210
The Three Drowned Sisters
This is a version of a song published in Gardner and Chickering
BSSM 301-2 under the title Three Girls Drowned' (with music),
from the singing of Mr. E. W. Harns, Greenville, Michigan, "who
learned the song from his mother. Mr. Harns said that these girls
were drowned in Elk Creek, which ran through his parents' farm in
Erie county, Pennsylvania. His parents knew the girls, who lived
only a few miles from their farm when this tragedy took place in
1849." The editors of BSSM refer to " 'an original copy' of the
song, 'Three Voices from the Grave,' which is more than twice the
length of the Michigan text, although the story remains the same."
'The Three Drowned Sisters' has the following passages rather
closely corresponding to passages in 'Three Girls Drowned': (l)
stanza 3, 11. 3-4 to
Bright forked lightning flashed around
While awful thunder shook the ground;
(2) Stanza 4, 11. 3-4 to
In God's own house they did repair
With young John Ash to worship there;
(3) Stanza 5 to
A prayer of hymn and praises sung
As they rode back to Washington.
A following stream they thought to ford.
Which sent their spirits back to God ;
(4) Stanza 6 to
Lucinda Phelps, Harriet Strong,
Elizabeth Ash, all three are gone.
The rolling current stopped their breath
And left their bodies cold in death.
Otherwise, though telling substantially the same story, the two ver-
sions differ considerably.
'The Three Drowned Sisters.' From the John Burch Blaylock Collection.
496 NORTH CAROLINA FOLKLORE
1 Let truth and wisdom guide my pen
While writing to the sons of men.
The captain asks us to relate,
Concerning three young ladies' fate.
2 'Twas on the twenty-fourth of June,
The summer flowers in their bloom ;
The month, the year, the day, and time
Was eighteen hundred sixty-nine.
3 Dark clouds and tempests had arose
Their fearful ... to disclose.
The ligl^tning flashed all around.
And awful thunder shook the ground.
4 Was just before the day described
To . . . those three did ride.
In God's own house they did prepane
With young John Ashe to worship there.
5 They hymns of praise there then they sung
As they rode back to Washington.
Their thoughts of swelling streams to ford
Which sent their spirits to the Lord.
6 Lauranda Philips and Marion Strong,
With Elizabeth Ashe — those three are gone.
The rolling torrent stopped their breath
And left their bodies cold in death.
7 The mournful tidings soon went round
That those three ladies all were drowned,
Which filled their friends with deep despair
And overwhelmed tlieir hearts with care.
8 The people went and searched around.
At French Creek their dead bodies found.
And in the coroner's house were laid
Their funeral. . . .
9 Take warning, all you friends who weep.
That His commandments you're to keep.
His precious hand on that great day
Will wipe your flowing tears away.