The Mena weekly star., 1913-05-29
FOUR PEOPLE MET
 DEATH IN RIVER
Pope County Educator and Three Young Women Are Drowned Meet Death in Illinois
 River.

Ru>selIViIie, May 25.-Four per sons were drowned in the Illinois river, seven miles north of Russell vile, yesterday afternoon. The dead are; Prof. W. A. Crawford, superintendent of public schools at RusSellVille and secretary of the Arkansas Athletic Association; Miss Frances Crawford, aged l9, his daughter; Miss Ruth YanLanding- ham, public school teacher of Rus sellVl.le: Miss Vera Meade, daugh- ter of Attorney |. L. Meade of Rus sellVille.
 The bodies have been recovered and were brought to RusSellVille.
 Superintendent Crawford his daughter and several other young women left Russellville at o'clock yesterday morning intending to spend a week in camping They pitched camp On a bluff at what is known as The NarrOws,' four miles above the dam of the Rus seilville Water and Light Company on the Illinois river.
 A short time after dinner Mr Crawford and six young women of the party decided 10 go kodaking, and finding a place about 200 yards from the camp stopped on the bank of the river. The young women decided 10 don bathing clothes and have their pictures taken while in the water. Miss Crawford and Miss Meade waded on. into the stream. Mir. Crawford and Miss NanLand- incham remained on the bank. When Miss Crawford and Miss Meade had reached a distance from which they thought a good picture could be secured. they stopped. and then decided -o wade a few feet further Suddenly both sank, hav- ing stepped into deep water.
 Die in Rescue Attempts.
 NJ. Crawford and Miss VanLand- mgham rushed to their rescue, Radln= as far as they thought they dared. then joining hands in the hope they might reach the strug- glln- young women. The swift cur rent 0f the stream swept MT CTaW- ford and Miss NanLandlngham from their feet, and within a minute they ioO were struggling for their lives, only to sink before the other mem bers of the party, who leaped into ihe stream, could preserve them.
 Miss LeonOTa Ferguson and Miss Mary Bullock, daughter of Mayor Bullock. who were near the bank when the first two young women screamed for help. Waded out into the stream. struggling Valiantly agaInst the current in their efforts io reach the drowning young wom- en, but were forced to return to ihe bank Misses Bullock and Fer guS0n had secured poles from the bank. and although they made fran tie efforts to reach the struggling victims. the drowning young wom- an were swept beyond their reach.
 Frank Smith. son of R. H. Smith. who was nearby, heard the cries. and rushing to a nearby field sum- mOned Frank Winkler, and they, too. did all within their power to aid but were unable to reach the scene in time.
 Bodies Are Recovered.
 The accident occurred about o'clock. and within a half hour the body of Miss Meade was recovered. About , o'clock the body of Miss YanLandingham was recovered and within a short time the lifeless forms of the other victims were found.
 Had Been a Power for Good.
 Although all Russellyille is shocked by the death of the young women. who were leaders in Rus sellNiI.e society. an even deeper gloom has settled in the loss of Mr Crawford. His popularity here Is shown in a statement of a leading citizen Of Bussellyille. who said: Appalling ds i- the death of these yOuu- women. which takes from Us three of our most popular. most be- loved young women RussellYille's greatest loss is in the death of Mir. Crawford. Tn his profession he was a character builder as we'll as a school builder. and had built up the local school until it ranked with 1he best in the state in scope and thoroughness of work. Of the class of 1913. the largest in the history of the school, it has often been said that a greater per cent of students would leave school with an ambi- lion 10 complete their education in some college or university than ev- er in the history of the school. He not only encouraged building of character in the schools, but en- eouraged athletics and engaged in all the sports with the students
 Kansas City. Mo-. May 25.-A message was received last night by W. B. NanLaningham told of the drowning of his sister. Ruth, at Russelkille. Ark. She was the daughter of the late A. J. VanLan- ineham. at one time transportation commissioner of the Commercial Club She was 20 years old and a graduate of the Manual Training High school.
 -0-
 T., g11I .F r,.-lf.;r,1