Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-08-15
THE PERILS OF SURF BATHING.
TWO MIN DROWNED AT LONG BRANCH AND TWO AT NJ
SINK HIGHLANnS

TWO MIN DROWNED AT LONG BRANCH AND TWO AT NEVER
SINK HIGHLANDS
sad casualty happened at Long Branch Saturday. at
the usual bathing hour. Among the bathers were DR..
Edward o. Dumme Of Jersey City, and Mr.. John Whit
taker, of Trenton, and party OF ladies. From some
cause the ladies became apprehensve of danger and Dr.
Dummer and Mr. Whitaker proceeded TO their relief,
aud in their efforts became exhausted aud before assist
could reach them both drowned. The Doctor
drawn into boat he could be reached by
Mr.. Green, fisherman and taken ashore and as seve-
raj physicians hand every available means and
efforts used 10 restore both Of the gentlemen but
without success they passed beyond the power and
skill Of man TO bring back life.
Mr.. Whitaker a large stout man, Who il is said
brother OF Mr. Green swan ashore with. His wife and
son. about seventeen years Of age with him at the
time. He had been here aboul three weeks, and was
about returning for the Of the family Monday
There five six other and daughters left to
mourn the unexpected and sudden loss
Ii is said DR.. Dummer lost mother and sister in the
steamship Lyonnaise, when she went down some years
ago.
The news Of the catastrophe quickly spread from Long
Branch TO the Ocean House and the Highlands But
yfour hours aferward and before the visitors the
place named had ceased to discuss the details it was an-
ncunced that two had been found in the surf oppo
site Thompsons Atlantic pavilion; that these fresh vic
tins Gustavus A Ratz, of New York, and Edward
Gardiner of Buffalo, and that the wife Of the former had
nearly shared bis fate IL appears that at O'Clock yes
terday moIningl Mr.. and Mrs Ratz, who staying
at the Highlands, went TO battle the beach, ac-
companed by the wife of Councilman Van Tine, aud by
Mr. Robert D. Evans and bis sister, all OF New York. Mr.
Gardner belonged to another party who went in at the
same time. The surf under easterly wind, run
ming very high, and Mr. Ratz, strong swimmer, and
fearless of danger ventured out too far, taking his wife
with him. IL was soon evident that they were
carried of their feet by the undertow and srug.
Cling TO regain the shore. Mr.. John Welcher
of this city, the beach at the time and seized
rope, one end Of which he gave to Mr.. Evans who
plunged in to the aid of Mrs Ratz and succeeded in lay
ing hold Of her. Mr.. Evans then drew them both to
shore. The lady was senseess. Placing her on the
sand the gentlemen then turned to Mr. Ratz but
he had gone down, and was seen till half an
hour afterwards when the threw his corps far up
the beach. by continued efforts Mrs Ratz was re-
susctaed only 10 gain the dreadful knowledge of her
husbands DEATH
The deceased will probable be buried with military
honors as he was corporal in the First company Of the
National Guards.
1t was almost at the same moment that Mr.. Gardner,
young man Of eighteen years, was swept away from
his friends who were bathing with him at little distance
from the first party and lost his life in precisely The
manner-the last of the four whose deaths have
thus occurred.