Party in search of the body of Wm Wisdom who was drowned by the heavy rain near Orangeville Ont Having Lunch

Description

Front: A group of about twenty-three men posing (mostly sitting on the ground) on a dirt road with a horse and wagon on the right side. Upon searching death registrations, it was discovered William's wife, Isabella Wisdom (nee Irwin), also drowned on the same day and her death was reported by an Irwin family member. Isabella's death was registered June 1st, therefore her body was recovered immediately; William's death was not registered until July 1st, in keeping with this photograph's subject matter. Background: Source - Globe and Mail May 30, 1908 Page 12. On May 28th at Mono, Ontario, Bella Wisdom was on her way with her three children to bring lunch to a group of men who were working on the back part of the farm. A violent storm blew up. The family including father William Wisdom took shelter under an old wooden bridge over a dry creek. Suddenly, the creek bed filled with a wall of water, said to be about fifteen feet high. The wall of water swept away the bridge as well as two of the children and the parents. The eldest son who had been standing on the bank was able to rescue the two children in the water but both parents drowned. Back: