12 Jun 2018 - Today, I found a newspaper clipping giving a brief account of the drowning. See the clipping on this memorial, in the photo section.
I now have to decide if I want to replace Frances and Lowell's gravestones with the correct death date. It would be difficult to transport those stones to the graves, but I might try to do it later this year or perhaps early next year.
__________________________
Lowell drowned with mother Frances in Sturgeon Creek, near Heidelberg, Lee County, Kentucky.
-----------------------------
On June 5th, 1923; a tragedy befell the Rader family near the little community of Heidelberg in Lee County, Kentucky.
The family of Henry Clay and Frances Gabbard Rader lived along the banks of Sturgeon Creek in Lee County. On that fateful day, there came a heavy rainfall. Sturgeon Creek became a raging torrent of water as the banks of the creek overflowed.
The Rader children were playing with some family friends and cousins along the creek, watching the water roil around the bend in the creek bank. A large whirlpool had formed and this caught the attention of the children.
Lowell Rader was the eldest of the Rader children, being all of 12 years old. Of course, at that age some boys don't stop to think things through. When someone dares you to do something, and offers you money to do it; then you just have to take up the challenge.
Apparently someone, family or friend--had dared Lowell to wade out a little ways into the water, and had offered him some money to do it. Lowell accepted the challenge and proceeded to wade out into the swiftly moving water. He hadn't intended to go too far, but he slipped on the muddy bank and fell into the raging creek. The current quickly pulled him into the whirlpool.
One (or more) of the children ran to the Rader house (not far away) and told Lowell's mother Frances, what had happened. Frances raced to the aid of her son.
After arriving at the scene, Frances grabbed hold of a bush (or a tree branch) that hung out over the waters edge. Holding onto the branch she slowly waded out into the fast moving current. It was said by observers, that Lowell's head would bob to the surface of the whirlpool; and when his head rose up--Frances would lean out and attempt to grab him. It's not sure how long she did this, but the branch or limb suddenly snapped and Frances too, was quickly pulled into the whirlpool. Both mother and son perished on that day as the other children helplessly watched the event occur.
I now have to decide if I want to replace Frances and Lowell's gravestones with the correct death date. It would be difficult to transport those stones to the graves, but I might try to do it later this year or perhaps early next year.
__________________________
Lowell drowned with mother Frances in Sturgeon Creek, near Heidelberg, Lee County, Kentucky.
-----------------------------
On June 5th, 1923; a tragedy befell the Rader family near the little community of Heidelberg in Lee County, Kentucky.
The family of Henry Clay and Frances Gabbard Rader lived along the banks of Sturgeon Creek in Lee County. On that fateful day, there came a heavy rainfall. Sturgeon Creek became a raging torrent of water as the banks of the creek overflowed.
The Rader children were playing with some family friends and cousins along the creek, watching the water roil around the bend in the creek bank. A large whirlpool had formed and this caught the attention of the children.
Lowell Rader was the eldest of the Rader children, being all of 12 years old. Of course, at that age some boys don't stop to think things through. When someone dares you to do something, and offers you money to do it; then you just have to take up the challenge.
Apparently someone, family or friend--had dared Lowell to wade out a little ways into the water, and had offered him some money to do it. Lowell accepted the challenge and proceeded to wade out into the swiftly moving water. He hadn't intended to go too far, but he slipped on the muddy bank and fell into the raging creek. The current quickly pulled him into the whirlpool.
One (or more) of the children ran to the Rader house (not far away) and told Lowell's mother Frances, what had happened. Frances raced to the aid of her son.
After arriving at the scene, Frances grabbed hold of a bush (or a tree branch) that hung out over the waters edge. Holding onto the branch she slowly waded out into the fast moving current. It was said by observers, that Lowell's head would bob to the surface of the whirlpool; and when his head rose up--Frances would lean out and attempt to grab him. It's not sure how long she did this, but the branch or limb suddenly snapped and Frances too, was quickly pulled into the whirlpool. Both mother and son perished on that day as the other children helplessly watched the event occur.
12 Jun 2018 - Today, I found a newspaper clipping giving a brief account of the drowning. See the clipping on this memorial, in the photo section.
I now have to decide if I want to replace Frances and Lowell's gravestones with the correct death date. It would be difficult to transport those stones to the graves, but I might try to do it later this year or perhaps early next year.
__________________________
Lowell drowned with mother Frances in Sturgeon Creek, near Heidelberg, Lee County, Kentucky.
-----------------------------
On June 5th, 1923; a tragedy befell the Rader family near the little community of Heidelberg in Lee County, Kentucky.
The family of Henry Clay and Frances Gabbard Rader lived along the banks of Sturgeon Creek in Lee County. On that fateful day, there came a heavy rainfall. Sturgeon Creek became a raging torrent of water as the banks of the creek overflowed.
The Rader children were playing with some family friends and cousins along the creek, watching the water roil around the bend in the creek bank. A large whirlpool had formed and this caught the attention of the children.
Lowell Rader was the eldest of the Rader children, being all of 12 years old. Of course, at that age some boys don't stop to think things through. When someone dares you to do something, and offers you money to do it; then you just have to take up the challenge.
Apparently someone, family or friend--had dared Lowell to wade out a little ways into the water, and had offered him some money to do it. Lowell accepted the challenge and proceeded to wade out into the swiftly moving water. He hadn't intended to go too far, but he slipped on the muddy bank and fell into the raging creek. The current quickly pulled him into the whirlpool.
One (or more) of the children ran to the Rader house (not far away) and told Lowell's mother Frances, what had happened. Frances raced to the aid of her son.
After arriving at the scene, Frances grabbed hold of a bush (or a tree branch) that hung out over the waters edge. Holding onto the branch she slowly waded out into the fast moving current. It was said by observers, that Lowell's head would bob to the surface of the whirlpool; and when his head rose up--Frances would lean out and attempt to grab him. It's not sure how long she did this, but the branch or limb suddenly snapped and Frances too, was quickly pulled into the whirlpool. Both mother and son perished on that day as the other children helplessly watched the event occur.
I now have to decide if I want to replace Frances and Lowell's gravestones with the correct death date. It would be difficult to transport those stones to the graves, but I might try to do it later this year or perhaps early next year.
__________________________
Lowell drowned with mother Frances in Sturgeon Creek, near Heidelberg, Lee County, Kentucky.
-----------------------------
On June 5th, 1923; a tragedy befell the Rader family near the little community of Heidelberg in Lee County, Kentucky.
The family of Henry Clay and Frances Gabbard Rader lived along the banks of Sturgeon Creek in Lee County. On that fateful day, there came a heavy rainfall. Sturgeon Creek became a raging torrent of water as the banks of the creek overflowed.
The Rader children were playing with some family friends and cousins along the creek, watching the water roil around the bend in the creek bank. A large whirlpool had formed and this caught the attention of the children.
Lowell Rader was the eldest of the Rader children, being all of 12 years old. Of course, at that age some boys don't stop to think things through. When someone dares you to do something, and offers you money to do it; then you just have to take up the challenge.
Apparently someone, family or friend--had dared Lowell to wade out a little ways into the water, and had offered him some money to do it. Lowell accepted the challenge and proceeded to wade out into the swiftly moving water. He hadn't intended to go too far, but he slipped on the muddy bank and fell into the raging creek. The current quickly pulled him into the whirlpool.
One (or more) of the children ran to the Rader house (not far away) and told Lowell's mother Frances, what had happened. Frances raced to the aid of her son.
After arriving at the scene, Frances grabbed hold of a bush (or a tree branch) that hung out over the waters edge. Holding onto the branch she slowly waded out into the fast moving current. It was said by observers, that Lowell's head would bob to the surface of the whirlpool; and when his head rose up--Frances would lean out and attempt to grab him. It's not sure how long she did this, but the branch or limb suddenly snapped and Frances too, was quickly pulled into the whirlpool. Both mother and son perished on that day as the other children helplessly watched the event occur.
