Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-08-20
SWEPT OUT TO SEA.
Another Drowning in the
Long Beach Breakers.
A DIMINUTIvE SENSATION.
Little Charlie Taylor Found Asleep
on the Doorstep of the First
Baptist Church

Long Beach seems to be singularly ill.,
fated for bathing purposes, for another
victim vas added yesterday to the list of
drowning catastrophes at the place.
Among the many persons who were en-
joying a day by the sea was Elmer Al
ford, of Olive Heights, recent arrival
in the State from Kansas. Accompanied
by his cousin he went to Long Beach on
the morning train to visit his uncle, Mr..
A. B. Howard. liveryman of that
burgh, and with that gentleman's
son Freddy, the pleasure-seekers
proceeded for stroll along
the sands. Although the breakers were
running very high, the temptation to take
a dip in the refreshing waves had proved
TOO strong for great many and by 2
O'Clock in the afternoon quite number
of people had donned bathing suits and
were disporting themselves in the water.
Afford, who has been working on a ranch
near Anaheim, was fine swimmer and
ne therefore announced his intention of
Joining the bathers, and accompanied by
his cousin Freddy he was soon enjoying
plunge in the surf. The recent drown
ing of Miss Schaffer was fresh in the
minds OF those who were in the water
and they took good care not to
proceed very far from the shore in case
the undertow should prove too strong for
them. Afford, however, had no such
fears and he swan boldly out beyond
the buoy which is placed $50 feet out
from the high water mark in front of the
hotel. Quite number of people were
watching his natatorial exploits as he
was the only one who had ventured out
into deep water, and after time they
saw him turn and make for the shore.
At first he swan strongly and we'll and
then it became evident that he was in
difficulty and was gradually succumb-
ing to the undertow The alarm
was at once given and a scene of
CONSERVATION followed. Women with
blanched faces looked around hoping
that some means of rescue for the drown
ing man would appear, but the SWIM
mers present were afraid to venture out,
for in addition to the battle with the
uhdertow they would have to ward off
the clutches of dying man, and proba-
Oily other lives would only be sacrificed.
A cry for the lifeboat went up and soon
1t appeared accompanied by its crew,
who proceeded to launch it. The break
ers, however, were too heavy and the
craft capsized time and again and
when it was foated and pulled
out from shore all was over. The drown
ing man had been seen by few as he
was carried far out to sea. and 1t was
evident that he was completely exhausted
and could swim no more. No trace of
him could be found, and the search was
soon abandoned. AS can be imagined.
the water was soon vacated by the other
swimmers, and there will doubtless be
many who will never bathe there again,
In spite of the fact that the beach is =
fine one, it must also be admitted that
it is scarcely adapted for bathing pur-
poses, as the undertow is remarkably
strong. This makes the third fatality at
that place within the past twelve months,
all of which have occurred on Sunday
afternoons in front of the hotel, and in
the presence of hundreds of spectators.
Afford was % years of age, and is said
to be unmarried. Up to late hour last
night his body had not been found.