THOMPSON, Bertha M. 1874-1891

THOMPSON, HUNTINGTON

Posted By: S. Bell
Date: 8/23/2013 at 23:29:06

[Waterloo Daily Courier, Saturday, July 25, 1891, Waterloo, Iowa]

TERRIBLE ACCIDENT

Two Daughters of A. G. Thompson,
of Cedar Falls, Drowned
This Afternoon.

Shortly after noon today Misses Bertha and Mary, daughters of A. G. Thompson, a leading hardware merchant of Cedar Palls, were drowned in the river about a mile and a half from that place. The two ladies, with others, were out camping opposite Welling's Bluffs, about 1½ miles above the city, and they had gone in bathing alone. Miss Bertha, aged about 16 years, got beyond her depth and, being unable to swim, threw up her hands and sank. Her sister Miss Mary, 18 years old, at once went to her assistance and she, too, got beyond her depth and was drowned before help could arrive.

In a few moments a number of people were on the scene and every effort was made to recover the bodies. The body of Bertha was found shortly after 1 o'clock but, although the search was continued, Mary's body had not been found at 2:30 p. m.

Mr. Thompson and his family are among the old and prominent residents of Cedar Falls and this sudden and terrible calamity which has befallen them will be sincerely regretted by all.

LATER. — A message from' Cedar Falls, received at 3 p. m., states that the bodies of both girls have been recovered and that every possible effort was made to resuscitate them but without avail.

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[Waterloo Daily Courier, Monday, July 27, 1891, Waterloo, Iowa]

SORROW AT CEDAR FALLS

Full Particulars of the Sad Drowning of Mary and Bertha Thompson.

Saturday afternoon's issue of The Daily Courier gave the details as far as could be obtained at the time, of the fearful calamity which befell Mr. and Mrs. A. G. Thompson, of Cedar Falls, in the drowning of their two daughters shortly after noon that day.

At that time the excitement was so great and so many different stories were in circulation at Cedar Falls that it was very difficult to get at the exact facts. The drowning occurred at a place known as Welling's Bluffs about a mile and a half above Cedar Falls. This is a favorite resort, for campers and both the Misses Thompson had been there last year. At that time the shore of the river opposite the bluffs was sandy and sloped gradually from the edge of the water towards the middle of the stream. Since that time, however, the high water had dug out a hole about eight feet deep that no one knew of. The two young ladies were bathing in this shallow place, and Miss Florence Clay was in a boat close at hand. Miss Mary and Bertha Thompson had hold of each others' hands and suddenly both went into water over their heads. Bertha managed to get hold of the boat but Mary threw up her hands and sank. Bertha could swim a little and she at once started to save her sister but only to sink herself. Miss Clay, who was in the boat, succeeded in getting hold of Bertha's hand at one time but she pulled her hand away to try to help her sister. And in that way both went down. The other campers were on the bluffs on the opposite side of the river and as soon as possible they got the bodies out John Philpot got Mary's body out; after it had been in the water about three quarters of an hour, and Henry Sharon got Bertha out about fifteen minutes later. Bertha showed some slight signs of life but although every known means for resuscitation was tried and willing hands worked with them for four hours, there were forced reluctantly to give up the attempt, for both were dead.

This accident is one of the most sorrowful that has ever occurred in this section. Some years ago Mr. and Mrs. Thompson lost a son from the kick of a horse, and the drowning of the two girls leaves them with only one little boy.

Mary the oldest, who was about 19 years of age, had been engaged teaching in the schools of Nashua and had been re-elected to the same position.

Bertha, who was about 17, was a student at the Normal. Both were highly accomplished young ladies and were general favorites with every one.

The funeral services were held at the Congregational church, at Cedar Falls, at 2 p. m. to-day and, as an expression of the general and sincere sorrow caused by the calamity, business at Cedar Falls was suspended. The acquaintances of the bereaved family in this city heartily sympathize with them in their terrible affliction.

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Mary's gravestone at Fairview Cemetery, Cedar Falls is inscribed "Mary H. Thompson, July 3, 1871-July 25, 1891"

Bertha's gravestone at Fairview Cemetery, Cedar Falls is inscribed "Bertha M. Thompson, April 16, 1874-July 25, 1891"

Parents are Alonzo G. and Harriet (Huntington) Thompson