The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-07-29
The Recent accidents at Coney Island
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD.

BROOKLYN, July %, 1853.
My attention having been called to several para
graphs in the papers, in reference to me, headed
Another Accident at Coney Island" all Of ~-hich
are Incorrect beg the favor of correcting the same
through the medium Of your valuable paper as
take no other. have also another object in select
ing your paper, which is to call the attention IL the
Humane Society" or any other society who may
feel an interest in the preservation Of human life to
tie dangerous hole intend to descyibe and If it Is
fonnd to be as ! shall describe it, let a warning
notice be given to the stray bathers, by notice on
the beach.
Let the Humane Society also see that life-pre-
servers floating corks with cords, means of some
kind be at hand for security Of persons in DANGER for
at present there does not appear to be single thing
al hand for such purpose. 1t is always with re-
luc;ance that person appears before the public
under similar circumstances; but In this it Is
called for, for future preservation against similar
accidents. Young Love, l understand, was lost
from precisely the same spot two days after.
Last Friday / went to Coney Island by stage,
with my family; did no, intend to swim, nor did
do so till compelled to it In self preservation;
merely intended to allow the spray to break
and return. On entering the water after my family
had partaken of its benefits, proceeded onward and
was surprised to find had to 20 full two to three
hundred feet before the water was three feet deep,
the greater part of the distance being only knee
deep; all this time. it would appear, had been
to be twenty or thirty feet deep / now
turned round facing the beach. for it now
began to deepen under my lest in kind Of hollows,
and at this moment was surprised to find q strong
under current at my feet, which in two seconds
forced me into Q hole which can compare only to
being forced OF the side of Platform. | put my
right hand out as descended into the hole, and felt
the side as straight as though it had been dug out
for the excavation Of the foundation OF Q build
ing. This, with the knowledge of the rolling
sands Of Coney Island, was very surprising.
feeling any bottom, put out my hands, rose TO the
surface, and, for the first time, commenced swim.
ming. Here found the current stnong that after
swimming for ten minutes, ! imagined had made
no progress the current being equal to any propsl
ling force | could use by swimming. Therefore
changed ny>ecurse little from q slragbt line, and
gained little, but found began to feel exhausted
After . few minutes, descended to feel for q
bottom; there was none at reasonable depth; and
on coming to the surface again found it necessary
to call for help, but for some one needed the
call lady who had witnessed the scene, very
generously offered reward TO any one who would
attempt to save me, and Michael the man hired
the bathing clothes of--for Il occurred Immediately
opposite his stand-came swimming towards me-
throwing away his blue shirt a. he entered the water
tie very thing he should have retained for me TO hold
by, as lie wore only shirt and pantaloons. Mike is
powerful looking man, and ! rejoced at his APP
proach. He came swimming towards me, and said
Can you swimf IL am swimming now" said /.
He DOW turned round aud faced she shore or course
considered this an invitation to make use OF him ne
best could and took hold OF his neck he Embossed
me. and believe we went under. / concluded had
taken hold in the wrong place, and placed my
arms around bis body, but met with similar treat
ment, without one encouraging word. soon per
ceived there was no hope from that quarter.
! now sommoned ell my resolution and courage
for one great effort. 1t was successful. passed
Michael, reached some yards ahead Of him, and lay
en- the surface in shallow water to all appearance
q feless corpse Michael at this time being in deep
water, calling for help. just ut this moment came
Casey-the noble hearted Cssey--WyckoHrs head
waiter, 6eserveoy respe tied by all there. He raised
meup and conveyed me TO shore He did not make that
desperate effort to me- that the papers represent
because l was not then in deep water; but by his
timely aid, his kind services, and those OF a Dr.
SIX nner who told afterwards that he read of the
proper Ttmedy-for be was dentist and not physi.
sicanI was restored to consciousness in an hour or
So Dr. Skinner was also kind enough to tell me
that he had cent for Dr. Tucker, physician, who
came and did whatever further was requisite on
the following morning returned to BROOKLYN aud
put myself under the care OF my family ysician
DR.. AyIes, Montague place.
I cannot core these remarks without tendernp nv
grateful Acknowledgements to the la lies, for their
unifcIm Kindness 10 my wife and self during the
distressing occurrance Yours, very truly,
THoMAs DAy.
p S.-Any one in future requiring aid would
flsdy contribute to fund for the purpose Of pre-.
sowing lie. Corey lsbnd | am ven acquainted
with. sBo consider il perfectly safe FIR ba.lers *.
cep'tf that particular SPOT opposite Michael stagd
IL,r j. 10 place where the cir j. more pare end H.
MIGRATING.