The New York herald., 1874-08-16
DROWNING AT CoNEY ISLAND.
A Policeman and . Young Indy
Drowned esterday-Inadequate NE n ms
OF Rescue.

"A Police man and Young Indy
Drowned Yesterday-Inadequate Mea ns
OF Rescue.
Yesterday afternoon the rush TO Gomez Island
was not so large usual, yet the beach exhibited
20 the gaze quite large number OF bathers. In
ffont OF the Railroad House about dozen per-
sons-men, women ana children-were IN the
water. About four O'Clock the cry came up from
the beach that a man and woman were drowning.
The confusion among the nundred or so people in
and about the bathing house saloon was OF course,
great. Nobody seemed to know what 20 90.
No boat no lines, swimmers were TO be
seen TWO or three men rushed down ~ TIE
ter, stripping of their clothes as though they
we're gong 70 do something, but nothing was
done. Ia the meantime the man ana woman were
struggling IN the water, having gone down once
Or twice and come up 10 the surface. gentle-
man VINO was in the water at the time, and who
being an amateur swimmer, saved himself, gives
the following partculars:-
al took a bathing SUIT about hafpast three
O'Clock and went into the water. Taxing the
safety line In my hand, went out to It's extreme
mv waist About ier,y 'ie iee, ony Seyonap up ,de 10
] noticed four persons, two men aud two
women, piayfuuy enjoying themselves In the
water. II being then about half tide / tnouphS
there was no danger In going out urtner, and
swan out TO their vicinity. Pretty soon found
coming in Driskly, and swam toward the beach
soon / tried to touch the bottom. and found was
ostA 10 deep water. | became excited, and found
i did not get in as fast as expected; something
dragged me out. then changed my course east
ward, and after few moments struck the beach
and found could stand but was completely ex-
hsusted. mad stood Dut q moment when
heard cry for nep. One gentleman and Lady had
rot in upon the sand where they conld stand and
were appealing for help Tor the Others. stretched
nv eve eeaward and saw the other two had gone
under. MY first Impulse was to 60 10 their rescue,
but, being completely exhausted. was afraid to
x,sk It, supposed, too, there must be some fAcili
ties shore for saving drowning people. So
cried to the extreme limit OF nv voice for a rope
boat. None came The people on shore, in
paralyzed Hooked seaward again and saw the head
Of the man appear ABOVE water and disappear, and
at tDat moment noticed q boat putting out from
the shore at tue bathing house westward OF the
Railroad Uouse-but IL was too late. Alter fruif-
Less search OF ten fifteen min utes they gave 1t
mp. On making Inquiries | found that compare
lively no preparations are made At Coney Island
tat least 30 far as the Railroad HOuse Is concerned)
for the rescue Of persons from drowning. Thou
Influences OF salt water bathing and no precaution
II taken for Their safety not even the information
that q little to the westward OF the safety line of
the Railroad House the beach falls OF abruptly.
and bathers Will find themselves beyond their
depth before they are aware OF It. This Iact have
learned from my own experience and risk.r
Edward McGrath, policeman or the sixth pre-
cinct IN this city, was the gentleman drowned and
tbe lady who accompanied him Miss Mcclure.
aged about TWENTY-FIVE years. who has connections
In this city, and was said to be young lady OF
considerable accomplishment Mr. McGrath conld
swim, but lost hts lie In mis- efforts to save Miss
Mcclure.