Saturday, May 13, 1913 was the first weekend of that year when the weather for. camping had turned well enough for residents of Pope County to take advantage of outdoor activities.
A trip to an area known as 'The Narrows' on the Illinois River near Russellville by a group of young people, supervised by the superintendent of Russellville schools, saw at least eight residents of the Pope County town make their way to the popular swimming area for a week of frolicking and fun.
Less than twelve hours after the trip had started it turned into a tragedy that saw four people lose their lives in a drowning incident that cast a deep pall over the community.
The superintendent of the Russellville School district, Professor William Alfred Crawford, his daughter Francis as well as two other young ladies died in the waters of the Illinois River that afternoon.
Crawford, his daughter, and several young people from the Russellville area had all traveled to the waterfront area to start a weeklong camping trip. The group had arrived at the site four miles above the earthen dam of the Russellville Water and Light Company on the Illinois river at around 7:00 a.m. that morning.
After pitching their camps on a bluff next to "The Narrows" and spending the morning hiking and exploring, activities turn to "Kodaking" that afternoon with the young ladies breaking out their cameras to document the start of what was supposed to be a fun-filled weekend.
A short time after lunch professor Crawford and six of the young people in the party moved to a place about 200 yards from the camp in order to take pictures along the riverbank. The young ladies in the group donned their bathing clothes and decided they wanted to take some pictures while they were in the water.
Francis Crawford and another 19-year-old by the name of Vera Meade, who was the daughter of a prominent attorney by the name of U.L. Meade from Russellville waded out into the stream. Encountering a drop off, both young ladies suddenly sank into the water.
Both Miss Crawford and Miss Meade were non-swimmers and they were struggling for their lives. Professor Crawford and a young lady who was a teacher at Russellville by the name of Ruth VanLandingham, both waded into the stream in an effort to save the struggling girls. They waded out as far as they could and joined hands an attempt to reach the young women but the swift current of the stream swept both the adults from their feet and within a minute they were also struggling for their lives.
All four of the individuals were swept underwater and swept downstream within a few minutes. Two other members of the party, Lenora Ferguson and Mary Bullock, were near the bank when the first two young women scream for helped. They also waded out after securing poles from the bank and made frantic efforts to reach the victims but they were swept beyond their reach.
Two young men on the scene, Frank Smith and Frank Winkler, also did all they could within their power to render aid but were but we're unable to reach the floundering victims in time.
The incident happened around 1:00 p.m. that afternoon and within a half hour the body of Vera Meade had been recovered. Searcher's located the body of Miss VanLandingham at approximately 5:00 p.m. The lifeless forms of the other two victims were located within a short time thereafter.
Although Professor Crawford actually lived in the Dardanelle area, all the bodies were brought back to Russellville after they were recovered.
Local newspapers lamented the death of all involved but were especially eloquent in addressing the loss of Professor Crawford to the community.
Crawford was the first hired superintendent for the Russellville School District, having taken the job in 1908. Deemed a "character builder" by local news reports it was said he had built up the local school until it" ranked with the best in the state and scope and thoroughness of work. "
Crawford was also the sports and athletic director for the school district and not only "encouraged building of character in the schools but encouraged athletics and engaged in all the sports with the students".
Professor Crawford and his daughter were buried in the Bearly Cemetery in nearby Dardanelle.
The body of Miss Landingham, who was 20 years old and was in Russellville to attend college, was returned to her family in Kansas City, Missouri.
Vera Meade was buried in the Oakland Cemetery in Russellville
