The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1855-08-10
4 Tragedy at ConeY Island.

a sad accident occurred on "Wednesday, al
Coney Island, n. Y, where number of persons
from Williamsburg were bathing. The Heratd
says:
All passed off pleasantly until cry was
raised, ''the undertow 7" ':the undertow - and
on looking towards the ocean the company saw
with dismay five Of their party drifting out to
sea- Great confusion immediately prevailed,
and efforts We're made TO procure boat, but
none could be found for a mile either way along
the beach. No other resource being left, the
doors of the bathing houses were torn off and
showed out after the persons IN the water, and
two Of them were saved thereby.
But the most melancholy part OF tins story re-
mains 10 be told. Il appears the difficulty orr
ginated by young lady named Mary Ann Eli
Oft getting beyond her depth, and feeling the
undert0w taking her out she screamed out, 81
am sinking, save mel'' Her father, Rev. John
Elliott, who was in the water, seeing the dan
ger OF his child, swan towards her bat before
reaching the spot where she was, he was also
taken with thu current and drifted out 10 sea and
soon sank. He rose once to the surface and
threw his arms wildly in the air, then sank a
gain and was seen no more.
The peril Of Miss Elliott was also seen by a
the lady, who immediately waded and SWAN to
where she was struggling in the water, and sue
decided IN holding her up for some time. The
greatest excitement prevailed al the moment the
tragedy was being enacted, and no one seemed
able to offer any assistance. The couple were
borne ont rapidly and those on the shore gave
them up for losl, when it was seen that Mr..
Gibbons had secured piece of timber, and bad
seIzed ii for support, but il was not large enough
10 uphold both, and Mr.. Gibbons disengaged
himself from Miss Elliott and told her to grasp
the SuSpenders OF his bathing dress behind, while
he held on 10 The wood. This she did for a tIsge ;
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 a
round her, the selfish instinct of her nature for
life, and let 90 her hold, though he begged her
for Gods and her own sake 10 never mind him,
bot herself. She soon sank and was seen 10
more. Mr.. Gibbons was fortunately drifted
towards point on the Island where he found
a toothold, and was dragged ashore by means of
ropes.
Two other persons, Mr.. Henry Boyd, ir., and
a Miss Eastman, were also caught in the same
current, bnt fortunately managed TO secure one
of the boards floating about and were towed to-
wards the shore. Miss Eastman had sank once
or twice, and was so overcome bv terror and
her injuries that it is feared she will not recover
She was taken to the Ocean House, and now lies
there in a dangerous condition. MIR. Boyd es-
capped unhurt.
This melancholy affair caused deep feeling on
the Island, and the self-devotion exhibited By
the unfortunate uirl was the theme of many
an admiring eulogy. She was quite young, and
sand 10 be of rare beauty of person and amiabili-
tv of disposition. It will BE- heavy blow to
her relatives in Williamsburg. Her father, who
was drowned, was local preacher in the Meth
odist church, and was much respected for his
many virtues.