Marjorie Virginia Ross
Kentucky Post, Thursday, 13 July 1933, page 1
DROWNED-Caught in a swirling eddy in the Ohio River near Brent KY, a heavily laden outboard motorboat capsized Wednesday evening carrying two Ft Thomas children, cousins to their death. Seven other persons in the boat were rescued. The victims are:
Margie Ross, 11, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Ross, 64 Henry Av. Ft Thomas.
Allen Basham, 3, son of Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Basham, 14 Millers Lane, Ft Thomas.
The ill-fated party had started out about 7:30 pm Wednesday from a boat landing near Brent for an evening cruise on the rive in Mr. Basham's 14 foot scow outboard motorboat "Tex". Leaving the landing Mr. Basham was unable to get the motor started and the boat drifted down the river for some distance. Near the whirlpool the engine started suddenly and the boat lunged forward straight for the eddy. A wave, caused by a passing motorboat, struck the side of the Tex causing it to capsize. The boat was about 25 feet from the Kentucky shore when the accident occurred. More than a score of persons along the shore saw the fatal mishap.
Mr. Basham, managed to keep his two children above water and swim to shore. Mrs. Basham was rescued by several persons who saw the accident. Mr. Howard and Miss Magers were able to swim to shore unassisted and Mrs. Ross was rescued by others. It was noticed immediately that the two children were missing and volunteers divers entered the water and dived for them. The body of Margie was recovered within 20 minutes after the tragedy. Members of the Ft Thomas Fire Department had been called and the Life Saving Squad assisted by Dr. J O Haizlip, Ft Thomas, worked over her until midnight but their efforts were in vain.
Grappling hook were used in the effort of the Basham child and it was finally located near the scene of the drowning at 2 am Thursday. The Ross girl besides her parents leaves two brothers, Eugene, 19 and Donald 14. The Basham boy leaves his parents, one brother Floyd Jr. and a sister Carol. A double funeral for the young victims will be held Saturday at the Dobbling funeral home, 106 S Ft Thomas av. Ft Thomas, with Rev Alfred G Schnake, pastor of Christ Evangelical Church, officiating. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery. The bodies will be in state Friday evening at their respective homes.