Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-03-06
A SAD ACCIDENT.
N. r. Vail Drowned at the
Salt Works
IN FULL SIGHT OF LAND.
Every Effort Made to Save Him
but without Avail-The Surf
Too Heavy.

Yesterday afternoon, shortly after
3 O'Clock, one of the saddest of acci-
dents occurred at Redondo Beach.
Mr.. Nathan R. Vail, one of the best
known citizens in Los Angeles, was
drowned while attempting to cross
the surf in a small boat. The surf
had been running very high along the
beach for the past four days, and un-
til yesterday no one had attempted to
cross. Shortly before the accident
Mr.. Vail had been down the beach
and had seen several fishermen cross
the surf in safety in their boats.
About o'clock he walked up to the
salt works, opposite which
vessel he desired to visit was
lying at anchor. He expressed de-
sire to cross the surf, but those in
charge of the works warned him that
it was unsafe, especially in such q
boat as he intended 1t was a fiat-bot-
tom skiff not fitted for crossing the
surf at any time, but Mr.. Vail insisted
ON making the attempt and accom-
panied by three sailors lightly attired
he started in the direction of the YES
sci. He was warmly clad and had a
very heavy overcoat wrapped closely
over his person. The boat success
fully passed three breakers and was
about 100 yards fro the shore when
very heavy wave broke over it and
filed it with water. Mr.. Vail and
two of the sailors were thrown into
the water, the third sailor keeping
hold of the boat which overturned.
AS he fell i nto the water, Mr.. Vail
siezed an oar and for short time was
noticed to struggle and then several
waves broke over him in succession.
As the last passed over he lay appar-
emily lifeless on the surface of the
water and from this time his body
was not lost to sight until he drifted
to the shore. The accident had been
witnessed from the shore and every
effort was made to reach him, but in
vain. Several men with lines attached
to their bodies endeavored to swim
out to him, but there was apparently
a bar over which the boat had swamp
ed, beyond which they were unable
to go. Whenever a swimmer reached
this point he was lifted up and
cast shorewards by the huge
breakers which still rolled in
Time and time again efforts were
made to reach him, and each was as
fruitless as the former although once
or twice at the earlier part of the
struggle it was thought that he was
heard to cry for help. Finally his
body was caught by a breaker and
thrown over the bar, and in few
seconds he was carried ashore, and
every known means tried to restore
his life. He was wrapped in blankets
and medical aid summoned, but to no
avail. 1t was not thought that he
was drowned, for he was not under
the water long enough at any one
time. The sudden shock, and the
knowledge that he was burdened with
an overcoat was thought to have par
alyzed him, and ewing to his age, to
have caused his death by suffocation.
His remains will be brought to the city
to-day, when an inquest will be held.
Mr.. Vail was 63 years of age at the
time of his death, and had been res
ident of Los Angeles since 1865. He
was part owner in large cattle range
near Benson, and was largely inter-
ested in the Total Wreck mine, in the
Harshaw district, near Pantano, Ar
izona. He was director of the Re-
dondo Beach Company, and was at
the Beach looking after the interests
of the company at the time of the
accident. He leaves wife, daughter
and three sons, to mourn his loss.
The three sailors reached the shore
in safety, owing to the lightness of
their garments, but they were unable
to aid Mr.. Vail.