Aged: 23 Years
Charles Sargeant and his sister, Goldie, two well known young people of Clear Lake township, were drowned yesterday afternoon in the Sangamon river in an accident that is sickening in its horror. While on the way to visit a neighbor, the horse driven by the young couple became frightened and backed their vehicle into the river. Young Sargeant died a hero. He met his fate in a fruitless endeavor to save the life of his helpless sister.
Miss Daisy Geathard was in the buggy with the unfortunate couple and she was saved from a similar fate by her cousin, Ransom Geathard, who with Miss Sarah Jones, was riding in a buggy along with the trio. Young Geathard went to her and securing a long pole, reached it to her in time to save her life.
The accident occured about 1 o'clock near what is known as the Old Buckhart bridge, which crosses the North fork of the Sangamon river at a point twelve miles east of this city on the road connecting Dawson with the state road running east to Rochester. Just before the bridge from the north, the road traverses the north bank of the stream for some distance. From here it leaves the stream, winding around a piece of low ground opposite the mouth of the Buckhart creek and reaching the bridge about three hundred yards above this point, where it first touches the stream. It was at this point, where the road stretches along the bank of the treacherous stream that the sad accident occurred. A party of picnickers who have been spending a few days at the river were encamped at a point some distance away. About 4 o'clock members of the party heard the heavy rumbling of a farm wagon crossing the bridge and shortly after their attention waa attracted by loud shouts from the vicinity of the bridge. The timber which skirts the stream at this point made it impossible to obtain a view of the river and the visitors concluded a drove of cattle was being driven across the bridge.
An investigation revealed the cause of the cries. When the animal driven by young Sargeant reached the riverside it began acting queerly and, in spite of the efforts of the young man, the animal, which was blind, backed the vehicle over the bank into the river. When the rig fell into the river, the occupants of the other vehicle stopped their horse and Geathard went to the assitance of the unfortunate. The Geathard girl was rescued without difficulty but young Sargeant struck out to assist his sister and, in the struggle which followed, she dragged him with her to the bottom of the river.
An alarm was immediately sounded and "Uncle" Joe Miller, who lives close by, and several others in the vicinity were soon at the sight of the rueful wreck. Thomas Horine and Wlliam Grospitz, who were near by, joined the party at the river side as soon as they heard of the accident and a systematic search for the bodies was begun. A messenger was dispatched to break the sad news to the father of the drowned brother and sister. Mr. Sargeant hastened to the scene of the accident and when the full horror of the calamity came upon him his grief was heart-rending.
Charles Sargeant was 24 years old and his siter Goldie was 16. They lived with their father, George Sargeant, in Clear Lake township, and both were universally liked among their young acquaintances. They had frequently visited in this city and had many friends here. IL State Journal, Springifeld, IL 6-20-1898
The body of Goldie Sargent was recovered early yesterday morning. The friends of the family and neighbors were still searching for the remains of Charles Sargent at midnight last night. The inquest jury found "the deceased came to her death by accidental drowning in the North fork of the Sangamon river, caused by a horse becoming unmanageable and jumping into the river. Said horse was hitched to a buggy driven by Ransom Geathard." Witnesses stated that the young folks were returning from a visit to an aunt, where Charles Sargent went to say goodbye as he intended to come to Springfield on Monday to enlist in one of the cavalry troops. IL State Journal, 6-21-1898
Charles Sargeant and his sister, Goldie, two well known young people of Clear Lake township, were drowned yesterday afternoon in the Sangamon river in an accident that is sickening in its horror. While on the way to visit a neighbor, the horse driven by the young couple became frightened and backed their vehicle into the river. Young Sargeant died a hero. He met his fate in a fruitless endeavor to save the life of his helpless sister.
Miss Daisy Geathard was in the buggy with the unfortunate couple and she was saved from a similar fate by her cousin, Ransom Geathard, who with Miss Sarah Jones, was riding in a buggy along with the trio. Young Geathard went to her and securing a long pole, reached it to her in time to save her life.
The accident occured about 1 o'clock near what is known as the Old Buckhart bridge, which crosses the North fork of the Sangamon river at a point twelve miles east of this city on the road connecting Dawson with the state road running east to Rochester. Just before the bridge from the north, the road traverses the north bank of the stream for some distance. From here it leaves the stream, winding around a piece of low ground opposite the mouth of the Buckhart creek and reaching the bridge about three hundred yards above this point, where it first touches the stream. It was at this point, where the road stretches along the bank of the treacherous stream that the sad accident occurred. A party of picnickers who have been spending a few days at the river were encamped at a point some distance away. About 4 o'clock members of the party heard the heavy rumbling of a farm wagon crossing the bridge and shortly after their attention waa attracted by loud shouts from the vicinity of the bridge. The timber which skirts the stream at this point made it impossible to obtain a view of the river and the visitors concluded a drove of cattle was being driven across the bridge.
An investigation revealed the cause of the cries. When the animal driven by young Sargeant reached the riverside it began acting queerly and, in spite of the efforts of the young man, the animal, which was blind, backed the vehicle over the bank into the river. When the rig fell into the river, the occupants of the other vehicle stopped their horse and Geathard went to the assitance of the unfortunate. The Geathard girl was rescued without difficulty but young Sargeant struck out to assist his sister and, in the struggle which followed, she dragged him with her to the bottom of the river.
An alarm was immediately sounded and "Uncle" Joe Miller, who lives close by, and several others in the vicinity were soon at the sight of the rueful wreck. Thomas Horine and Wlliam Grospitz, who were near by, joined the party at the river side as soon as they heard of the accident and a systematic search for the bodies was begun. A messenger was dispatched to break the sad news to the father of the drowned brother and sister. Mr. Sargeant hastened to the scene of the accident and when the full horror of the calamity came upon him his grief was heart-rending.
Charles Sargeant was 24 years old and his siter Goldie was 16. They lived with their father, George Sargeant, in Clear Lake township, and both were universally liked among their young acquaintances. They had frequently visited in this city and had many friends here. IL State Journal, Springifeld, IL 6-20-1898
The body of Goldie Sargent was recovered early yesterday morning. The friends of the family and neighbors were still searching for the remains of Charles Sargent at midnight last night. The inquest jury found "the deceased came to her death by accidental drowning in the North fork of the Sangamon river, caused by a horse becoming unmanageable and jumping into the river. Said horse was hitched to a buggy driven by Ransom Geathard." Witnesses stated that the young folks were returning from a visit to an aunt, where Charles Sargent went to say goodbye as he intended to come to Springfield on Monday to enlist in one of the cavalry troops. IL State Journal, 6-21-1898
Aged: 23 Years
Charles Sargeant and his sister, Goldie, two well known young people of Clear Lake township, were drowned yesterday afternoon in the Sangamon river in an accident that is sickening in its horror. While on the way to visit a neighbor, the horse driven by the young couple became frightened and backed their vehicle into the river. Young Sargeant died a hero. He met his fate in a fruitless endeavor to save the life of his helpless sister.
Miss Daisy Geathard was in the buggy with the unfortunate couple and she was saved from a similar fate by her cousin, Ransom Geathard, who with Miss Sarah Jones, was riding in a buggy along with the trio. Young Geathard went to her and securing a long pole, reached it to her in time to save her life.
The accident occured about 1 o'clock near what is known as the Old Buckhart bridge, which crosses the North fork of the Sangamon river at a point twelve miles east of this city on the road connecting Dawson with the state road running east to Rochester. Just before the bridge from the north, the road traverses the north bank of the stream for some distance. From here it leaves the stream, winding around a piece of low ground opposite the mouth of the Buckhart creek and reaching the bridge about three hundred yards above this point, where it first touches the stream. It was at this point, where the road stretches along the bank of the treacherous stream that the sad accident occurred. A party of picnickers who have been spending a few days at the river were encamped at a point some distance away. About 4 o'clock members of the party heard the heavy rumbling of a farm wagon crossing the bridge and shortly after their attention waa attracted by loud shouts from the vicinity of the bridge. The timber which skirts the stream at this point made it impossible to obtain a view of the river and the visitors concluded a drove of cattle was being driven across the bridge.
An investigation revealed the cause of the cries. When the animal driven by young Sargeant reached the riverside it began acting queerly and, in spite of the efforts of the young man, the animal, which was blind, backed the vehicle over the bank into the river. When the rig fell into the river, the occupants of the other vehicle stopped their horse and Geathard went to the assitance of the unfortunate. The Geathard girl was rescued without difficulty but young Sargeant struck out to assist his sister and, in the struggle which followed, she dragged him with her to the bottom of the river.
An alarm was immediately sounded and "Uncle" Joe Miller, who lives close by, and several others in the vicinity were soon at the sight of the rueful wreck. Thomas Horine and Wlliam Grospitz, who were near by, joined the party at the river side as soon as they heard of the accident and a systematic search for the bodies was begun. A messenger was dispatched to break the sad news to the father of the drowned brother and sister. Mr. Sargeant hastened to the scene of the accident and when the full horror of the calamity came upon him his grief was heart-rending.
Charles Sargeant was 24 years old and his siter Goldie was 16. They lived with their father, George Sargeant, in Clear Lake township, and both were universally liked among their young acquaintances. They had frequently visited in this city and had many friends here. IL State Journal, Springifeld, IL 6-20-1898
The body of Goldie Sargent was recovered early yesterday morning. The friends of the family and neighbors were still searching for the remains of Charles Sargent at midnight last night. The inquest jury found "the deceased came to her death by accidental drowning in the North fork of the Sangamon river, caused by a horse becoming unmanageable and jumping into the river. Said horse was hitched to a buggy driven by Ransom Geathard." Witnesses stated that the young folks were returning from a visit to an aunt, where Charles Sargent went to say goodbye as he intended to come to Springfield on Monday to enlist in one of the cavalry troops. IL State Journal, 6-21-1898
Charles Sargeant and his sister, Goldie, two well known young people of Clear Lake township, were drowned yesterday afternoon in the Sangamon river in an accident that is sickening in its horror. While on the way to visit a neighbor, the horse driven by the young couple became frightened and backed their vehicle into the river. Young Sargeant died a hero. He met his fate in a fruitless endeavor to save the life of his helpless sister.
Miss Daisy Geathard was in the buggy with the unfortunate couple and she was saved from a similar fate by her cousin, Ransom Geathard, who with Miss Sarah Jones, was riding in a buggy along with the trio. Young Geathard went to her and securing a long pole, reached it to her in time to save her life.
The accident occured about 1 o'clock near what is known as the Old Buckhart bridge, which crosses the North fork of the Sangamon river at a point twelve miles east of this city on the road connecting Dawson with the state road running east to Rochester. Just before the bridge from the north, the road traverses the north bank of the stream for some distance. From here it leaves the stream, winding around a piece of low ground opposite the mouth of the Buckhart creek and reaching the bridge about three hundred yards above this point, where it first touches the stream. It was at this point, where the road stretches along the bank of the treacherous stream that the sad accident occurred. A party of picnickers who have been spending a few days at the river were encamped at a point some distance away. About 4 o'clock members of the party heard the heavy rumbling of a farm wagon crossing the bridge and shortly after their attention waa attracted by loud shouts from the vicinity of the bridge. The timber which skirts the stream at this point made it impossible to obtain a view of the river and the visitors concluded a drove of cattle was being driven across the bridge.
An investigation revealed the cause of the cries. When the animal driven by young Sargeant reached the riverside it began acting queerly and, in spite of the efforts of the young man, the animal, which was blind, backed the vehicle over the bank into the river. When the rig fell into the river, the occupants of the other vehicle stopped their horse and Geathard went to the assitance of the unfortunate. The Geathard girl was rescued without difficulty but young Sargeant struck out to assist his sister and, in the struggle which followed, she dragged him with her to the bottom of the river.
An alarm was immediately sounded and "Uncle" Joe Miller, who lives close by, and several others in the vicinity were soon at the sight of the rueful wreck. Thomas Horine and Wlliam Grospitz, who were near by, joined the party at the river side as soon as they heard of the accident and a systematic search for the bodies was begun. A messenger was dispatched to break the sad news to the father of the drowned brother and sister. Mr. Sargeant hastened to the scene of the accident and when the full horror of the calamity came upon him his grief was heart-rending.
Charles Sargeant was 24 years old and his siter Goldie was 16. They lived with their father, George Sargeant, in Clear Lake township, and both were universally liked among their young acquaintances. They had frequently visited in this city and had many friends here. IL State Journal, Springifeld, IL 6-20-1898
The body of Goldie Sargent was recovered early yesterday morning. The friends of the family and neighbors were still searching for the remains of Charles Sargent at midnight last night. The inquest jury found "the deceased came to her death by accidental drowning in the North fork of the Sangamon river, caused by a horse becoming unmanageable and jumping into the river. Said horse was hitched to a buggy driven by Ransom Geathard." Witnesses stated that the young folks were returning from a visit to an aunt, where Charles Sargent went to say goodbye as he intended to come to Springfield on Monday to enlist in one of the cavalry troops. IL State Journal, 6-21-1898
Gravesite Details
A Findagrave volunteer looked for a tombstone for Charles but reported that none was found.
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