Kirbyville Banner
Kirbyville, Texas – July 31, 1913
Death has crept into our gates unannounced and borne away three of Kirbyville's fairest daughters. Hearts both old and young are broken with grief and lips are sealed with sorrow that lies too deep for words. Where all was so recently beautiful and happy, desolation now reigns and darkness excludes light. Throughout the town there is but a single topic of conversation and it is mentioned in broken sentences and with bowed heads.
Tuesday morning a merry party drove out from town to Cow Creek with not a care to beset, thinking only of the pleasures that awaited them and unmindful of any danger lurking near. Before the sun had well begun its descent to the western sea, the horrifying message was flashed by telephone that members of the party had gone into the water beyond their depth at a cost of the lives of Misses Pearl Norman and Sallie and Katie Byrnes.
Rescue parties were made up and started at once to the scene of the tragedy, hoping at the same time that the report would prove erroneous. But such was not the case. The worst was true. Upon arrival they found the bodies of the young ladies rescued from the water but cold and lifeless. In the mist of the gloom the return home was slowly made.
Faithful and loving friends were awaiting the sad arrival, and with heroism that springs up only in the hearts of the true, put aside their grief and administered to the comfort of the bereaved. Silently through the night the watch was kept while preparations were made for the funeral on the morrow.
At 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon the last sad rites were said over Miss Pearl Norman, Miss Sallie Byrnes and Miss Katie Byrnes. With sorrowing hearts the people left their occupations and went out to pay a last tribute to the memory of these lovely young ladies.
Kirbyville, Texas – July 31, 1913
Death has crept into our gates unannounced and borne away three of Kirbyville's fairest daughters. Hearts both old and young are broken with grief and lips are sealed with sorrow that lies too deep for words. Where all was so recently beautiful and happy, desolation now reigns and darkness excludes light. Throughout the town there is but a single topic of conversation and it is mentioned in broken sentences and with bowed heads.
Tuesday morning a merry party drove out from town to Cow Creek with not a care to beset, thinking only of the pleasures that awaited them and unmindful of any danger lurking near. Before the sun had well begun its descent to the western sea, the horrifying message was flashed by telephone that members of the party had gone into the water beyond their depth at a cost of the lives of Misses Pearl Norman and Sallie and Katie Byrnes.
Rescue parties were made up and started at once to the scene of the tragedy, hoping at the same time that the report would prove erroneous. But such was not the case. The worst was true. Upon arrival they found the bodies of the young ladies rescued from the water but cold and lifeless. In the mist of the gloom the return home was slowly made.
Faithful and loving friends were awaiting the sad arrival, and with heroism that springs up only in the hearts of the true, put aside their grief and administered to the comfort of the bereaved. Silently through the night the watch was kept while preparations were made for the funeral on the morrow.
At 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon the last sad rites were said over Miss Pearl Norman, Miss Sallie Byrnes and Miss Katie Byrnes. With sorrowing hearts the people left their occupations and went out to pay a last tribute to the memory of these lovely young ladies.
Kirbyville Banner
Kirbyville, Texas – July 31, 1913
Death has crept into our gates unannounced and borne away three of Kirbyville's fairest daughters. Hearts both old and young are broken with grief and lips are sealed with sorrow that lies too deep for words. Where all was so recently beautiful and happy, desolation now reigns and darkness excludes light. Throughout the town there is but a single topic of conversation and it is mentioned in broken sentences and with bowed heads.
Tuesday morning a merry party drove out from town to Cow Creek with not a care to beset, thinking only of the pleasures that awaited them and unmindful of any danger lurking near. Before the sun had well begun its descent to the western sea, the horrifying message was flashed by telephone that members of the party had gone into the water beyond their depth at a cost of the lives of Misses Pearl Norman and Sallie and Katie Byrnes.
Rescue parties were made up and started at once to the scene of the tragedy, hoping at the same time that the report would prove erroneous. But such was not the case. The worst was true. Upon arrival they found the bodies of the young ladies rescued from the water but cold and lifeless. In the mist of the gloom the return home was slowly made.
Faithful and loving friends were awaiting the sad arrival, and with heroism that springs up only in the hearts of the true, put aside their grief and administered to the comfort of the bereaved. Silently through the night the watch was kept while preparations were made for the funeral on the morrow.
At 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon the last sad rites were said over Miss Pearl Norman, Miss Sallie Byrnes and Miss Katie Byrnes. With sorrowing hearts the people left their occupations and went out to pay a last tribute to the memory of these lovely young ladies.
Kirbyville, Texas – July 31, 1913
Death has crept into our gates unannounced and borne away three of Kirbyville's fairest daughters. Hearts both old and young are broken with grief and lips are sealed with sorrow that lies too deep for words. Where all was so recently beautiful and happy, desolation now reigns and darkness excludes light. Throughout the town there is but a single topic of conversation and it is mentioned in broken sentences and with bowed heads.
Tuesday morning a merry party drove out from town to Cow Creek with not a care to beset, thinking only of the pleasures that awaited them and unmindful of any danger lurking near. Before the sun had well begun its descent to the western sea, the horrifying message was flashed by telephone that members of the party had gone into the water beyond their depth at a cost of the lives of Misses Pearl Norman and Sallie and Katie Byrnes.
Rescue parties were made up and started at once to the scene of the tragedy, hoping at the same time that the report would prove erroneous. But such was not the case. The worst was true. Upon arrival they found the bodies of the young ladies rescued from the water but cold and lifeless. In the mist of the gloom the return home was slowly made.
Faithful and loving friends were awaiting the sad arrival, and with heroism that springs up only in the hearts of the true, put aside their grief and administered to the comfort of the bereaved. Silently through the night the watch was kept while preparations were made for the funeral on the morrow.
At 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon the last sad rites were said over Miss Pearl Norman, Miss Sallie Byrnes and Miss Katie Byrnes. With sorrowing hearts the people left their occupations and went out to pay a last tribute to the memory of these lovely young ladies.
Bio by: Bill Norman
Inscription
Greater Love Hath No Man Than This,
That He Lay Down His Life For His Friends
Gravesite Details
S. Pearl was one of three girls, two sisters and their friend, who drowned in Cow Creek. There was an extensive article on the accident on the front page of the Kirbyville Banner mentioning the whole town in mourning
