Robert J. SADOSKI

Person ID: I877   |  Last Modified: 26 Nov 2022

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Name	Robert J. SADOSKI
Birth	11 Jan 1942	Erie, Erie, Pennsylvania, USA
Gender	Male
Died	20 May 1956	French Creek, Le Boeuf, Pennsylvania, USA   [1]
	Age: 14
	Agency: Commonwealth Department of Health Pennsylvania Vital Statistics
	Cause: Drowning - Capsized Boat
	Address: French Creek Le Boeuf Township Erie, Pennsylvania
Buried	23 May 1956	Mount of Olives Cemetery, Erie, Erie, Pennsylvania, USA
Notes	"Creek Holds Bodies of 2 Scouts and Scoutmaster - Fred M Coe Of Union City Area Fails To Save Youths And Perishes - Efforts to find the bodies of the heroic scoutmaster and two scouts who were dragged to their deaths in the treacherous waters of a French Creek whirlpool still proved futile last night. State Police said searchers had not yet found the bodies of Scoutmaster Fred M Coe, 28, of Union CIty, RD 4; and scouts Robert Sadoski, 14, and Harvey Brady, 17, both of Millcreek Township, Erie County. All perished when their canoes capsized Saturday morning while on an explorer expedition. The two-day search for the victims had to be called off again last night because of darkness. Two other Boy Scout leaders and five other youths escaped death in the triple tragedy which occurred a quarter mile east of Pollock Bridge between Mill Village and Waterford. The survivors who were treated at Stem Memorial Hospital in Union City for shock and exposure were: Clyde Watson, 30, Harborcreek, RD 7, field executive of the Washington Trail Boy Scouts; Walter Shenk, 23, of North East, a scout executive; Alan VanderWelle, 16, of North East; Albert R Fuller, 15, of 22 E High St, Union City; Peter Hatch, 14, of 29 W High St, Union City; Noel Magee, 14, of 120 S Main St, Union City; Richard Bisbee, 14, of 24 Hazen St, Union City. Mr Watson, who along with Mr Coe had gone back into the turbulent waters to attempt to rescue the scouts, was suffering from severe shock and was reportedly near nervous collapse. According to the survivors, the group launched their canoes into the rain-swollen creek about 9 am. Two persons to a canoe, they had gone only about 1,400 feet when the lead craft struck a submerged branch and upset, spilling its occupants into the swift current. The sight threw the rest of the boys into panic, according to eyewitnesses, and two more of the light canoes were overturned by the whirlpool. In spite of all being qualified swimmers, the boys frantically fought to grab branches of trees or swim to shore. One by one the other three canoes capsized. The two drowned boys were in one of the lead canoes. After the canoe carrying Mr Coe and Scout Ross [Fuller] capsized, they both grabbed the branches. Mr Coe then said 'I'm all right, I'll swim for it,' according to the scout. Fuller hung onto the canoe after it went over but had trouble keeping his grip. Several times he was forced underwater and was finally saved when a motorist from the nearby highway helped him from the water. Mr Coe plunged back into the icy waters in a vain attempt to save the two boys. After he went in the second time, Mr Watson said, he failed to come back. The surviving official dove into the creek several times in an attempt to save the same youth Mr Coe was trying to reach. The section of the creek is considered the most treacherous in the entire length of the waterway. The depth of the channel where the accident occurred is between 12 and 35 feet. Ralph Manross, a farmer at whose place the scouts had camped on Friday night, called the Stancliff Hose Co of Waterford after the tragedy for aid. Mr Watson and Scout Fuller had hailed a passing car to get to the Manross home. In a matter of minutes, volunteer firemen were searching all along French Creek for the survivors. They were joined shortly by State Police. Within 10 minutes, Fire Chief Rex Scott said, there were more than 100 volunteers looking for the bodies. Volunteers from Cambridge Springs, Meadville, Edinboro and Mill Village joined the others in the grim search. Four of the five canoes were found within an hour. The survivors were taken to Manor Tavern where a first aid station was set up. Mr Watson returned to the creek and remained there for more than an hour, praying and waiting for the others to be found. In spite of trying to remain calm, he broke into hysterical sobs as he awaited the news of all his charges. According to E T Spangler, executive officer of the Scout Council, the creek was calm when the canoes were launched. His statement said Mr Coe, who was scoutmaster of Troop 3 in Union City, and Mr Watson decided that the creek was rising and had ordered the canoes to shore just before the first craft capsized. The drowned scoutmaster, he said, was a veteran leader of a number of canoe trips. He was a nephew of L F Thayer, telegraph and sports editor of The Titusville Herald. Several youths did not make the trip. One of them, Dennis Kennedy, 14, son of Mr and Mrs George Kennedy of Union City, RD 2, came down with the measles last Wednesday and could not make the trip. He was scheduled to ride in the same canoe with Mr Coe." (Titusville Herald, May 14, 1956, pp.2, 8)

Parents

Family ID: F00592 Group Sheet  |  Family Chart  

Father	Stanley Stephen SADOSKI (ID:I539034091),   b. 5 Apr 1916, Erie, Erie, Pennsylvania, USA d. 14 Jul 2006, Erie, Erie, Pennsylvania, USA (Age 90 years)
Relationship	Birth
Mother	Harriet KOSINSKI (ID:I1647),   b. 23 Jun 1916, Erie, Erie, Pennsylvania, USA d. 2 Dec 2012, Erie, Erie, Pennsylvania, USA (Age 96 years)
Relationship	Birth
Marriage	22 May 1939	Erie, Erie, Pennsylvania, USA   [3]
Children	1. Robert J. SADOSKI (ID:I877) (current person) ,   b. 11 Jan 1942, Erie, Erie, Pennsylvania, USA d. 20 May 1956, French Creek, Le Boeuf, Pennsylvania, USA (Age 14 years) + 2. Living (ID:I539034415)   3. Living (ID:I539034470)

Other Personal Events

Census	1950	Erie, Erie, Pennsylvania, USA   [2]
Image Transcript Ln Hhold Given Surname Relation Gender Race BirthDate Age Status BirthPlace BirthPlace of Father BirthPlace of Mother Immigration Year Occupation Veteran Street 22 128 Stanley S Sadoski Head Male White 1916 34 Married Pennsylvania Poland USA Tool Designer Gas Meter Factory No E. 8th 23 128 Harriet A Sadoski Wife Female White 1916 34 Married Pennsylvania E. 8th 24 128 Robert J Sadoski Son Male White 1942 8 Never Marrie Pennsylvania E. 8th 25 128 Thomas M Sadoski Son Male White 1947 3 Never Marrie Pennsylvania E. 8th  NARA Pub:  NAID: 432908  Roll:  3757  ED:  72-22  Sheet:  12    Enumerated:  12 Apr 1950   Transcript ID is  dbid=62308&iid=43290879-Pennsylvania-140254-0013
Origins
Patriarch & Matriarch	Joseph J. SADOWSKI,   b. 19 Mar 1892, Poland d. 4 May 1939, Erie, Erie, Pennsylvania, USA  (Age 47 years)  (Grandfather)  Józefa PIATKOWSKI,   b. 1850, Poland d. Yes, date unknown  (Great Grandmother)

Photos

At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.

Headstones

Robert J Sadowski

Birth and Death Certificates

Death Certificate Robert J Sadoski




Event Map

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	Birth - 11 Jan 1942 - Erie, Erie, Pennsylvania, USA Census - 1950 - Erie, Erie, Pennsylvania, USA Died - 20 May 1956 - French Creek, Le Boeuf, Pennsylvania, USA Buried - 23 May 1956 - Mount of Olives Cemetery, Erie, Erie, Pennsylvania, USA  = Link to Google Earth

Reference

Mark and Amy Kosinski. "Robert J. SADOSKI". Four Branches Genealogy. http://www.fourbranches.org/tng/getperson.php?personID=I877&tree=mhkr (accessed May 14, 2024).

Source Citations