From the book "Wolf at the Door" by Ralph G. Marshall. Chapter Eight, Sad Events: For a time the little house across the road from us [near Whiting KS] seemed under a curse. In the spring of 1930, Grandma Morgan and Uncle John moved in with Grandma passing on that same year and Uncle John following soon after. It was a bad time for Mom. Uncle Charlie Morgan, my aunt Carrie, and their family lived there next. Then in 1932, their fourteen year old daughter, Virginia, drowned in Straight Creek [northeast Jackson County].
My pal John Wagner and I were taking in the Pat McFadden picnic that day, an annual affair held in a picturesque strip of timber one-half mile west of the Lawn Ridge School House. John had picked me up early that morning in a two wheeled cart pulled by a big Hambletonian, and we were having a great time when this dreadful news reached us. As we came flying home with the cart wheels only touching the high spots, my mind drifted back to that morning when, because of lack of funds, I had debated about going swimming instead of to the picnic until Uncle Charlie offered to loan me a quarter for spending money. It now pained me deeply to think if only I had not gone, my cousin Virginia would likely be alive since I was both a good swimmer and familiar with the dangerous waters in Straight Creek.
On arriving home, my sister Ruby who was in a state of shock, quickly filled us in on the details. She told us about an hour before this tragic happening, Virginia and her girlfriend from Kansas City came by wearing bathing suits saying they were going wading in Straight Creek and asked her to go along, as neither could swim. Ruby was busy doing housework at the time and said she'd join them later. Then the next thing she knew, a small boy came running up out of breath and said Virginia had stepped off into a hole and disappeared. Ruby ran the half mile to Straight Creek, dove repeatedly in a hole about 14 feet deep where the kids were pointing, finally locating Virginia and drug her out. Not long after a group of men arrived including a doctor who after careful examination pronounced Virginia dead. It was very difficult for Uncle Charley and Aunt Carrie to accept their terrible loss.
On May 10, 1933, another cousin, George Morgan, who was attending Washburn College in Topeka, wrote an essay in an English class called "Treacherous Waters" pertaining to this incident (I have the essay in my possession) and received an "A" and a comment on his effectiveness on making the reader feel.
In 1934, George, who was home on a visit, slipped and broke his neck while chinning himself on a barn rafter and died several days later. It was a sad blow for his parents, my Uncle Dave and Aunt Bell Morgan, who lived a mile south of us.
Contributor: Anna (47917889) • [email protected]
My pal John Wagner and I were taking in the Pat McFadden picnic that day, an annual affair held in a picturesque strip of timber one-half mile west of the Lawn Ridge School House. John had picked me up early that morning in a two wheeled cart pulled by a big Hambletonian, and we were having a great time when this dreadful news reached us. As we came flying home with the cart wheels only touching the high spots, my mind drifted back to that morning when, because of lack of funds, I had debated about going swimming instead of to the picnic until Uncle Charlie offered to loan me a quarter for spending money. It now pained me deeply to think if only I had not gone, my cousin Virginia would likely be alive since I was both a good swimmer and familiar with the dangerous waters in Straight Creek.
On arriving home, my sister Ruby who was in a state of shock, quickly filled us in on the details. She told us about an hour before this tragic happening, Virginia and her girlfriend from Kansas City came by wearing bathing suits saying they were going wading in Straight Creek and asked her to go along, as neither could swim. Ruby was busy doing housework at the time and said she'd join them later. Then the next thing she knew, a small boy came running up out of breath and said Virginia had stepped off into a hole and disappeared. Ruby ran the half mile to Straight Creek, dove repeatedly in a hole about 14 feet deep where the kids were pointing, finally locating Virginia and drug her out. Not long after a group of men arrived including a doctor who after careful examination pronounced Virginia dead. It was very difficult for Uncle Charley and Aunt Carrie to accept their terrible loss.
On May 10, 1933, another cousin, George Morgan, who was attending Washburn College in Topeka, wrote an essay in an English class called "Treacherous Waters" pertaining to this incident (I have the essay in my possession) and received an "A" and a comment on his effectiveness on making the reader feel.
In 1934, George, who was home on a visit, slipped and broke his neck while chinning himself on a barn rafter and died several days later. It was a sad blow for his parents, my Uncle Dave and Aunt Bell Morgan, who lived a mile south of us.
Contributor: Anna (47917889) • [email protected]
From the book "Wolf at the Door" by Ralph G. Marshall. Chapter Eight, Sad Events: For a time the little house across the road from us [near Whiting KS] seemed under a curse. In the spring of 1930, Grandma Morgan and Uncle John moved in with Grandma passing on that same year and Uncle John following soon after. It was a bad time for Mom. Uncle Charlie Morgan, my aunt Carrie, and their family lived there next. Then in 1932, their fourteen year old daughter, Virginia, drowned in Straight Creek [northeast Jackson County].
My pal John Wagner and I were taking in the Pat McFadden picnic that day, an annual affair held in a picturesque strip of timber one-half mile west of the Lawn Ridge School House. John had picked me up early that morning in a two wheeled cart pulled by a big Hambletonian, and we were having a great time when this dreadful news reached us. As we came flying home with the cart wheels only touching the high spots, my mind drifted back to that morning when, because of lack of funds, I had debated about going swimming instead of to the picnic until Uncle Charlie offered to loan me a quarter for spending money. It now pained me deeply to think if only I had not gone, my cousin Virginia would likely be alive since I was both a good swimmer and familiar with the dangerous waters in Straight Creek.
On arriving home, my sister Ruby who was in a state of shock, quickly filled us in on the details. She told us about an hour before this tragic happening, Virginia and her girlfriend from Kansas City came by wearing bathing suits saying they were going wading in Straight Creek and asked her to go along, as neither could swim. Ruby was busy doing housework at the time and said she'd join them later. Then the next thing she knew, a small boy came running up out of breath and said Virginia had stepped off into a hole and disappeared. Ruby ran the half mile to Straight Creek, dove repeatedly in a hole about 14 feet deep where the kids were pointing, finally locating Virginia and drug her out. Not long after a group of men arrived including a doctor who after careful examination pronounced Virginia dead. It was very difficult for Uncle Charley and Aunt Carrie to accept their terrible loss.
On May 10, 1933, another cousin, George Morgan, who was attending Washburn College in Topeka, wrote an essay in an English class called "Treacherous Waters" pertaining to this incident (I have the essay in my possession) and received an "A" and a comment on his effectiveness on making the reader feel.
In 1934, George, who was home on a visit, slipped and broke his neck while chinning himself on a barn rafter and died several days later. It was a sad blow for his parents, my Uncle Dave and Aunt Bell Morgan, who lived a mile south of us.
Contributor: Anna (47917889) • [email protected]
My pal John Wagner and I were taking in the Pat McFadden picnic that day, an annual affair held in a picturesque strip of timber one-half mile west of the Lawn Ridge School House. John had picked me up early that morning in a two wheeled cart pulled by a big Hambletonian, and we were having a great time when this dreadful news reached us. As we came flying home with the cart wheels only touching the high spots, my mind drifted back to that morning when, because of lack of funds, I had debated about going swimming instead of to the picnic until Uncle Charlie offered to loan me a quarter for spending money. It now pained me deeply to think if only I had not gone, my cousin Virginia would likely be alive since I was both a good swimmer and familiar with the dangerous waters in Straight Creek.
On arriving home, my sister Ruby who was in a state of shock, quickly filled us in on the details. She told us about an hour before this tragic happening, Virginia and her girlfriend from Kansas City came by wearing bathing suits saying they were going wading in Straight Creek and asked her to go along, as neither could swim. Ruby was busy doing housework at the time and said she'd join them later. Then the next thing she knew, a small boy came running up out of breath and said Virginia had stepped off into a hole and disappeared. Ruby ran the half mile to Straight Creek, dove repeatedly in a hole about 14 feet deep where the kids were pointing, finally locating Virginia and drug her out. Not long after a group of men arrived including a doctor who after careful examination pronounced Virginia dead. It was very difficult for Uncle Charley and Aunt Carrie to accept their terrible loss.
On May 10, 1933, another cousin, George Morgan, who was attending Washburn College in Topeka, wrote an essay in an English class called "Treacherous Waters" pertaining to this incident (I have the essay in my possession) and received an "A" and a comment on his effectiveness on making the reader feel.
In 1934, George, who was home on a visit, slipped and broke his neck while chinning himself on a barn rafter and died several days later. It was a sad blow for his parents, my Uncle Dave and Aunt Bell Morgan, who lived a mile south of us.
Contributor: Anna (47917889) • [email protected]
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