Wainwright, Theodore Lee Jr. (Died 1939)

WAINWRIGHT

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer
Date: 1/1/2011 at 16:36:36

HEART ATTACK IS BLAMED FOR YOUTH’S DEATH
Theodore Wainwright, Jr., Did Not Drown Coroner Says

Theodore Lee, Jr., 11-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Lee Wainwright, 1406 Hewitt street, died while swimming in McKinley lake at 10:30 this morning. According to Acting Coroner Dr. Howard Beatty, death was caused by a shock to the cardiac muscles.

The youth was pulled out of the water three to five minutes after he went under by Paul Miller, one of the two instructors at the beach. Miller and Rex Dory, other of instructors, applied artificial respiration for more than two hours in an attempt to revive the youth. A physician was also called immediately and adrenalin was administered but the heart failed to respond.

No Water In Lungs.
Both physicians, who examined the body, said that death was caused from shock to the heart and not from drowning, as no water got into the lungs.

The boy, who lives about five blocks from the beach, came down to the lake shortly before 10:30 this morning with his brother, George, age 10. Attendants at the beach said that Theodore Lee was running when he arrived and ran out into the water toward the floating raft, about 20 yards from the shore.

Missed by Brother.
The young brother missed him a few minutes later and called immediately to Miller, who swam out. Miller dived several times and swam under water looking for the missing boy. He then asked a group of children on the raft if they had seen or heard an indication of the boy.

They said they had seen the boy swimming about 10 feet northeast of the corner of the raft and Miller dove down, this time locating the boy.

Pullmotor Useless.
He carried him to shore and artificial respiration was immediately started by Dory while Miller called the doctor. The antiquated pullmotor, kept at the beach, was also brought out but was found to be in a useless condition.

Artificial respiration was kept up for more than two hours by the instructors but the boy failed to respond to that or to adrenalin administered. Coroner Beatty, acting in the absence of his father, Dr. A. S. Beatty, said that because the boy did not struggle or call for help and because no water was in the lungs, that he believed death was caused by the shock of the cool water to the heart as the boy, was probably overheated from running when he entered the lake.

In Good Health.
The boy’s parents said that he had been in good health and had eaten a hearty breakfast about 9 a.m.

Surviving are his parents and three brothers, George (10), Richard (8), and John Kenneth (3).

Funeral arrangements have not been completed.

NOTE: Year of death was 1939