Clarke County GaArchives News.....Miss Annie Wages Falls in the Oconee July 6, 1900 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Meredith Clapper http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00012.html#0002801 January 15, 2014, 4:10 pm Weekly Banner 6 July 1900 P 2 July 6, 1900 Miss Annie Wages Falls in the Oconee Sickness Had Disordered Her Head. She Remembers Nothing. A Fearful Experience The Commendable Work of Her Rescuers-Went Down in Twenty Feet of Water-Miss Wages Will Recover-Accident Causes Much Excitement in the City. But for the prompt action of City Sexton Bisson, Mr. Will H. Jackson, Mr. E. P. Stone and several negroes, a young lady, Miss Annie Wages, would have been drowned in the Oconee yesterday. After having made a desperate struggle for her life, the young lady had sunk beneath the waters, apparently for the last time. Just in the nick of time, however, she was reached by Mr. Bisson and his assistants, and was dragged from the water, more dead than alive, to a place of safety. A Thrilling Scene. Fishermen on the quiet banks of the Oconee where it wanders through the lower edge of the cemetery, were suddenly aroused from their peaceful occupation, yesterday morning by the shrill agonized scream of a woman. Throwing down their poles they sprang to their feet and rushed up the river to the spot from whence the shrieks, heard at quick intervals, came. Under the new bridge across the Oconee floated a struggling human being-a woman- battling desperately for line in the 20 feet deep water. The spectators were aghast. No one could swim. The river was swift and deep, the banks high. No rope was near. There seemed no earthly hope for the unfortunate woman who struggled for life with the fury of the dying. One of the men shouted for help. He was heard by the cemetery sexton and a white man fishing further down the river. They rushed to the rescue. The drowning woman still fought for life. Lying partly on her back, partly on her side, she battled bravely with the waters-sinking, rising again, and once more sinking. One hundred yards down the river from where she fell in a fallen sycamore leans out into the river. Into this body was carried. She snatched at a limb, it broke, and with a despairing cry she sank, exhausted. But help was near. Two white men and a negro boy secured a boat, reached the tree. Leaning far out over the side one of the men thrust his arm deep into the submerged branches. He caught the woman by the hair and in a few moments she was on bank, unconscious-to all appearances dead. Eager hands worked with her and she gradually became conscious, but was wild. Her shrieks for help were heartrending, she screamed for a rope and was quieted only when a stick was placed in her hands. Dr. Conway and the woman's sister arrived quickly. The girl became quiet and was able, an hour later, to be carried home. The Story of the Accident Miss Annie Wages, a young lady of 23 years of age, who lives with her mother and sister on Barber street, was rescued from the Oconee river yesterday morning, after having been under the water for several minutes. The young lady, who came to Athens several months ago, has until recently, been employed at the Commercial hotel as housekeeper. On Monday evening she resigned her position and went to work at the knitting mills, where her sister is employed. She complained yesterday morning of feeling ill and left the mills, presumably for her home. She went, instead, to the bank of the Oconee river, where it passes through the cemetery. In some way-how, she does not know-she fell into the river, which is very swift and deep at this point, just above the bridge. Her screams attracted the attention of Mr. Edward P. Stone, who was fishing on the banks of the river. He cannot swim, and seeing the desperate position in which the young lady was, he called loudly for help. A number of negroes, who were also fishing, rushed up and down the bank unable to help the drowning girl. The young woman, whose clothing buoyed her up, floated down the river for fully a hundred yards and at last sank among the branches of a tree which had fallen in the water. From this place she was finally taken out by the cemetery sexton; Mr. J. H. Bisson, and Mr. Will H. Jackson, who had secured a boat. After hard work the young lady, who had been under water for five minutes, was revived. Her sister and Dr. W. B. Conway arrived soon afterward and the girl was carried to her home. She will recover, but is in a highly nervous condition from the terrible ordeal. Rumors Afloat At the point where the young woman fell into the river, her hat and handkerchief were found. Near the same spot lay an empty bottle of laudanum. The report at once became circulated that Miss Wages had attempted to commit suicide. The young lady emphatically denies this. She declares that her head was troubling her and that she knew nothing of how she came to fall in. Dr. Conway, who made a careful examination, states that he found no traces of poisoning, whatever. None of the signs which accompany poisoning by laudanum developed. The young lady comes of a reputable family, and there appears to be no evidence for supposing she attempted to kill herself beyond the appearance of the empty flask which is similar to others found on the river banks. The mother and sister of Miss Wages deny the story altogether. The young girl has been sick for several days. She has complained of a queer feeling in her head and it is supposed that she had an attack of vertigo. Dr. Conway, who treated her, is of the opinion that she fell into the river while temporarily out of her head. The accident causes much excitement in the city where the parties are well known. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/clarke/newspapers/missanni3246nw.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/gafiles/ File size: 6.2 Kb