Compiled by Betty Jane Wilson, society president
Born October 20, 1880 — Died October 16, 1904, Miss Pearl Ferguson
The news headlines and story reflecting the shock and grief of the community follows:
"Terrible tragedy. The flower of womanhood withered by suicide's bitter blight. Mind impaired by sickness. The beautiful and popular Miss Pearl Ferguson runs from her palatial home, plunges from a bridge into the Delaware and drowns in the night. Dark clouds have hovered over the skies during most of the week and cold rain has dampened and chilled the earth; but the clouds are as sunbeams compared with the shroud of gloom that appalls the hearts of Jefferson County and the moisture from the dreary skies perhaps does not compare with the flood of tears shed by a multitude of sorrowing people over the pitfall, tragic death of Miss Pearl Ferguson, the only daughter of Mr. Walter Ferguson, ex-county treasurer of this county.
"The sad story begins with March 1904 when Miss Pearl and her mother were afflicted with the measels, her mind has been affected ever since.
"During this time she was under the constant surveillance of a competent medical advisor and her condition was thought to be rapidly improving. Last Sunday evening Walter Ferguson was writing a letter to his brother, Mrs. Ferguson was reading to her two youngest sons, and Miss Pearl played awhile on the piano and then went upstairs saying she would write a letter to her uncle also.
"Soon Mr. Ferguson went to her room to get her letter, but he could not find his daughter. After calling outside, they searched her room. Miss Pearl's rings, watch, combs, pins and hat were there and in a drawer were found two letters, one to her parents and one to her brother, Ross, and his wife.
"The former letter lamented over mental condition since her sickness and expressed the fear that she would become worse. She said she had deliberated long over what she should do and decided that for the sake of herself and loved ones she best end it all.
"The letter told her parents that it would be no use to try to find her, that she was the same as dead. But if they did, to give her a Christian burial. A tender farewell was signed, 'Your dead Pearl.'
"The letter to Ross and his wife begged them to be kind to her parents as they would have no daughter now and bade them farewell.
"Mr. Ferguson called Dr. M.F. Marks, who had the case in charge and said he feared they were in trouble and asked the doctor if there was any danger of the girl doing anything desperate; to which the doctor responded positively and started a search immediately with C. Smith and J. Huber and others.
"At the bridge they saw a lantern below. It was the girl's brother, Ross, and F. Harmon looking out into the water. Strangely within only a dozen feet was the girl's body, but the cold silent waters in the blackness of night told no secret.
"All night long lanterns as thick as stars glimmered through the woods, fields and byways. Monday and Monday night hundreds continued the search. Many gave up the search. Tuesday afternoon Dr. Marks, Lou Hauck and J.E. Tutt were in a boat dragging the river.
"Lou Hauck said, 'We might as well cross here, leave the boat and give up, but I will always believe she is right between the bridges.'
"Tutt said, 'My mind was raking through this hole and I dreamed I found her.'
"Dr. Marks, who had the oars, said, 'If she is near here, I will take you across the place she is most likely to be.'
"Just then about seven feet above the wagon bridge at Legler Hill near the east side of the river, Tutt's hook caught something heavy and the poor young woman's dresses were pulled to the top of the water.
"Perhaps 500 people in 150 carriages attended the funeral Wednesday. Cold rain fell in dreary mist as if nature was weeping over 'Poor Dead Pearl!' Rev. Braden preached the sermon — short, impressive, paying glowing just tribute to the fair dead — attributing no blame to man or God.
"The deceased, born in Valley Falls, was buried one day before her 24th birthday . . . a beautiful useful life ended . . . a thousand hearts now ache with sorrow. Our priceless Pearl is gone."
The society's museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 14.
No comments:
Post a Comment