Will died in the ocean off the coast of Juneau, Alaska as the ship he was on "The Islander" was bringing him to Seattle, so he could head on home to Nebraska. He was found by Indians and his best friend and partner in the mining operations, Edward Dennis and he buried him in Juneau.

Will was born in Osage Mission, Neosho Co., Kansas now known as St. Paul, the first born of Thomas Michael & Sarah (Donahue) Bracelen.
Will was just one of many men who went to the Yukon in 1898 and was very successful at finding gold and staked their claim there.

NEWS ARTICLE-THE HUMBOLDT STANDARD
AUGUST 30, 1901

BRACELEN'S BODY FOUND

Confirmation of Sad Disaster in Alaskan Waters.

Henry Bracelen of this city Saturday night received a message from Ed Dennis at Seattle, Wash., which stated that he had found and buried the body of his traveling companion, William Bracelen, lost in the wreck of the Islander last week and would be home on the 30th. Nothing is known as to wheather either of the boys saved their posessions.
Mrs. Bracelen, the mother of the drowned young man is suffering from nervous prostration, as a result of the shock.
later details are to the effect that Bracelen's body was found by the Indians on beach near Taku Arm, something like ten miles from the wreck. The body was removed to Juneau where it was taken in charge by the Catholics and a public funeral and Christian burial accorded.
The letter states that only about a spoonful of gold dust was found on the body and it will likely never be known wheather the rest was taken by the Indians or lost in the water.

OMAHA WORLD HERALD

ONE NEBRASKA VICTIM

HUMBOLDT BOY DROWNS BUT HIS COMPANION ESCAPES FROM WRECK

Special Dispatch to the World Herald
Humboldt, Nebr., Aug. 20.-John Dennis of this city, who recently returned from the Klondike gold fields, received a telegram this morning from his brother Ed, who in company with Wm. Bracelen of this city was enroute home on the illfated Islander, which sank off the southwest end of Douglas Island on August 15.
The message was forwarded by mail from Juneau to Vancouver, B. C., and thence to this city by wire, and read as follows: "Been in wreck; injured some; will stay a few days and try to recover Bracelen's body."
from this it is inferred that Bracelen must have sunk with the steamer and been drowned.
Mr. William Bracelen was a well known Humboldt boy and had spent the past three years in the gold country. Letters from him and from people who knew him indicate that he had been very successful in his search for the yellow metal.
He was reared in this city and leaves a mother, two brothers and three sisters, his father having died while he was enroute for Alaska. It is thought that his treasure was lost with him.