Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-15
TWO DROWNED IN THE SURF.
r. X. Hurlbut OF Buffalo and Miss
Sullivan Of New York Die Together.

The first drowning accident this season At
Spring Lake, N. J., and the first that has hap
pended there for q number of years. occurred
yesterday. The unfortunate victims are Miss
Florence Sullivan, the tventy-two-year-old
daughter of Thomas Sullivan, a New York
merchant, and Frederick K. Hurlbut, a prcmi-
a wife and four-months' old son in that city
z. Fritsch OF New York. George E. Matthews
of Buffalo and Frank Brewer Of New York, who
were with the party in the surf at the same
time, narrowly escaped.
The accident occurred at the bathing grounds
in front of Hastings Square at noon. Hundreds
OF bathers were In the surf. A little out be-
yond the crowd and in about four feet of water
group OF five were breaking the incoming
wave. There was nothing particularly inter-
esting in the group and but little attention was
paid to them until from across the waters came
shrill shout for help. Attention was immedi-
atey attracted to the spot and two white arms
were seen to rise above the surf and then sink
from view. To the watchers on the beach it
seemed that brave efforts we're being made by
several in the surf to save the young girl who
had just gone down. Inside of two minutes
however, 1t was evident by the confusion in the
crowd that instead of saving the young woman
five persons were likely to drown. Ali had be-
come confusion, and the incoming pillows were
pounding the group Of five about numerically,
At the first shout for help Life Guard Benja-
min U. Jackson sprang for his life line, and
giving hasty directions about unwinding the
line, jumped in the surf The directions were
misunderstood and some excited individual
whose name could not be learned threw the box
and life line in the water after the life guard.
To get 1t back on shore was but the WORK of a
minute, and jackson again swan toward the
drowning bathers 1t took but o few short
strokes to reach MIR. Fritsch who was brought
to the beach in thoroughly exhausted condi-
ton. While this was happening inexperienced
hands had manned the life boat. and as they
launched it in the surf heavy wave came roll
ing IN and threw the boat and its occupants
back on the beach. Life Guard Jackson then
assumed control and the boat was launched
safely and quickly rowed to the struggling vic
Tins In the surf. Hurlbut. who was floating i'll
lfeless condition on the surface, was next
rescued, and life preservers were thrown from
the boat to Matthews and Brewer, who seemed
III fair way to reach the beach withou, assist
ance. Meanwhile the body of Miss Sullivan
had foated off shore with the current and her
bathing skirts could be seen floating on the
surface. Life Guard Jackson had no sooner
landed the body of Hurlbut than he again
sprang into the surf and brought the body of
Miss Sullivan to the beach.
DIR. b. Merrill Hopkinson of Baltimore, who
was on the spot when the accident occurred,
Immediately gave his attention to Mr.. Hurlbut.
Drs. Kirkbrid and Hewson Of Philadelphia and
DR.. Miller of Cincinnati were also present,
and every effort was made to resuscitate Mr..
Huribut and Miss Sullivan. They were rolled
until stout arms ached, and artificial respiration
and hypodermic injections were used, but
without avail Life WAS already extinct. The
others. although thoroughly exhausted. were
soon resuscitated and are now doing well. DIR.
Hopkinson believes that Mr.. Hurlbut's death
was wholly due to heart failure as there Was
but little water in the body.