Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-07-18
ATERRIBLE OCCURRENCE.
Drowned in Sight of n Multitude in
One of the BayOus Near Memphis.
Memphis Appeal


1t is common enough to hear oil
children drowning in the numerous
bayous and OtEer streams II and about
the city, but rare indeed that these ac
cidents are accompanied by the same
terrible details as surrounded a case
occurring in the central part of the
city a little after noon. About the
hour mentioned mulatto child nam
ed Minnie Jackson, while picking her
way along the slippery edge of the
bayou near Linden street, slipped and
fell into the stream, and was instant
ly swept away from the bank and out
into the current. Her cries for help
attracted the attention of number OF
persons to the neighborhood, but they
were powerless to help her, as the cur
rent was very swift and the banks in.
accessible. The alarm spread rapidly
down the bayou, but not in time to
save the child. The current, swollen
by the heavy rains, was as swift as
mill tail" and the stream in many
places very deep. The child sank
once before passing under the Beale
street bridge, but rose again to the
surface fifty yards further down the
stream. 1t passed under the bridge
With almost incredible rapidity in
plain view of over one hundred peo-
pie, who stood on the bridge and on
top of the steep banks on either side
Floating around the bend, it neared
the west bank, and seemed about to
lodge, but was again swept out into
the middle of the stream and carried
beyond Gayoso street, where 1t disap-
poared. The police station was tele-
phoned, and while Sergeant Kuhn
hoiz ran down to the Adams street
bridge, Capt. O'Haver rode to the
mouth of Wolf river, in the hope of
stopping the body should efforts to de
tain it further up be unsuccessful
Chief Davis tells a graphic story OF
the chase. He said lie was standing
near the Beale street bridge, when he
heard that child had fallen into the
BAYOU south of the bridge, and was
being swept down the stream. 1t ap-
peared moment later, passed under
the bridge, and appeared upon the
surface beyond. He gained the bank
of the bayou, which at that point is
very high and almost perpendicular,
and at the moment the child passed
rapidly by. From where he stood it
was impossible for him to reach it,
and he called on two negroes who
were standing on the opposite bank,
within two feet of the water at point
where the bank is low and sloping,
and where the current forms sort of
eddy. They could have saved the
child by stretching out their hands,
but stood as if made of wood, and al
lowed it to pass by. As it was again
swept out into the current It's face
could be seen upturned, while one
hand reached out imploringly. Chief
Davis, turning sick at the sight, and
with his blood boiling with wrath at
the unaccountable conduct of the two
darkies, then ran down to the Gayoso
street bridge, in the hope of saving
the child there, but was moment too
late. AS he reached the bridge the
body passed out from under, struck a
snag, was whir ed over, and dlsap
peared. He ran some distanc? furth-
er down, but it did not again appear.
A white man just above Linden street
threw off his coat, and was in the act
of springing into the stream, but was
prevented by his wife, who threw her
arms about him and held him close.
He could have saved the child if he
had been allowed to do SO. The child S
mother saw the accident from her
window. and was SO paralyzed with
fright that she could not leave hel
chair, but sat and wrung her hands in
anguish.