John Murray Found Dead At Rice Lake: Had Notable Career as Riverman; Recovered 28 Bodies From Watery Graves
John Murray, Sr., 115 Third Street, veteran logger and river man, was found dead in his bed at Rice Lake yesterday morning, death having been due to heart disease according to information received here.
The body was brought to Eau Claire last night for burial. Funeral arrangements have not yet been completed.
Mr. Murray had been working at Rice Lake this spring and summer, removing "dead heads" from the lake there. For many years he had been a notable figure in life around the rivers and lakes in this vicinity.
In 1914 he won the world's championship at trick and fancy log rolling, and held the distinction of having never been defeated at that sport. He brought to the log rolling game many new stunts, and was declared one of the fastest men ever to perform at that sport. He had retired as a log roller a few years ago, however, and had not taken part in any of the recent tournaments. His two sons, John Jr. and Jim, have taken up log rolling and are now among the top-notchers of this vicinity.
During recent years, Mr. Murray had been removing "dead heads", or sunken logs, from lakes and rivers of northern Wisconsin and Minnesota on contracts from lumber companies, and notable success in this endeavor. Mr. Murray knew the lakes and rivers of this vicinity and throughout northern Wisconsin as few men do, being familiar with depths, shallows, and currents. This knowledge he offered freely at times when he could serve, and frequently aided in the search for drowned bodies ... and it was said that Mr. Murray had the distinction of having recovered twenty three bodies from watery graves during his lifetime. Many lives were also saved from drowning by his quick and fearless actions.
Source: Eau Claire Leader, 6 Jul 1926, page 5
John Murray, Sr., 115 Third Street, veteran logger and river man, was found dead in his bed at Rice Lake yesterday morning, death having been due to heart disease according to information received here.
The body was brought to Eau Claire last night for burial. Funeral arrangements have not yet been completed.
Mr. Murray had been working at Rice Lake this spring and summer, removing "dead heads" from the lake there. For many years he had been a notable figure in life around the rivers and lakes in this vicinity.
In 1914 he won the world's championship at trick and fancy log rolling, and held the distinction of having never been defeated at that sport. He brought to the log rolling game many new stunts, and was declared one of the fastest men ever to perform at that sport. He had retired as a log roller a few years ago, however, and had not taken part in any of the recent tournaments. His two sons, John Jr. and Jim, have taken up log rolling and are now among the top-notchers of this vicinity.
During recent years, Mr. Murray had been removing "dead heads", or sunken logs, from lakes and rivers of northern Wisconsin and Minnesota on contracts from lumber companies, and notable success in this endeavor. Mr. Murray knew the lakes and rivers of this vicinity and throughout northern Wisconsin as few men do, being familiar with depths, shallows, and currents. This knowledge he offered freely at times when he could serve, and frequently aided in the search for drowned bodies ... and it was said that Mr. Murray had the distinction of having recovered twenty three bodies from watery graves during his lifetime. Many lives were also saved from drowning by his quick and fearless actions.
Source: Eau Claire Leader, 6 Jul 1926, page 5
John Murray Found Dead At Rice Lake: Had Notable Career as Riverman; Recovered 28 Bodies From Watery Graves
John Murray, Sr., 115 Third Street, veteran logger and river man, was found dead in his bed at Rice Lake yesterday morning, death having been due to heart disease according to information received here.
The body was brought to Eau Claire last night for burial. Funeral arrangements have not yet been completed.
Mr. Murray had been working at Rice Lake this spring and summer, removing "dead heads" from the lake there. For many years he had been a notable figure in life around the rivers and lakes in this vicinity.
In 1914 he won the world's championship at trick and fancy log rolling, and held the distinction of having never been defeated at that sport. He brought to the log rolling game many new stunts, and was declared one of the fastest men ever to perform at that sport. He had retired as a log roller a few years ago, however, and had not taken part in any of the recent tournaments. His two sons, John Jr. and Jim, have taken up log rolling and are now among the top-notchers of this vicinity.
During recent years, Mr. Murray had been removing "dead heads", or sunken logs, from lakes and rivers of northern Wisconsin and Minnesota on contracts from lumber companies, and notable success in this endeavor. Mr. Murray knew the lakes and rivers of this vicinity and throughout northern Wisconsin as few men do, being familiar with depths, shallows, and currents. This knowledge he offered freely at times when he could serve, and frequently aided in the search for drowned bodies ... and it was said that Mr. Murray had the distinction of having recovered twenty three bodies from watery graves during his lifetime. Many lives were also saved from drowning by his quick and fearless actions.
Source: Eau Claire Leader, 6 Jul 1926, page 5
John Murray, Sr., 115 Third Street, veteran logger and river man, was found dead in his bed at Rice Lake yesterday morning, death having been due to heart disease according to information received here.
The body was brought to Eau Claire last night for burial. Funeral arrangements have not yet been completed.
Mr. Murray had been working at Rice Lake this spring and summer, removing "dead heads" from the lake there. For many years he had been a notable figure in life around the rivers and lakes in this vicinity.
In 1914 he won the world's championship at trick and fancy log rolling, and held the distinction of having never been defeated at that sport. He brought to the log rolling game many new stunts, and was declared one of the fastest men ever to perform at that sport. He had retired as a log roller a few years ago, however, and had not taken part in any of the recent tournaments. His two sons, John Jr. and Jim, have taken up log rolling and are now among the top-notchers of this vicinity.
During recent years, Mr. Murray had been removing "dead heads", or sunken logs, from lakes and rivers of northern Wisconsin and Minnesota on contracts from lumber companies, and notable success in this endeavor. Mr. Murray knew the lakes and rivers of this vicinity and throughout northern Wisconsin as few men do, being familiar with depths, shallows, and currents. This knowledge he offered freely at times when he could serve, and frequently aided in the search for drowned bodies ... and it was said that Mr. Murray had the distinction of having recovered twenty three bodies from watery graves during his lifetime. Many lives were also saved from drowning by his quick and fearless actions.
Source: Eau Claire Leader, 6 Jul 1926, page 5
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