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Chase County Obituaries
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Massey, Charles Charles Massey was drowned early Wednesday morning in the back waters of the Cottonwood river a short distance east of Cottonwood Falls. He had been camping along the river on the Carrter land where he was preparing to cut timber. His tent was pitched higher than the surrounding fields, although not far from the river. He kept his team and wagon there and for the last few days had left his tent each morning and had been hauling coal for Chas. McDowell.
About 9 o'clock Wednesday morning, Henry Errett noticed Massey's horses running along close to his camp. Water was well up around the tent and wagon but nothing was seen of Massey. Shortly after this, Ed Hudson, Henry Errett. Will Gregory, W E Crippen, Ben Allen and several others took Allen's boat and rowed out to the tent and wagon. They found some of Massey's blankets and clothes hung up in a tree. His horse was harnessed and everything looked as though the missing man had gotten everything in readiness to move to higher ground.
Finally after the search had continued for some time, Massey's body was discovered in the deep backwater between his tent and the field to the south. The body was standing in an upright position and only the top of his cap was visible above the water. A thin layer of ice had frozen around this which showed that the body had been there for some time.
The exact manner in which Massey met death will never be known but the supposition is that he tried to ride one of his horses out to the shore and the animal floundered in the deep water, throwning its rider off. Massey wore heavy rubber boots and was heavily dressed. It is possible that he had been working for some time in the icy water and was so wet and chilled that he was unable to force his way out after slipping from his horse.
All day Tuesday Massey had worked hard hauling coal. He quit work about six o'clock when he went to his camp. At that time the water must have been well up around his camp, but he evidently thought his tent and wagon would be safe.
The body was brought to Brown's undertaking rooms and prepared for burial. Massey's father, at Kansas City, and his daughter, Mrs. Martin of Oklahoma (formerly Miss Rena Massey of this city) were notified and will arrive today.
Funeral arrangements will then be completed and burial made in Prairie Grove Cemetery west of town.
Chase County Leader News, Cottonwood Falls, Kansas, Jan 14, 1910
by Lorna Marvin
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