ARTHUR HANSEN (d. 1921)

RIVER CLAIMS LIFE OF YOUNG MAN ON SUNDAY
Arthur Hanson (sic) loses Life at Old Swimmin' Hole Up River
Another life was claimed by the river Sunday, the tragedy, of which
20 year old Arthur Hanson was the victim, occuring at what is known
as the old Rand Swimmin' hole, near the high bridge of the Northwestern
line just outside the city limits west. No less than eight lives have
been lost at this spot in the last twenty years, including the three
Johnson boys and four others.
The tragedy happened at 3 o'clock and although the Hanson lad was taken
from the river within five minutes after going down and Dr. Max Staehle
had the pulmotor on the scene within fifteen minutes, efforts to
resustieate (sic) the lad proved futile. At the point where the accident
happened the water is less than five feet in detpth.
THOUGHT BOY JOKING
Hanson with a number of companions was swimming at the spot near the
high bridge of the Chicago and North Western that has been the favorite
bathing place of the boys for many years. An old scow was being used by
the youths as a raft and Hanson made a dive from it. When he came up
after his plunge his companions noticed what they thought an effort to
call for help but because of the shallowness of the water at the spot
thought that they were being made the victims of a joke. When Hanson
disappeared again however and failed to reappear they dived for him,
brought his body to the shore where resuscitation methods were promptly
employed. While a number of the boys were doing this one of the number
rushed to the nearest phone and called the police to bring the pulmotor
and within a short time Dr. Staehle and the police and pulmotor was on
the scene. Their labors proved vain. The lungs had been emptied of water
before the pulmotor arrived and while they apparently worked the heart
would not respond.
HEART FAILURE CAUSE
Stories of the accident conflict a little but from the accounts it would
appear that Hanson must have struck a stone in the bottom of the river
when he dived as his left shoulder was bruised. No marks on his head
however but the physicians say that it was probable that the youth might
have suffered such a blow. In their opinion death was not due to drowning
but to heart failure.
DIVE FOR BODY
With Hanson at the time of the accident were George and Frank Panosh,
Cornelius Warrum, Joseph Skala and Bymel Jarish. The Panosh brothers
dived for and recovered the body and assisted with the application of
resuscitation methods.
A statement by relatives of the unfortunate lad to the effect that he was
just learning to swim and seemed to be making good progress in his efforts.
Coroner Dr. W.G. Kemper, who was called to view the remains, said that it
was more than probable that death was due to heart trouble than to drowning
as there was no water remaining in the body and it had not been in the water
long enough to cause death under the circumstances surrounding the recovery.
The victim was not in the best of health adding weight to the opinion that
death was due to other causes than drowning.
ONE OF BIG FAMILY
Arthur Hansen was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Hansen, 852 North Fourteenth
street and was one of a family of fifteen. He is the third member of the
family to die, two sisters having died five years ago from attacks of
diptheria. He was born in this city in 1901 and was 20 years of age. He
attended the public schools here and since leaving school has been employed
by his father in the paint shop on Buffalo street. During the war six of
his brothers served with the colors but all returned home safely. Besides
the parents the brothers and sisters surviving are Harold, Edgar, Jr.,
Vernon, Delmore, Burton, Leonard, Robert, William, Paul and Gordon; Elida
and Clara. The funeral will be held Wednesday afternoon at 2 o'clock from
the home. Burial will be at Evergreen.
Manitowoc Herald News, Monday, June 27, 1921 P.1
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[cause: accidental drowning/bur. on Edgar Hansen lot]