The daily gazette., 1878-10-01
FIFTH EDITION.
A ThrilBing Adventure.

no OMTHAM-THROWN OVERBOARI
TO DROWN IN THE SOUND BY Hi
ELDER BROTHER-A FIVE MILES
SWIM AND THREE HOURS STRUGGLE
FOR LIFE.
New HAVEN, Sept. 27.-At about
o'clock on Thursday night, Sept. II, al
almost exhausted swimmer touched will
his hands Indian Reef, a spur Of Black
Rock in front of the grove and shore Of
ID. L. Mansfield, In the town Of East
Haven, about six miles from here by the
road. Resting little, he plunged in
again, and crossed the mouth of the creek
known as East Haven River, and then he
stock on the mainland, which he recog-
nized.
A little walk brought HIM to Mr.. Mans
fields stable, and there he stood naked
while Mr.. Mansfield was reused from his
bed to come and see him and the Old
Shore House keeper will probably always
remember the handsome young man
whose naked, finely-built figure met his
eyes that night when he opened the stable
door. The strange story which the
swimmer told TO Mr.. Mansfield, after
clothes had been put on him and he had
taken cup of hot tea, was as follows
"My name is Edward Bromham. |
live in New Haven, and am not quite of
age. THIS afternoon, at o'clock, my
only brother-Willlam W. Bromham-
and myself hired sail-boat at Whites
Dock and went down the harbor. We
passed out of 1t into the Sound; and were
mile or two beyond the new lighthouse
when my brother asked me TO sit in the
stern on the edge of the boat, saying it
would sail better. As soon as | had
seated myself there he came behind me
and said, 'Ain't that shark out therem
and as turned to look where he point
he pushed me overheard. AT first when in
the water, thought it must have been
an accident, but soon changed my
mind. | asked him to help me, and
he put the boat about, but did not
try to get at me. He told me to
swim toward the boat, and when l got
near he would change her course and 90
away from Inc, as II he wanted to lead
Inc out into the Sound. He wouldn't
throw me an oar or rope.
In this way he kept me in the water
for a long. time, and some of the time
laughed at me and asked me If I was
ured. When 1t began to get dark he
started for home, leaving me in the water
TOUR or five miles out. Before he started
| had gwen up all hope Of help from him,
and had started for the shore. In fact,
had been afraid he would strike me with
an oar II should get near the bo At. am
good swimmer, but ! had hard time
getting my clothes off and preparing for
a long, hard struggle TOR life. MY but
toned CATERS grave me most trouble, and
1 must have gone down five or six times
in getting them off. l laid my course for
the Old Lighthouse ON the shore, but
soon 1t became dark and l lost my bear
lngs | kept on, floating at times to rest
myself, but did not know where l was
until / touched your reef, aim pst ready to
drown. i had been in Il q water three
hours, aud had come three or four or five
miles 10 eastward.
81 firmly b. lieve that my brother meant
to dro wn me. My father has been dead
many years, and my mother has married
again. My brother and myself inherited
two-thirds OF his property. If who am
unmarried, die without issue, my share
goes to him. He is married has one child
and Is two years older than | am. His
action In the boat explains another cir
cumstance hitherto mysterious to me-
Some time ago l lived in his house. /
am always very careful to turn out nv
gas before going ID bed, but one night
while IN that house | awoke and smei1ed
gas. was very drowsy, but soon, when
my head felt oppressed, with an effort
left the bed staggered to the window
and had just strength enough to open it.
The fresh air revived nae, and | looked
at my gas-burner, Some one n my sleep
had turned the gas full on, and the room
was full of 1t. l shall complain to my
guardian, Hon. C. B. Bowers"
Mr.. Mansfield took him bone that
night to his mothers house. His brother
had told her of Edwards probable death,
and when Edward began TO condemn
William to her, she restrained him, say
ing that William had assured her that he
had done all in his power to save him,
but In vain. But Edward holds to the be.
lief which he communicated to Mr..
Mansfield that night, and has told the
same story TO several persous. He saws
his brother did not know of his rescue
unul the next morning, when he was
told as he was starting for the shore with
the intention of looking for Edwards
body. and that he went homo that even
ing and told no one of the accident ex-
cept his mother.
William says that Edward fell over
board by accident, and that he was not
near him at the time, and did not saw
anything about shark; that he
dld all he could to save him and
after going around him several times
he went home, as it was getting dark,
and he feared his boat would not stand
up against the wind
He got TO the dock as early as 6.45, He
is surprised that Edward feels so. and
says he thinks he will change his mind
after elaboration. He also denies that
his feelings toward Edward have ever
! been other than friendly.
Mr.. Mansfield was out fishing that af-
ternoon, and says the sea was smooth
| and the weather pleasant. He considers
1t almost miraculous, however, that in
the dark Edward swan to the shore that
night. Edward has had no business
| His brother is a bookeeper. Their
father was for several years member of
the firm of Booth & Broomham, dealers
in paints and oils, in State street. Their
SUCCESSORS, Booth & Laware, are now
in Water street. Mr.. Bromham left
about S1OO, 900 worth of properly, mostly
in real estate, but Edwards share is not
thought to be now worth more than from
$1,000 to $4,000.
Our Heavy Trade Balance.