Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1895-05-10
Drowning Of Two Young
Ladies at Mt. Jackson.
Miss Bird Neff and Miss Anna v.
Wyatt thrown from a boat
ana Drowned.

| III e"o ou0uauuOau immouldtoty Oppo5is
the town of Mt. Jackson. on last Satur
day evening created intense exeitemen
followed by deep gloom in that com
munity. The facts, as we were able T.
gather them. are as follows: On Satur
day evening Mr.. Chss. Bowman, cash lie
of the Mt. Jackson National bank, accom-.
panied by Miss Elsie Payne, Miss Birt
Neff, and Miss Anna V. Wyatt, of Charlie
Town, started to take an evening stroll
along the banks of the river. WheI
within few yards of the river they me
Mr.. Barney Hall, farmer living on the
other side of the river, who rendered Il
Mr.. Bowman the key to his skiff, and in
quired whether they wanted to take {
row. Mr. Bowman had used Mr.. BalPi
skiff last season and had made arrange
ments to use it this summer. All parties
were eager for the pleasure, and they
started out, Mr.. Bowman and Miss Payne
taxing charge of the oars. For a while
they glided smoothly along the still water,
and gradually approached narrow chan
mel about 200 yards below. where the
water is very swift and the bottom rough
with projecting rocks.
Mr.. Bowman suggested that they had
better return and they commenced pull
ing up stream. At first, deceived by the
raining water, they thought they were
making progress, but soon noticed that
they were gradually approaching the
rapids, which On account of the swollen
condition of the stream was more than
usually dangerous AS the boat rapidly
passed the projecting limb of tree, Mr.
Bowman grasped it, in hopes of being
able to control the boat, but he was sud
denly thrown out into the water. Being
unable to swim, it was only by the great
est exertion that he reached the bank.
The sudden lurch of the boat threw Miss
Elsie Payne and Miss Bird Neff out into
the river, Miss Payne by quick effort
succeeded in getting back int the boat and
by her aid and that of Miss Wyatt, Miss
Netf also got back INTO the boat A short
distance below, the boat struck log or
rock and they were all thrown out into
the water. Miss Payne by strong effort
succeeded in reaching the bank, her
clothes being almost torn from her, but
Miss Wyatt and Miss Nef we're carried
by Miss Payne to sink short distance
below the point where they we're thrown
out of the boat. Miss Ntff was carried
down the stream, while her frightened
cry for help fell upon the ears of her
friend who could render no assistance.
The body of Miss Wyatt was found
about 10 o'clock, two hundred yards down
the river, near some overhanging bushes
her hand tightly clasping the small
branches, Her watch stopped at s1O
O'Clock, thus indicating within q few
minutes the time of the accident.
The body OF Miss Neff was found a few
minutes later about one mile below, in
shallow water, on the point of an island.
The news of the accident was COM
municated to the towns of the valley
about Q o'clock on Saturday night. and
the many friends of the two young ladies
deeply lamented the loss that had so sud
denly befallen them.
Miss Bird Neff was young lady, PC
years of age, of unusually lively and
cheerful disposition. She was the life of
a circle of friends who were very fond OF
her. Her fine flow of spirits rendered a
home, that was always cheerful, lively
and pleasant. She was the Oldest daugh-
ter of Capt. J. G. Nefi, our representative
in the House of Delegates. Her sudden
death was fearful shock to her parents
and two younger sisters. who in their
hours OF deepest affection are the recipi-
ents of the heartfelt sympathy Of hun
dreds of friends.
Miss Anna V. Wyatt was 90 years of age,
and the only daughter of Mr.. j. g. Wyatt,
of Charles Town, W. Va. She had been
teaching in the family Of Capt Monroe
Funkhouser for some months. She was a
young lady of fine education, charming
companion, and highly esteemed by the
acq uaintances which she had formed in
this county. In Woodstock, she made
N any friends, q few weeks ago, during the
session of the Presbytery, she being a
member of the Presby terlan Church.
On Sunday large crowd OF people,
from Broad way to Woodstock, we're at
Mt. Jackson to attend the funeral of Miss
Neff. Many of them visited the house OF
Capt. Neff, where in the parlor in caskets,
profusely decorated with lilies of the val
ley. and other floral offerings of sympa-
thising friends, lay side by side the bodies
of Miss Bird Ntff and Miss Anna V.
Wyatt. In life they we're warm friends
and associates, in death they were scarce
ly separated, and as they lay apparently
IN peaceful sleep, many a prayer went
up from crushed and bleeding hearts,
that their pure spirits might be basking
in the light of the love Of their heavenly
Father, on the shores of eternal blessed
ness.
Ats O'Clock the funeral service waI
held IN the Lutheran Church, OF
which she was a member. As sOOn
as the friends OF the deceased were seated
the choir softly rendered those beautiful
lines OF Miss Phoebe Carey, 81 am nearel
my home to day, than have ever beer
before" with Home, Sweet Home as a cho
Ius. Few could listen to the sweet music
or catch the sentiment Of the words with
out shedding tears. Rev. 4. L. Folk, he
pastor, read q scripture lesson, and tb
hymn, "Just as am, without one plea
was read by Rev. J. A. Snyder and sun
by the choir.
A selection of scripture was read l..
DR.. p. d. Stephenson of Woodstock an
prayer was offered by Rev. f. L. Folk
After the choir sang the lynn, Gar
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