fred Paully, 24 years of age, residing at Walla Walla, Wash., lost his life by drowning.

Accompanied by his friend, Roy Turner, young Paully arrived at the lake Sunday evening for a visit at the home of young Turner's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Turner of Thief River Falls, formerly of Little Falls, Minn.

The Herald editor drove out to the scene of the accident Wednesday afternoon and ascertained that young Paully in company with Roy Turner and another young man, prepared to go in bathing. Paully was the first to get into his bathing suit, and rushed out and jumped into a boat and when about 60 feet from shore, dove out of the boat. At this point the depth of the lake is from 40 to 60 feet deep. Young Turner knowing that Paully was a poor swimmer advised him to wait for the rest of them, but he told his friends that he would jump out of the boat and then hold on to it until his companions joined him. There was quite a strong wind at the time and the boat was carried away from him toward the center of the lake. Young Turner seeing Paully's predicament, hastened to the rescue of his friend, but when he was about fifteen feet from him he went down for the last time.

A search party worked all night Monday, all day Tuesday and Tuesday night, and up to Wednesday noon. Besides the lake dwellers, a dozen firemen from the Little Falls Fire Department came to the lake with grappling hooks and other material and worked diligently in an effort to recover the body without success. Indian John of Stillwater who is famous for his success in recovering lost bodies in depths of water, was sent for but had not arrived up to 3:00 o'clock Wednesday afternoon.

The unfortunate young man was a stranger to the campers at Birch Lake as it was his first visit, and his friend and companion, Roy Turner, is distracted because of the tragedy as it was very largely through his influence and entreaties that the young man accompanied him from Washington to spend his summer vacation in Minnesota. The deceased is an only child, the Herald understands, the son of a widowed mother residing at Walla Walla.

The place where the drowning took place, for about 40 or 50 feet off shore is said to be a very desirable bathing beach when it takes a sudden drop. Those familiar with the beach realize this and never venture out that far unless they are hardy swimmers.

R. F. Wilke, who has spent about 25 years on the shores of Birch Lake stated to the Herald editor that the drowning of young Paully was the only drowning taking place in Big or Middle Birch lake for many years.

Later - Information received by the Herald at 2:00 o'clock today, Thursday states that the body has not yet been recovered. Indian John was unable to reach Birch Lake because of being detained on a similar mission in Wisconsin. He is expected to arrive in Little Falls at 2:00 o'clock this Thursday afternoon.