by Mike Sherfy, Knox Pages.com reporter
People in Knox County rang in 1915 much as they did a century later…by complaining about the winter weather. The local newspapers made much ado about the temperature and the snowfall and the treacherous winter conditions.
Falls were common…with occasional injuries. Miss Grace Leatherman, an employee of the Johnston-Walker-McCrackinDry Goods Store, for instance, took a spill on the Public Square when (according to the Democratic Banner) she “slipped on the ice, fell to the sidewalk and fractured her left arm at the elbow.” The Knox County Republican added that she “was carried into the Allen drug store, and later removed to the office of a physician where the fracture was reduced.”
Both papers reported on a close call suffered by a young child out for some air downtown—on the west side of Main Street between Vine and Gambier. “That the snowslides which one sees after every storm from the roofs of buildings on Main street are quite dangerous was demonstrated Monday afternoon when a mass of snow from a business block fell on the top of the baby buggy, wherein was seated the infant child of Dr. and Mrs. S.E. Deeley,” reported the Banner. “The hat of the nurse, Miss Horn, in charge of the child, was knocked off and it was this that probably saved the baby from injury, as the force of the snow was broken.” The Republican added further details, but credited the baby-carriage rather than the nurse’s hat with sparing the child serious harm: “The screams of the child, which was wakened from its sleep, attracted a large crowd. All who saw the accident were sure the baby had been seriously injured, but fortunately the heavy top protected it sufficiently. “
This was apparently not an isolated occurrence. “Several times in the last week or two pedestrians have had narrow escapes from being struck by snow sliding from the roofs of S. Main business houses,” reported the Republican. “In most instances the slide was heavy enough to have crushed a grown person had it struck one.”
Not everyone got off so easy. Two of the first local casualties of 1915 were weather-related.
“The body of Birdie Vernon aged 25 years, single, was found in a cistern in about five feet of water, in the rear of the residence of her grand-mother, Mrs. Mary Vernon, residing on the Newarkroad, just south of Mt. Vernon,” reported the Banner. “The discovery of the body was made at 11 o’clock Tuesday morning by William Vernon, a brother of the deceased. It is believed that the woman had been dead for several hours before the body was recovered.”
The Banner continued: “Miss Vernon has been making her home with her grand-mother, Mrs. Mary Vernon, for a number of years, in fact since the death of her parents. It has been her custom to arise early in the mornings, go to the barn, water and feed the cow, do the milking and deliver milk in the neighborhood. Mrs. Vernon states that she heard a door slam in the house about three o’clock Tuesday morning and believes that her grand-daughter was up and about doing chores at that hour.”
Birdie’s grandmother did not become uneasy until breakfast time. She contacted Birdie’s brother, William who came, searched the barn and all around the neighborhood—even enlisting other neighbors in the search, but found no trace of his sister. There was evidence that she had, as was her custom, fed and watered her cow, but Birdie was nowhere to be found. At around 11 o’clock, he decided to contact the authorities. Before doing so, he decided to check the cistern located eight or ten feet from the rear of the house. “A peculiar coincidence occurred in connection with the affair, which kept Mr. Vernon from looking into the cistern earlier in the morning,” noted the Banner, “and that was the position of a small board, which was always in place over the opening into the cistern. It appears that…at about eight o’clock a young girl came to the house after milk and,noticing that the cover was removed from the cistern, carefully placed the board back in position and as the piece of wood had the appearance of not being disturbed, Mr. Vernon never thought of looking into the cistern in his search for his sister earlier in the morning.” When William Vernon removed the board and placed a long clothes prop down into the water below, it touched the clothing of the girl. “In stirring up the water the body came to the surface. Mr. Vernon at once telephoned to Sheriff Woolison and told him of the circumstances. The latter notified Coroner Fisher and the two started to the Vernon home. With the use of ropes, the sheriff, the coroner and Mr. Vernon succeeded in removing the body from the cistern.”
Although there was some initial suspicions that something more sinister had occurred, the Banner’s editor dismissed them as unfounded: “It is the supposition of the officials and the young woman’s brother that Miss Vernon slipped on the ice while endeavoring to get the water and fell into the cistern. There was a sheet of ice about the opening into the cistern and a misplaced step would have caused anyone to slip and plunge headlong. Miss Vernon was fully dressed for the day’s work and this would give rise to the belief that she intended to carry out her usual duties of the day.” “There was evidence that Miss Vernon had fed her cow and had been drawing water for it,” added the Republican. “She had drawn one bucketful and emptied it into a larger vessel, and was probably stooping over to draw the second bucket when she either slipped or lost her balance and fell into the water. The bucket, with the strap attached to its handle, was found at the bottom of the cistern. After the body had been viewed by the coroner it was taken to the McCormick morgue where it was prepared for burial.”
Even those who stayed inside were not entirely safe. The Knox County Republican reported:
“With both ankles charred to the bones, James Miller, of Fairview, lay in a helpless condition at his home from 2 o’clock Monday morning until 10, when he succeeded in attracting the attention of a neighbor, Carl Hogle, by rapping on the window pane while he was passing. Hogle went in, soon saw Miller’s helpless condition and summoned Dr. B.F. Deeley. The man was taken to the M. & S. hospital in Millers’ ambulance and he lays there now in an exceedingly critical condition.
“Miller is a painter by trade and an employee of the Mt. Vernon Bridge Co. Neighbors state that he is very fond of reading and frequently spreads himself out in front of a fire with a book in his hands. It is thought that he was doing this and dozed off to sleep some time Sunday evening. The fire was going full blast and presumably ignited his clothing. Two pairs of heavy socks and practically all of his outer clothing were destroyed by the flames. Four large holes were burned in the floor of the room immediately in front of the stove.
“Miller could tell but little of his horrible experience, save that he awakened and found himself on fire. Instantly, he rushed out of doors, calling for help. There was no response and the man stood in the snow ankle deep, until the flaming bits of clothing were extinguished. In doing this, his feet were frozen and it was with difficulty that he was able to return into the house. Arriving there, he lay down and waited until morning and, for eight hours, experienced the worst agony possible.
“Miller’s ankles are charred and have the appearance of a broomstick, after it has been placed in a fire for a while. In addition to this, there are burns up both his legs and upon the upper portion of his body. It is possible that amputation of one or both of his legs will be necessary. The shock of his experience has also left its marks upon the man.
“Miller came here recently from Zanesville. He is very popular among his neighbors who characterize him as a quiet and well-behaved man. He is a member of the Eagles and the local aerie has assumed charge of his case, a number of members visiting him this morning and providing for his wants.”
The Eagles did not have to provide for him for long. The Democratic Banner reported that Miller died on Tuesday morning, adding: “The fact that he had inhaled some of the flames hastened his death.”
So, as we complain about the occasional patch of icy roadway or unshoveled sidewalk, it might be worthwhile to remember that few of us experience the winter as local people did a hundred years ago. A few of us might slip and fall during the next few months (if we haven’t already) but neither we nor anyone we know is liable to drown for the sake of a thirsty cow or die in agony just because we fell asleep with a good book.
