Work on either the layout or at the workbench has been pretty much non-existent, having now been laid up with a bum foot for over a month. And that idleness will probably continue now as the busy rodeo season kicks off. However, I have been able to gather more stories for "Along The Blue".
For me, historical railroad modeling should tell a story. With these regular series of posts, it was my intention to present (and record for myself) a way of life. In a previous post entitled
The Human Element , I spoke to the importance of a knowledge and understanding of this when modeling historical periods. Rivet counting is one thing; knowing the story is another. Not everything was always happy, or evolved around the railroad either. Sometimes life was extremely tragic, such as the story below.
Though non-railroad related, I will continue to document stories such as these here, as they help convey to me a sense of time and place, and add a personal side to my modeling.
Breckenridge Bulletin; May 19, 1900;
A HORRIBLE ACCIDENT.
Three Little Children are Carried to Death by the Infuriated Blue.
Almost in the identical spot where young Fred Palmer was drowned last August, on Sunday afternoon last, three more children lost their lives in a similar manner. On that afternoon Mr. Emmet Emmons and his family, consisting of wife and three children, had gone across the Blue on a visit with the family of U.G. McKinley. And after a pleasant stay of several hours were returning home again, accompanied by Mrs. McKinley and little son.
When the party had reached the bridge above Dickey, the horses became unmanageable for some reason, and upset the wagon and all its occupants into the river. When the accident occurred, Mr. C.G. Richardson was standing near the bridge, and he at once began the work of rescue, succeeding in saving both the ladies and one of the children. The other three, two of Mr. Emmons and one of Mr. McKinley's, between the ages of two and four years were taken away by the mad waters to a horrible death.
As soon as possible, searching parties for the missing children organized. About nine or ten o'clock one of the Emmons children and the McKinley boy were found about three-fourths of a mile down the river, and about eleven o'clock Mr. I.C. Palmer started for this place to procure caskets for their burial, which occurred Monday afternoon, being conducted by Rev. C.M. Cooper, who returned with Mr. Palmer.
At last accounts the third child had not been found, and since the Blue is very full of water, it is doubtful if the body will be recovered. As a matter of course, the Emmons and McKinley families are prostrated with grief over the catastrophe, and in fact, it has cast a glean of sadness over the entire county that will require a long time to efface.
