Typed as
spelled and written
Kay Cunningham
THE MARLIN DEMOCRAT
Fifteenth Year - Number 22
Marlin, Texas, Thursday, July 28, 1904
DROWNED IN BRAZOS.
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SAD ENDING OF A PLEASURE TRIP
TUESDAY NIGHT.
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DEATH CAUSED BY TREACHEROUS
CHANNEL AT FALLS.
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An unspeakably distressing tragedy occurred Tuesday night about ten o'clock near
the falls of the Brazos, in the accidental drowning of Miss Annie Lee Crawford,
daughter of Mr., and Mrs. H. C. Crawford.
The tragedy that has plunged a happy into
uncontrollable grief and cast a pall of gloom over the hearts of many loving
friends was enacted a few hundred yards below the falls of the Brazos within a
few feet of that is known as the "Sumpter hole" in the channel of the river. The
victem of the accident in company with Misses Josie and Birdie Wright. Octavia
Shelton and Sallie Peyton. Robert Wright and Boisclair Shelton, were wading down
stream unawares of their near approach to danger when they stepped off into deep
water. Miss Craw-ford sank first and the others had difficulty in rescuing
themselves Cries for help brought parties from up the river but the young lady
was drowned and the body sunk by the time they reached the scene.
The water runs very swiftly at this point and the body
was carried several feet from where it sank. It was recovered after four hours
of search, in which a hundred joined.
A large number of people were at the Falls Tuesday
night, as is usually the case in favorable weather. Many of them had
returned before the accident occurred. The party with whom Miss Crawford
went to the falls, expected to stay a day or two in camp. It is an exceedingly
sad end to a pleasure trip.
The family is bowed with poignant grief over the sudden
and tragic death of an idolized daughter and sister. There is no balm that will
heal their broken hearts. May they find solace in the thought tha in the
brighter and better world the family circle will be reunited forever.
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There is a history attached to the "Sumpter Hole" in the Brazos river below the
falls. It has long been regarded by the older inhabitants as a veritable "death
trap." It gets its name from a man named Sumpter who lived Dear the bank of the
river opposite this hole. The water is very deep at that place and on account of
the formation of the bank, being in a sharp bend, the water forms an eddy or
whirlpool. It is very swift, and treacherous at this particular point, which is
some distance below the falls. Many years ago a young man by the name of Bloom
lost his life in this hole and later on a negro was drowned in the same place.
In recent year's, the current of the river has changed some at this point and
the deep water has extended further up the river.
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Copyright permission granted to Theresa Carhart and her volunteers for
printing
by The Democrat, Marlin, Falls Co., Texas
