By Rob Carrigan, robcarrigan1@gmail.com
In the early days of the silent film industry, Colorado and the Rocky Mountain West's role loomed large. The Selig Polyscope Company, which had opened a Denver office ten years prior, shot more than 40 films during 1911 and 1912 in the Canon City area. Looking for more cooperative weather, Selig moved most of the operation to Prescott, Arizona, and eventually to the Los Angeles area (Hollywood). The Colorado Motion Picture Company which followed Selig into Canon City in 1914, but when their lead actress (and a cameraman) drowned in the river while she was performing her own stunts, that company dissolved shortly afterward.
"Grace McHugh what we would call a modern exciting woman. She was born ito the theatrical profession – her mother being a soubrette with a theater company – and made her first appearance on stage at the age of three. But she also could count as her achievements the skills of an expert horsewoman, accomplished swimmer and pioneering aviator. She had already traveled extensively around the United States, Canada and Mexico when at the age of 25, she thought she might dabble a bit in the glamorous world of the "the pictures." It would prove to be a tragic decision," as noted by Micheal J. Spencer, in his 2013 book "Hollywood of the Rockies."
"Miss Grace McHugh, of Golden, niece of Judge and Mrs. C. S. Staples, was drowned In the Arkansas river at Canon City yesterday afternoon, according to a message received from Canon City last night . The accident occurred at 1 o clock, and up to the time of going to press her body had not been recovered.
"Miss McHugh has been leading lady for the Colorado Motion Picture company, and left Golden about three weeks ago to join the company. The accident occurred while Miss McHugh and Owen Carter, a camera man, were engaged in making a scene in a picture entitled 'Across the Border ' She was fording the stream in a boat , and suddenly the watchers saw the boat capsized and Miss McHugh was plunged into the swollen stream. Carter, without hesitation, plunged into the river and succeeded in getting Miss McHugh to a sandbar. They appeared to tie safe, when suddenly both sank from view, and it is believed they were sucked down by quicksand. The news of the tragic death of Miss McHugh will come as a great shock to her many friends in Golden. She had made this city her home for a year or so. She was an exceptionally charming and talented young lady. She was about 26 years of age," said the Golden Transcript, July 2 edition of 1914.
"It wasn’t supposed to be a dramatic scene. For a movie depicting gun
smuggling at the U.S. border with Mexico, this sequence simply was to
show a bandit’s daughter crossing the Rio Grande on horseback," according to information from Carnegie Hero Fund Commission
"On a bank of a shallow section of the Arkansas River in Cañon City, Colo., which was subbing for the Rio Grande, Owen Carter manned a camera for “Across the Border,” an ambitious production of the Colorado Motion Picture Co. Wearing a cowgirl’s outfit and boots, Grace Forman – known professionally as Grace McHugh – rode into the river that shortly would take her life. Carter lost his own trying to save hers."
Rumors of a publicity ruse initially marred some of the early details about Carter’s heroic rescue attempt on July 1, 1914, perhaps because several days passed before anyone located their bodies, apart, far downstream. Crew members themselves later explained they couldn’t quite comprehend how both Forman, 24, and Carter, 29, struggled in water that appeared to be no deeper than their waists, but they marveled at Carter’s effort.
In particular, director Otis B. Thayer insisted that Carter swam out to help McHugh “of his own free will and without any suggestion from myself or anyone else.”
“I am free to say that I never saw greater heroism displayed by anyone than was displayed by Mr. Carter in this instance,” Thayer wrote to the Hero Fund one month after the incident. “He was taking his life in his hands in attempting to go across the swift current of the river, and it certainly looked to me when I saw him last that he would succeed in making the rescue, but unfortunately he lost his life in his effort.”
"The deaths were a stunning turn, especially given that the scene was being re-filmed because the previous version was damaged in the development process, according to author Michael J. Spencer’s book Hollywood of the Rockies: Colorado, The West and America’s Film Pioneers. “Across the Border” was the first film for Forman, who was 5 feet, 3 inches tall and weighed about 115 pounds."
Per accounts witnesses later provided to the Hero Fund, Forman rode into the river at a point where it was about 125 feet wide and about 3.5 feet deep. She was about 30 feet out when the horse stumbled and she fell into the water. An actor on horseback rode into the river to her and she grasped his hand, but they separated and she drifted downstream.
"Carter, who previously worked as a harness maker, was considered a good swimmer and was about 8 inches taller and 50 pounds heavier than Forman. He entered the river and swam about 320 feet to Forman. Soon, they disappeared and drowned. Carter’s body was found five days later, more than a mile from the scene, while Forman’s body was missing until 12 days later, nine miles from the scene," according to movie company officials.
According to a history in the Pueblo Chieftain, by Tracy Harmon:
"It was the July 1, 1914, filming of "Across the Border" that would lead to Canon City's most tragic movie moment. Film crews were staging a scene just west of town that involved two actors making a dash across the Arkansas River on horseback, according to July 2, 1914, newspaper accounts. Actor Johnny Keough crossed first successfully and Grace McHugh was following when her horse stumbled. She grabbed the reigns, her horse reared and threw her into the river. "Mr. Keough at once rode into the water. She grabbed his hands so that he could do nothing and in his effort to break her hold so that he could grab her, the force of the water swept her away downstream," according to the July 2, 1914, Fremont County Leader. Cameraman Owen Carter tried to rescue McHugh but both were swallowed by the rapid moving river. At first, residents doubted the two were really dead, believing the moviemakers were just garnering attention for the film. Carter's body was found one week later. According to the July 9, 1914, Fremont County Leader, "No trace has yet been found of the body of Miss McHugh which may not be recovered for months and maybe not at all for the Arkansas is reluctant in giving up its victims." Finally, McHugh's body was located after 13 days, "After the deplorable disaster two miles below Florence. She was identified by clothing, riding boots and spurs," the Leader reported. It was the last film to be made by Thayer's company. "Being in the movies was a dangerous occupation because they did all their own stunts," Cochran said. "The newspapers of that time were filled with articles about actors being thrown from horses and all sorts of accidents that happened during filming."
Grace McHugh's photo on a Colorado Motion Picture Company postcard. Royal Gorge Regional Museum and History Center.
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