New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-07-09
A MILLIONAIRE DROWNED,
HERBERT A. PEARSONS LOSES HIS LIFE
WHILE SWIMMING.
SOON AFTER HEARTY DNNER-HE SINKS
TO THE BOTTOM ALMOST WITHIN REACH
OF ROPE-A TALK WITH HIS
COMPANION.

Chicago, July S.-Ierbert A. Pearsons. millionaire
member Of the Calumet Club, drowned while in
bathing at the foot Of Thirty hrstst at 10 o'clock
last night Mr.. Pcarsons had hired a yacht and had
invited Miss Emily Lytton. of a theatrical company
nov playing in this city. to take sail Mr.. Pearsons
was extremely fond of swimming, and had promised
TO teach Miss Lytton the accomplishment. After
cruising about for several hours they to anchor
ABOUT 300 yards off shore. Tho boatman in
stl1cted TO lind out whether there was any shallow
water in which Miss Lytton might safely take first
lesson. lie launched the yawl and pulled toward
shore. while Mr. Pearsons who had his bathing
suit In the cabin, took header of the yachts side.
The boatman had only pulled few hundred feet
away when he heard cry for help and Mr..
Pearsons sinking He did not rise again and long
but vain search made for his body Miss LyttOn
threw rope to the swimmer but It fell short and
he did not have strength enough to reach It.
Mr. PearsOns was about forty-fve wears old and
unmarried. He to this city year ago from
Bonanza City, Custer County, Idaho, where he
an extensive mincOwner. lie a cousin Of Mrs.
George NJ. Pullman and was well known In society
and club circles of this city.
Miss Lytton who plays Dearest" in Little Lord
faunuefoy," was seen at her apartments in the
Argyle Flats this morning. She was resting at the
time, and could talk about the occurrence only with
the greatest difficulty, and almost hystcrical as
She related the details of the fatal trip. She said
dinner with Mr. Pearsons Sunday night. When
he came to take me to dinner l told him thought
would go hear EnOch Arden,0 but he said he had
already made arrangements TO take sail, and teach
me to swim. We ate quite dinner, and Immediately
went 10 tho lake. took the boat and sailed up to
Thirty -frst-st. Here anchored, and Mr.. Pearsons
went into the cabin and put on his swimming suit
and shortly afterward put mine on. He plunged INTO
the lake and swan Off and called me 10 follow.
started TO go In, but the water was
so cold that gave It up and stayed in the boat. Mr.
Pearsons had gone but short distance when no turned
back and called for a rope. thought he was joking,
but the boatman threw the rope, which was still in
the water and in easy reach of him. when suddenly
he sank as though his feet had been weighted with
lead thought he was diving under the boat and
went TO the other side TO see him come up but he
never appeared again. l waited about five minutes
and then called 10 the captain who sounding near
the Shore and he came back to the boat After
very short timc the captain, the boatman and myself
took the yawl and rowed around for an hour trying
TO get some traoe Of the body but IL in vain and
we came back. II dreadful TO have him drown
right In reach of me. but don't feel that | am 10
blame at all We did throw him rope. He could
have reached It, I think going into the lake so soon
so suddenly that Mr. Pearsons had no time TO grasp
the rope reach my hand" -
The body of Mr.. PearsOnS was, taken from tue
lake about . o'clock this afternoon, and carried 20
JordaC's undertaking establishment where the inquest
will be held tomorrow morning at 10 O'Clock