The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-10-09

I'm His Mothers Arms Two Hours
After William Had Reported Him
Drowned.
New Haven Correspondence of the New York
sum-
Edward Bromham, a young man of 20,
living in this city, has made an extraordin-
airy charge against his older brother, Will
liam, aged %. According to Edwards story,
he and his brother were slowly gliding in
small sail boat over the waters of the sound
five miles from this city, a few days ago.
William, who sat at the helm, is slender,
smooth faced youth with a small, glittering
dark eye, and looks to be the clerk that he
is. Eddie, though younger, is heavy built,
broad shouldered and muscular. He re-
sembles his brother in features, but q casual
observer would pronounce him handsomer
and more manly. He said he had Just
reefed the sail and had taken his seat near
the stern of the boat when William sudden
ly cried out, Hello, see that shark See
him! There he isr' Eddie turned his head
in the direction his brother pointed. Hard
ly was his back turned toward his brother
before be felt violent shove, and before he
could recover his balance he went overheard
and under the water. He was an expert
swimmer, and on coming to the surface he
struck out Justify, thinking his brother
would pick him up He saw William at the
helm, grinning fiendishly.
Swim toward the boat and I'll pick you
up" william shouted.
Eddie did as he was hidden. As he neared
the boat William veered off toward the open
water of the sound. He was near enough to
fling his brother an oar or rope, but he
held the helm and did not lift finger. For
nearly an hour, as 1t seemed TO Eddie be
was led about, now toward shore and then
into the sound by his brothers deluslve
promises of aid. AT length, to his horror,
he saw William veer about and bear steadily
toward the harbor. The boat was soon lost
in the darkness, and Eddie was alone, five
miles from land. A sense of his situation
came over him, and he determined to make
a strong fight for life, although, as he says,
he had little hope of reaching shore. He
bad been swimming. treading water and
floating until he was exhausted, and
he determined to divest himself of
his clothing. One by one the garments
were stripped of, as the bold swimmer
struggled with the waves. The greatest
difficulty was experienced with his high
buttoned CATERS; but after repeated efforts
be got them off He alternately swan and
hoated. His objective point was faint light
away down the shore, and slowly and pain
fully he made toward that beacon. Suddenly
he came upon a reef, and as he was at that
time swimming as vigorously as he knew
how, he was somewhat stunned by the force
with which he ran against sharp, Jagged
rock. His limbs were lacerated and some
what bruised, but that rect was probably the
means of saving his life, for, thinking. he was
near shore, he clambered up the rocks In
doing so he cut his feet badly, but the pain
from the wounds which were smarting from
the salt water, was hardly noticed, for he was
filled with the hope that release from a
horrible death was at hand. Rising from the
water, he stood on the rock and obtained the
rest he so sadly needed. After short breath
ing spell Eddie again struck out for the
shore A dim LIGHT he mad Q1Uhtad bod
out, but he knew the direction, and was soon
In shallow water He waded ashore, and
found himself at the house of Den Mans
field. Food and clothing were furnished
him, and Mansfield took him home in car.
riage.
In the meantime William Bromham had
sailed home. He paid 'Chappy" White for
the use of the Avenger, the sail boat they
had hired, and walked to his home on Whal
ley avenue. He passed the residence of his
mother in Olive street. but did not stop
Reaching home, he told his young wife that
Eddie had fallen overheard and was drown
ed. After eating hearty supper, William
and his wife drove over to Eddle's mothers,
and William told her how Eddie fell out of
the boat and was drowned. After few
words of coincidence William went home,
leaving his mother almost bereft of reason
over the death of her youngest and favorite
son. Two hours later Eddie, pale and ex-
hausted, and dressed In ill-ftting clothes,
opened the door, and was in his mothers
arms. His mother could not credit his state
ment that William had pushed him over
board, but he told the story with so much
circumstance and detail that there could be
no doubt that such was the case. Every
effort was made by the family to keep the
affair a secret, but Eddie told the story on
first coming ashore, and it has gained gen.
eral currency. He said last evening that
har yrar min 1ata tie IL IL
been inaccurately repeated, but he did not
care TO correct them.
Mrs. Bromham is almost frantic with grief
over the affair. She says that William is
not responsible for his acts, and that he has
always been partially deranged. By his EN-.
ployers, Brockett & futile, carriage makers,
William is regarded as a remarkably bright
and shrewd nan-"too smart" one OF the
firm says, TO bungle job like that"
William made the following statement to
a friend 20 day: "Well, my brother fell
overheard. l was not sitting near him and
did not push him. That is all Imagination
on his pert. l said nothing about seeing a
shark after he had fallen overheard. 1 put
the boat about and did everything / could
to save him, but you know it is not a very
easy thing to pick up man, especially
when he doesn't try to help you. L told
him to swim toward the boat, but he did not
seem to do SO. Finally, after going around
him several times, it was getting dark, and
L was afraid the boat would not stand up
against the wind, and turned around and
went home. l sailed up with the wind as
fast as the boat could go, and was wet and
the boat was wet when 1 got to Whites.
You remember turning to his wife) that l
was somewhat wet after getting home. l
drove down to my mothers and told her
about it, and said believed Eddie would
swim ashore. 1t was not more than a mile
to land, and l don't believe he was in the
water more than two hours. 1 got to
Whites at about a quarter to z. am
surprised that Eddie feels so about the mat
ter, and think he will change his mind
about it."
When questioned further tonight William
was reticent. at was ali mistake between
Eddie and me-" he said. 81 don't want to
say anything more. The newspapers can
publish what they want about me"
When Eddie first came ashore from his
long swim, he expressed his belief that his
brother had attempted his lite. He said
that one night some time ago be woke up
nearly sti6ed, and found that some one had
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