Three Drowned Sisters

Let truth and the wisdom guide my pen
While writing to the sons of men
This sad disaster to relate
Concerning three young ladies' fate 

'Twas on the 24th of June
The summer flowers were in bloom
The month, the day, the year and time
Was eighteen hundred sixty nine

Dark clouds in tempests had arose 
Their fearful contents to disclose
The lightning flashing all around
And awful thunder shook the ground 

Twas just before the day did ?  
To ? these three did ride
In God's own house they did prepare
With young John Ash to worship there

The hymn of praise then they sung
As they rode back to Washington
They thought the swelling stream to ford
Which sent their spirits to the Lord

Noranda Phillips and Harriet Strong
With Elizabeth Ash, these three are gone
The rolling current stopped their breath
And left their bodies cold in death

The mournful tidings soon went round
That these three ladies all were drowned
Which filled their friends with deep despair
And overwhelmed their hearts with care

The people went?
At French Creek then did?  
And in the?
The?

Take warning all you friends who weep
That God's commandments you do keep
His gracious hand on that great day
Will wipe your flowing tears away

Vernon Dalhart recorded this.  It would be good to find the details.  The song couldn't be more helpful -- if we could believe it.  One trouble is that June 24 1869 was a Wednesday.