Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-09-23
VIOLENT DEATHS,
Arthur Fl. Ferg uson is
Drowned at RedOndo.
FUTILE EFFORTS TO SAVE HIM.
Inquest on the Body of Miguel
LeOnis-Verdict of Acct
dental Death.

Yesterday afternoon about 8 o'clock,
youth named Arthur Herbert Fereu-
son was accidentally drowned in the surf
at Redondo Beach under most Distress
ing circumstances. Accompanied by his
father, well-kDown hardware merchant
OF this city, young Ferguson went down
by rail to the beach on the morning train,
and after dinner he announced his in
tention of going into the water for q
swim. AS he had not been in good
health for the past few days his father
attempted to dissusde him from doing
80, on the plea that it was too soon after
having partaken of meal. The youth ;.
who was % years of age, insisted, how
ever, and as his father knew him to be
strong swimmer ,sae strolled along to
the pier while his son went over to the
bath house. Mr.. Fsrguson's attention
was diverted from his son at this
time by the arrival of the
steamer Eureka, and while watching her
bring up at the end of the wharf the
youth swan out to raft moored some
distance from the shore. He climbed
upon it, and, when sufficiently rested,
entered the water with stranger for the
purpose of swimming back to the shore.
After few strokes, however, he was
apparently seized with cramps and he
shouted for help. A stonecutter named
j. Q. Murray, who in company with four
friends was in the water, heard Fergu-
sons cries and swan out to his assistance.
Learning that Ferguson's strength was
expended, Murray told him that if he
would act under his instructions be would
do all he could to save him, and, seizing
the drowning mans right hand, started
to tow him ashore. Murray, finding
himself gradually growing weaker,
shouted for help, and requested q man
who was swimming close by to the left of
the drowning man to give him hand.
The stranger, however, shook his head,
and just at that moment young Fergu-
son tore his hand loose and seized Murray
by the shoulder. Both went under to-
gether twice, but Murray managed to
break loose from the clutch of the
drowning man, and, as they were within
forty feet of the shore, managed to reach
the beach before becoming ex-
hausted. In the meantime young
Ferguson disappeared, and, after re-
naming out of sight some eight or
ten minutes, his body was seen on the
crest of a wave, and several of the
bathers ran out and dragged the body
ashore. He was quite dead, but barrel
was procured, and everything possible
done to resuscitate him, unfortunately
without avail. The unenviable task Of
breaking the news to Mr.. Ferguson was
intrusted to Mr.. Shaw, who found him
upon the wharf entirely unconscious of
the scene which had Just been enacted
behind him. The body was brought up
to this city and taken to the under.
taking parlors Of Orr & Sutch, where an
inquest was held laet evening by Coro-
ner Meredith, the jury returning YER
dict in accordance with the facts. The
deceased was employed as a traveller by
q Chicago mercantile house and was
much respected by a large circle of
friends and acquaintances.
At the inquest Mr.. T. H. Ward, the
Secretary Of the Board of Trade, who was
among the spectators, inquired whether
there were any ropes or other life.saving
apparatus at the bath-house in readiness
for such an emergency, and on learning
that no such appliances were on hand,
suggested that corporations who were
paid by the public for the privilege of
being drowned in front of their bath
houses should be required to furnish the
same. Murray, the man who attempted
to save the deceased, asserted that had
those on shore rendered him any assist
ance he could have rescued young Fer
gusen, but, as it was, he was absolutely
obliged to tear himself loose in order to
save his own life,