The Portland daily press., 1883-08-25
A FATAL UNDERTow.
sad DrowninR Accident as Ogunquti-
Two Ladies and Two Gentlemen Lose
their Lives.

dent occurred at 0gunquit, about three mile
from Wells, yesterday afternoon. A large par
ty was bathing and several had separated from
the rest, They were told that the tide was ON
the ebb and that the undertow was likely to be
very strong but they did not heed the warning
Suddenly the whole Of them, four In number
were seen to throw up their hands and disap-
pear beneath the surface of the water. Many
people witnessed the terrible occurrence, ba'
although they at once hastened to the spot, Il
was proved to be impossible to render assist
ance. The names OF the drowned persons are;
Mr.. Greenough Thayer, North Cambridge,
Mass, Mr. Eddie Little. Washington, d. o.;
Miss Emma Gould, Andover, Msas Miss Katie
Stafford, Washington, ID. @. At an early hour
this morning, none of the bodies had been re,
covered, although search had continued al
night.
Further details of the accident show that a
party OF fifteen or twenty left Ball Head Cliff
house yesterday at o'clock a. M, and came
down to Ogunquit beach where they arrived
about II o'clock, and entered the surf to bathe.
The undertow and surf we're running strong
and heavy sea on. Although warned OF dan
ger in venturing too far nearly the whole party
were swept out by the undertwow, and four
were drowned. -Four others we're rescued IN .
critical condition but at last accounts were do
ing we'll The rest of the party reached the
shore In salty. Rev. Mr.. Little OF Washing
ton d. c., succeeded in rescuing his wife and
one child, but his son Eddie was drowned.
Another Account.
PORTSMOUTH, Aug. 24.--Complete details OF
fi.a aA IrOxu ,i.,n,a at Walls ~ uhfah
meagre and disiointed reports been sent are as
follows: The victims and their companions
who were saved belonged either to Washing
teon, ID. O., or Boston and vicinity, and were
guesas at the Bald Head Cliff House. IT miles
from this city, from which they starded at $50
yesterday morning for ogunquit Beach, 2 miles
distant. in barge which the hotel runs daily
for the accommodation OF bathers, as the shore
OF the cliff is rocky and ogunquit is level and
and sandy and possesses good surf. The
barge contained 10 persons, viz:-Miss Marsh
of ,ADdover, Mass, Mr.. Edward Gould,
a broker Of Boston, his daughter Emma and
his young son, DIR. Little, OF Washington,
clergyman, Mrs. Little, their sons Eddie, Ar
thur aud Norton, Greenough Thayer, aged 20
years, the eldest son of Prof. Thayer, OF Har-
ward College, and Harvard Sophomore Mrs.
Kittie Stafford, daughter OF Prof.. Stafford, OF
Andover, and gentleman from Boston, name
unknown, and one OF her party. They crossed
Aqunqait river in boat At the time the IA
tality occurred there were seven in the water
Miss Gould, Mr.. Thayer, Miss Stafford, Eddie
Little, Miss Marsh, and Mr.. and Mrs. Little.
A high sea was RAINING, the wind blew stiff
from the southwark and eastward, and the
surf tumbled IN high rolls to the delight OF the
bsthers. Mr.. aud Mrs. Little, Miss Gould
and Miss Stafford were hand in hand. In the
meantime the tide, which was young flood.
was sweeping the entire party into
pit of recent formation near the mouth OF the
river. 1t was now half past IL, and tide closed
making strong undertow a short distance
from the shore This the bathers did not real
ize.
The throng OF ladies were in high spirits aud
pushed toward the deepest water dragging
their companions. Mr.. Little became strang-
led, broke from the others and struck for the
Shore A wave swept his wife against him
and both were washed into shoal water Miss
Marsh was also washed ashore in an exhaust
cd condition, The other young ladies finding
themselves I'm great danger called for help,
Mr. Thayer aud Eddie Litt.e rushed TO their
assistance, and endeavored to drag them to
place of safety For while the struggle be-
tween the endurance Of four human beings and
the aud the angry ocean. They were thoroughly
self-possessed, but the young ladies we're fran
tic with fright, and thus contributed to their
own death and the death of their brave assist
ants. Sam Perkins. OF ogunqnit village, and
two fishermen heard their outcry and crossed
the river to where the batheFs were, and as
sisted Mr.. and Mrs. Little and Miss Marsh
ashore, neglecting the others, Perkins remark
ing, 'They are all right, THAR heads are above
water they can SWIM" When he looked
again the four had disappeared, and they were
seen no more. Miss Marsh and Mrs Little
were insensible, and were taken to physicians
office and were not resuscitated until o'clock
in the afternoon. Mrs. Little Is nearly recov-
cred, but Miss Marsh is still in precarious
condition None of the bodies have been re-
covered, and, in the opinion Of seafaring men,
will not be until the wind hsuls in shore.
Prof. Stafford arrived early this afternoon only
to learn OF the loss OF his daughter. Mrs.
Little herself rushed into the water TO save her
eldest son. 1t was reported to-day that Geo.
G.. Kimball OF the New York Associated Press
was among the lost. Mr.. Kimball was at the
Cliff House at the time of the accident and
proceeded to the scene and devoted the entire
night to caring for tho rescued and organizing
a force TO recover the bodies. The farmer,
fishermen and the entire neighborhood turned
out and watched with lanterns through the
night and to-day will continue to for a long
unless bodies are recovered. II recovered all
the bodies will be taken to Andover for burial.