Surnames: Henrichs, Ziegel, Ziebel, Hildensperger

----Source: Colby Phonograph (Colby, Clark County, Wis.) 12/16/1948

Henrichs, Wallace (1936 - 12 Dec. 1948)

Wallace Henrichs, age 12, son of Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Henrichs of the town of Hamburg, Marathon county, was the victim of a tragic hunting accident near his home Sunday afternoon.

The boy died after being shot in the hip with a .22 caliber slug from a rifle, which accidentally discharged while being held by his brother, LaVerne, 16.

Another brother, Eldon, 11, and two other boys, Glenwood Ziebel, 12, and Dennis Ziegel, 11, also of the town of Hamburg, were witnesses.

Coroner John W. Hildensperger, who termed the death accidental, said LaVerne was hunting squirrels about a quarter of a mile from the Henrich’s farm home. The group of smaller boys was watching as he shot at a tree squirrel with an old, bolt-action rifle.

He missed and the squirrel ran to the opposite side of the tree. LaVerne followed and as he went through the brush the gun discharged.

"I’m shot," said Wallace and he slumped to the ground.

LaVerne carried his injured brother home and his parents took him to a physician’s office in Marathon. The boy died shortly afterwards of internal hemorrhages.