It was an ice skating accident which resulted in the last drowning in Honey Lake. On January 24, 1915, a skating party was held on the northwest shore with approximately 175 people in attendance.
Charlie Wilbur, a well known local carpenter, took his automobile out onto the lake to tow skaters with a rope. After awhile he parked his car on the shore and proceeded to go ice skating. He skated away from the crowd where he located new ice which was smoother than the old. Ray Doyle cautioned him about the dangerous conditions of the ice there. Moments later the ice gave way and Charlie fell in. His brother, Will and Ed Jellison quickly made an attempt to rescue him.
In his frantic effort to save his brother’s life, the ice gave way and Will fell into the icey water. Every time Will attempted to pull himself out, the ice kept breaking. Loren Fisher threw his sweater to Will as a rope. Loren and a human chain of skaters were then able to pull Will out of the water.
In the meantime, C.C. Rush obtained an old raft from the lake shore. Someone else found a crooked tine fork in an effort to save Charlie. Will Kennedy with the assistance of those two aids, succeeded in hooking Charlie’s coat and was able to pull him out of the water, but it was too late.