| The Famous LITTLE BOHEMIA LODGE |
In 1929, Emil Wanatka purchased land and built the Little Bohemia Lodge, located off Highway 51, in
Manitowish Waters, Wisconsin. When Wanatka needed advice on legal matters he would contact attorney
Louis Piquett, who happened to also be John Dillinger's legal counsel. There was a connection between
Piquett, Wanatka and Dillinger. Could it just be a coincidence that Louis Piquett represented both Emil
Wanatka and John Dillinger? Is it also just a coincidence that Dillinger happened to choose the Little
Bohemia Lodge for a vacation spot? No.
It seems highly improbable that Dillinger would pick this particular lodge, without prior knowledge that
Piquett and Wanatka were old acquaintances. Besides, It is no secret that Piquett had helped Dillinger in the
past. He provided Dillinger with the wooden gun for the infamous Crown Point Break. He arranged several
hideouts for the outlaw, one of which was at the residence of Jimmy Probasco in Chicago. Piquett had
known Probasco for some twenty years and knew he could be trusted. Piquett also arranged plastic surgery
for Dillinger by Dr. Wilhelm Loeser. Dr. Loeser was a crooked underworld doctor who had served three
years in Leavenworth Penitentiary on narcotic charges. Later the truth would surface and the Illinois
Supreme Court disbarred Piquett for harboring Dillinger gangster Homer Van Meter. Piquett lost his license
to practice law; he was ordered to serve a two-year jail term and pay a fine of $10,000.
Piquett may have made some type of prearranged agreement with Wanatka to help Dillinger. Business had
slow during the year and Wanatka was struggling to pay off his mortgage. Dillinger paid Wanatka $500 rent
for three days at Little Bohemia, which is equal to $5600 in today’s standards. This was a great deal of
money for a three-day visit, which suggests that Wanatka probably knew Dillinger’s identity in advance.
The high dollar amount was common for criminals on the run and in need of a hideout. Piquett may have
negotiated this dollar amount, paid to Wanatka. Either way, Wanatka agreed in advance to let the gangster’s
stay at his resort for a generous fee. Wanatka would wait until Dillinger paid him the $500, before his wife,
Mrs. Wanatka contacted the FBI. The outlaws were worth a considerably large amount of money.
Dillinger's reward alone was an astonishing $10,000. This was a lot of money in 1934, and would have
helped Wanatka considerably. Perhaps this was part of a plan conspired by Wanatka to rid himself of any
wrongdoing, and collect the reward in the process. Wanatka knew he could have been charged with
harboring a criminal, which was a serious offense. This may have been why he had second thoughts about
his guests. Wanatka knew the risks involved, but he also knew about the rewards offered for the gang.
Wanatka later described a couple of the outlaws as unfriendly, and one of them was a really mean looking
man. This may have been the one reason why Wanatka double-crossed Dillinger and contacted the FBI.
Another reason would have undoubtedly been the money that he stands to gain. Later, when the smoke
cleared and the outlaws were long gone, Wanatka would convey a fable to the FBI to cover all his bases. If
the FBI would have thoroughly investigated Wanatka, I'm sure the agents would have discovered several
discrepancies in his story.
It historical event began Friday, April 20,1934 with the first members of the gang arriving at the Little
Bohemia Lodge. They arrived in the afternoon and Emil Wanatka came out to greet them. Three people got
out of the car, Homer Van Meter, his girlfriend Marie Comforti and gang associate Pat Reilly. An employee
of the Lodge stated one of the outlaws (probably Homer Van Meter) called out to Wanatka saying, "Hello
Emil." Van Meter had been sent ahead to check things out and make certain that no Federal agents were
snooping around. Van Meter approached Wanatka and asked if the Lodge was serving lunch? Wanatka
replied yes, and invited them into the Lodge. After lunch Van Meter asked if Wanatka had room to put up
ten guests for a few days. Wanatka was delighted, and showed his outlaw guests to their rooms. George
Baszo and Frank Traube (employees of the lodge) carried the luggage into the Lodge. Baszo remarked to
Wanatka that one suitcase was so heavy that it felt like it had lead in it. Wanatka told Baszo to mind his own
business. Van Meter told Wanatka that the rest of the guests would be arriving later that day. Wanatka’s
guest played slot machines and fed the dogs, while awaiting Dillinger and the others. Around 5:00 p.m.,
Dillinger arrived with the rest of the party in two separate cars. Along with Dillinger were John Hamilton,
Pat Cherrington, Tommy Carroll and his wife Jean Delaney, Baby Face Nelson and his wife Helen Gillis.
Wanatka noticed that all of the guests were well dressed and very polite. Dillinger and some of the other
gang members took rooms on the upper portion of the lodge. Dillinger's room was the first on the left just
at the top of the stairway. Hamilton and Pat Cherrington took a room at the end of the hall on the left side.
Van Meter and Comforti took a room on the right across from Hamilton. Baby Face Nelson, Helen Gillis,
Tommy Carroll and Jean Delaney took rooms in the cottage to the right of the lodge. An hour later the
guests were served steak for dinner. After dinner the guests unpacked and settled in their rooms. Some of
the party went out for a walk to check out the best possible escape routes for a quick getaway. The main
entrance to Little Bohemia was the only exit, which the gang seen as a risk. Police could easily block off the
road and the outlaws would be trapped. After talking it over, everyone agreed the best escape route would
be along the shore banks of the lake. Everyone except Baby Face Nelson; he had his own ideas. Besides, he
didn't like taking orders from anyone. Later that evening some of the party relaxed, while others played
some hands of poker.
Wanatka joined in to play a few hands but soon declined because the stakes were too high. Wanatka later
recalled, when Dillinger leaned over to collect his winnings, he noticed two forty-five automatic’s concealed
beneath his coat. Wanatka must have been mistaken, because there is undeniable evidence that Dillinger was
always partial to .38 revolvers throughout his career. Furthermore, forty-five automatic’s weren't that
popular in the early nineteen thirties. Even the FBI carried .38 revolvers. Perhaps Wanatka had seen the two
forty-five revolvers carried by Baby Face Nelson. Wanatka also stated he soon noticed that all of the men
were packing guns. After noticing the guns, he grew suspicious of his guests. He went into the kitchen and
looked through some newspapers where he found several pictures of Dillinger. That evening, Wanatka and
his wife couldn’t sleep. Throughout the night they heard constant sounds of feet walking up and down the
hallway, keys jiggling, and the dogs barking outside. After a restless night Wanatka got up early to find that
Tommy Carroll was already up and about.
Carroll told Wanatka that he really slept well and asked, "How bout some breakfast?" Wanatka asked him to
wake up the rest of the party, and he’ll start breakfast. Carroll went up the stairs and woke everyone. Later
when Dillinger was alone, Wanatka confronted him and said he recognized his picture in the newspapers.
Wanatka told Dillinger that his home and his family was all he had, and he didn’t want any trouble. Wanatka
said that Dillinger responded in a calm and friendly manner assuring him that there would not be any
trouble. He went on to say that the boys needed some rest and would only be staying a short while.
Although Wanatka seemed to be a man who could be trusted, the gang kept their eyes and ears open. In
Dillinger's line of business he had to be extremely cautious of people around him. While Dillinger always
seemed to be cool and calm, the rest of the gang members were uneasy and nervous. When the phone
would ring there was always someone close by trying to ease drop. When a guest or visitor would arrive at
the lodge Wanatka would be asked, Who's that? Do you know this person? Dillinger knew Wanatka was
worried, and he kept trying to cheer him up. Dillinger even played Wanatka's favorite game of Pinochle.
After breakfast Wanatka was asked if he owned a gun? He replied that he had a .22 rifle and everyone went
outside to target practice. A tin can was set up on a snow bank and everyone took turns shooting the rifle
until it jammed.
Dillinger asked Van Meter to get one of their rifles out of the car. Wanatka claimed that only he and Van
Meter were good enough to hit the target. Meanwhile, eight-year-old Emil Wanatka Jr. was throwing a
baseball and playing catch with Baby Face Nelson, but eventually quit playing because Nelson was throwing
the ball too hard. Mrs. Wanatka had planned to take Emil Jr. to a cousin’s birthday party at the home of her
brother, George Laporte. The Party was also a good excuse to leave for a while and ask relatives for advice
on contacting the authorities. Mrs. Wanatka walked up to Dillinger, who was sitting at the card table, and
asked him for permission to drive Emil Jr. to the event. Dillinger put his trust in Mrs. Wanatka and gave her
the Okay. He told her to just continue her normal routines. The women in the gang offered to do the
cooking and cleaning, while she attended the party. This act of good faith doesn't sound like a family being
held hostage and terrorized by the outlaws, as Wanatka would later tell Authorities. Although Dillinger
seemed to trust Mrs. Wanatka, she thought someone was following her during the journey.
She was right; Baby Face Nelson had been following her. Nelson was the suspicious one of the gang, and
this time he had good reason. Mrs. Wanatka drove to Manitowish to pick up her brother Lloyd Laporte, and
then headed to Mercer to mail a letter addressed to George Fisher, the Assistant District Attorney of
Chicago. In the letter there was a statement informing Fisher that Dillinger was at the Lodge. At the party,
Mrs. Wanatka discussed the situation with her Brother in-laws Henry Voss, Lloyd, and George Laporte. A
plan was put into action. Voss would to call the Milwaukee Police Department on Sunday, if Emil Wanatka
agreed with the plan. A pack of cigarettes with a note hidden inside would give Lloyd the answer early
Sunday morning, and Voss would make the call. To avoid the possibility of being followed by gang
members, Voss would then drive sixty miles away to make the phone call. Milwaukee Police told Voss to
also contact Special Agent Melvin Purvis of the FBI in Chicago. Around ten o'clock in the morning, Pat
Reilly and Pat Cherrington drove to St. Paul to pickup $2,500 from a night club owner. The man whose
identity is unknown was holding close to $10,000 for Homer Van Meter for safekeeping. Voss spoke with
Purvis, the G-man announced that he would be chartering two airplanes full of agents to Rhinelander
Airport. Purvis requested that Voss meet agents at the airport and he agreed. The Little Bohemia Raid was
beginning to take effect. Agents in the surrounding communities were also summoned to join forces and
assist in the raid.
Hoover put Assistant Director Hugh Clegg in charge of the operation, which made Purvis second in charge.
This was Hoover's way to keep Purvis out of the public’s eye. But regardless of what Hoover tried to do
about Purvis, he was running the show at the Little Bohemia Lodge. Snow was falling, when Purvis arrived
at Rhinelander Airport; other Forces were already waiting along with Voss and Laporte. Back at the lodge
Dillinger told Wanatka that he had a change of plans and decided to check out as soon as Pat Reilly
returned. This was a Dillinger trademark, he was known for changing his plans at the last minute. This
move would often leave police officers disarranged. Dillinger requested an early dinner of steak and garlic to
be served at 4:00 p.m. Mrs. Wanatka needed to tell Henry Voss' wife that Dillinger had a change of plans,
so she could get word to her husband. She invited Mrs. Voss into the kitchen and told to help herself to
some meat in the freezer, because she had bought too much. In the kitchen, Mrs. Wanatka told her Dillinger
was about to leave. Mrs. Voss jumped into her car, and raced to Rhinelander Airport without a moment to
waste. Meanwhile, Purvis was busy trying to get the agents organized for the raid. They seemed to have a
big problem; the agents only had one car. A few of the agents were sent out on a mission to find cars for
rent. The raid was set for Monday morning; Purvis had Dillinger right where he wanted him, except for
some minor details and planning to achieve a surprise attack. A short time later, Mrs. Voss arrived, and
gave her husband the news. Then she telephoned Mrs. Wanatka and persuaded her to leave the lodge
immediately. The news made Purvis worried, he knew he had to act fast. He learned that even if agents left
immediately, they wouldn't arrive until 8:00 p.m., and Dillinger would probably be long gone. Finally four
more cars were located, bringing the total to five. Voss drew Purvis a quick diagram of the lodge; leaving
out some very important details, such as a ditch on the left side of the lodge, and a barbwire fence on the
right. Voss also forgot to inform Purvis that Mrs. Wanatka had two very alert watchdogs. It was a just
after 7 p.m., before agents left the Rhinelander airport in route to Little Bohemia. The roads were bad,
covered with melted snow, mud, and several holes. Two of the cars broke down along the way and were
left behind. Several agents had to ride on the running boards of the three remaining cars. Agents eventually
arrived at the Birchwood Lodge, only a couple miles from Little Bohemia. While agents were at the
Birchwood Lodge Purvis received word that Dillinger had not left yet. Agents then headed out to Little
Bohemia. As they drew closer to the entrance of the Lodge, Purvis ordered headlights of the cars turned off
and all cigarettes put out.
The night was pitch dark and the air was cool with patches of snow falling on the ground. Two cars were
used to block the entrance of the lodge to prevent any possible escape attempt. Agents proceeded on foot,
walking quietly through the woods. As they reached the lodge, Purvis gave orders to spread out and take
positions. Protected by bulletproof
vests, and armed machineguns, revolvers and tear gas, agents surrounded the residence.
Suddenly, Mrs. Wanatka's dogs began barking hysterically at agents. Inside the Lodge, two Civilian
Conservation Corporation (CCC workers), and a salesman named John Hoffman had just finished their
Sunday dinner and were about to leave. The two CCC workers were John Morris and Eugene Boisneau.
The three men walked out carrying rifles and got into a 1933 Chevrolet coupe. George Baszo and Frank
Traube followed the trio outside to the porch. Hoffman was driving; Boisneau sat in the middle with Morris
sitting on the passenger side. As Hoffman started the vehicle the radio blasted on loudly, they began driving
away. The men drove towards the entrance to Little Bohemia, which was blocked by agents. Believing the
trio was Dillinger and members of the gang; agents commanded the car to "Halt!"
The occupants of the fleeing vehicle couldn't hear the order with the radio blasting and the falling snow
dimmed their vision. Agents opened fire and bullets tore through the steel of the vehicle hitting its
occupants. Later, Purvis would claim that agents meant to shoot at the tires, but all the bullets hit the middle
and upper portion of the car. Morris
climbed out the right door of the car and stumbled through the dark until he reached the kitchen porch of
the lodge. He had been shot four times by FBI bullets. Hoffman who had also been wounded jumped from
the car, and fled into the woods. Boisneau was mortally wounded, and would die from his wounds. At the
time Dillinger playing cards, he
heard the dogs barking but paid little attention. It was not until shots were fired before the outlaws were
alerted.
Dillinger shut out the lights, ran upstairs with Van Meter to quickly grab money and weapons. Witnesses in
the Lodge later told agents that the outlaws never fired a shot during their escape from Little Bohemia. Van
Meter and Hamilton escaped out an upstairs window at the rear out the lodge. Forensics would argue that
Hamilton could not
have possibly jumped off the roof, after injuries he received on January 15, with shot four wounds to the
groin and the loss a finger. Reports stated that Dillinger ran down the stairs and escaped out an unguarded
back or side door. Wanatka, along with three women ran to the basement for cover. Moments later, Baszo
and Traube joined Wanatka in the basement, as agents opened fire on the lodge with a hailstorm of bullets.
The FBI surrounded the Little Bohemia Lodge on April 23, 1934, and opened fire after learning that Dillinger
was inside.
The nightmare had begun, as bullets ripped through the Lodge shattering windows and destroying
everything in its path. Pat Reilly and Pat Cherrington were just returning to the lodge from St.Paul, when
the shooting began. As Reilly approached the main entrance of
the lodge, federal agents appeared out of the dark. A fast thinking Reilly reacted by shutting off the
headlights, and jamming the car into reverse. He backed the car quickly onto the highway and spun the
wheels to freedom, followed by FBI bullets. In doing so, he blew a rear wheel but managed to escape. After
replacing the tire Reilly sped down
the road and got struck in the mud. A farmer helped Reilly get the car out of the mud and then the outlaw
headed for St. Paul. Dillinger, Van Meter, and Hamilton had slid down the steep shore banks at the rear of
the Lodge, and headed north along Little Star Lake. They ran through the woods in pitch darkness for
about a mile, and found their way to the highway on U.S. Route 51. The outlaws were in desperate need of
a car when spotted a Model T across the highway at Mitchell's Lodge. They knocked on the door at the
home of E.J. Mitchell and his wife. Mrs. Mitchell was very ill, and was lying on the couch when the
outlaws arrived. The elderly couple opened the door and was greeted by three men. One of the outlaws,
(Presumably Hamilton) asked if they could get a drink of water. As Mitchell let them in, Hamilton calmly
walked across the room and jerked the phone out of the wall.
Mrs. Mitchell recalled Dillinger as saying, "We don't want a drink, what we want is a car to make our
getaway, because the federal officers are after us. Now I'm John Dillinger but I don't want you to be afraid,
we're not going to hurt you any. We just came here to get a car, and I'm not as bad as they have me
pictured. Now mother don't be afraid." Mrs.
Mitchell described Dillinger as polite and the well mannered of the three men. The couple told Dillinger that
the Model T hadn't ran all winter. When they acquired about the 1930 Ford Coupe parked outside, Mitchell
told them the car belonged to Robert Johnson, who lived in a nearby cottage. Dillinger stayed with the
Mitchell’s, while Van Meter and
Hamilton paid Robert Johnson a visit. They knocked on the door and told Johnson that Mrs. Mitchell was ill
and needed a ride to the hospital. Johnson quickly dressed and raced out the door to find Van Meter
pointing a gun at him. He was ordered to drive the outlaws out of town.
Before leaving, Dillinger ordered everyone outside on the porch. Mitchell objected because his wife was too
ill, but Dillinger wrapped a blanket around Mrs. Mitchell, and helped her to the porch, before departing.
Tommy Carroll had also headed North along the shore banks; he tried to catch up with Dillinger but soon
realized he would have to make the escape alone. He walked two miles down the highway past Mitchell's
resort until he came to the Northern Lights Resort. He spotted a Packard parked just outside the lodge, hot-
wired the car and completely disappeared. Nelson, who could not refrain himself from battle with agents,
was the last outlaw to escape the resort. The hostile
outlaw grew angry with engaging agents, and became the aggressor and displaying extreme repugnance
against his assailants. Before departing, Nelson exchanged gunfire with Purvis and then disappeared into the
woods. After agents fired hundreds of rounds into the lodge for several hours, they heard a voice yell out
from the lodge. Someone
yelled, "Quit shooting and we'll come out!" Wanatka, Baszo, and Traube came out with their hands high in
the air, followed by John Morris, the wounded CCC worker. The gunfire stopped briefly to allow the three
women to exit the building. The women, Helen Gillis, Jean Delaney, and Marie Comforti came out shaken;
surrendered without any conflicts and were taken into custody. Dillinger and gang members had escaped
the FBI trap, but they left below an extraordinary reminder…hundreds of bullets holes remain in the resort
even today.
Manitowish Waters, Wisconsin. When Wanatka needed advice on legal matters he would contact attorney
Louis Piquett, who happened to also be John Dillinger's legal counsel. There was a connection between
Piquett, Wanatka and Dillinger. Could it just be a coincidence that Louis Piquett represented both Emil
Wanatka and John Dillinger? Is it also just a coincidence that Dillinger happened to choose the Little
Bohemia Lodge for a vacation spot? No.
It seems highly improbable that Dillinger would pick this particular lodge, without prior knowledge that
Piquett and Wanatka were old acquaintances. Besides, It is no secret that Piquett had helped Dillinger in the
past. He provided Dillinger with the wooden gun for the infamous Crown Point Break. He arranged several
hideouts for the outlaw, one of which was at the residence of Jimmy Probasco in Chicago. Piquett had
known Probasco for some twenty years and knew he could be trusted. Piquett also arranged plastic surgery
for Dillinger by Dr. Wilhelm Loeser. Dr. Loeser was a crooked underworld doctor who had served three
years in Leavenworth Penitentiary on narcotic charges. Later the truth would surface and the Illinois
Supreme Court disbarred Piquett for harboring Dillinger gangster Homer Van Meter. Piquett lost his license
to practice law; he was ordered to serve a two-year jail term and pay a fine of $10,000.
Piquett may have made some type of prearranged agreement with Wanatka to help Dillinger. Business had
slow during the year and Wanatka was struggling to pay off his mortgage. Dillinger paid Wanatka $500 rent
for three days at Little Bohemia, which is equal to $5600 in today’s standards. This was a great deal of
money for a three-day visit, which suggests that Wanatka probably knew Dillinger’s identity in advance.
The high dollar amount was common for criminals on the run and in need of a hideout. Piquett may have
negotiated this dollar amount, paid to Wanatka. Either way, Wanatka agreed in advance to let the gangster’s
stay at his resort for a generous fee. Wanatka would wait until Dillinger paid him the $500, before his wife,
Mrs. Wanatka contacted the FBI. The outlaws were worth a considerably large amount of money.
Dillinger's reward alone was an astonishing $10,000. This was a lot of money in 1934, and would have
helped Wanatka considerably. Perhaps this was part of a plan conspired by Wanatka to rid himself of any
wrongdoing, and collect the reward in the process. Wanatka knew he could have been charged with
harboring a criminal, which was a serious offense. This may have been why he had second thoughts about
his guests. Wanatka knew the risks involved, but he also knew about the rewards offered for the gang.
Wanatka later described a couple of the outlaws as unfriendly, and one of them was a really mean looking
man. This may have been the one reason why Wanatka double-crossed Dillinger and contacted the FBI.
Another reason would have undoubtedly been the money that he stands to gain. Later, when the smoke
cleared and the outlaws were long gone, Wanatka would convey a fable to the FBI to cover all his bases. If
the FBI would have thoroughly investigated Wanatka, I'm sure the agents would have discovered several
discrepancies in his story.
It historical event began Friday, April 20,1934 with the first members of the gang arriving at the Little
Bohemia Lodge. They arrived in the afternoon and Emil Wanatka came out to greet them. Three people got
out of the car, Homer Van Meter, his girlfriend Marie Comforti and gang associate Pat Reilly. An employee
of the Lodge stated one of the outlaws (probably Homer Van Meter) called out to Wanatka saying, "Hello
Emil." Van Meter had been sent ahead to check things out and make certain that no Federal agents were
snooping around. Van Meter approached Wanatka and asked if the Lodge was serving lunch? Wanatka
replied yes, and invited them into the Lodge. After lunch Van Meter asked if Wanatka had room to put up
ten guests for a few days. Wanatka was delighted, and showed his outlaw guests to their rooms. George
Baszo and Frank Traube (employees of the lodge) carried the luggage into the Lodge. Baszo remarked to
Wanatka that one suitcase was so heavy that it felt like it had lead in it. Wanatka told Baszo to mind his own
business. Van Meter told Wanatka that the rest of the guests would be arriving later that day. Wanatka’s
guest played slot machines and fed the dogs, while awaiting Dillinger and the others. Around 5:00 p.m.,
Dillinger arrived with the rest of the party in two separate cars. Along with Dillinger were John Hamilton,
Pat Cherrington, Tommy Carroll and his wife Jean Delaney, Baby Face Nelson and his wife Helen Gillis.
Wanatka noticed that all of the guests were well dressed and very polite. Dillinger and some of the other
gang members took rooms on the upper portion of the lodge. Dillinger's room was the first on the left just
at the top of the stairway. Hamilton and Pat Cherrington took a room at the end of the hall on the left side.
Van Meter and Comforti took a room on the right across from Hamilton. Baby Face Nelson, Helen Gillis,
Tommy Carroll and Jean Delaney took rooms in the cottage to the right of the lodge. An hour later the
guests were served steak for dinner. After dinner the guests unpacked and settled in their rooms. Some of
the party went out for a walk to check out the best possible escape routes for a quick getaway. The main
entrance to Little Bohemia was the only exit, which the gang seen as a risk. Police could easily block off the
road and the outlaws would be trapped. After talking it over, everyone agreed the best escape route would
be along the shore banks of the lake. Everyone except Baby Face Nelson; he had his own ideas. Besides, he
didn't like taking orders from anyone. Later that evening some of the party relaxed, while others played
some hands of poker.
Wanatka joined in to play a few hands but soon declined because the stakes were too high. Wanatka later
recalled, when Dillinger leaned over to collect his winnings, he noticed two forty-five automatic’s concealed
beneath his coat. Wanatka must have been mistaken, because there is undeniable evidence that Dillinger was
always partial to .38 revolvers throughout his career. Furthermore, forty-five automatic’s weren't that
popular in the early nineteen thirties. Even the FBI carried .38 revolvers. Perhaps Wanatka had seen the two
forty-five revolvers carried by Baby Face Nelson. Wanatka also stated he soon noticed that all of the men
were packing guns. After noticing the guns, he grew suspicious of his guests. He went into the kitchen and
looked through some newspapers where he found several pictures of Dillinger. That evening, Wanatka and
his wife couldn’t sleep. Throughout the night they heard constant sounds of feet walking up and down the
hallway, keys jiggling, and the dogs barking outside. After a restless night Wanatka got up early to find that
Tommy Carroll was already up and about.
Carroll told Wanatka that he really slept well and asked, "How bout some breakfast?" Wanatka asked him to
wake up the rest of the party, and he’ll start breakfast. Carroll went up the stairs and woke everyone. Later
when Dillinger was alone, Wanatka confronted him and said he recognized his picture in the newspapers.
Wanatka told Dillinger that his home and his family was all he had, and he didn’t want any trouble. Wanatka
said that Dillinger responded in a calm and friendly manner assuring him that there would not be any
trouble. He went on to say that the boys needed some rest and would only be staying a short while.
Although Wanatka seemed to be a man who could be trusted, the gang kept their eyes and ears open. In
Dillinger's line of business he had to be extremely cautious of people around him. While Dillinger always
seemed to be cool and calm, the rest of the gang members were uneasy and nervous. When the phone
would ring there was always someone close by trying to ease drop. When a guest or visitor would arrive at
the lodge Wanatka would be asked, Who's that? Do you know this person? Dillinger knew Wanatka was
worried, and he kept trying to cheer him up. Dillinger even played Wanatka's favorite game of Pinochle.
After breakfast Wanatka was asked if he owned a gun? He replied that he had a .22 rifle and everyone went
outside to target practice. A tin can was set up on a snow bank and everyone took turns shooting the rifle
until it jammed.
Dillinger asked Van Meter to get one of their rifles out of the car. Wanatka claimed that only he and Van
Meter were good enough to hit the target. Meanwhile, eight-year-old Emil Wanatka Jr. was throwing a
baseball and playing catch with Baby Face Nelson, but eventually quit playing because Nelson was throwing
the ball too hard. Mrs. Wanatka had planned to take Emil Jr. to a cousin’s birthday party at the home of her
brother, George Laporte. The Party was also a good excuse to leave for a while and ask relatives for advice
on contacting the authorities. Mrs. Wanatka walked up to Dillinger, who was sitting at the card table, and
asked him for permission to drive Emil Jr. to the event. Dillinger put his trust in Mrs. Wanatka and gave her
the Okay. He told her to just continue her normal routines. The women in the gang offered to do the
cooking and cleaning, while she attended the party. This act of good faith doesn't sound like a family being
held hostage and terrorized by the outlaws, as Wanatka would later tell Authorities. Although Dillinger
seemed to trust Mrs. Wanatka, she thought someone was following her during the journey.
She was right; Baby Face Nelson had been following her. Nelson was the suspicious one of the gang, and
this time he had good reason. Mrs. Wanatka drove to Manitowish to pick up her brother Lloyd Laporte, and
then headed to Mercer to mail a letter addressed to George Fisher, the Assistant District Attorney of
Chicago. In the letter there was a statement informing Fisher that Dillinger was at the Lodge. At the party,
Mrs. Wanatka discussed the situation with her Brother in-laws Henry Voss, Lloyd, and George Laporte. A
plan was put into action. Voss would to call the Milwaukee Police Department on Sunday, if Emil Wanatka
agreed with the plan. A pack of cigarettes with a note hidden inside would give Lloyd the answer early
Sunday morning, and Voss would make the call. To avoid the possibility of being followed by gang
members, Voss would then drive sixty miles away to make the phone call. Milwaukee Police told Voss to
also contact Special Agent Melvin Purvis of the FBI in Chicago. Around ten o'clock in the morning, Pat
Reilly and Pat Cherrington drove to St. Paul to pickup $2,500 from a night club owner. The man whose
identity is unknown was holding close to $10,000 for Homer Van Meter for safekeeping. Voss spoke with
Purvis, the G-man announced that he would be chartering two airplanes full of agents to Rhinelander
Airport. Purvis requested that Voss meet agents at the airport and he agreed. The Little Bohemia Raid was
beginning to take effect. Agents in the surrounding communities were also summoned to join forces and
assist in the raid.
Hoover put Assistant Director Hugh Clegg in charge of the operation, which made Purvis second in charge.
This was Hoover's way to keep Purvis out of the public’s eye. But regardless of what Hoover tried to do
about Purvis, he was running the show at the Little Bohemia Lodge. Snow was falling, when Purvis arrived
at Rhinelander Airport; other Forces were already waiting along with Voss and Laporte. Back at the lodge
Dillinger told Wanatka that he had a change of plans and decided to check out as soon as Pat Reilly
returned. This was a Dillinger trademark, he was known for changing his plans at the last minute. This
move would often leave police officers disarranged. Dillinger requested an early dinner of steak and garlic to
be served at 4:00 p.m. Mrs. Wanatka needed to tell Henry Voss' wife that Dillinger had a change of plans,
so she could get word to her husband. She invited Mrs. Voss into the kitchen and told to help herself to
some meat in the freezer, because she had bought too much. In the kitchen, Mrs. Wanatka told her Dillinger
was about to leave. Mrs. Voss jumped into her car, and raced to Rhinelander Airport without a moment to
waste. Meanwhile, Purvis was busy trying to get the agents organized for the raid. They seemed to have a
big problem; the agents only had one car. A few of the agents were sent out on a mission to find cars for
rent. The raid was set for Monday morning; Purvis had Dillinger right where he wanted him, except for
some minor details and planning to achieve a surprise attack. A short time later, Mrs. Voss arrived, and
gave her husband the news. Then she telephoned Mrs. Wanatka and persuaded her to leave the lodge
immediately. The news made Purvis worried, he knew he had to act fast. He learned that even if agents left
immediately, they wouldn't arrive until 8:00 p.m., and Dillinger would probably be long gone. Finally four
more cars were located, bringing the total to five. Voss drew Purvis a quick diagram of the lodge; leaving
out some very important details, such as a ditch on the left side of the lodge, and a barbwire fence on the
right. Voss also forgot to inform Purvis that Mrs. Wanatka had two very alert watchdogs. It was a just
after 7 p.m., before agents left the Rhinelander airport in route to Little Bohemia. The roads were bad,
covered with melted snow, mud, and several holes. Two of the cars broke down along the way and were
left behind. Several agents had to ride on the running boards of the three remaining cars. Agents eventually
arrived at the Birchwood Lodge, only a couple miles from Little Bohemia. While agents were at the
Birchwood Lodge Purvis received word that Dillinger had not left yet. Agents then headed out to Little
Bohemia. As they drew closer to the entrance of the Lodge, Purvis ordered headlights of the cars turned off
and all cigarettes put out.
The night was pitch dark and the air was cool with patches of snow falling on the ground. Two cars were
used to block the entrance of the lodge to prevent any possible escape attempt. Agents proceeded on foot,
walking quietly through the woods. As they reached the lodge, Purvis gave orders to spread out and take
positions. Protected by bulletproof
vests, and armed machineguns, revolvers and tear gas, agents surrounded the residence.
Suddenly, Mrs. Wanatka's dogs began barking hysterically at agents. Inside the Lodge, two Civilian
Conservation Corporation (CCC workers), and a salesman named John Hoffman had just finished their
Sunday dinner and were about to leave. The two CCC workers were John Morris and Eugene Boisneau.
The three men walked out carrying rifles and got into a 1933 Chevrolet coupe. George Baszo and Frank
Traube followed the trio outside to the porch. Hoffman was driving; Boisneau sat in the middle with Morris
sitting on the passenger side. As Hoffman started the vehicle the radio blasted on loudly, they began driving
away. The men drove towards the entrance to Little Bohemia, which was blocked by agents. Believing the
trio was Dillinger and members of the gang; agents commanded the car to "Halt!"
The occupants of the fleeing vehicle couldn't hear the order with the radio blasting and the falling snow
dimmed their vision. Agents opened fire and bullets tore through the steel of the vehicle hitting its
occupants. Later, Purvis would claim that agents meant to shoot at the tires, but all the bullets hit the middle
and upper portion of the car. Morris
climbed out the right door of the car and stumbled through the dark until he reached the kitchen porch of
the lodge. He had been shot four times by FBI bullets. Hoffman who had also been wounded jumped from
the car, and fled into the woods. Boisneau was mortally wounded, and would die from his wounds. At the
time Dillinger playing cards, he
heard the dogs barking but paid little attention. It was not until shots were fired before the outlaws were
alerted.
Dillinger shut out the lights, ran upstairs with Van Meter to quickly grab money and weapons. Witnesses in
the Lodge later told agents that the outlaws never fired a shot during their escape from Little Bohemia. Van
Meter and Hamilton escaped out an upstairs window at the rear out the lodge. Forensics would argue that
Hamilton could not
have possibly jumped off the roof, after injuries he received on January 15, with shot four wounds to the
groin and the loss a finger. Reports stated that Dillinger ran down the stairs and escaped out an unguarded
back or side door. Wanatka, along with three women ran to the basement for cover. Moments later, Baszo
and Traube joined Wanatka in the basement, as agents opened fire on the lodge with a hailstorm of bullets.
The FBI surrounded the Little Bohemia Lodge on April 23, 1934, and opened fire after learning that Dillinger
was inside.
The nightmare had begun, as bullets ripped through the Lodge shattering windows and destroying
everything in its path. Pat Reilly and Pat Cherrington were just returning to the lodge from St.Paul, when
the shooting began. As Reilly approached the main entrance of
the lodge, federal agents appeared out of the dark. A fast thinking Reilly reacted by shutting off the
headlights, and jamming the car into reverse. He backed the car quickly onto the highway and spun the
wheels to freedom, followed by FBI bullets. In doing so, he blew a rear wheel but managed to escape. After
replacing the tire Reilly sped down
the road and got struck in the mud. A farmer helped Reilly get the car out of the mud and then the outlaw
headed for St. Paul. Dillinger, Van Meter, and Hamilton had slid down the steep shore banks at the rear of
the Lodge, and headed north along Little Star Lake. They ran through the woods in pitch darkness for
about a mile, and found their way to the highway on U.S. Route 51. The outlaws were in desperate need of
a car when spotted a Model T across the highway at Mitchell's Lodge. They knocked on the door at the
home of E.J. Mitchell and his wife. Mrs. Mitchell was very ill, and was lying on the couch when the
outlaws arrived. The elderly couple opened the door and was greeted by three men. One of the outlaws,
(Presumably Hamilton) asked if they could get a drink of water. As Mitchell let them in, Hamilton calmly
walked across the room and jerked the phone out of the wall.
Mrs. Mitchell recalled Dillinger as saying, "We don't want a drink, what we want is a car to make our
getaway, because the federal officers are after us. Now I'm John Dillinger but I don't want you to be afraid,
we're not going to hurt you any. We just came here to get a car, and I'm not as bad as they have me
pictured. Now mother don't be afraid." Mrs.
Mitchell described Dillinger as polite and the well mannered of the three men. The couple told Dillinger that
the Model T hadn't ran all winter. When they acquired about the 1930 Ford Coupe parked outside, Mitchell
told them the car belonged to Robert Johnson, who lived in a nearby cottage. Dillinger stayed with the
Mitchell’s, while Van Meter and
Hamilton paid Robert Johnson a visit. They knocked on the door and told Johnson that Mrs. Mitchell was ill
and needed a ride to the hospital. Johnson quickly dressed and raced out the door to find Van Meter
pointing a gun at him. He was ordered to drive the outlaws out of town.
Before leaving, Dillinger ordered everyone outside on the porch. Mitchell objected because his wife was too
ill, but Dillinger wrapped a blanket around Mrs. Mitchell, and helped her to the porch, before departing.
Tommy Carroll had also headed North along the shore banks; he tried to catch up with Dillinger but soon
realized he would have to make the escape alone. He walked two miles down the highway past Mitchell's
resort until he came to the Northern Lights Resort. He spotted a Packard parked just outside the lodge, hot-
wired the car and completely disappeared. Nelson, who could not refrain himself from battle with agents,
was the last outlaw to escape the resort. The hostile
outlaw grew angry with engaging agents, and became the aggressor and displaying extreme repugnance
against his assailants. Before departing, Nelson exchanged gunfire with Purvis and then disappeared into the
woods. After agents fired hundreds of rounds into the lodge for several hours, they heard a voice yell out
from the lodge. Someone
yelled, "Quit shooting and we'll come out!" Wanatka, Baszo, and Traube came out with their hands high in
the air, followed by John Morris, the wounded CCC worker. The gunfire stopped briefly to allow the three
women to exit the building. The women, Helen Gillis, Jean Delaney, and Marie Comforti came out shaken;
surrendered without any conflicts and were taken into custody. Dillinger and gang members had escaped
the FBI trap, but they left below an extraordinary reminder…hundreds of bullets holes remain in the resort
even today.
| JD was here. |
| copyright little bohemia lodge, inc. 2011 no use without permission photos used with permission of fbi and rightsholders |
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