The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-01-12
HE LATE MIR. WALTER.

Story of n IRmentabIe Acoident-vhe Oenth
of the Eldest son Of tho Proprietor of the
"LOndOO Times"
FROM the .ondon Times, Dec. 20.
An accident occurred on Saturday afternoon
last at Bearwood, Berkshire, the seat of Mr..
Walter, M. p which caused the loss of a very
valuable life. There is fine lake in front of
the house, extending over lGany acres and in
parts of considerable depth.
1t affords in winter a splendid skating field,
and 1t had been completely frozen over by the
severe weather of last week. The family we're
assembled In the house to spend Christmas to-
gether, and in the afternoon large party were
enjoying themselves on the ice. Mr John
Walter the eldest son, who had just returned
from heightened tour, w9s skating with his
brothers, Arthur and Henry. Another bro
ther, Thomas, was pushing his cousin
Richard before him on chair. Mr.
Walter himself, with some of his
younger children, was upon another portion OF
the lake. On a sudden an alarm was raised,
and on looking round nothing could be seen of
Thomas and his cousin but their heads. They
bad fallen into the water at one of the deepest
parts of the lake, where the waterfowl had
kept the water open as long rs possible, and
where the ice consequently was weakest. Mr.
John Walter and his two brothers skaLed as
rapidly as possible othe spot aud found Thomas
clingiDg to the broken ice with one hand, and
supporting his cousin with his disengaged arm.
Mr., john Walter instantly threw himself on
his face upon the ice, and stretched out his arm,
but he had scarcely reached his brothers hand
too, was immersed. On seeing this Henry
promptly followed his brothers example, aud
stretched himself along tile ice to rescue his
two brothers and his cousin. But just as his
elder brother had grasped his hand, the
ice gave way under him also, and four
of them were thus in the water together.
Both Mr.. John Walter and his brother
Henry were excellent swimmers, and had per-
feet confidence in themselves; but their position
was evidently perilous. Meanwhile Arthur, with
great presence of mind, had skated as fast as he
could towards the home farm, calling out as he
went for assistance and for rope. Happily his
cries were heard, and rope was at hand. 1t was
brought to the spot, but too late to save very
precious life. Mr.. John Walter had disappeared.
His brothers said he sank almost Immediately
after HenTy's effort had failed. 1t is evident
he had suffered one of those seizures by which
the strongest and most experienced swimmers
are from time to time oyerpowered. Such
seizures are generally ascribed to cram, but
they are probably due to some sudden determi-
nation Of the blood to the head, and In the pre-
sent instance this was rendered the more pro-
bable by the extreme cold of the water.
haused, and Thomas, who was the
longest immersed, says he believes he
was only kept from sinking by the sense that
his cousin was depending on him. The rope,
however, was in time to save the other lives
which were thus imperilled. The weaker ice
had been broken away aud it was possible to
approach the edge of the water. Thomas and
his cousin were rescued by means of the rope,
and Henry was extrieated by boatman. Mr..
John Walter seems never to have risen to the
surface after he first disappeared, and his body
was only recovered after four hours search.
1t is one of those dispensatlons of Providence
of which we can see nothing but the mystery,
and which 1t needs the strongest faith to sup
port with resignation. For private alamity
it is hard to conceive greater.