The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1872-06-27

MARION CoUNTY-The Voter has the
particulars of terrible accident by which
Byron N. Whitehead and wife lost their
lives by drowning in Whitebreast creek, 8
miles from Knoxville. Mr.. Whitehead and
his wife left their home, near Gosport, Sat
urday morning, 9Th inst. in a two horse
wagon, to 60 to Wheeling, expecting to be
gone till the Thursday following. Mr..
Hugh Thompson, and we believe Mrs. Lit
tie, who live in that vicinity, saw them as
they passed-the last that was seen of them
alive The last words Mr.. Whitehead's
mother had said to him, were caution to
him about the ford, as the creek was very
high and the crossing dangerous; and he
that if there was any trouble he would
send her word. Last Thursday morning.
Mr. Storer's boys, who were out fishing,
saw the hol SEES in the creek, and called Mr..
Rambo and others, who Immediately be-
gan the search, and soon found the bodies
of Mr.. and Mrs. Whitehead, lodged in the
creek some 100 yards below the ford. The
Coroner held an inquest Thursday after
noon. The bodies were swollen and dis
figured so that Identification was impossi.
BILE. The verdict rendered was, death on
the morning of the 9Th, between o and 10
O'Clock, by accidental drowning in attempt
ing to cross Whitebreast creek at Mulky's
ford with two horses and wagon" After
removing from the deceased the rings,
pocket knife, and such other articles of
personal property as were necessary to
help future Identification, the gentlemen
present inferred the remains with religious
care in the beautiful Aldrich Cemetery, in
that neighborhood, and then returned to
their homes. AS soon as the news of the
terrible accident became known, the neigh
bors Of the deceased, hearing the descrip-
tons given, felt sure that the unfortunate
couple must be Mr.. Whitehead and his
wife. Steps were Immediately taken to
ascertain positively and in short time
the identity was established beyond the
possibility of doubt. The parents and
friends were overwhelmed with anguish !;
and the sympathies of our entire people
are with them in their great sorrow. The
precise manner in which the fatal accident
occurred can never be positively known.
The crossing st Mulky's ford is the worst
or. the whole creek, crooked, and at all
times dangerous /; and on that Saturday
morning the creek was very high. 1t is
supposed that the wagon must have been
overturned by the curr ent, and its occu-
pants and the team thrown into deep
place just below the crossing. and held
there until drowned. This theory is sus-
tanned by the position of the running gears
of the wagon when discovered. The trunk
belonging to the deceased, which they
were taking with them, was not found I'M
til Sunday last and coat, robe. and the
spring seat Of the wagon were still missing.
The deceased Byron Newton Whitehead
was the SON of Mr.. o. w. Whitehead, of
Washington Tp., and he would have been
20 years old on the 30th of next month.
He embraced religion when IA years of
age and at the time of his death was
member of the Presbyterian church at Co.
Iumbia. He had been teacher for some
wears, but was working his fathers farm
this summer. He was married last Christ
mas day to Ida May Marshall, daughter of
Mr. George Marshall OF Knoxville. Her
age was 90 on the 18th of last September.
She professed religion between the ages OF
10 and IA years and when she died was
member of the Presbyterian church In
Knoxville. Both of the deceased were ex-
ceilen. young people, exemplary in their
conduct, and possessed the esteem OF all
who knew them.