Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-08-13
BITHERS IN PERIL.


An Exciting Rescue i'm which n
WiIminStOnian Helps.
A special TO the Philadelphia Times
from Atlantic City dated yesterday week
says
The most sensational rescue ever made
in Atlantic City occurred to-day during
the bathing hour, about u o'clock The
Misses Hance, three daughters of II. A.
Hance, the manufacturing chemist of
Philadelphia, who has n cottage here on
Rhode Island avenne, We're in bathing
with some friends ut the foot of Massa-
ehusetts avenue, near the site of the iron
pier. Being experienced swimmers, they
ventured out into deep water and were
carried further out by the tide, which is
somewhat treacherous at this point on
account of the inlet current. Walter
o. Hoffecker of Smyrna, Del, seeing
their helpless condition, went TO their
rescue and did all he could to keep
them afoat. A. A. Moore of the Phoenix
Bridge Company, and w. O. Sherman, one
of the sub-contractors, We're standing ON
the pier talking when Mr.. Moore saw the
young ladies struggling in the water. He
at once pulled off his cont, threw ii heavy
plank into the water and fioated it to the
struggling ladies and assisted Mr.. Hof-
upon the plank, but he found the task so
arduous that he became exhausted. Mr..
Hoffman had already sank and was
drowning, when Mr.. Moore's son came to
his rescue, and before he had taken him
ashore was relieved by another gentle
man. He returned and found his father
in sinking condition and had much diff
Guilty in bringing him to the beach.
The young ladies in the meanwhile
were clinging to the plank. Those on
the beach had become frantic and dozen
of planks were floated to them, but on
account of the roughness of the surf it
was with difficulty that they were directed
to the spot. Young Moore became eX-
hausted and had to be brought ashore. A.
rope was secured and Charles Tindall
carried it out to the struggling ladies, who
had lost all consciousness and We're font
ing on the waves. James Heffy of the crew
of Rutter Brothers, ran half mile along
the beach and plunged at once into the
waves. He gathered the three drowning
ladies together and placed them on
several planks of which he formed an inn
| promptu raft. Mr.. Tindall tied the rope
around the planks and several hundred
willing hands laid hold of the rope and
pulled in the raft with its almost lifcless
| freight. shont of joy arose from the
Thousand that had gathered on the beach,
and the girls all bleeding at the nose and
mouth were laid on the beach. Two un-
known ladies who were in the water at
the time became frightened by the shriels
of those on shore, tainted in the water
and were fast being carried out
by the tide when rescued by
| Charles Tindall and another gentleman,
james Leroy, who attempted 10 swim ont
to the Hance sisters when in their most
perilous condition, became exhausted and
sank into the water and was rescued with
much difficulty. The Misses Hance are
now lying in precarious condition nj
their fathers cottage. A. A. Moore is
lying in delirious condition and suffer
ing with nervous prostration. One of the
most noticeable facts developed by the
excitement was that this, the most
dangerous part of the beach, is entirely
unprotected, there being no life-prcscrvcrs
or lines.