ADD/Origin: Death of Little Kathy Fiscus (Osborne)

Subject: Lyr Add: THE DEATH OF LITTLE KATHY FISCUS (Osborne
From: Gene
Date: 08 Apr 99 - 08:26 PM


Fifty years ago today, April the 8th, 1949, the local radio
station where I lived, began broadcasting details of a tragic
story about a little girl trapped in an abandoned well in
California.
I suppose that the story was carried by newspapers and radio
stations in almost every city and town in the United States
and probably in several other countries, as well.

I, like many of my childhood friends, family and local
town folks, shed many tears over the tragedy of this poor
little girl and her family and the eventual death of little
3-year old Kathy Fiscus.

The memory of this sad event was forever indelibly
etched in my memory, (It seems like only yesterday.)
I have played and sang this song each of the past 50 years,
on April the 8th, in remembrance of the death of
Little Kathy Fiscus and the sadness it brought her family.

-Gene

It was on the front page of the New York Times
on 9 and 10 April, 1949.

-------------------------------------------------------------

THE DEATH OF LITTLE KATHY FISCUS
Words and music: Jimmie Osborne

On April the 8th, the year '49,
Death claimed a little child, so pure and so kind.
Kathy they called her, met her doom that day.
I know it was God that called her away.

Playmates with Kathy were all having fun.
The story was told, they all started to run,
And as they looked back, she wasn't there.
It's so sad to think of this tragic affair.

Just like a beast in a forest that day,
The abandoned well took Kathy away.
For over two days the well was her tomb.
Everyone kept praying they'd get her out soon.

Thousands were there from far and from near.
Workmen they struggled against sadness and fear,
But after two days their hopes grew so weak.
They called down to Kathy, but she never did speak.

After working so hard both day and night,
Digging for hours, she came into sight.
The little darlin' was dead; her life it was gone.
Now in San Marino there's a heartbroken home.

I'm sure she's an angel in God's peaceful fold,
Playing with children in a mansion of gold.
As I stand alone, humbly I bow.
I know Kathy's happy up there with God now.

Subject: RE: ADD LYR: The Death Of Little Kathy Fiscus
From: bseed(charleskratz)
Date: 08 Apr 99 - 08:48 PM

Gene, I've never heard the song, but I certainly remember the event, listening to radio reports on the attempt to rescue her, remembering the jockey who had volunteered to be lowered down head first to try to pull her out. I have a hard time with the idea of a child being "called to heaven" in a like manner. --seed

Subject: RE: ADD LYR: The Death Of Little Kathy FIscus
From:
Date: 08 Apr 99 - 09:50 PM

I, too, have never heard the song about about Kathy Fiscus, but growing up in Los Angeles (San Marino is a small city maybe 15 mi. NE of LA) we were privy to 'round the clock TELEVISION on channel 5 during the tragic ordeal. In fact that broadcast is considered historic, conveying the power of the infant medium. Stan Chambers the young newsman who covered the story on air is STILL with KTLA ch.5 as an on air newsperson.--John

Subject: RE: ADD LYR: The Death Of Little Kathy Fiscus
From: Gene
Date: 08 Apr 01 - 08:56 PM

Refresh!

Subject: RE: ADD LYR: The Death Of Little Kathy Fiscus
From: Gene
Date: 08 Apr 01 - 09:05 PM

For real audio of The Death Of Little Kathy Fiscus-

*CLIK TO: ROSE THE RECORD LADY WEBSITE *

Subject: RE: ADD LYR: The Death Of Little Kathy Fiscus
From:
Date: 05 Apr 02 - 11:19 PM

I remember the day that it happened, and I did have the record of the song, but as years went by it got broke, I would like to be able to get it on my computer, I download all of the olds songs, but am unalbe to get this one, that was so sad when this took place, I was young myself, but I have never forgot her and her family. LaVerne thompson

Subject: RE: ADD LYR: The Death Of Little Kathy Fiscus
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 17 Apr 02 - 01:09 PM

I'm catching up on lost reading and just had to reply to this thread. I was a child living in Shropshire UK at the time, the incident was indelibly printed in my mind, and I have remembered her name to this day. I recall pictures in the daily paper and latest news on the radio. Nice to hear the song.

Pip Freeman.

Subject: RE: ADD LYR: The Death Of Little Kathy Fiscus
From: masato sakurai
Date: 18 Apr 02 - 12:34 PM

The news video is HERE. A folk version of the song ("Death of Kathy Fiscus") is in the Max Hunter Collection (Click here).

~Masato

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Death of Little Kathy Fiscus
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Jul 10 - 11:24 PM

i was not born when this happened, but my mother sang us the song all the time when i was a little girl, she would cry every time she would sing it, she remembered when this happened.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Death of Little Kathy Fiscus
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Feb 11 - 08:14 PM

Some things not mentioned in other post.
The recording was released, it was played day in and day out on especially the western stations.
After about seven to ten days Kathy's mother could not stand the pain and asked for the stations to stop playing.
As I remember being eight years old at the time in Long Beach, the record was banned from radio stations.
I have one of the original 78 speed recordings, we played it every year for a long time, and I still say a prayer each year on April 8th. in the little darlins memory, for all little children and Gods/Jesus love for all of them.
God Bless You Kathy in Gods loving arms!
D.King

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Death of Little Kathy Fiscus
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Apr 11 - 03:03 PM

where can I get this record

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Death of Little Kathy Fiscus
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 05 Apr 11 - 07:17 AM

You can hear it, and maybe download it, at YouTube.

Subject: RE: ADD/Origin: Death of Little Kathy Fiscus (Osborne)
From: GUEST,lady from indiana
Date: 02 May 13 - 03:07 AM

thank u for the lyrics to this song. my mother in law who is 78 remembers when this happened and it affected her in a great way for this song she told me about little kathy fiscus. she wanted the lyrics and now i will be able to print them out and hang in a frame for her to enjoy every day. thank u for not only making my day but my mother in laws as well!

Subject: RE: ADD/Origin: Death of Little Kathy Fiscus (Osborne)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 03 May 13 - 02:12 AM

For some reason, the location of this incident didn't click with me the other times I've seen this thread. Wikipedia has a good article on this incident. It happened April 8, 1949, when three-year-old Kathy Fiscus fell into a well in San Marino, California. I pictured this as happening in a rural area, but not so. San Marino is one of the wealthiest areas of Los Angeles County, a little paradise next to Pasadena (which is pretty nice itself). The most famous place in San Marino is The Huntington, a library, art museum, and gardens that was once the home of railroad heir Henry Huntington (nephew of Colis Huntington of the Big Four).

San Marino is absolutely beautiful, especially in the winter months when there is no smog. I've spent hours and hours driving and walking the streets of San Marino and Pasadena, which have some of the finest architecture in the United States.

The History Channel has an interesting piece on the Death of Little Kathy Fiscus. Be sure to listen to the recording of this song from the Max Hunter Collection. You can find the original Jimmie Osborne recording on Spotify.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: ADD/Origin: Death of Little Kathy Fiscus (Osborne)
From: GUEST,Don Layton
Date: 20 Dec 21 - 03:27 PM

I am now an old man and my birthday was one day after Kathy's death. My Dad was a sharecropper who dug and cleaned out open wells for what little money we had. I remember all too well Dad crying over and over while the search was going on. We listened on the radio the whole time it was covered. He said he knew he could get down to her if he was there, but we were in North Carolina, and no money to get him there. The song still comes to my mind often, and I am one who counselled and taught children in church for many years later on, and it still hurts me, but I know one day I will see her in Heaven

Subject: RE: ADD/Origin: Death of Little Kathy Fiscus (Osborne)
From: GUEST,Kathy W.
Date: 23 Sep 23 - 12:54 AM

My mom used to sing this song to me, I’ll never forget it. I was born in 1956.

Subject: RE: ADD/Origin: Death of Little Kathy Fiscus (Osborne)
From: GUEST,Kathy W.
Date: 23 Sep 23 - 12:54 AM

My mom used to sing this song to me, I’ll never forget it. I was born in 1956.