The sun., 1890-08-23
TAKEN I'LL IN THE SURF.
AQUEDUCT COMMISSIONER HoHB
DROWNED At NEWPORT


peared-HIs wIto'- Efforts 10 Savo Hia
PROF Arassiz RecOvers tho BODY.
NEwpoRT Aug 22.-on Beacon Hill road
here Ia handsome stone house built In .
manner that gives 1t almost the appearance OF
having been hewn out OF rock. This morning
the occupants OF the villa were rejoicod over
the weekly return from New York OF tho owner.
Walter Howe, the lawyer and member OF the
Board OF Aqueduct Commissioners, who has
been a summer resident here for Reven or
eight yenrs. Tonight the house is ono OF
mourning in consequence Of the death OF Mr..
Howe by drowning
1t has been Mr.. Howes habit to 90 to New
York early each week. and return to apeud Fri
day and Saturday with his family He arrived
last night, and this morning at breakfast II
was proposed that a family party be made up
for q dip In the sea. Tho two sons OF Mr..
Howe went with their father first about the
grounds OF their homo, and then for a walk,
returning finally for Mrs. Howe who had
promised to be ready TO accompany them to
Bateman's Beach. Batena ans Beach is pretily
situated on the ocean drive. and it's privileges
belong to the Bateman House estate. and arc
hired by people owning houses In that
vicinity. Among those who. hired tho right
OF bathing and OF maintaining bathing
houses was Mr.. Howe, Prof Alexander ACassiz,
and several others. The beach is not consid.
cred an especially dangerous orc for bathing.
There Is not so much undertow rs at Bailoy's
beach at the other end Of the road There
was, however, a considerable sea on to-day In
consequence Of strong southeast wind. AZ
the party. comprising Mr.. md Mrs. Howe and
their two sons went toward the Beach they
were in very happy frame OF mind. and made
up their social programme for tonight and to-
morrow. Mr.. Howe, his wife. and one son went
into the water Mr.. Howe was good swim
mer. aud seemed to enjoy the dip immensely.
He had mot before. during the morning or last
night, expressed any concern regarding his
health, but It Is now believed that he lost his
life In consequence OF an attack OF heart
disease
1t was little after II o'clock when the family
went into tho water, and in ten or fifteen min.
utes Mrs. Howe heard a sharp cry from her
husband. The cry sounded II It had been
caused by pain rather than by consciousness
OF danger, and this fact Is one Of the details
which appear to justify the belief that heart
trouble was the primary cause OF death. Di-
rectly Mrs. Howe heard the cry she ran for o
rope which lay on the beach. Having secured
it. she threw 1t out toward her husband, but he
appeared to be unable to use 1t. Then Mrs.
Howe got life preserver and carried it out
into the surf. Her husband contrived to get
Howe began to pull in the rope when the un-
fortunate man slipped out OF Il o life preserver
and sank.
Mrs. Howo retained her self possession. and
with her son ran for aid which was not long in
arriving. The first to come was the stable
man in the employ OF Prof. AEassiz He went
Into the water and tried 10 find the body Not
long afterward Prof. Agassiz arrived divested
himself of his clothing and jumped in to aid in
the effort to recover tho body. Tho search was
continued for twenty minutes. when the body
was found. by this time Max hgassiz a son
OF the Professor. had arrived. and he sprang 10
and assisted In bringing the body ashore.
Then for the first time Mrs. Howe broke down
Drs. Turner md Mackay. who were quickly
but Mr.. Howe was dead. DR.. Turner Thought
there had been n slight attack of apoplexy,
iheodore IT. DAVIS Of Now Now York. XIV whose 9H c'ac.
man WAS dr0wned at the same spot two weeks
were removed to the Howe villa. No arrange
ments have rs yet been made for the funeral.
Mr.; howe was very popular here. and his
Mr.. Hoge was ABOUT As years old, He was
still living at an advanced age lie was edu-
Gated at Columbia College and before adopt
E bvs Rhen the Ta
of the Ocean National Bank. lie attracted the
atte9ton OF lawyers while yet student by the
excellence OF an essay that he wrote IN one OF
the competitions for the prizes offered by the
state Bar Association. He took a very active
enough to vote. and early won the esteem of
the local leaders OF tho Republican party. with
which he was always allied. He possessed tho
ability to debate political issues in an attractive
way. and made himself prominent & in the, the Eley-
n dT M S ~ ne bS 5Sob up ms tn
advocacy OF radical reform measures.
Mr.. Howe was admitted to the Union League
lttl Ia md Int hnn I'M AAN-
retary OF the club. being reelected to the Office
again in 1881 He was member OF the 3, Assem-
district and with Theodore Roosevelt. becameA
leader OF the reform wing OF the heDublica9s.
too H hat Mts recommendsd the e law sbeshDG con-
tract labor in the state prisons. He was sue
Seeded P the Assembly by oeert ss Ray Ham
feated by William O., Traphagen. lie never
again sought political honors or leadership
ofWilllam NJ. Evarts for United States Sena-
tor and made the speech nominating Mr..
Evarts in 1.-THE caucus that selected him as u
Mr., Howe was doeply Interested IN tho
S cRurch H soeoty
by that body to tho LeGislaure. He also fa-
member and debator in the eCommonwoathClub
lie wa; Chairman oi the ExecHtdiye C9mmtttee
Eeo6ssS oG;sS as9 "H%SSR 70 he Esrsg We 6ab
n member OF tho New York Worlds Fair Com
mittee; He was very fond OF traye and bad
been all over this country and Europe. He
liked gardening too, and was an adopt at
the English system. He wrote book on land
scHpe gardening.
Mr.. Howe was married about, sixteen years
ago to Miss Mary A. B Robins the daughter Of
leaves t~o sons The news Of Mr.. .Howe's
death WAS shock TO his friends in this city.
lie was In perfect health when he went 10 his
summor home in Newport, A telegram from
Theodore Davis first brought accurate news OF
the accident. Members OF the Union League
Club spoke Of the accident last night way
that showed their grief at MI Howe,s undpS-
ly fate. William Dowd. Surveyor Lyon. Col-
lector Erharit. and other prominent members
spoke in praise OF Mr. Howe with affection and
respect,