The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1897-05-01
FOUR DROWNED.
A Widow, Two Children
and a Young Lady.
Lost Their Lives in Goose Creek Near
Jackson Last sunday.

"oNhSOh
On last Sunday distressing acci-
dent happened at the ford of the creek
about t~o hundred yards from the
southeastern limits of the city. AT
about'half-past twelve o'clock 4 party
in a covered wagon composed Of man
named Joseph Johnson. = sixteen
year-old boy named Wm. Dal-
ton, Mrs. Ida Bugg and her two chill
dren. Henry and Missouri, the forme.
6 years old and the later ,. and a
Miss Mime Frazer, aged about y
years. were on their way from Cous-
inville IN the southern part of the
county TO Burfordvill. 1t had been
raining and the creek 9as up. They
drove into the stream and the swift
current turned the wagon over. John
son and young Dalton jumped from
the wagon and succeeded in getting out
of the water. although neither OF them,
as appears from their testimony at
the inquest. could swim. The two
women ana children were carried
along with the wagon and team to a
water-gate about SO yards below
There the wagon and team lodged.
but the women and children were car
ried under the water gate and drowned.
The whole seems 10 have occurred so
suddenly that it certainly would have
been Impossible. even if Johnson
could swim. TO have saved any OF
them. at least nst before they reached
the water-gate. The alarm was given.
and soon the creek was lined with
people and search was al once begun
for the bodies. The little girl. Mis-
souri,. was the frs. one found. then
the young Lady the mother and to
wards night the little boy. The corps
es were all carried to the heme of
Mr.. VIM. Cunningham. whose family
were acquainted with the people, where
they were kept until Monday. when
they we're hurried. Miss Frazer was
burned At the Summers grave yard
three miles south of town, and the
mother and two children were buried
in one grave in Jackson.
Mrs. Bugg vas a widow. and when
the accident ACQUIRED she was on her
way TO Burfordville TO keep house for
Mr.. Aus. Browning. Miss Farzer was
the only child of Mr. John Frazer of
Ceusinville. and 4 relative of Mr..
Browning, and was going to his home
on a visit. The sad occurrence is de-
piored by the people OF this city.
FrQu"sts ware held Monday. first
in regard to the little girl, and then
the others. The testimony and the
verdlcts were practically the same in
regard to each We publish below
the testimony of the man Johnson,
given at the first inquest. and also of
Bern Briddle. who, We believe. was
the nearest eyewitness to the accident.
johnson said,
we came to the ford of the creek
one-h8if mile south OF Jackson about
u o'clGck. We thought there would
be no danger in crossing. We drove
in shsrt distance. The water ran
up almost to the wagon-bed. I got
out and wanted to carry the ladies
out at the point We had started in.
They thought there was no danger
and refused to let me assist them out.
| then climbed on the brake to watch
the wagon We started across then,
and a rail that was drifting down got
the mules feet. The mules
then turned and upset the wagon. The
bed of the wagon came off without
turning over and remained the right
side up until it struck the water-gate. |
| tried to catch the bed bat failed,
for was unable to swim. They went
under the gate and that was the last |
saw of them or the wagon-bed- l went
to Mr.. Cunningham to make report, |
then went to Ceusinville to tell the
sad news
Bern Criddle said:
when the parties came to the cor
ner of Mr.. Daly's fence they stopped
and then drove to the edge of the
water. Then they drove in about knee
deep and stopped and started up agian.
When they got on a slant the water
was nearly in the bed. Some one got
out on the brakeblock. Then they |
drove in about the middle ofthe creek.
By that time they stopped and COM
menced to back the team. Then the
mules turned down the stream. The
wheels struck the bank on the east |
side and the other wheels being on a
slant in the deep water, the wagon
turned over. The mules got to the
bank twice. The wagon was in the
water and pulled the team back. l
could see little of the wagon sheet
when left home to go to the creek.
The wagon was turned over when | |
got down there. l never saw the peo-
pie after the wagon turned ovel. The
accident occurred between twelve and
one O'Clock. Cash Book.