Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1882-02-08

ING THE NORTH BRANCH OF THE
SHENANDOAH RIVER UPON A FOOT
LOG,
Uue of the most horrible accidents
| which it has been our province to record
for long time, occurred at Broadway
| iu this county, on Monday morning last
about 9, O'Clock, by which three girls
lost their lives while attempting to cross
the north branch of the Shenandoah
river.
The young girls, by name,, Mary
Fadely, aged 81 or 22years' and julia
Fadely, aged IA years, and Leana Wit
aged about II years, had left their
homes in what is known as Hottlnger
Hollow, some seven miles northwest o!
Broadway, on Friday last, to visit
friends near New Market, Shenandoah
county. in what IS known as the 'Mash,'
and on Sunday evening had returned
and stayed all night at Mr.. Benjamin
Willis, an uncle Of one of the untortun-
ate girls, who resides about one-half
mile from Broadway. On Monday
morning they had started on thels jour-
new home, and instead of crossing the
river at the bridge, as they had done
in going down they determined to cross
at foot-log between the residences OF
Capt. J, F. Branuer and Samuel Bran
son (colored) in order to shorten their
walk, the bridge being in less direct
route. They had arrived at the foot-log
aud The two elder girls, Miss Fadely and
Miss Wilt, had crossed with some slight
bundles they were carrying, but the
younger girl was afraid to venture upon
the log alone, aud the two returned to
assist her. They each took her by the
hand and they all three started across,
side stepping.
Capt. John c. Sprinkle, OF Brooks
GAP, who was coming into Broadway
for the purpose of taking the train, saw
the whole affair and says that when
about the middle Of the stream (Which
lis about twenty feet from bank to bank
at this point) they all seemed TO lose
their balance and fell into the current
together. The stream was somewhat
swollen and the water was about 3 teet
deep and very swift. AS soon as they
fell Capt. Sprinkle and gentleman who
was with him, whose name We have not
been able 10 learn, threw off their coats
and ran down to the river as fast as
thew could with "A view to resculng them
| if possible, but so rapid was the cure Mt
they were swept down the eddles about
| 100 yards below, and but one OF the
girls were seen distinctly by these gen .
tlemen after they were precipated into
the water. This was the younger OF
the three, who seemed 10 have gotten
a foot-hol1 and screamed loudly for
help. Capt. s., who was some distance
from her, beckoned her TO come to-
wards him, but whether through fright
or inability, she made no apparent effort
to obey him, but threw her hands franti-
callg above her head and fell backward
in the current TO rise no more. Her
body foated down the river opposite
Capt. Branner's residence, where she
was rescued perhaps half hour later.
The last seen Of the other two girls
alive they were beng swiftly swept
down the ri file, still clinging TO each
others hand, to the eddies below where
they were speedily drowned. The body
of the elder Miss FadelY was found
about one bout after the accident, but
the body of Miss Wilt, from our latest
information, (about O'Clock p. n.
Monday,) had not been recovered,
though the citizens Of the town had turn
ed out en- naaSse aud we're dragging the
river in every direction.
Every effort was made 10 resuscitate
the younger girl who was first rescued,
but TO no avail.
The father OF the Fadely girls is, we
understand, employed at the Columbia
furnace, IN Shenandoah county, and
together with his youngest daughter,
made his home at Mr.. VIM. Williams,
near the dividing line between this and
Shenandoah counties, his wife being
dead. The eldest daughter hYed with
a Mrs. Regina Delllnger, in Hottinger
Hollow. and Miss Wilt lived with her
Grandmother in the same locality. The
people OF the quiet little Town OF Broad
way were thrown into fever Of excite
ment and did everything in thell
power TO rescue the victims, but to nc
effect.
The girls were, so far as We know
most respectable people, and their, un'
timely death is universally regretted.
| We are under obligations to our friends,
Is. B. Few, Esq, who resides in Broad
way, for the particulars as given above,
Since the above was put in type, w(
learn that the body of Miss Wilt was
found on Tuesday morning, about one
mile below the scene Of the accident.
The bodies were buried at County
Tine Church on Wednesday, Rock
Register.