Death of Miss Mora McKellar, 1866 - Smith Co, TX Contributed by Vicki Betts August 11, 2002 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm *********************************************************************** HARRISON FLAG [MARSHALL], May 31, 1866, p. 2, c. 5 The Tyler Reporter of the 16th gives an account of a melancholy accident on the 9th, near Tyler, which resulted in the death of a young lady and a negro boy, as follows: For a week or two past, Misses Mora and Sue McKellar have been spending time with their relatives and friends in our town, until Wednesday last, when their father, John A. McKellar, sent a buggy and driver for them. In obedience to his desire, they started home, attended only by the driver, a negro boy some fifteen or sixteen years of age. They intended to cross the Neches river which was very much swollen by the recent heavy rains, at Saunders' Mill. Reaching a slough on this side, and near the river, both young ladies expressed doubt as to the safety of attempting to cross; but finally, encouraged by the driver, who had crossed there but a day or two before, and who described the water as only knee deep, they overcame their fears and ventured in. They had driven but a little distance when they went suddenly into the water some twelve feet deep. In an instant all were beneath the flood. Miss Sue, the survivor, says that her first impulse was to prevent the water from getting into her face, and strangling her, which she did by wrapping her face in her dress, with the hope that by holding on to the buggy they might soon reach shallow water again. In this she was disappointed, as the buggy caught against something and stopped the mules. She then rose on the back seat of the buggy, and leaped upward, more perhaps from natural impulse than from any definate [sic] idea of benefiting herself. Lighting back into the water again, her feet touched the buggy and she again sprang upward, this time most fortunately, catching a small twig growing above the water. By this time she drew herself up so as to keep her head above water, and was for the time comparatively safe. She now had an opportunity of viewing the terrible scene before and beneath her. Her sister was floating and rapidly drowning almost within reach of her. She implored [her] to come to her, but was only answered by a look of despair as the dying form rose for the last time above the water. The mules and buggy were just below. With her feet she tried in vain to loose the traces, with the hope that the mules would swim out and be an alarm to some one near. The driver was heard drowning near the buggy. She screamed at the top of her voice for help. At length, after they had been in the water for an hour, help came. Two gentlemen reached the distressing scene. Miss Sue was still clinging to the little limb which had saved her. These noble hearted men, putting forth every energy, and risking their own lives, soon rescued both young ladies from the river. Poor Miss Mora was dead! Every possible exertion was made to revive her, but in vain—the beautiful spirit had fled.