The Wichita daily eagle., 1904-05-10
-FOUR MEET DEATH
IN CHIKASKA RIVER
Mrs. James HanIey and Three
Children Drown.
FATHER AND SON SURVIVE
Family Formerly Made Home
in Wichita.

Fred Bell, of this city. received a tele-
phone message from Milan yesterday
morning, stating that his brother-in-law,
James Hanley, the iatter's wife and four
children were drowned Sunday night.
about 9 o'clock while attempting TO ford
the Chickasha river. between Milan and
Argonia Mr. Bell left Immediately for
that place, and last night telephoned to
the Eagle the story Of the terrible acci-
dent
Correct details of the drowning do not
make the tragedy quite so bad as at first
told. although they are indeed, terrible.
Instead OF the entire family drowning,
but the mother and three children met
death in the water. The father and d
small son escaped. after a terrible expe-
rience
James Handley, with his family, were
on their way home Sunday evening, about
s O'clock, from attending church. They
attempted to cross the river at what is
known as George Summers ford. The
water had risen considerably since the
fs-nily crossed the ford earlier in the
caught the spring wagon and it began
to turn over.
Mr.. Hanley placed one of his sons on
the back of one of the horses and assist
ed his wife and the three others in a like
position on the other, after which he
cut the tugs with the intention of allow
ing the horses 10 swim TO the bank The
animals had gone but a short distance
when they became fastened in quick
sand. As the horses sank deeper and
deeper all had to shift for themselves
The water washed all six into the stream
That was the last Mr.. Hanley saw OF his
family with the exception of one small
son, who Mr. Hanley took on his back
and, after struggle lasting some time,
he succeeded in swimming to the bank
He was almost overcome by his fight
against the high waters with the boy on
his back. and it was some time before
he recovered sufficiently to institute a
search for the remainder of his family
and TO go for assistance.
After Mr. Hanley became lost from the
remaining members of the family it seems
that his wife and the three children
caught hold of the bed of the wagon 1t
the vehicle and was floating down
stream. Neighbors who searched for the
family found Mrs. Hanley and two baby
girls about one-quarter of a mile down
the stream. The bodies were found float
ing on some debris
Late yesterday afternoon the body of
child, supposed to be that of one son. !
the remaining member of the family who
is missing, was seen floating down
stream distance of cfeven miles from |
where the accident happened a farmer |
and his son were near the river bank I
when the boy shouted to his father TO 4
look. The boy told his parents that he /
saw the body of some one floating in the 1
river. Both watched and in a moment /
the arm Of a human body arose to view 1
Only for a moment. however, when it 1
again sank and passed entirely out of |
sight. Both watched for some time, but |
the body did not re-appear.
Mr.. and Mrs. Hanlcy are both well .
known in Wichita, they having lived here
for three or four years prior to a short /
time ago. OF late they had been Iiv-
ing on farm. four miles from Ar
gonia. Mrs. Hanley was a sister of Mrs
Bells. Her father and mother Mr. and
Mrs. John Lucas, also reside in Wichita
The boy who escaped with his father
was Earl. aged six years. He was the
second Oldest child. The body still missing
is that of the eldest child. who was Il
years of age. one of the girls found
with the body of the mother was Myrtle.
aged three. while the other was a baby
girl. about one year old
Funeral services over the bodies that
were recovered yesterday viii be held
this afternoon at , o'clock. at Milan. In
terment will be in the Milan cemetery.