Obit: Martin, Ben (d. 20 Mar. 1913)
Transcriber: Judy Hansen

Surnames: Hayworth, Martin, Paskins, Eugene Thorpe

----Source: Thursday, March 20, 1913 (unk newspaper), family records

Man Drowned At Dam

Ben Martin, a young man from Neillsville, lost his life by drowning at the dam site Friday morning between four and five o'clock while endeavoring to save the life of a companion, John Paskins.

Mr. Paskins fell from the sand sucker barge into the river, and it was while Martin tried to give aid with a rowboat that the drowning occurred. It is not know just how the unfortunante man lost his life, but it is believe that the boat overturned and he went under the ice and was drowned. The body has not been recovered.

Mr. Paskins was resuced by other members of the night crew after being nearly exhausted from his bath in the icy water. He dislocated his shoulder in the fall from the barge.

----Source: Thursday, May 29, 1913

Ben Martin's Body Recovered

After being in the water nearly ten weeks, the body of Ben Martin, who was drowned at the dam site March 18 (sic), was found. The remains of the young man were seen floating downstream on the Clifton side of the river by Eugene Thorpe and rescued by him and some friends Sunday afternoon.

The body, although in a high state of putrefaction, was not beyond recognition. An inquest was not deemed necessary because the young man was still clothed in the James O. Hayworth raincoat and rubber boots with the contractor's initials stamped on the same. His clothes also contained his number check at the camp besides a watch, some money and other belongings. Gruber Bros. prepared the body for burial and it was taken to Baraboo and from there shipped by rail to the home of his parents in Neillsville, Wisconsin.