Rock Island County---1849 Tragic Accident

MELANCHOLY ACCIDENT
  
  
  It becomes our sad duty to record a catastrophe of the most distressing
  character.
  On Saturday afternoon last, a two-horse sleigh containing five persons,
  broke thro' the ice upon Rock River, just above the bridge at the foot
  of the lower Rapids.---But two of the five were saved.  Samuel Tindall,
  his sister Margaret, about 19 years of age, and Miss Sarah Brasher,
  daughter of Wm. T. Brasher, Esq., of this vicinity, were lost.
  Wm. Tisdel and George Bowlin are the names of the persons who escaped. 
  The latter was driving at the time, and we are told, he did not
  relinquish his hold upon the lines until the sleigh had settled into the
  water, when he with difficulty extricated himself.  Where the accident
  occurred, the water is deep and very swift, so that almost as soon as
  the ice gave way, the sleigh, with most of its precious burden, was
  swept under by the current.  At the last tidings, none of the bodies had
  been recovered.
  Almost every year, the breaking up of winter is marked in this vicinity
  by loss of life upon the treacherous element.  We cannot be too careful
  about trusting to the firmness of the ice at this season of the year;
  and though it is beyond human power to repair the damage already done,
  yet we hope this sad event may ever prove a warning to the
  unwary.---Rock Island Adv.
  
  Note from submitter:  This accident occurred in the vicinity of Rock
  Island.
  
  Source:  Galena Daily Advertiser
   Volume 1  Number 238
  Galena, Illinois
   Monday, March 5, 1849
  
  Submitted by:  Patricia A. Essary
  E-mail:  paessary@uti.com
  ---------------------------------
  
  RECOVERED.---The body of Miss Margaret Tindall, one of the three persons
  who were drowned in Rock River last Saturday was a week, has been
  recovered.  The others have not yet been found.
  
  Source:  North-Western Advertiser
  Vol.2  #21
  Rock Island, Illinois
  Tuesday, March 6, 1849
  
  Submitted by:  Patricia A. Essary
  E-mail:  paessary@uti.com


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(© 1997 Patricia A. Essary)