Lake Breeze 01

Waupaca Record

August 6, 1908

BOAT BURNS TO THE WATER’S EDGE

Three People Receive Painful Burns

Boat Belongs to John Coleman of the Home

The “Lake Breeze”, owned by Captain John M. Coleman was burned to the water’s edge on Columbian Lake on Sunday afternoon between four and five o’clock. The boat had left Camp Cleghorn loaded with about 20 passengers and had crossed Columbian Lake when the boat took fire. The passengers were panic stricken, some of them jumping into the water. The Captain ran the boat into the Terrio dock near Indian Crossing and all the passengers were rescued. The three persons badly injured were:

Captain John M. Coleman, owner and operator of the boat, burned about arms and face.

Miss Bessie Peterson, Little Hope, burned about hands and face.

Mrs. John Wilds Amherst, burned about face, neck, shoulders and arms.

They were at once taken to the hospital at the Veteran’s Home where their wounds were dressed and alter they were taken to their homes.

The other occupants of the boat received slight burns, some of the ladies having their hair singed and clothing burned.

The fire was caused by a broken pipe which ran from the gasoline tank to the engine and let several gallons of gasoline into the bottom of the boat. The heat from the sparker ignited the gasoline and caused an explosion.

Had the accident occurred at any other place on the lakes the result might be terrible as it would have been impossible to cling to the burning boat until help arrived.

The boat was a new one built by Terrio Bros. of Ogdensburg and was one of the finest boats in service on the lakes. Besides the complete loss of the boat about $85 in money which the Captain had concealed in the boat was burned. Captain Coleman lives at the Veterans’ Home and had hoped to save enough money to pay for his boat and take his wife for a furlough this fall as he has not been away from the Home in several years.

On Tuesday morning a purse of $175 was made by the campers about the lakes and presented to Capt. Coleman.

Waupaca Post

August 6, 1908

THE “LAKE BREEZE’ BURNED

Passengers Have Narrow Escape

Captain Coleman’s gasoline launch, the “Lake Breeze” was set fire Sunday about 5:30 p.m. as she was nearing Indian Crossing, heavily loaded with passengers that had been taken aboard at Camp Cleghorn. Gasoline had been leaking from the tank and a spark from the engine igniting it, causing an explosion and setting fire to the dresses of several of the lady passengers, who jumped into the lake, which, very fortunately, was shallow enough to enable them to wade ashore.

Capt. Coleman was quite badly burned on the arms and face in his endeavor to assist his passengers and he jumped out and shoved his boat to the dock, where a number got out without getting wet.

The boat was a new one and very popular with the lake passengers and the fire was watched by immense crowds as the fine boat burned to the water’s edge. Capt. Coleman is an old soldier, and besides the loss of his boat, had $85 in cash burn which was kept in the locker of the boat.

The passengers on board, who were badly burned were as follows:

John Coleman, owner and operator of the boat, burned about the arms and face.

Miss Pearl Peterson, who is employed at Lorneva Place, hair, hands and face

burned.

Mrs. John Wilds, of Amherst, burned about neck, shoulders and arms.

Also, daughter of Fred Minton, living north of the city, was badly burned about

the face.

They were taken to the hospital at the Veterans’ Home as soon as possible.

The Lake Breeze has been doing a good business this season and Capt. Coleman has the sympathy of the patrons of the lakes.

Waupaca Post

August 6, 1908

A subscription was started for Capt. Coleman, whose beautiful boat, “Lake Breeze”, burned Sunday, and about $50 had been raised before the fire had been extinguished. The subscriptions are growing steadily and he will buy another craft at once.