June
1, 1913 – Miss Blanche Gray, St. Paul, and Louis Emmerich of
Battery D, Fort Snelling, hung suspended over a sheer precipice of 80 feet by
clinging to a tree, after they had rolled 50 feet down a steep embankment this
evening. The tree saved their lives.
The two, with several other young people, went to a picnic near Cleveland Avenue and the River Blvd. They engaged in a “grass fight,” and while Miss Gray was bending over to grab a tuft of grass, she lost her footing and slid over the embankment.
Emmerich saw her as she was about to disappear over the edge of the cliff and made a desperate effort to save her, but lost his balance and fell after her.
Both rolled a distance of 50 feet, when their fall was broken by a tree, to which they clung. Miss Gray’s screams attracted the attention of the others in the party and two automobiles that were passing. Several attempts were made to reach them from above, but the embankment was too steep to offer any foothold and no ropes were available.
A hurry call was sent to the police and, by means of ladders, after half an hour’s work, they were finally taken down the 80-foot incline to safety. Miss Gray was taken to the hospital, where she was found to be only badly bruised, although she was hysterical from shock and fright. Emmerich was unhurt.
Had the couple fallen a few feet to either side of the tree, they would have been killed, as the total distance from the top of the bluff to the foot is about 130 feet.
The Minneapolis Morning Tribune; “Tree Saves Lives of Two Who Fall Over Steep Cliff; Girl and Soldier Hang Suspended Over 80-Foot Precipice for Half-Hour. Louis Emmerich, in Attempting to Save Miss Gray, Shares Her Fate.”; June 2, 1913; p. 1.
The two, with several other young people, went to a picnic near Cleveland Avenue and the River Blvd. They engaged in a “grass fight,” and while Miss Gray was bending over to grab a tuft of grass, she lost her footing and slid over the embankment.
Emmerich saw her as she was about to disappear over the edge of the cliff and made a desperate effort to save her, but lost his balance and fell after her.
Both rolled a distance of 50 feet, when their fall was broken by a tree, to which they clung. Miss Gray’s screams attracted the attention of the others in the party and two automobiles that were passing. Several attempts were made to reach them from above, but the embankment was too steep to offer any foothold and no ropes were available.
A hurry call was sent to the police and, by means of ladders, after half an hour’s work, they were finally taken down the 80-foot incline to safety. Miss Gray was taken to the hospital, where she was found to be only badly bruised, although she was hysterical from shock and fright. Emmerich was unhurt.
Had the couple fallen a few feet to either side of the tree, they would have been killed, as the total distance from the top of the bluff to the foot is about 130 feet.
The Minneapolis Morning Tribune; “Tree Saves Lives of Two Who Fall Over Steep Cliff; Girl and Soldier Hang Suspended Over 80-Foot Precipice for Half-Hour. Louis Emmerich, in Attempting to Save Miss Gray, Shares Her Fate.”; June 2, 1913; p. 1.
https://www.twincities.com/2016/03/16/st-paul-council-approves-cleveland-avenue-bike-lanes-parking/
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If you are interested in finding out more about your family history in Minnesota, I specialize in researching genealogical and historical records in Minn. and western Wis., including: census records, birth records, death certificates, obits, grave site photos, ship passenger lists, marriage records and declarations of intent/naturalization records. I will visit locations to research local history and county records, as well as take photos. Quick turnaround on MNHS records. Both short searches and family history reports available.
If you are interested in finding out more about your family history in Minnesota, I specialize in researching genealogical and historical records in Minn. and western Wis., including: census records, birth records, death certificates, obits, grave site photos, ship passenger lists, marriage records and declarations of intent/naturalization records. I will visit locations to research local history and county records, as well as take photos. Quick turnaround on MNHS records. Both short searches and family history reports available.
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Website: TheMemoryQuilt.com > click on Family History
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