- From Andy Wegner Family History;
As reported by the Appleton Post June 1, 1876, and as re-published in 1976 in the Appleton Post Crescent's "Looking Back 100 Years Ago" section, and as also reported in the Appleton Crescent June 3, 1876, Gertrude and her daughter Bernadine, died a tragic death. The Post reports in the original article:
A FATAL ACCIDENT. A Woman and Daughter Drowned.We are called upon this week to report a most distressing accident. The p articulars, as we learn them from a reliable source, are as follows: On S aturday last, Mr. Anton Eiting, a well-to-do farmer from Hollandtown, w as driving into the village of Kaukauna with his wife and two daughters--t he eldest a young lady and the youngest a little girl about 8 years ol d. While crossing the bridge connecting the Town of Buchanan with the Vil lage of Kaukauna, his team -- a span of mules -- became frightened and bac ked against the railing, which giving way, precipitated the four occupan ts of the wagon into the rapids beneath. Mr. Eiting and his eldest daught er escaped; but his wife and little daughter of eight years were carried d own the rapids and drowned. The appeals for help of the unfortunate wom an were heard for many minutes after she was thrown in the stream, b ut it was not possible to reach her or render her any assistance. The bod ies were not recovered until the following day. This is one of the most di stressing accidents that has ever happened in this county. It is rumor ed that the county will be prosecuted for damages."
The Crescent article has some of the details a little different:
"DROWNED!
Off Kaukauna River Bridge! On Saturday last, Mr. Anton Eiting dro ve on to the main river bridge at Kaukauna from the Buchanan side of the R iver, his wife and four children being in the wagon. Meeting a mule tea m, the horses became frightened, and backed the hind wheels off the bridg e, precipitatinghis wife and daughter into the Rapids, and of course they were drowned. An other child was rescued, a strong hand grasping her as she was going ove r. The horses clung to the bridge, when they discovered the trouble they h ad caused, or all would have been lost."
From Andy Wegner:
Handed down family stories on the incident, claim that she asked that t he children be saved first, which resulted in her not being saved. 1870 c ensus records indicate a daughter Berendina, age one, and a daughter Elisa beth, age 4. Berendina's birth record indicates her name as Mary Bernadin e, bornApril 22, 1869, in the town of Holland. Bernadine is likely the one th at drown, especially since she is not listed in the 1880 census, and Elisa beth the daughter that survived. Another son, our grandfather Willia m, then 11 years old, may or may not have been with them that day, dependi ng on which article you believe. It should be noted that the Crescent arti cle says they had four children. I'm currently aware of only three.
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1838 - 1876 (37 years)
Birth - Church Record
