Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1855-08-08

A TR.AGEDy AT CoxEY IsLAND.-A sad acci-
dent occurred on "Wednesday, at Coney Island
n. Y, where number OF persons from VII
liamsbufg were bathing. The Herald says
Alipassed OFF pleasantly until a cry was
raised, ssthe undertow!'' ..the undertow %
and on looking towards the ocean the COM
pany saw with dismay FIVE of their party drift
ing ont to- sea. Great confusion immediately
prevailed, and efforts were made 10 procure
boat, but none could be found for mile either
way along the beach. No other resource be-
ing left, the doors of the bathing houses were
torn off and showed out after the persons in
the water, and two ofthem were saved thereby.
But the most melancholy part of this story
remains to be told. 1t appears the difficulty
originated byia Young lady named Mary Ann
Elliott getting beyond her depth, and feeling
the undertow taking her out, she screamed out
{. / am sinking, save mel" Her father, Rev.
john Elliott, who wasin the water. seeing the
danger of his child, swan towards hers but
before reaching the spot where she was, he
was also taken with the current and drifted out
to seaand soon sank. lie rose once to the
surface and threw his arms wildly in the air
then sank again and was seen no more.
The peril of Miss Elliott was also seen by =
Mr.. Thomas Gibbons, the afiianced husband OF
the lady, who Immediately waded and swan
to where she was struggling in the water, and
succeeded in holding her up for some time
The greatest excitement prevailed At the mo-
ment the tragedy was being enacted, and no
one seemed able to offer any assistance. The
couple were borne out rapidly and those on
the shore gaye them up for lost, when it was
seen that Mr. Gibbons had secured a piece of
timber and had seized it for support, but it
was not large enough to uphold both, and Mr.
Gibbons diSengaged himself from Miss Elliot
and told her TO grasp the suspenders of his
bathing dress behind, while he held on to the
wood. This she did for time, but, with
true woman's devotion, seeing that her lover
was sinking and fearing that he would drown,
she suppressed in that moment of peril, when
the horrors of death were clustering around
ner, the selfish instinct of her nature for life
| and let go her hold, though he begged her for
Gods sake and her own sake to never mind
him, but herself She soon sank and was seen
no more. Mr.. Gibbons was fortunately drifted
towards point on the island where he found
foothold, and was dragged ashore by means
of ropes.
| Two other persons Mr.. Henry Boyd. jr.,
| aud Miss Eastman, were also brought in the
same current, but fortunately managed to Sc
! cure one ofthe boards floating about and were
| towed towards the shore. Miss Eastman had
sunk once or twice, and was so overcome by
| terror and her injuries that il was feared she
! will not recover. She was taken TO the Ocean
! House and now lies therein n critical cOndi-
| ton. Mr.. Boyd escaped nnllurt.
This melancholy affair caused deep feeling
oI. tiie-Iasland, and The self-deyotian exhib-
ted by the unfortunate girl was the theme Of
many AN admiring eulogy. She was quite
| Young and said 10 be of rare beauty Of person
| and amiability of disposition. 1t will be
| heavy blow to her relatives in Williamsburg.
Her father, who was drowned, was a local
preacher in the Methodist church, and Was
much respected Tor his many virtues.