Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1917-04-26
Gave Her Life To Save A Little Child.

uave her Life 10 Save A Little Child.
Miss Ada May Knode, principal OF the
Kearneysville public school. lost her own
life on Monday last IN heroic effort to
save the life of a little girl, and all our
community is saddened by the sacrifice
of noble and useful young woman.
Monday at the noon hour Miss Knode
took some twenty or twenty-five of the
school children for walk, and they went
to one OF the abandoned quarries near
KearneYsville, where they expected TO
catch some gold fish which abound in
great numbers in the waters there. The
quarry hole that they visited is the one
nearest the railroad II had to be aban-
doned some years ago because of springs
in the bottom which necessitated constant
pumping to keep il clear OF water. These
springs gradually filled the quarry, until
now the water is in places twenty-five
feetdeep. The water is shallow about
the edges, but becomes very deep where
the bank suddenly ends at the precipice
caused by blasting away the rock.
Miss Knode and the children were in
terestedin catching the gold fish, and some
of the children waded in the shallow wa
ter at the edge. Suddenly little Juanita
Wilmington, seven or eight years old,
daughter OF Harvey Wilmington, stepped
over the edge into the deep water. See
ing her peril, Miss Knode without an in
stant's hesitation plunged in after her.
She held the child up for moment, until
Edward Cox, courageous boy about
twelve years old, who was in the party,
seized the little girl by the hand and drew
her 10 safety. In the meantime Miss Knode
was sinking in the deep water. The
boys, fearing 10 try to swim in after her,
found long stick to try to reach out to
her, but failed getitto herin time. Ed
ward Cox said that after she sank she
never reappeared on the surface OF the
water. The children, terrified. fled in
every direction and gave the alarm.
Soon large crowd assembled at the
place, but nothing could be done until a
graphing iron was improvised. The &C
cident occurred about half-past II clock.
and at twenty minutes 10 2 clock George
Thompson drew the body TO the surface
by means OF a hook al the end OF long
rod. DR.. Lucas was at the scene OF the
tragedy, but as the body had been in the
water for more than an hour, nothing
could be done to restore life. The in
animate form was reverently carried to
the home OF Mr.. Wilt, where she had
boarded, and later in the evening was
taken TO her home couple otmileS south
OF Shepherdstown.
Miss Knode, who would have been "a
years Of age on Friday, was daughter
of Mr.. and Mrs. Alfred L. Knode, OF this
vicinity. She graduated from Shepherd
College in the class OF 1904, and since her
graduation had been successful and
popular public school teacher in this
county. She was finishing her third year
at Kearneysville, where she filled accept
ably the position of principal and was
highly regarded by patrons and pupils.
She was young woman OF the highest
character, exemplary in her conduct and
conscientious in the performance OF her
duty, and there is great sorrow that her
useful life has been so sadly ended. And
yet TO her was given death that few are
privileged to die and which will cause
her to be long remembered where real
heroism and sacrifice are appreciated for
she gave her life TO save little child.
She is survived by her grief-Stricken
parents, Mr.. and Mrs. A. L. Knode; two
brothers, D. P. and William Knode; and
four sisters, Mrs. Charles J. DeT, Mrs.
William Flanagan and Misses Bertha and
Martha Knode, all Of this vicinity. The
funeral service took place this Thursday
morning at II o'clock at the Southern
Methodist Church in Shepherdstown, OF
which she was consistent member, and
the body was inferred in Elmwood Gene
terry