A SAD DEATH
Ever and anon in our every day life there is something occurs that calls us for the moment from the busy scenes around us to the realities of death.  To some death comes wholly unexpected and they in a moment are called in to eternity and the new life.

On Sunday last, in the evening, a young lady, only 20 years of age, was called into eternity with a moment's warning.  Miss Ruth Watkins, daughter of the late Henry Watkins, who resided in Medina township, on her way from Green  Hill to the Battle Ground, in company with a gentleman companion, was thrown from the buggy into Myers' creek, a dry branch in dry weather, in Tippecanoe county, about half way between Green  Hill and Lafayette, by the swiftness of the current, and drowned.  There were two other couples along, but the ladies got out and walked across the bridge.  They had insisted upon Miss Watkins to do likewise, but she replied "that one had but once to die," and staid in the buggy with the result as stated.  The body was not recovered until the next day when it was found in some drift not far from the bridge.

The remains were taken to Green Hill and interred in the Davis Cemetery.  Rev. Mr. Jackson preached the funeral discourse.  Deceased leaves a mother, and brothers and sister.  She was a teacher.  She was engaged to a young gentleman of the neighborhood, and the wedding was to have been in about a month.  It is said that at the time of the unfortunate occurrence three men were standing on the bridge or the bank of the stream and made no effort, through fright, to rescue the drowning girl.  It seems strange that she should have drowned when the water was shallow enough to wade, but it is supposed that when thrown from the buggy her head struck the bridge and she was stunned.  There were bruises about the head indicating this was the case.

Source: Warren Republican, Thursday, July 11, 1878, Williamsport, Warren Co., Indiana
Submitted by Adina Watkins Dyer