Anita Record
August 9, 1923
Page 1
TWO GIRLS DROWNED IN NODAWAY; MAN STRICKEN
Miss Claire Caddock and Miss Helen Weaver Victims Of Saturday's Tragedy. Milo A. Wickey Dies After Heroic Effort To Find Bodies
Two homes at Berea, small inland town situated ten miles southeast of Anita - the homes of Mr. and Mrs. R. A. Caddock and Mr. and Mrs. D. C. Weaver - are today shrouded in deepest sorrow and bereavement, the result of a double tragedy which occurred there Saturday morning, between the hours of ten and eleven o'clock, when two little girls, Clara Caddock, aged twelve years, and Helen Weaver, aged thirteen years, were swept away in the rushing waters of the Nodaway river, and drowned.
Girls Were Wading
A heavy rain had caused the river to rise rapidly, and the water had overflowed to the bottom lands on both the east and west banks of the swollen stream.
The little girls, in company with two others, one a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Smith, and the other a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. D. C. Weaver, went down to the river to watch the water as it flowed swiftly by.
Clara and Helen were soon wading the water that had overflowed on the west bank, north of the bridge, and no doubt wholly unmindful of the depth of the water in the direction they were going, or of the danger they were in, still holding each other's hand, they slipped off the bank, into the swift current, and were carried down stream, never again to be seen alive.
Other Girls Gave Alarm
The other little girls, who saw them disappear beneath the water, immediately gave the alarm, and assistance was soon at hand, but in a vain attempt to rescue them.
The surrounding country was notified by phone, and men came from all directions, and from many miles distant, in prompt response to the call for help, including a large number from Anita, who went out in autos, and eagerly joined in the search.
A life-line was formed across the river, and the work of grappling its depths commenced. Both the east and west banks of the river were carefully patrolled.
Weaver Girl Found at 4:30
At 4:30 in the afternoon, the dead body of Helen Weaver was found on the east bank of the river by Howard Marshall of this city. The body was under water, except the child's head and one arm. The point at which it was found, was perhaps a quarter of a mile south of the bridge, which spans the river on the east and west road leading into Berea.
The search for Clara Caddock was renewed with added vigor and earnestness. The men had been in the cold water of the river for at least six hours, subjecting themselves to extreme exposure, yet they worked on, unceasingly.
Continued Search With Lanterns
Darkness had settled down on the little village and community, but the search continued. The water was slowly receding. Armed with lanterns and flashlights, the searchers traversed both banks of the river, wading the stream wherever it was possible to do so, and at about 8:30, their all-day's labor was rewarded.
At a point about one-half mile south of the bridge, lodged against a tree on the east river bank, partially hidden from view by an accumulation of underbrush, Fred Woods and Had Sividge found the body of Clara Caddock - cold in death; the little form bearing evidence of having come in contact with numerous objects along the path of the angry waves.
Countryside Mourns
What a hard task it must have been, even for strong men, to carry the lifeless bodies of these two little girls to the desolate home of distracted and heart-broken parents and loved ones, whose grief it is almost impossible to comprehend. Without a moment's warning, "in the twinkle of an eye," the life of each of these little girls, which meant so much in the homes that had been made happy by their presence, went out forever.
At a time like this, words fail in the sincere, heartfelt expression of sympathy for those in deepest sorrow and bereavement; not only by the near neighbors and friends, but by the people of Anita and surrounding community, who "mourn with those who mourn."
Clella Claire Caddock
Clella Claire Caddock, only child of Mr. and Mrs. R. A. Caddock, was born at Berea, Iowa, November 30, 1911, and died Saturday morning, August 4th, 1923, aged eleven years, eight months, and four days.
Helen Leona Weaver
Helen Leona Weaver, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David C. Weaver, was born near Cumberland, Cass county, Iowa, March 13th, 1910 and died August 4th, 1923, aged thirteen years, four months, and twenty-two days.
A Day and Night of Tragedies
It was indeed a day and night of tragedies. Shortly after the body of Clara Caddock had been recovered, Milo Wickey, a well known farmer, whose home has been on the J. M. Broadfoot farm for the past five years, dropped dead in the Joe Vetter store at Berea.
Mr. Wickey was one of the first to respond to the call for assistance in recovering the bodies of Clara Caddock and Helen Weaver, a short time after their disappearance beneath the waters of the river Saturday forenoon. He worked faithfully and heroically all day, and into the night. It is said that he was in the water a greater portion of the time, and no doubt over-taxed his strength, to the point of collapse, resulting in heart inaction.
Falls In Vetter Store
Stopping at the Vetter store on his way home, to make a few purchases, he was enumerating the articles he desired, when, with a slight exclamation which denoted apparent sudden pain, he raised his hand in the direction of his head, and immediately fell to the floor - dead.
He is survived by his wife and one son, Harold, eight years old. Mr. Wickey was a man of excellent character and reputation, industrious and wholly reliable, and is spoken of in highest terms by his neighbors, and the people living within the Berea community, with whom he has associated during the past five years.
Came Near Drowning
Minor A. James, a resident of the Berea vicinity, who was assisting in the search, got into the river beyond his depth, and in all probability would have drowned, had it not been for Ralph and "Mick" Forshay, who rescued him as he was going down the second time.
Illness From Exposure
Fred Woods, one of the faithful crew who worked in the cold, muddy waters of the Nodaway river last Saturday, assisting in the recovery of the bodies of the little girls who were drowned, has been ill and under the doctor's care, as a result of exposure to which the many men on the occasion were subjected.
Funeral services for Clara Caddock and Helen Weaver were held Monday at 12:30 p.m. on the lawn at the R. A. Caddock home in Berea. Two beautiful caskets, identically the same, enclosed the bodies of two little girls - playmates, schoolmates and friends - victims of the cruel river's toll. The services were conducted by Rev. Don Charles, of Omaha, whose message brought comfort and consolation to the parents of "the loved and lost."
Loving hands tenderly laid away the bodies; Clara in the Massena Center Cemetery, and Helen in the Cemetery at Cumberland.
August 9, 1923
Page 1
TWO GIRLS DROWNED IN NODAWAY; MAN STRICKEN
Miss Claire Caddock and Miss Helen Weaver Victims Of Saturday's Tragedy. Milo A. Wickey Dies After Heroic Effort To Find Bodies
Two homes at Berea, small inland town situated ten miles southeast of Anita - the homes of Mr. and Mrs. R. A. Caddock and Mr. and Mrs. D. C. Weaver - are today shrouded in deepest sorrow and bereavement, the result of a double tragedy which occurred there Saturday morning, between the hours of ten and eleven o'clock, when two little girls, Clara Caddock, aged twelve years, and Helen Weaver, aged thirteen years, were swept away in the rushing waters of the Nodaway river, and drowned.
Girls Were Wading
A heavy rain had caused the river to rise rapidly, and the water had overflowed to the bottom lands on both the east and west banks of the swollen stream.
The little girls, in company with two others, one a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Smith, and the other a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. D. C. Weaver, went down to the river to watch the water as it flowed swiftly by.
Clara and Helen were soon wading the water that had overflowed on the west bank, north of the bridge, and no doubt wholly unmindful of the depth of the water in the direction they were going, or of the danger they were in, still holding each other's hand, they slipped off the bank, into the swift current, and were carried down stream, never again to be seen alive.
Other Girls Gave Alarm
The other little girls, who saw them disappear beneath the water, immediately gave the alarm, and assistance was soon at hand, but in a vain attempt to rescue them.
The surrounding country was notified by phone, and men came from all directions, and from many miles distant, in prompt response to the call for help, including a large number from Anita, who went out in autos, and eagerly joined in the search.
A life-line was formed across the river, and the work of grappling its depths commenced. Both the east and west banks of the river were carefully patrolled.
Weaver Girl Found at 4:30
At 4:30 in the afternoon, the dead body of Helen Weaver was found on the east bank of the river by Howard Marshall of this city. The body was under water, except the child's head and one arm. The point at which it was found, was perhaps a quarter of a mile south of the bridge, which spans the river on the east and west road leading into Berea.
The search for Clara Caddock was renewed with added vigor and earnestness. The men had been in the cold water of the river for at least six hours, subjecting themselves to extreme exposure, yet they worked on, unceasingly.
Continued Search With Lanterns
Darkness had settled down on the little village and community, but the search continued. The water was slowly receding. Armed with lanterns and flashlights, the searchers traversed both banks of the river, wading the stream wherever it was possible to do so, and at about 8:30, their all-day's labor was rewarded.
At a point about one-half mile south of the bridge, lodged against a tree on the east river bank, partially hidden from view by an accumulation of underbrush, Fred Woods and Had Sividge found the body of Clara Caddock - cold in death; the little form bearing evidence of having come in contact with numerous objects along the path of the angry waves.
Countryside Mourns
What a hard task it must have been, even for strong men, to carry the lifeless bodies of these two little girls to the desolate home of distracted and heart-broken parents and loved ones, whose grief it is almost impossible to comprehend. Without a moment's warning, "in the twinkle of an eye," the life of each of these little girls, which meant so much in the homes that had been made happy by their presence, went out forever.
At a time like this, words fail in the sincere, heartfelt expression of sympathy for those in deepest sorrow and bereavement; not only by the near neighbors and friends, but by the people of Anita and surrounding community, who "mourn with those who mourn."
Clella Claire Caddock
Clella Claire Caddock, only child of Mr. and Mrs. R. A. Caddock, was born at Berea, Iowa, November 30, 1911, and died Saturday morning, August 4th, 1923, aged eleven years, eight months, and four days.
Helen Leona Weaver
Helen Leona Weaver, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David C. Weaver, was born near Cumberland, Cass county, Iowa, March 13th, 1910 and died August 4th, 1923, aged thirteen years, four months, and twenty-two days.
A Day and Night of Tragedies
It was indeed a day and night of tragedies. Shortly after the body of Clara Caddock had been recovered, Milo Wickey, a well known farmer, whose home has been on the J. M. Broadfoot farm for the past five years, dropped dead in the Joe Vetter store at Berea.
Mr. Wickey was one of the first to respond to the call for assistance in recovering the bodies of Clara Caddock and Helen Weaver, a short time after their disappearance beneath the waters of the river Saturday forenoon. He worked faithfully and heroically all day, and into the night. It is said that he was in the water a greater portion of the time, and no doubt over-taxed his strength, to the point of collapse, resulting in heart inaction.
Falls In Vetter Store
Stopping at the Vetter store on his way home, to make a few purchases, he was enumerating the articles he desired, when, with a slight exclamation which denoted apparent sudden pain, he raised his hand in the direction of his head, and immediately fell to the floor - dead.
He is survived by his wife and one son, Harold, eight years old. Mr. Wickey was a man of excellent character and reputation, industrious and wholly reliable, and is spoken of in highest terms by his neighbors, and the people living within the Berea community, with whom he has associated during the past five years.
Came Near Drowning
Minor A. James, a resident of the Berea vicinity, who was assisting in the search, got into the river beyond his depth, and in all probability would have drowned, had it not been for Ralph and "Mick" Forshay, who rescued him as he was going down the second time.
Illness From Exposure
Fred Woods, one of the faithful crew who worked in the cold, muddy waters of the Nodaway river last Saturday, assisting in the recovery of the bodies of the little girls who were drowned, has been ill and under the doctor's care, as a result of exposure to which the many men on the occasion were subjected.
Funeral services for Clara Caddock and Helen Weaver were held Monday at 12:30 p.m. on the lawn at the R. A. Caddock home in Berea. Two beautiful caskets, identically the same, enclosed the bodies of two little girls - playmates, schoolmates and friends - victims of the cruel river's toll. The services were conducted by Rev. Don Charles, of Omaha, whose message brought comfort and consolation to the parents of "the loved and lost."
Loving hands tenderly laid away the bodies; Clara in the Massena Center Cemetery, and Helen in the Cemetery at Cumberland.
Anita Record
August 9, 1923
Page 1
TWO GIRLS DROWNED IN NODAWAY; MAN STRICKEN
Miss Claire Caddock and Miss Helen Weaver Victims Of Saturday's Tragedy. Milo A. Wickey Dies After Heroic Effort To Find Bodies
Two homes at Berea, small inland town situated ten miles southeast of Anita - the homes of Mr. and Mrs. R. A. Caddock and Mr. and Mrs. D. C. Weaver - are today shrouded in deepest sorrow and bereavement, the result of a double tragedy which occurred there Saturday morning, between the hours of ten and eleven o'clock, when two little girls, Clara Caddock, aged twelve years, and Helen Weaver, aged thirteen years, were swept away in the rushing waters of the Nodaway river, and drowned.
Girls Were Wading
A heavy rain had caused the river to rise rapidly, and the water had overflowed to the bottom lands on both the east and west banks of the swollen stream.
The little girls, in company with two others, one a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Smith, and the other a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. D. C. Weaver, went down to the river to watch the water as it flowed swiftly by.
Clara and Helen were soon wading the water that had overflowed on the west bank, north of the bridge, and no doubt wholly unmindful of the depth of the water in the direction they were going, or of the danger they were in, still holding each other's hand, they slipped off the bank, into the swift current, and were carried down stream, never again to be seen alive.
Other Girls Gave Alarm
The other little girls, who saw them disappear beneath the water, immediately gave the alarm, and assistance was soon at hand, but in a vain attempt to rescue them.
The surrounding country was notified by phone, and men came from all directions, and from many miles distant, in prompt response to the call for help, including a large number from Anita, who went out in autos, and eagerly joined in the search.
A life-line was formed across the river, and the work of grappling its depths commenced. Both the east and west banks of the river were carefully patrolled.
Weaver Girl Found at 4:30
At 4:30 in the afternoon, the dead body of Helen Weaver was found on the east bank of the river by Howard Marshall of this city. The body was under water, except the child's head and one arm. The point at which it was found, was perhaps a quarter of a mile south of the bridge, which spans the river on the east and west road leading into Berea.
The search for Clara Caddock was renewed with added vigor and earnestness. The men had been in the cold water of the river for at least six hours, subjecting themselves to extreme exposure, yet they worked on, unceasingly.
Continued Search With Lanterns
Darkness had settled down on the little village and community, but the search continued. The water was slowly receding. Armed with lanterns and flashlights, the searchers traversed both banks of the river, wading the stream wherever it was possible to do so, and at about 8:30, their all-day's labor was rewarded.
At a point about one-half mile south of the bridge, lodged against a tree on the east river bank, partially hidden from view by an accumulation of underbrush, Fred Woods and Had Sividge found the body of Clara Caddock - cold in death; the little form bearing evidence of having come in contact with numerous objects along the path of the angry waves.
Countryside Mourns
What a hard task it must have been, even for strong men, to carry the lifeless bodies of these two little girls to the desolate home of distracted and heart-broken parents and loved ones, whose grief it is almost impossible to comprehend. Without a moment's warning, "in the twinkle of an eye," the life of each of these little girls, which meant so much in the homes that had been made happy by their presence, went out forever.
At a time like this, words fail in the sincere, heartfelt expression of sympathy for those in deepest sorrow and bereavement; not only by the near neighbors and friends, but by the people of Anita and surrounding community, who "mourn with those who mourn."
Clella Claire Caddock
Clella Claire Caddock, only child of Mr. and Mrs. R. A. Caddock, was born at Berea, Iowa, November 30, 1911, and died Saturday morning, August 4th, 1923, aged eleven years, eight months, and four days.
Helen Leona Weaver
Helen Leona Weaver, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David C. Weaver, was born near Cumberland, Cass county, Iowa, March 13th, 1910 and died August 4th, 1923, aged thirteen years, four months, and twenty-two days.
A Day and Night of Tragedies
It was indeed a day and night of tragedies. Shortly after the body of Clara Caddock had been recovered, Milo Wickey, a well known farmer, whose home has been on the J. M. Broadfoot farm for the past five years, dropped dead in the Joe Vetter store at Berea.
Mr. Wickey was one of the first to respond to the call for assistance in recovering the bodies of Clara Caddock and Helen Weaver, a short time after their disappearance beneath the waters of the river Saturday forenoon. He worked faithfully and heroically all day, and into the night. It is said that he was in the water a greater portion of the time, and no doubt over-taxed his strength, to the point of collapse, resulting in heart inaction.
Falls In Vetter Store
Stopping at the Vetter store on his way home, to make a few purchases, he was enumerating the articles he desired, when, with a slight exclamation which denoted apparent sudden pain, he raised his hand in the direction of his head, and immediately fell to the floor - dead.
He is survived by his wife and one son, Harold, eight years old. Mr. Wickey was a man of excellent character and reputation, industrious and wholly reliable, and is spoken of in highest terms by his neighbors, and the people living within the Berea community, with whom he has associated during the past five years.
Came Near Drowning
Minor A. James, a resident of the Berea vicinity, who was assisting in the search, got into the river beyond his depth, and in all probability would have drowned, had it not been for Ralph and "Mick" Forshay, who rescued him as he was going down the second time.
Illness From Exposure
Fred Woods, one of the faithful crew who worked in the cold, muddy waters of the Nodaway river last Saturday, assisting in the recovery of the bodies of the little girls who were drowned, has been ill and under the doctor's care, as a result of exposure to which the many men on the occasion were subjected.
Funeral services for Clara Caddock and Helen Weaver were held Monday at 12:30 p.m. on the lawn at the R. A. Caddock home in Berea. Two beautiful caskets, identically the same, enclosed the bodies of two little girls - playmates, schoolmates and friends - victims of the cruel river's toll. The services were conducted by Rev. Don Charles, of Omaha, whose message brought comfort and consolation to the parents of "the loved and lost."
Loving hands tenderly laid away the bodies; Clara in the Massena Center Cemetery, and Helen in the Cemetery at Cumberland.
August 9, 1923
Page 1
TWO GIRLS DROWNED IN NODAWAY; MAN STRICKEN
Miss Claire Caddock and Miss Helen Weaver Victims Of Saturday's Tragedy. Milo A. Wickey Dies After Heroic Effort To Find Bodies
Two homes at Berea, small inland town situated ten miles southeast of Anita - the homes of Mr. and Mrs. R. A. Caddock and Mr. and Mrs. D. C. Weaver - are today shrouded in deepest sorrow and bereavement, the result of a double tragedy which occurred there Saturday morning, between the hours of ten and eleven o'clock, when two little girls, Clara Caddock, aged twelve years, and Helen Weaver, aged thirteen years, were swept away in the rushing waters of the Nodaway river, and drowned.
Girls Were Wading
A heavy rain had caused the river to rise rapidly, and the water had overflowed to the bottom lands on both the east and west banks of the swollen stream.
The little girls, in company with two others, one a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Smith, and the other a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. D. C. Weaver, went down to the river to watch the water as it flowed swiftly by.
Clara and Helen were soon wading the water that had overflowed on the west bank, north of the bridge, and no doubt wholly unmindful of the depth of the water in the direction they were going, or of the danger they were in, still holding each other's hand, they slipped off the bank, into the swift current, and were carried down stream, never again to be seen alive.
Other Girls Gave Alarm
The other little girls, who saw them disappear beneath the water, immediately gave the alarm, and assistance was soon at hand, but in a vain attempt to rescue them.
The surrounding country was notified by phone, and men came from all directions, and from many miles distant, in prompt response to the call for help, including a large number from Anita, who went out in autos, and eagerly joined in the search.
A life-line was formed across the river, and the work of grappling its depths commenced. Both the east and west banks of the river were carefully patrolled.
Weaver Girl Found at 4:30
At 4:30 in the afternoon, the dead body of Helen Weaver was found on the east bank of the river by Howard Marshall of this city. The body was under water, except the child's head and one arm. The point at which it was found, was perhaps a quarter of a mile south of the bridge, which spans the river on the east and west road leading into Berea.
The search for Clara Caddock was renewed with added vigor and earnestness. The men had been in the cold water of the river for at least six hours, subjecting themselves to extreme exposure, yet they worked on, unceasingly.
Continued Search With Lanterns
Darkness had settled down on the little village and community, but the search continued. The water was slowly receding. Armed with lanterns and flashlights, the searchers traversed both banks of the river, wading the stream wherever it was possible to do so, and at about 8:30, their all-day's labor was rewarded.
At a point about one-half mile south of the bridge, lodged against a tree on the east river bank, partially hidden from view by an accumulation of underbrush, Fred Woods and Had Sividge found the body of Clara Caddock - cold in death; the little form bearing evidence of having come in contact with numerous objects along the path of the angry waves.
Countryside Mourns
What a hard task it must have been, even for strong men, to carry the lifeless bodies of these two little girls to the desolate home of distracted and heart-broken parents and loved ones, whose grief it is almost impossible to comprehend. Without a moment's warning, "in the twinkle of an eye," the life of each of these little girls, which meant so much in the homes that had been made happy by their presence, went out forever.
At a time like this, words fail in the sincere, heartfelt expression of sympathy for those in deepest sorrow and bereavement; not only by the near neighbors and friends, but by the people of Anita and surrounding community, who "mourn with those who mourn."
Clella Claire Caddock
Clella Claire Caddock, only child of Mr. and Mrs. R. A. Caddock, was born at Berea, Iowa, November 30, 1911, and died Saturday morning, August 4th, 1923, aged eleven years, eight months, and four days.
Helen Leona Weaver
Helen Leona Weaver, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David C. Weaver, was born near Cumberland, Cass county, Iowa, March 13th, 1910 and died August 4th, 1923, aged thirteen years, four months, and twenty-two days.
A Day and Night of Tragedies
It was indeed a day and night of tragedies. Shortly after the body of Clara Caddock had been recovered, Milo Wickey, a well known farmer, whose home has been on the J. M. Broadfoot farm for the past five years, dropped dead in the Joe Vetter store at Berea.
Mr. Wickey was one of the first to respond to the call for assistance in recovering the bodies of Clara Caddock and Helen Weaver, a short time after their disappearance beneath the waters of the river Saturday forenoon. He worked faithfully and heroically all day, and into the night. It is said that he was in the water a greater portion of the time, and no doubt over-taxed his strength, to the point of collapse, resulting in heart inaction.
Falls In Vetter Store
Stopping at the Vetter store on his way home, to make a few purchases, he was enumerating the articles he desired, when, with a slight exclamation which denoted apparent sudden pain, he raised his hand in the direction of his head, and immediately fell to the floor - dead.
He is survived by his wife and one son, Harold, eight years old. Mr. Wickey was a man of excellent character and reputation, industrious and wholly reliable, and is spoken of in highest terms by his neighbors, and the people living within the Berea community, with whom he has associated during the past five years.
Came Near Drowning
Minor A. James, a resident of the Berea vicinity, who was assisting in the search, got into the river beyond his depth, and in all probability would have drowned, had it not been for Ralph and "Mick" Forshay, who rescued him as he was going down the second time.
Illness From Exposure
Fred Woods, one of the faithful crew who worked in the cold, muddy waters of the Nodaway river last Saturday, assisting in the recovery of the bodies of the little girls who were drowned, has been ill and under the doctor's care, as a result of exposure to which the many men on the occasion were subjected.
Funeral services for Clara Caddock and Helen Weaver were held Monday at 12:30 p.m. on the lawn at the R. A. Caddock home in Berea. Two beautiful caskets, identically the same, enclosed the bodies of two little girls - playmates, schoolmates and friends - victims of the cruel river's toll. The services were conducted by Rev. Don Charles, of Omaha, whose message brought comfort and consolation to the parents of "the loved and lost."
Loving hands tenderly laid away the bodies; Clara in the Massena Center Cemetery, and Helen in the Cemetery at Cumberland.
Inscription
Age 11 yr, 8 mo, 4 d
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
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