A letter sent to the Blum family after the death of Carl. The original was written in German and translated to English.
Lents Oregon
Feb. 25, 1901 Dear Family Blum,
I ask that you please to excuse that I haven't written sooner myself, but I just couldn't. It hit me too hard and now I will tell you from the beginning how everything was. Carl arrived Friday afternoon on the 15th, happy and in a gay mood. It rained heavy that day. The next morning he asked me how to find a job here, and my wife and I answered in a short time, he'd find work in Portland and also farmers, but we expect bad weather yet, because it didn't rain much in January, and he wondered if I'd need more people and I said 4 or 5 men. The he said I'll stay here even if I don't earn as much. But today I think I'll go to Portland to buy, I see by the weather I must have a good pair of shoes and other things. He went to Portland and returned in the afternoon. In that time Johnson Creek rose to over-flowing onto the road. Carl found it necessary to take off his shoes and put them on again, it was only a little ways where the water goes over the road.
On Sunday morning we had no logs and no boom by the mill, it all came loose from the rain and it took everything to the dam. Monday Morning the young people were there to break up the jam by the mill. The didn't car to much to work in that, so I sen them into the bush until the water dropped.
Tuesday the water dropped considerably, and Carl helped. By Thursday forenoon everything was alright. The mill could start Thursday afternoon and I warned Carl not to go so much on the logs.
There was a big log on the shore with it's bark still on. The others had the bark removed which helped them slide better in the water and the hooks grab better to glide them to the mill. The hooks broke a couple of times and jumped off. it was real slow and we got behind in the work. Carl had to wait. Carl asked if he could get a couple of logs. I told him I would rather he didn't, I didn't want him to do it alone, especially in the water. Carl looked at me a laughed, "I won't fall in, don't worry." and he went on, but I called him and said be careful and don't fall in the water. After that I saw him with a log, pulling it along the boom. The second log, F. Croutger said, he was above the log in the middle of the creek, but I didn't see it, if I'd seen that, I would have hauled him from the creek.
How he fell in, no one saw. F. Croutger saw his hat and bag and pick pole. He saw these floating. Then J. Hilliger was called, but I was not told. As I put my wrench to my side, I saw I was all alone, and an awful feeling came over me. Then I went onto the log deck and saw Croutger and Hilliger running along the boom with a pick pole and then I saw Carl's hat and pick pole. I didn't run along the boom and the bank because I was recuperating from an illness.
It was a puzzle where we found Carl's hat and pick pole-150 to 200 feet down stream. The creek is about 50 feet wide and the depth is different. If he had been 14 or 16, I'd have been stricter. But he was a young man of 20, and you can't treat him as a boy. It must have been God's will and we can't judge God's way. I and my wife accompanied Carl's body and also accompanied the coffin to be shipped home. i wished I could have come along and exchanged sorrow. It would have been easier to bear a sorrow together. My daughter had a wreath and flowers for him. And I hope everything arrived in good order. Carl looked so nice, as I saw him the last time, just like he was sleeping.
All other details I will report later. Don't worry about my expenses, we have time for that. One thing you have to excuse (a word here not able to make out), but the dispatch wanted to be prepaid on both ends. I told them I would pay on this end, I was all nervous and riled up. I told them I would pay for everything, this should have been good enough. Is still have a few lines on the end. How we found Carl and how we pulled him up, with his face to me, he had a smile just as he did when he told me, "I won't fall in." and now I'll have to break it off. My whole family send greetings to all that live at your place and help you in your sorrow.
And greetings,
J.H. Meyers
--Contributor: Stephanie
Karl Johannes Ludwig Blum
Name Karl Blum
Gender Male
Race White
Age 20
Birth Date abt 1881
Death Date 21 Feb 1901
Death Place Portland, Oregon, USA
Father Helmutt Blum
Mother Hannah Blum
Lents Oregon
Feb. 25, 1901 Dear Family Blum,
I ask that you please to excuse that I haven't written sooner myself, but I just couldn't. It hit me too hard and now I will tell you from the beginning how everything was. Carl arrived Friday afternoon on the 15th, happy and in a gay mood. It rained heavy that day. The next morning he asked me how to find a job here, and my wife and I answered in a short time, he'd find work in Portland and also farmers, but we expect bad weather yet, because it didn't rain much in January, and he wondered if I'd need more people and I said 4 or 5 men. The he said I'll stay here even if I don't earn as much. But today I think I'll go to Portland to buy, I see by the weather I must have a good pair of shoes and other things. He went to Portland and returned in the afternoon. In that time Johnson Creek rose to over-flowing onto the road. Carl found it necessary to take off his shoes and put them on again, it was only a little ways where the water goes over the road.
On Sunday morning we had no logs and no boom by the mill, it all came loose from the rain and it took everything to the dam. Monday Morning the young people were there to break up the jam by the mill. The didn't car to much to work in that, so I sen them into the bush until the water dropped.
Tuesday the water dropped considerably, and Carl helped. By Thursday forenoon everything was alright. The mill could start Thursday afternoon and I warned Carl not to go so much on the logs.
There was a big log on the shore with it's bark still on. The others had the bark removed which helped them slide better in the water and the hooks grab better to glide them to the mill. The hooks broke a couple of times and jumped off. it was real slow and we got behind in the work. Carl had to wait. Carl asked if he could get a couple of logs. I told him I would rather he didn't, I didn't want him to do it alone, especially in the water. Carl looked at me a laughed, "I won't fall in, don't worry." and he went on, but I called him and said be careful and don't fall in the water. After that I saw him with a log, pulling it along the boom. The second log, F. Croutger said, he was above the log in the middle of the creek, but I didn't see it, if I'd seen that, I would have hauled him from the creek.
How he fell in, no one saw. F. Croutger saw his hat and bag and pick pole. He saw these floating. Then J. Hilliger was called, but I was not told. As I put my wrench to my side, I saw I was all alone, and an awful feeling came over me. Then I went onto the log deck and saw Croutger and Hilliger running along the boom with a pick pole and then I saw Carl's hat and pick pole. I didn't run along the boom and the bank because I was recuperating from an illness.
It was a puzzle where we found Carl's hat and pick pole-150 to 200 feet down stream. The creek is about 50 feet wide and the depth is different. If he had been 14 or 16, I'd have been stricter. But he was a young man of 20, and you can't treat him as a boy. It must have been God's will and we can't judge God's way. I and my wife accompanied Carl's body and also accompanied the coffin to be shipped home. i wished I could have come along and exchanged sorrow. It would have been easier to bear a sorrow together. My daughter had a wreath and flowers for him. And I hope everything arrived in good order. Carl looked so nice, as I saw him the last time, just like he was sleeping.
All other details I will report later. Don't worry about my expenses, we have time for that. One thing you have to excuse (a word here not able to make out), but the dispatch wanted to be prepaid on both ends. I told them I would pay on this end, I was all nervous and riled up. I told them I would pay for everything, this should have been good enough. Is still have a few lines on the end. How we found Carl and how we pulled him up, with his face to me, he had a smile just as he did when he told me, "I won't fall in." and now I'll have to break it off. My whole family send greetings to all that live at your place and help you in your sorrow.
And greetings,
J.H. Meyers
--Contributor: Stephanie
Karl Johannes Ludwig Blum
Name Karl Blum
Gender Male
Race White
Age 20
Birth Date abt 1881
Death Date 21 Feb 1901
Death Place Portland, Oregon, USA
Father Helmutt Blum
Mother Hannah Blum
A letter sent to the Blum family after the death of Carl. The original was written in German and translated to English.
Lents Oregon
Feb. 25, 1901 Dear Family Blum,
I ask that you please to excuse that I haven't written sooner myself, but I just couldn't. It hit me too hard and now I will tell you from the beginning how everything was. Carl arrived Friday afternoon on the 15th, happy and in a gay mood. It rained heavy that day. The next morning he asked me how to find a job here, and my wife and I answered in a short time, he'd find work in Portland and also farmers, but we expect bad weather yet, because it didn't rain much in January, and he wondered if I'd need more people and I said 4 or 5 men. The he said I'll stay here even if I don't earn as much. But today I think I'll go to Portland to buy, I see by the weather I must have a good pair of shoes and other things. He went to Portland and returned in the afternoon. In that time Johnson Creek rose to over-flowing onto the road. Carl found it necessary to take off his shoes and put them on again, it was only a little ways where the water goes over the road.
On Sunday morning we had no logs and no boom by the mill, it all came loose from the rain and it took everything to the dam. Monday Morning the young people were there to break up the jam by the mill. The didn't car to much to work in that, so I sen them into the bush until the water dropped.
Tuesday the water dropped considerably, and Carl helped. By Thursday forenoon everything was alright. The mill could start Thursday afternoon and I warned Carl not to go so much on the logs.
There was a big log on the shore with it's bark still on. The others had the bark removed which helped them slide better in the water and the hooks grab better to glide them to the mill. The hooks broke a couple of times and jumped off. it was real slow and we got behind in the work. Carl had to wait. Carl asked if he could get a couple of logs. I told him I would rather he didn't, I didn't want him to do it alone, especially in the water. Carl looked at me a laughed, "I won't fall in, don't worry." and he went on, but I called him and said be careful and don't fall in the water. After that I saw him with a log, pulling it along the boom. The second log, F. Croutger said, he was above the log in the middle of the creek, but I didn't see it, if I'd seen that, I would have hauled him from the creek.
How he fell in, no one saw. F. Croutger saw his hat and bag and pick pole. He saw these floating. Then J. Hilliger was called, but I was not told. As I put my wrench to my side, I saw I was all alone, and an awful feeling came over me. Then I went onto the log deck and saw Croutger and Hilliger running along the boom with a pick pole and then I saw Carl's hat and pick pole. I didn't run along the boom and the bank because I was recuperating from an illness.
It was a puzzle where we found Carl's hat and pick pole-150 to 200 feet down stream. The creek is about 50 feet wide and the depth is different. If he had been 14 or 16, I'd have been stricter. But he was a young man of 20, and you can't treat him as a boy. It must have been God's will and we can't judge God's way. I and my wife accompanied Carl's body and also accompanied the coffin to be shipped home. i wished I could have come along and exchanged sorrow. It would have been easier to bear a sorrow together. My daughter had a wreath and flowers for him. And I hope everything arrived in good order. Carl looked so nice, as I saw him the last time, just like he was sleeping.
All other details I will report later. Don't worry about my expenses, we have time for that. One thing you have to excuse (a word here not able to make out), but the dispatch wanted to be prepaid on both ends. I told them I would pay on this end, I was all nervous and riled up. I told them I would pay for everything, this should have been good enough. Is still have a few lines on the end. How we found Carl and how we pulled him up, with his face to me, he had a smile just as he did when he told me, "I won't fall in." and now I'll have to break it off. My whole family send greetings to all that live at your place and help you in your sorrow.
And greetings,
J.H. Meyers
--Contributor: Stephanie
Karl Johannes Ludwig Blum
Name Karl Blum
Gender Male
Race White
Age 20
Birth Date abt 1881
Death Date 21 Feb 1901
Death Place Portland, Oregon, USA
Father Helmutt Blum
Mother Hannah Blum
Lents Oregon
Feb. 25, 1901 Dear Family Blum,
I ask that you please to excuse that I haven't written sooner myself, but I just couldn't. It hit me too hard and now I will tell you from the beginning how everything was. Carl arrived Friday afternoon on the 15th, happy and in a gay mood. It rained heavy that day. The next morning he asked me how to find a job here, and my wife and I answered in a short time, he'd find work in Portland and also farmers, but we expect bad weather yet, because it didn't rain much in January, and he wondered if I'd need more people and I said 4 or 5 men. The he said I'll stay here even if I don't earn as much. But today I think I'll go to Portland to buy, I see by the weather I must have a good pair of shoes and other things. He went to Portland and returned in the afternoon. In that time Johnson Creek rose to over-flowing onto the road. Carl found it necessary to take off his shoes and put them on again, it was only a little ways where the water goes over the road.
On Sunday morning we had no logs and no boom by the mill, it all came loose from the rain and it took everything to the dam. Monday Morning the young people were there to break up the jam by the mill. The didn't car to much to work in that, so I sen them into the bush until the water dropped.
Tuesday the water dropped considerably, and Carl helped. By Thursday forenoon everything was alright. The mill could start Thursday afternoon and I warned Carl not to go so much on the logs.
There was a big log on the shore with it's bark still on. The others had the bark removed which helped them slide better in the water and the hooks grab better to glide them to the mill. The hooks broke a couple of times and jumped off. it was real slow and we got behind in the work. Carl had to wait. Carl asked if he could get a couple of logs. I told him I would rather he didn't, I didn't want him to do it alone, especially in the water. Carl looked at me a laughed, "I won't fall in, don't worry." and he went on, but I called him and said be careful and don't fall in the water. After that I saw him with a log, pulling it along the boom. The second log, F. Croutger said, he was above the log in the middle of the creek, but I didn't see it, if I'd seen that, I would have hauled him from the creek.
How he fell in, no one saw. F. Croutger saw his hat and bag and pick pole. He saw these floating. Then J. Hilliger was called, but I was not told. As I put my wrench to my side, I saw I was all alone, and an awful feeling came over me. Then I went onto the log deck and saw Croutger and Hilliger running along the boom with a pick pole and then I saw Carl's hat and pick pole. I didn't run along the boom and the bank because I was recuperating from an illness.
It was a puzzle where we found Carl's hat and pick pole-150 to 200 feet down stream. The creek is about 50 feet wide and the depth is different. If he had been 14 or 16, I'd have been stricter. But he was a young man of 20, and you can't treat him as a boy. It must have been God's will and we can't judge God's way. I and my wife accompanied Carl's body and also accompanied the coffin to be shipped home. i wished I could have come along and exchanged sorrow. It would have been easier to bear a sorrow together. My daughter had a wreath and flowers for him. And I hope everything arrived in good order. Carl looked so nice, as I saw him the last time, just like he was sleeping.
All other details I will report later. Don't worry about my expenses, we have time for that. One thing you have to excuse (a word here not able to make out), but the dispatch wanted to be prepaid on both ends. I told them I would pay on this end, I was all nervous and riled up. I told them I would pay for everything, this should have been good enough. Is still have a few lines on the end. How we found Carl and how we pulled him up, with his face to me, he had a smile just as he did when he told me, "I won't fall in." and now I'll have to break it off. My whole family send greetings to all that live at your place and help you in your sorrow.
And greetings,
J.H. Meyers
--Contributor: Stephanie
Karl Johannes Ludwig Blum
Name Karl Blum
Gender Male
Race White
Age 20
Birth Date abt 1881
Death Date 21 Feb 1901
Death Place Portland, Oregon, USA
Father Helmutt Blum
Mother Hannah Blum
Inscription
Son of Helmuth & Caroline [Wegner Blum]
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
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