Wilhite, Louis 'Lou' died 1921

WILHITE, BRADLEY, LARIVERE

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 8/9/2013 at 02:33:21

Postville Herald, Thursday, 1 June 1922.

The body of Louis Wilhite, formerly of Heytman's, a few miles south of Lansing, was recovered on Sunday near Lynxville. It will be remembered that the man was drowned on Nov. 7th while coming up to Lansing with several companions in a barge which was being towed by two gas boats. In some manner, which has never been ascertained, Wilhite lost his balance and fell into the water when the boats were in the channel about opposite Columbus. Search was at once made for the body, the work being kept up for several days but to no avail.
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NOTE: Woodmansee book shows Wilhite, Louis died 11-07-1922 as buried in Harpers Ferry cemetery.

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Added by S. Ferrall 3/15/2015:

Drowning at Lansing
A fatality occurred Monday afternoon between 2 and 3 o'clock about midway between the old Capoli button works and the Columbus railroad bridge, says the Lansing Journal. Leslie Bradley was towing a barge load of bees to this city, assisted by Louis Wilhite and a fisherman named Larivere. The two latter are said to have been somewhat intoxicated and when about opposite the lower wing dam the former either fell or jumped off the barge and was drowned.

Bradley and Larivere died the best they could to rescue Wilhite, but he sank from sight before they could reach him with a skiff that they launched from the barge.

Several spectators on shore witnessed the accident but were powerless to render aid. A search for the body began at once, but so far has proved fruitless. Deceased leaves a wife at Heytman's and several relatives at Lynxville, Wis., where he originally hailed from. Coroner Huecker was notified.

~Postville Herald, November 17, 1921

Note: the same paper, in an article about bootleggers, stated: "Clam shell boats - so called - are a popular way of peddling the moonshine manufactured in the caves and on the islands. It was in such a shell boat that Lou Willhite was crossing from his island factory near Waukon Junction when he was drowned last week."