The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-07-27

xss Calamity nc Coney Island.
Our reporter visited OF the disaster at Coney
Island yesterday and found that the report published in
the HrRAID though mournful enough was less SO than
che truth would justify. Ths scene when the calamity
WAS being enacted described to him by lady who
An eye witness, was touching and narrowing in
tns extreme
AccosdI to the statement Of this lady aud others
who with. sssS the whole OF this occurrence the party
arrived Ut the hotel about FIVE O'Clock in the eyepag
The company mainly Sunday school tea ,ners male
and female attached 20 the Methodist church in South
Third street. Williamsburg. The party was q large one
and filled two omnibusea, besides number Of country
wasors coaches &c. After refreshing them they
proceeded 20 the shore to eDjoya bath. At this ms
II be.ng eveng the boarders from the several hotels
were on re beach, either swimming or shore look
ing At those nao were There could not have been lea
than huIdisl and ty persons present at the time of
the disssr within quarter Of mile OF whore the per-
wers drowned
The first circumstance that alarmed the bathers
cry from the Rev. J. H. Elliot that Miss Eastman
drowning che having incsutiouay ventured together
with Hiss Elliot beyond her depth. Mr.. Elliot swan
towards Miss Eastman not noticing the danger his own
daughter and sezing her by the dress Sustained
her for time calling loudly for help. Great
fusion snsusd the bathers all ockng to that part OF
the shcrs but no aid pronered While the atten.
Miss Elot's screams were heard, and she was seen
borne out blythe stream. A Mr. Henry Boyd Jr, was
also taken out By the same current.
At this time the scene appalling The
fortunate tatlers so Siy but surely drifting out
to sea- while the more active OF those on shore were
running about though distrAsAd vain search
spell bound, offering assistance and not kno wing
what to Do. At length it suggested 70 tsar the
doors Of the bathing houses of the hinges whi:h
immediately done, and they were showed out in ths
st1eem az taplciy as possible.
Mr.. ulet, though good swimmer, at length became
exhausted and, as MISS Eastman stass suddenly let
go his hod o hsr though ssized by cramp, and sank
lie rose once threw his arms up yaliveiy, and
no mors A Mr. Denins hara had by this time se.
cured rops about bis person. and, swimming towards
Miss Easton, seized her. and both pulled ashore
Aesnwhils, Mr. Thomas Gibbons, seeing the peril Of
hs afanced bride, determined to risk his own life TO
save hers He caught her after she had sank one aud
grasping her arm, attempted to swim towards point
ty ya,ds distant. But the current strong and
the attempt was vain Fortunately, he secured y
sustain ths both, and it became evident that they
inust psxish II assistance not rendered and that
speedily here it was tha. ss Eiliot's womans dsvo
tion cspqueled her desire for life Through all the
terrible scene she maintained possession Of her
senses, snd seeing the chances. for its fade
lover sae Exclaimed, in voice audible to 80
yersl around. " Save yourself, Thomas; never
@ s I'P her hin a
hold Of the suspenders OF his bathing dress, while he
made ens rio,s struggle with his arms free for land
forhsaranes rs,sxsd her hold, aud the next breaker
swept her away from her lover and into eternity.
managed 10 swim cut to where H. Gibbos. w.s, WITH
= piece Of board, and they were both shortly after
dragged shore.
time, and had there been boat within mile Of the
SCENE Of the disaster, not life would AVE bsen lost.
s Incredible, war, that any such accident should
lave apSepso, for in the Of the bathing house
there p.enty Of rope and the doors would have
swered to oat out 70 the dro wnlpg people The people
shore appeared have lost presence of mird and
we're incapable Of doing anything whatever.
The place xhsre the accident occurred vas not more
only nns het deep At low tide this place perfectly
os Fsiter and properly cared for by the hostess.
Mr. Gibbons recovered, and returned TO Williams
would not survive She, however rallied towards
pg, and yesterday conveyed home in exhausted
condition The body OF Mi Elliot was washed ashorsby
tho returning tide yesterday morning. about nine O'CLOCK
Her features not 1t all disaguisd. At the time OF
her dessh Miss Liot but seventeen years Of age,
AGED to De nsrrsa early in september, and had hss
wedding clothes prepared for that event Toe boiy Wa
Nh % eSSons i South iiSs street; Tae fansrs
will take place this morning. at East New YorE from the
late re'osace Of the young lady.
not been recovered, though the most disent search
has been made along the shore by hs rim Law,
offered for tbs recovery of the body. Rev Mr. Eliot
well snd widely known among tho Methods. demo
ynnsfioD IN this city and Wiiiamsbirg tie was Eng
ish by BIRTH ana came to this country some eighteen
years ago Though comparatively wealthy he Iabored
.talousiy az preacher and was ws kncxa for his de-
voted efforts In the Sunday school cause. He was
strong advocate OF temperance and the founder Of
the Mariners Employment Society He wass nan Of
great practical benevolsncs, AMI his death Will leave
void among the advocates Of and the friends
of the poor nsrinsr not easy to be filed He Was but
thirtysx years Of age at the time Of his death He
leaves wits and three children Mrs Elliots Ia
indeed p.sbe. Her health at present is delicate, aud
TO lose husband and daughter 4. ne is, indeed,
= a1iiction.
Of Miss Elo. by Sam J. Striker justice OF peace who
acted instead Of T. W. Bennct, the Coroner OF Kings
county There was evidence taken, the jury being
With the facts, and verdict OF accidental
charged TIE friends Of the deceased Eve dollars for hold
Ing tne inquest, which regarded a. remarkable
procsspe 70 say the least 10 the propriesrs Of the
Oceanic House, and to Mr. s. Folter The frieads OF
active in his exer.ions tor the relief OF those
taken to bis place,
This occurrtncs is one OF the saddest Il has been
our lot to record for many day. The conduct Of
Of the most remarkable instsaces OF dsv otion
oord and her story viii be told hereafter With ssddened
tones aod mostsned eyes, and viii be RENE bered IS
dong AZ oceans surge aves The sands of Coney Island
TO TuE EDITOR OF rHs HERALD.
The sad calamity ths drowning Of Mr.. Elliot AMI
daughter, who carried out by the undertos at Co.
Dey Island beach Wednesday goes show the n.ces-
ty Of ropes OF sufficient sngth being fastened at the
bathing sections Of the beach, so that any ordinary
twimmsr, discovering bsther in distress could i'm
edistely take Of there to his aid Sucn Ii the plan
NJ Long branch and other bathing resorts and
IL this prscaution had been taken the accident in ques
ton would not have resulted fatally.
n. ". WILD, Councilman OF tire l1th District