Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-06-22
A FATAL FORD.
A Regular Vortex of Death on the
Neosho River, Iansas.


A Regular Vortex of Death on the
Neosho River, Iansas.
Usage MISSION, Kali, June 90
About one mile south 4 this place is
situated one of the mos notable fords,
crossing the Neosho rler, that can be
found anywhere in the safe. In the near
vicinity was the former burying-ground
of the Usage Indians, ad where, until a
very recent date, the I'D mounds and
niles of stones that NAKED the last rest
ing place of many a doughty warrior
could be seen. Indian rnaments are Oc-
easionally found there yet, and some of
the more credulous hive declared that
spOoks have been seenwandering about
the old place, but thi last story is not
we'll authenticated. Tut, whatever may
be said, the ford has pDven one of sorrow
for the white man.
At an early day awmill was located
short distance abov, the ford, and, long
before the railway came, supplied the set
tiers in the vicinity with lumber with
which they constructed their cabins on
the Usage reservation, thus assisting to
crowd the poor Indian into the territory.
At last he was compelled to go, and there
after fate seemed to have marked out this
Indian graveyard as place Of atone
ment.
The first person Who met his death was
a cOlOred man Their in the employ of DR..
Nelly, now living in Parsons, Kas. He
had beense on some urgent business
and attempted to ford the stream, but
when nearly acrtss, from some cause, he
fell from his horse and was not seen again
until his body was found by the mill
owner washed Upn the sand long dis
lance below.
The next man who met his fate here
was j. J. Miller, who was employed in
the saw mill as engineer. He was one of
the best and most capable workmen ever
engaged there. One day, not long after
the former occurrence, he was assisting
in turning a log on the carriage when he
slipped and fell into the saws. In mo-
ment he was all sawed TO pieces. His
head was sawed entirely off and then cut
by again falling urder the saw.
George Wright, brother-in-law of Mil
ler's, was the next victim. He was re-
turning home after spending the day IN
town. When he reached eford he found
a company of travellers encamped a few
rods from the river. He had been drink
ing little and some words passed be-
them, but he went on. After going a
short distance he concluded to come back
and thrash the camper for insulting him.
There were two or three with him and
one or TWO other men in the
camp, and they all came out to
see a fair fight. Wright was the
larger of the two and seemed to be getting
the advantage, but suddenly he threw up
his hands and said, 81 can't see." In five
minutes he was dead, the smaller man
having cut an artery. The murderer
then started to escape, and. in attempting
to ford the-riVer, was probably drowned,
as he wasneVer heard of again, either at
his old home or by Wright's friends, who
instituted vigorous search.
Soon after Wright and his murderer
were drowned a bridge was built across
the NeoshO at this place, but the high
water took away all but the approaches
a short time afterwards. Tom Dillon,
well-tO-do farmer, living a few miles
southeast Of this place, was returning
home one dark and stormy night, and,
either not being Informed or having forgot
that the bridge WAS down, rode mis- horse
of from the approach, falling twenty or
thirty feet onto the Jagged rocks below.
He was picked up day or two afterwards
with his neck broken. Tom left widow
and family, the former soon after seeking
consolation by marrying another farmer
living in the vicinity by The name OF Pete
Tehagan. About year after Tom met
his death bis former wife and her husband
were returning from town and attempted
to cross the river at the ford. Their
horses becoming frightened at something,
they attempted to gel cut of the buggy or
wagon and were overcome by the current
and both drowned within ten feet OF the
place where Tom Dillon had lost his life.
The saw mill, which had been lying
Idle Tor several years was again started
up, and, after running for a few weeks,
the boiler exploded killing three men
Johnson, BeechwOOd and Owens-and
seriously iDjuring two others.
Father Hogan, Catholic priest, who
had been ont minhtering to some of bis
flock, was the next one to meet his tate
here. He had been warned against trying
to cross at this place when he started out
IN the morning, ana had gone around, but
when he returned be concluded to try 1t.
He rode his horse into the water, the cur
rent struck them, and the reverend father
was washed under and drowned.
The last case occurred short time
since. One of the most promising young
men in this country, George Fepfer, being
the victim. He, with several OF his CON-
paniOns, were swimming in the river at
this point, when, venturing little too
far, he was caught by the current and
taken beyond his depth. One Of his friends
attempted to rescue him and nearly lost
his own life in his endeavOrs.
This makes twelve persons who have
either been killed, or met with some acct
dent. wherein they lost their lives, since
the 0sageswere expelled from their homes
and the resting places Of their kindred
taken by the white man. To all appear
ances there is nothing particularly dan-
gerous about the place, ana excepting
when the river is high the ford, with lit
tie care TO keen in the right path, is per-
fectly safe. Some fate seems TO have
marked it out for a series of accidents
that for the past ten or fifteen years has
made 1t a place OF mourning for many
famfIiae in this couufV