Family of Six Children All Perish in Manley Creek

Mrs. John McGrath Narrowly Escapes the Fate of Her Children

The Axtell Anchor - Friday, April 2, 1897

One of the saddest accidents that ever occurred in this vicinity happened [to] the family of Mr. and Mrs. John McGrath, living about ten miles northeast of here in Nemaha county, Sunday afternoon, when Mrs. McGrath and her six little children attempted to ford Manley or Pole Creek near the Hynes school house and were capsized and all drowned excepting Mrs. McGrath who miraculously escaped by a hard struggle.

The dead are:
Frank McGrath, aged fourteen years.
Katie McGrath, aged twelve years.
Leo McGrath, aged nine years.
John McGrath, aged five years.
Robert McGrath, aged two years.
the babe, Thomas, aged 8 months.

At two o'clock in the afternoon Mrs. McGrath and her six children started in a wagon from their home to visit the family of John Hynes, their neighbor, who were going to move away in a few days.

To reach the place it was necessary for them to cross Manley or Pole Creek, it ordinarily being a very small stream and easily forded, but at Summerfield, near its source, there had been a very heavy rain that night and had swollen the stream, until the banks were completely filled and was running very swiftly. Several parties had crossed the stream that morning, probably before it had risen so high, but when the McGraths came to the stream Mrs. McGrath protested, but the children all being quite anxious for a visit over-persuaded them and Frank, the eldest, who was driving started to cross, but before the horses had gone but a few steps they were forced to swim and immediately turned back, and in doing so upset the wagon and threw its precious freight into the swift boiling stream.

The older children fought the current desperately and tried to catch hold of the wagon or over hanging limbs but the swift current overpowered them and all were swept down to their death.

Mrs. McGrath did her very best to save her babe, but the swift icy water made her helpless and found it a very difficult task to save herself and after drifting several yards she caught some overhanging limbs and pulled herself out half dead and hardly knowing how she saved herself and what she was doing. After recovering strength she went in search of her little loved ones and wandered down stream until she found Frank who was clinging desperately to a limb and went to rescue him but he told her not to come near as it was too dangerous but to go for help as he could hold on until she came back. Reaching the residence of John Calnan she told them her awful story and they quickly returned to rescue them and found that the swift current had worn Frank out and swept him away.

Plenty of help was soon summoned and two of the bodies were soon recovered but not until two o'clock that night did they succeed in finding two more.  Frank the eldest was found early in the morning several hundred yards from where the accident occurred, and on Tuesday evening after two days of hard search the little five year old John was found.

Three large windmill tanks were used as boats.  Men were placed in them with poles and hooks and the stream was very closely searched.

Five of the little children were buried Tuesday.  Services were held in the St. Bridget church and were conducted by Father O'Sullivan. The little bodies were interred at that place and there was a very large funeral, but owing to the impassible roads, friends living afar off were unable to attend.

Little John who was the last found was buried Wednesday morning.

The friends of Mr. and Mrs. McGrath are greatly concerned in regard to the pitiful condition the mother is in and are afraid she will lose her reason in her bereavement.

Mr. and Mrs. McGrath has lived in that vicinity for years and have a host of friends and command the respect of the whole community. Mr. McGrath is an older brother of Joseph McGrath who has lived in this town for many years.

The sympathy of the entire community is with the parents of the dead children.

[ed. note: - the April 9, 1897 issue of the Anchor carried this correction]:

"In our report last week of the drowning of the six children of John McGrath, our reporter was in error about the name of the two year old child. It should have read Mary McGrath instead of Robert McGrath. We cheerfully make the correction. In the excitement attendant upon such an accident it is very easy to make an error, but it is our aim to get the news as accurate as possible."