Left - Mt. Vernon Mill Pond
The Saddest Tragedy
- reprinted from Stories of Mt. Vernon - 1946
One of the most tragic happenings that Mt. Vernon ever experienced was the drowning of Ida Van Norman and Alex Osborne. This story was told by Dell Korner Erfurth, who witnessed the tragedy. On May 7th, 1878 seven of the young folks of the school hurriedly ate their noon lunch, some of them sitting in the deep windows of the old school building. Teacher George Martin had gone home for dinner. When they had finished their lunch, they decided to go to the mill pond for a boat ride. The boat was flat bottomed, old and dilapidated; but none of them realized the danger even though they had been forbidden to use the boat. Carrie McCord, Ida Van Norman, Lottie Way, Charley Allen Jr. and Dell Foy (Mrs. Erfurth) went out leaving Alta McCord and Alex Osborne watching from the shore. When the boys began to rock the boat, Dell became frightened and asked to be taken back to shore. Alex helped her out of the boat and she in turn helped him into her place. She stood beside Alta and watched the rest of the young folks row out to the deepest part of the pond. It seemed that without warning the boat tipped, spilling its occupants into the water. The children on the shore ran to the Allen Hotel screaming for help. Charley Allen Sr. had just returned from the post office. He was sitting on the Hotel steps looking at the saloon license that he had just received. He ran to the water's edge and jumped into the water unmindful of the heavy boots he was wearing. The children were all clinging to the overturned boat; but when Mr. Allen reached them they all turned to him and their grasping hands carried him under the water with them. Ida was clinging to his leg and it was necessary for him to push her away with his foot. The mark of his boot was left on her face. Help began to arrive. Mr. Peterson and Mr. Erickson attempted to wade from the North side of the pond but were forced to turn back as neither could swim. Dr. Donald arrived and revived the first one to be brought in, which was Carrie McCord. Charley Allen Jr. managed to right the boat and rescued himself and Lottie Way; but Alex and Ida had gone down and their bodies could not be found. The girl's sunbonnets were floating on the surface of the water. It took one-half hour before the body of Alex was recovered and longer to recover that of Ida. The bodies were carried to the hotel and wrapped in blankets and everything done to revive them, but to no avail. Ida's father offered Dr. Donald his farm and all his possessions if only he could save her. Ida was buried in a pink silk dress that she had been wanting, and was laid to rest in the Mt. Vernon Cemetery. Alex was buried in Oregon. Ida was sixteen years of age and Alex was fourteen.
The news of the tragedy was carried to the family and friends by men on horseback.... This was not the end of trouble for the Osbornes for just sixteen days later a tornado passed through Primrose and Mrs. Osborne had one leg broken in two places and the knee of the other seriously injured. Another daughter so badly injured she was not able to walk for three months. Mr. Osborne was also slightly injured.
Left - memorial card of Ida Van Norman - 1878 (MHAHS Museum collections)