The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1883-06-28
A WATERY GRAVE.

tonWOod River ae Columbia Ford.
The mournful intelligence of the
drowning of Mrs. Michael Willis, in the
Cottonwood river at Columbia ford on
last Saturday evening. viii be received
with profound sadness by all who en-
joyed the privilege OF knowing that
estimable lady. The circumstances of
the melancholy event as related by her
SON, w. B. Willis, who was with his
mother when she met her terrible fate,
are as follows:
Their home, as is known by all of the
older inhabitants of Emporia, is located
on the south bank of the Cottonwood
river st Columbia Ford, and has always
attracted attention by reason of the care
full manner in which if is kept and the
beautiful appearance of the fields sur
rounding the house. The mother and
! son had driven TO Emporia IN the after
noon to do their usual Saturdays trad
ing, and in crossing the river coming to
the city, the water had run into the
wagon bed, but nothing was thought of
this as they had forded the river
many times before when 1t was
at that stage. In returning home at
abOUt O'Clock in the evening, the son,
upon approaching the river, remarked
! that lac thought it had raised somewhat,
and suggested the expediency of turning
around and going home by way of the
bridge at Soden's mill. As this Is quite
trip, the mother objected and urged
her son TO try the ford. saying that she
had crossed it quite often when the wa
ter was fully as high as it was at the time
in question. Yielding to her persua-
sions he drove in but before reaching the
middle of the swollen stream the water
began to flow over the top Of the wagon
bed. The mother, becoming terrified,
threw her arms about the neck of her
son, clinging TO him with the despera-
ton born of imminent peril, and thus
encountered he let loose his hold on the
reins, the team and wagon drilled into
the deep water with the curr ent and the
occupants of the vehicle were borne
down the swift flowing channel, she
still clinging TO his neck and he gallant
lY swimming some fifty yards, bearing
his mother with him, and. finally
reaching the bank OF the river, ana
grasping hold of small shrub growing
upon the high bank, which, alas, treach-
erously gave way, and as the two went
down again into the water the mother,
from sheer exhaustion, relinquished her
hold, and was seen no more.
The team, becoming detached from
the wagon, swan ashore, making the
landing a considerable distance below
the ford, while the wagon floatcd down
the current and has not been recovered.
One of the horses which Mr..
Willis was driving was young animal,
and became frightened when it reached
the deep water, but the older animal
kept his feet until Mr.. Willis was oblig-
ed to let go of the lines, and would, the
driver said, have brought them safe 10
shore had it not been for the fact that
his mother, in her terror, incapacItated
him for giving his attention to the
horses.
Mrs. John Williams, of Dry creek,
with single buggy, had driven in the
river just in front OF the WillIses, but
when she found that the stream had
risen she succeeded in an almost mar
velOus manner, in turning around and
retracing her way, thus probably saving
herself from the fate which awaited
Mrs. Willis.
The news OF the shocking occurrence
soon reached the city, and it was net
long before search for the body was
instituted and the work of dredging the |
river was prosecuted during the night, |
and all day yesterday, without avail,
though large number of boats were
brought INTO requisition, and sympa- |
thiZing friends gathered from far and |
near to aid in the efforts of recovering |
the mortal remains of one who was so |
greatly beloved and universally es-
teemed.
This. mournful work was resumed to-
day. and the river was dragged for the |
length of mile below the ford, but par
ties who came from the home of the de- |
ceased this afternoon report that the
search had proved fruitless, and it is
feared the body cannot be recovered un-
I'll the river goes down.
U.H,o rRo.1,,