Drowned! The Sudden and Sad End to Two Promising Winfield Youths, Winfield Courier, January 17, 1891
Collection: Paul Bedilion and Thomas Morgan
Title
Drowned! The Sudden and Sad End to Two Promising Winfield Youths, Winfield Courier, January 17, 1891
Subject
Winfield Daily Courier
Bedilion, Paul
Morgan, Thomas
Winfield, KS
Description
This article describes the unfortunate accidental drowning of Paul and Thomas. Paul fell through the ice while skating and Thomas along with other Winfield residents tried to save Paul. Unfortunately, their efforts did not end favorably.
Creator
Winfield Daily Courier, Winfield, Kansas USA
Publisher
Winfield Public Library, Winfield, KS USA
Date
1891-01-17
Rights
Format
text/plain
Type
Clippings
Citation
Winfield Daily Courier, Winfield, Kansas USA, “Drowned! The Sudden and Sad End to Two Promising Winfield Youths, Winfield Courier, January 17, 1891,” Winfield Digital Collections, accessed June 23, 2026, https://winfield.digitalsckls.info/item/227.
Text
THE WINFIELD DAILY COURIER. SATURDAY, JANUARY I7 1891
DROWNED!
THE SUDDEN AND SAD END
OF TWO PROMISING
WINFIELD
YOUTHS.
The Frail Ice Upon Which They
are Skating Lets Them Down
to a Watery Grave.
The Noble Conduct of One in
Losing His Life While At-tempting to Save
Another.
The entire city was shocked and plunged into mourning yesterday between four and five o’clock, by the report that Paul Bedilion and Thom-as Morgan had been drowned while skating on Dutch creek, in the north-western limits of the city. The facts, as nearly as they could be gathered from the boys who composed the crowd accompanying the two un-fortunates are as follows:
Shortly before the accident, young Bedilion and Morgan, accompanied by several other young boys, repair-ed to the creek for a skate on the ice, which, though not very thick, was supposed to be heavy enough to bear the weight of a crowd of skaters. They began at a point near Island Park, but the crowd becoming too dense, several of them started down the creek toward the river. The
foremost reached the curve about half way between the Main street bridge and Baden’s Packing House, when some of the boys who were hugging the shore warned young Bedilion not to go out so far as the ice might break. He replied that he was not afraid, when suddenly the ice gave way and he was plunged into the water. He commenced to struggle but could not get out. Thomas Morgan, seeing the danger his playmate was in, took off his skates, threw off his coat and vest and plunged into the cold water to assist him. He caught him and both boys struggled hard. The other boys tied their skate straps together and threw one end to the struggling boys. Morgan got hold of the strap and also clutched the ice but could not get out, the ice being too thin to bear their weight and too thick to break through and swim out. Most of the spectators agree that Paul had Morgan by the waist, but that the latter could have broken away and saved himself, but said he was going to got Paul out. Finally, while clutching the ice, he lost his hold an the strap and said : "Boys, I may not get out. If I don’t tell the folks good bye,” and almost im-mediately both boys sank.
The other boys came into the city and spread the alarm and soon a largo crowd assembled at the fatal spot. The hook and ladder appar-atus of the fire department, manned by good citizens was soon on the spot and two boats were launched. The first boat was rendered useless by being battered by the ice until it was ready to sink. The next broke through the ice and with long pike poles the bodies were found and brought to the surface. The bodies wore found at the bottom of the
stream at the exact spot where they went down.
As soon as recovered the bodies were wrapped in blankets and tenderly carried up town. The body of Morgan was taken to Dr. Graham’s office and that of Bedilion to his home on East Eleventh Ave-nue. Dr. Graham at ono place and Dr. Emerson at the other, did all in their power to resuscitate, but life was extinct and naught was left but to fold their hands and forever bid adieu.
The water, where the boys were drowned was estimated to be from fourteen to eighteen feet deep. The ice at that point was about one inch in thickness. The boys went down from fifteen to twenty feet from the bank of the creek.
Paul Bedilion was the son of City Clerk Bedilion, who is widely known throughout this county. He was about 12 years of age and a 'bright' boy in every respect—the pride and hope of his parents.
Thomas Morgan was the son of S. T. Morgan and brother of Horace Morgan who drives the Adams Ex-press. He was about 19 years of age, bright, industrious and a general favorite. Words can-not describe the feelings of sadness that pervades heart on ac-count of the tragic fate of the two promising youths. The noble conduct of Thomas Morgan, who, when clinging to the frail ice, asked his companions to say “good bye” to the folks if he did not escape his almost certain death, may be ex-tolled but that does hot pay for the life that is lost nor bring comfort to the bleeding hearts of those who loved him as a son and brother. He died like a hero, but his death brought sorrow that will sadden a happy home through all the years to come while that home exists, and will cause gray hairs to come quick-er to those who have loved and cared for him.
In the tragic ending of the young life of Paul Bedilion a sorrow has fallen more blighting that the Demon of Darkness could intend.
He was the joy, the pride, the idol of his parents’ hearts. In one short hour he was changed from an ani-mated, happy, ambitious, living be ing, to a cold corpse, retaining the form and features so lored and lov-ing, but inanimate,the clay on earth, the spirit with its maker. No words can tell, no pen portray, the anguish that has fallen upon two homes. No words of pen or tongue can bring consolation to the wounded hearts in those homes. The earnest and heart felt sympathy of all are with them, but Time alone—Time, who brings birth,health, sickness, sorrow and death, can heal the bleeding hearts and calm the tortured minds. Friends on earth will do all they can to alleviate the anguish of the stricken families, but a higher power must bring relief.
The funeral services will be held at the Baptist church Sunday at 2 o’clock p. m. The services over the remains of both will be held at that time and place.
The heroic conduct of Tom Mor-gan in his effort to save Paul Bedil-ion’s life is the general subject of conversation to-day. When told by a boy on the bank to try to save himself, and when poor little Paul eas begging Tom to save hm, Tom replied: “We’ll both die together." Was there ever a nobler hero? No greater hero has ever existed than the one who will give his own life in the effort to save another. The memory of brave Tom Morgan de-serves a fitting tribute, yet words will not express the admiration felt for him by all. He was one among ten thousand.
Original Format
Paper
Title
Drowned! The Sudden and Sad End to Two Promising Winfield Youths, Winfield Courier, January 17, 1891
Subject
Winfield Daily Courier
Bedilion, Paul
Morgan, Thomas
Winfield, KS
Description
This article describes the unfortunate accidental drowning of Paul and Thomas. Paul fell through the ice while skating and Thomas along with other Winfield residents tried to save Paul. Unfortunately, their efforts did not end favorably.
Creator
Winfield Daily Courier, Winfield, Kansas USA
Publisher
Winfield Public Library, Winfield, KS USA
Date
1891-01-17
Rights
Format
text/plain
Type
Clippings
Citation
Winfield Daily Courier, Winfield, Kansas USA, “Drowned! The Sudden and Sad End to Two Promising Winfield Youths, Winfield Courier, January 17, 1891,” Winfield Digital Collections, accessed June 23, 2026, https://winfield.digitalsckls.info/item/227.Text
THE WINFIELD DAILY COURIER. SATURDAY, JANUARY I7 1891
DROWNED!
THE SUDDEN AND SAD END
OF TWO PROMISING
WINFIELD
YOUTHS.
The Frail Ice Upon Which They
are Skating Lets Them Down
to a Watery Grave.
The Noble Conduct of One in
Losing His Life While At-tempting to Save
Another.
The entire city was shocked and plunged into mourning yesterday between four and five o’clock, by the report that Paul Bedilion and Thom-as Morgan had been drowned while skating on Dutch creek, in the north-western limits of the city. The facts, as nearly as they could be gathered from the boys who composed the crowd accompanying the two un-fortunates are as follows:
Shortly before the accident, young Bedilion and Morgan, accompanied by several other young boys, repair-ed to the creek for a skate on the ice, which, though not very thick, was supposed to be heavy enough to bear the weight of a crowd of skaters. They began at a point near Island Park, but the crowd becoming too dense, several of them started down the creek toward the river. The
foremost reached the curve about half way between the Main street bridge and Baden’s Packing House, when some of the boys who were hugging the shore warned young Bedilion not to go out so far as the ice might break. He replied that he was not afraid, when suddenly the ice gave way and he was plunged into the water. He commenced to struggle but could not get out. Thomas Morgan, seeing the danger his playmate was in, took off his skates, threw off his coat and vest and plunged into the cold water to assist him. He caught him and both boys struggled hard. The other boys tied their skate straps together and threw one end to the struggling boys. Morgan got hold of the strap and also clutched the ice but could not get out, the ice being too thin to bear their weight and too thick to break through and swim out. Most of the spectators agree that Paul had Morgan by the waist, but that the latter could have broken away and saved himself, but said he was going to got Paul out. Finally, while clutching the ice, he lost his hold an the strap and said : "Boys, I may not get out. If I don’t tell the folks good bye,” and almost im-mediately both boys sank.
The other boys came into the city and spread the alarm and soon a largo crowd assembled at the fatal spot. The hook and ladder appar-atus of the fire department, manned by good citizens was soon on the spot and two boats were launched. The first boat was rendered useless by being battered by the ice until it was ready to sink. The next broke through the ice and with long pike poles the bodies were found and brought to the surface. The bodies wore found at the bottom of the
stream at the exact spot where they went down.
As soon as recovered the bodies were wrapped in blankets and tenderly carried up town. The body of Morgan was taken to Dr. Graham’s office and that of Bedilion to his home on East Eleventh Ave-nue. Dr. Graham at ono place and Dr. Emerson at the other, did all in their power to resuscitate, but life was extinct and naught was left but to fold their hands and forever bid adieu.
The water, where the boys were drowned was estimated to be from fourteen to eighteen feet deep. The ice at that point was about one inch in thickness. The boys went down from fifteen to twenty feet from the bank of the creek.
Paul Bedilion was the son of City Clerk Bedilion, who is widely known throughout this county. He was about 12 years of age and a 'bright' boy in every respect—the pride and hope of his parents.
Thomas Morgan was the son of S. T. Morgan and brother of Horace Morgan who drives the Adams Ex-press. He was about 19 years of age, bright, industrious and a general favorite. Words can-not describe the feelings of sadness that pervades heart on ac-count of the tragic fate of the two promising youths. The noble conduct of Thomas Morgan, who, when clinging to the frail ice, asked his companions to say “good bye” to the folks if he did not escape his almost certain death, may be ex-tolled but that does hot pay for the life that is lost nor bring comfort to the bleeding hearts of those who loved him as a son and brother. He died like a hero, but his death brought sorrow that will sadden a happy home through all the years to come while that home exists, and will cause gray hairs to come quick-er to those who have loved and cared for him.
In the tragic ending of the young life of Paul Bedilion a sorrow has fallen more blighting that the Demon of Darkness could intend.
He was the joy, the pride, the idol of his parents’ hearts. In one short hour he was changed from an ani-mated, happy, ambitious, living be ing, to a cold corpse, retaining the form and features so lored and lov-ing, but inanimate,the clay on earth, the spirit with its maker. No words can tell, no pen portray, the anguish that has fallen upon two homes. No words of pen or tongue can bring consolation to the wounded hearts in those homes. The earnest and heart felt sympathy of all are with them, but Time alone—Time, who brings birth,health, sickness, sorrow and death, can heal the bleeding hearts and calm the tortured minds. Friends on earth will do all they can to alleviate the anguish of the stricken families, but a higher power must bring relief.
The funeral services will be held at the Baptist church Sunday at 2 o’clock p. m. The services over the remains of both will be held at that time and place.
The heroic conduct of Tom Mor-gan in his effort to save Paul Bedil-ion’s life is the general subject of conversation to-day. When told by a boy on the bank to try to save himself, and when poor little Paul eas begging Tom to save hm, Tom replied: “We’ll both die together." Was there ever a nobler hero? No greater hero has ever existed than the one who will give his own life in the effort to save another. The memory of brave Tom Morgan de-serves a fitting tribute, yet words will not express the admiration felt for him by all. He was one among ten thousand.
Original Format
Paper