The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-07-06
Persisted IN THE SURF.
JOHN MCLOSKEY DROWNED AT
TYBEB WHILE BAT5ING.

Tbs Body Recovered AID Efforts
Made to Resusc.tats It-A Elunge in
the Water While IN aea.ed Con
dition Supposed to Rave taused
McCloskey's Desth-Tae Body Taken
From the surf in the Pres snce of
the Drowned Mans Wife and Chill
drer.
John McCloskey, a contractor was
drowned in tue surf at Tybee yesterday
afternoon.
McClcskey. accompanied by bis wife and
three children. went down 10 the island on
the 2:30 O'clock train. Shortly after Nc
Closkey went into the surf in front Of
Lanes Beach house Over 100 PEOPLE were
in the surf at the time He went out beyond
the others. and the people, supposing be was
sswimmer, pa d no attention to him.
Just when McCloskey was drowned no
one seems to know. He was seen drifting
along with the tide, one moment with bis
head above water and the next his back.
The body had reached opposite MAYORS
house before any one seemed to realize that
anything wes wrong. Some one on the
beach, noticing that the man was notion
less, called to a group of bathers that he was
drowning. In a moment everything
was in state Of excitement
Policeman Kelly, threw off his
coat and dashed into the water. James
Naylor and John E. Bowling followed with
out removing their clothing. Three men
put out in b1at without oars. and the
bathers all star ed toword McCloskey. John
Utzinger was the first to reach him.
RECOVERED FROM TIE WATER.
The body was too heavy for him to lift,
and be had to await assistance, which came
in few minutes. McCloskey was taken out
of the water and placed On the beach. DR..
Schley and DR.. Battey Of Augusta, GU
deavored to resuscitate him. Stmulauts
were hypodermically injected aud half a
dozen man rolled the man to get the water
out of his stomach. His arms were
worked backward and forward,
and warm water was poured
over his extremities but it was to no pur-
pose. Drs SchIey and Battey considered
McCloskey a dead man when he was
brought out Of the water, but they did
everything known TO medical science to
resuscitats him. Their efforts Ia this d.
rection were KEEP up for an hour and a
half, and the workers DOLLY gave up their
task when the body began TO grow stiff.
HUSBAND AND FATHER GONE.
The anguish Of the wife, with her three
fatherleSs children grouped around her,
was pitiable While efforts were being
made to resusciUate her husband she con-
tinually appealed to the physicians, with
tears streaming from her eyes, to know If
there was any hope. he doctors told
her there might be a possible chance, and
she bore up bravely for awhile Friends
gathered around her and spoke comforting
words. Several times they led her away
from the body TO the hotel but she would
go back to see if her husband had been re-
stored. When the physicians finally pro-
nounced McCloskey beyond all possible res
toration and the body was carried to the
hotel, the widow broke down completely
and gave vent to her sorrow.
She had the sympathy of everybody and
every one tried to comfort her.
The body was brought up 30 the city on
the late train and taken 10 the drowned
mans residence on Taylor street. near
Habersham. The funeral will take place
this afternoon al 4:90 o'clock, and will be
attended by Georgia Castle No. II, K. G.
of which the deceased was member.
CHILLED BY THE WATER.
The theory of MoCloskey's death is that
he was overheated when ne went into the
surf and he received a sudden chilling from
the water which brought about c,ngestion
of the lungs. The fact of the body floating
instead of sinking would seem to bear out
this thery.
McCloskey was about IS years of age. He
has been contractor for several years and
had charge Of the erection Of the building
In the rear Of the First Presbyterian church
on Drayton street, now In course of con-
structlon.
There is a peculiar coincidence between
McCloskey's death and that of Contractor
Lewman in the surf at Tvbee two years
ago. Both had contracts with Presbyterian
churches; they met their deaths during the
same month, in an almost identically
similar manner; their bodies were brought
ashore almost at the same point, and DR..
Battey Of augusta eudeavored to resusoitate
both mon. The physician was visiting
Tybee at the time of Mr. Lewman's death,
and he came down on yesterday mornings
excursion.