A day or two before the accident, young Knotts, who was about 22 years of age, went to Morgantown to secure work for the winter. He visited the family of Jefferson John, who formerly resided at Brocks postoffice, this county. At about 6;30 on Friday morning, Clarence and Herbert Johns (sons of Jefferson John) John Knotts and Charles Jolliffe were rowing across the Monongahela river in a skiff two miles above Morgantown, to the Eureka Pipe Line Company's oil pumping station, where three of them were regularly employed and where Knotts expected to secure work.
A heavy fog hung over the river and owing to the early hour it was still dark. The steaner Dewey, from Pittsburg, was just passing up, but the young men were not able to see it and did not know the steamer was in the river until they were close by it. Their skiff was caught on the wake of the steamer and was quickly overturned by the big waves and all were thrown into the icy water. The crew of the steamer failed to see them and as they were out of sight of land no one could come to their rescue. Charles Jolliffe swam ashore and was the only one of the party whose life was saved, the others being drowned. Their bodies were recovered some hours later, the remains of Clarence and Herbert John being taken to their home in Morgantown, while that of Mr. Knotts was brought to his father's home on Sabbath. Clarence John was married and leaves a wife and two children, the other two young men being single.
A day or two before the accident, young Knotts, who was about 22 years of age, went to Morgantown to secure work for the winter. He visited the family of Jefferson John, who formerly resided at Brocks postoffice, this county. At about 6;30 on Friday morning, Clarence and Herbert Johns (sons of Jefferson John) John Knotts and Charles Jolliffe were rowing across the Monongahela river in a skiff two miles above Morgantown, to the Eureka Pipe Line Company's oil pumping station, where three of them were regularly employed and where Knotts expected to secure work.
A heavy fog hung over the river and owing to the early hour it was still dark. The steaner Dewey, from Pittsburg, was just passing up, but the young men were not able to see it and did not know the steamer was in the river until they were close by it. Their skiff was caught on the wake of the steamer and was quickly overturned by the big waves and all were thrown into the icy water. The crew of the steamer failed to see them and as they were out of sight of land no one could come to their rescue. Charles Jolliffe swam ashore and was the only one of the party whose life was saved, the others being drowned. Their bodies were recovered some hours later, the remains of Clarence and Herbert John being taken to their home in Morgantown, while that of Mr. Knotts was brought to his father's home on Sabbath. Clarence John was married and leaves a wife and two children, the other two young men being single.
Family Members
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Clemma Frances Knotts Guthrie
1875–1930
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Arizona Ruth Knotts Kiger
1877–1905
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Ira N. Knotts
1880–1967
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William Jesse Knotts
1882–1937
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Dora Belle Knotts Renner
1885–1972
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Anna Elizabeth "Annie" Knotts Moore
1886–1974
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David Lawrence Knotts
1889–1967
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Lambert L. Knotts
1892–1947
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Franklin Shordon Knotts
1897–1972
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Nannie Myrtle Knotts Lemley
1899–1990
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