This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: darylbruner Surnames: Classification: obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.illinois.counties.vermilion/7518/mb.ashx Message Board Post: >From the Danville Commercial News Aug. 27, 1928. Does anybody know his wife's name or his children's names? Lake Vermilion claimed another victim, the third this season, early Sunday morning when Carroll J. Dennis, 20, 403 Martin Street, father of twin sons five months old, fell off an abutment of the Denmark hill bridge, while fishing, and was drowned. The drowning occurred shortly before 7 o'clock. The body was recovered a half hour later by Motor Officer John Dewey, who has recovered the bodies of five of the six persons who have been drowned in Lake Vermilion. Dewey and Motor Officer William Kruger were among the first to reach the scene. Using a hook attached to a long rope, the officer located the body within a few feet of the south end of the first abutment on the east end of the bridge on which Dennis was sitting when he fell into the lake. The body was in water between 18 and 20 feet deep, almost in the center of the old river channel. Dennis, who had been staying at the home of his mother, Mrs. Anna Layton Dennis, 1135 Martin Street, while his wife was visiting relatives in Indiana, went to the lake Saturday night between 8:30 and 9 o'clock, accompanied by Elmer Hilge, 603 North Bowman Avenue. Dennis was employed at the Otis Jones grocery, 837 East Seminary Street, for seven years, as a clerk. He left the store Saturday night at 8 o'clock. Hilge was with him. They said they intended to fish all night. Mrs. Dennis, mother of the victim, said she had a premonition something would happen. She pleaded with her son not to go. He assured her, she said, that he could swim, and that he would be careful. After fishing until midnight, Dennis and Hilge returned to the home of Dennis' mother and slept until 5 o'clock, when they returned to the lake. Hilge climbed onto an abutment on the north side of the bridge and Dennis went to the south side of the structure and lowered himself to the end of the east abutment. Hilge said they had been fishing about three-quarters of an hour when he heard a splash. He called to Dennis and, receiving no reply, hurried to the south side of the bridge. His companion was not in sight. On the end of the pier were his fishing tackle and a bucket of minnows, the mute evidence of what had occurred. Hilge immediately gave the alarm. Within a few minutes several persons, including the two officers, had gathered at the scene and were searching for the body. Coroner John D. Cole reached the bridge a few minutes after the body was taken out of the lake. Hilge left after giving the alarm and the identity of the drowned man was not learned until after his clothing had been examined and his fishing license found in a pocket of his coat. The body was removed to the Pape Memorial funeral home and prepared for burial. The embalmer found only a small amount of water in the lungs, indicating that Dennis was seized with an attack of dizziness or heart disease, and strangled to death after falling into the lake. Mrs. Dennis, the young wife, returned only a few days ago with her twin babies, from her visit with Indiana relatives, and was at the home of relatives in this city when the drowning occurred. The deceased was born in Danville, July 17, 1908. His father, Jesse Dennis, had been dead about five years. Since his death the young man and a brother, Layton Dennis, had been supporting their mother. Otis Jones, proprietor of the store where the deceased was employed, said eh was a young man of fine character. He had been employed at the Jones store since he was compelled to quit school to work. Funeral services will be held at 2 o'clock Tuesday afternoon at the residence. Burial will be in the Davidson Cemetery near Bismarck. An inquest will be held at the coroner's office Monday afternoon. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.