RESCUE ON THE WISCONSIN RIVER
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| Terry Tanner in his camouflaged StarCruiser | ................ | Bob and Gloria Steinhauer in their StarCruiser |
The Wisconsin River has claimed many a canoer's life from as far back as I can remember. My father being on the local volunteer fire department and living near the river had many an occasion to perform rescues and recoveries. Those days are gone, but not the memories. Many tragic deaths lay hidden in my memories....deaths of friends unfortunately.
But the following story ended on a positive note......but whether the river has left a lasting impression on the canoers will remain to be seen.
(Story from Robert Steinhauer, who also lives on the Wisconsin River in Orion Township)
"On Wednesday July 12th while cruising on the lower Wisconsin River, Terry Tanner and passenger Pete Storm, observed a canoe overturned with two teenager boys clinging to it. Ty (Terry) and Pete were able to upright the canoe and get the passengers back aboard. The offer to tow them into the boat landing, near Gotham, was refused. The hovercrafters observed that there not any life preservers in the canoe, and that the boys were very inept at paddling it. To be on the safe side the hovercraft stayed in the area. In a short time, (10 min. approx.) it was obvious that the canoe was having a very difficult time trying to go upstream.
The boys were heading for the opposite shore from the boat landing. The second offer for a tow was gladly accepted by two very frightened young men. A second canoe, with two female advisors sent out to help, was also towed in. They also did not have life preservers.
I had passed and did not spot the canoe in trouble. I returned to the area in time to see the canoes attempting to get back. It is my opinion that if Ty, and Pete had not spotted the overturned canoe, and went to the rescue, The boys would have drowned. High water, swift current from the pine river emptying into the Wisconsin, with undertow, no life preservers, and any help from friends on shore only making matters worse. "
Bob Steinhauer
And the following letter came from Terry Tanner, Muscoda, about the rescue:
"That's pretty much how it happened.
The boys were trying to be macho but I know fright on a face when
I see it. They were holding onto the canoe so hard it was not
visible most of the time. I saw the tip of the canoe and some
frantic waving. I'm glad for them the way it turned out. They
thanked us several times and shook our hands ( Pete Storms and
I). I love my StarCruiser. What amazed me about it this day was
thinking back when Pete and I were both leaning over one side of
the hovercraft with two boys hanging on and also pulling up a
submerged canoe and putting it
back on the water again and then putting two boys back in the
canoe....talk about stability. I gave my StarCruiser a pat on the
prop for what it was able to do that day."
Ty Tanner
(Written by Linda Weber, WEBER HOVERCRAFTS LLC, Cuba City, WI.)
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