Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-09-22

in-Law in Bathing at Coney Island and
Finally Winds Up in jacksonville, Fla.
The Man and Woman Carried Out to
Sea and Picked Up by Passing Vessel
Result of a Little Amusement.
NEW YORK. Sept 22-Samuel w.
| Thornton, of gu Cumberland avenue,
! Brooklyn, and his pretty sister-in-law,
Miss Eva Jewell, disappeared very mystic
riously on Aug. 81 Their clothing
found in a bathing establishment at
Coney Island, told an uncorroborated tale
of drowning. Their bodies >were never
found, so some suspicion fingered in the
minds of their friends that they had play
ed clever trick to cover up an elopement.
Word came from Jacks onville, Fla, last
night that the pair are in that city, alive
and well, with story of a most remark
able experience. Thornton was associated
with his brother in the bakery and con-
fectionaay business in Brooklyn. On the
day specified above his wife was in the
country. Samuel thought to have little
fun himself, and SO took Miss Eva, a
young woman of %, to Coney Island.
The Girl Could Not Swim.
At O'Clock they were in the water.
The waves rolled up near the big iron pier
and suddenly, as Thornton says, a big
roller came up, and in moment they
were struggling beyond their depth, while
the heavy waves and rapid tide carried
them out so quickly as to prevent their
crying for assistance. Half stunned by
the waves and choked by the salt water,
Thornton, who is good swimmer, had
presence of mind enough to catch hold Of
Eva and hold her up. She could not swim,
and was almost paralyzed by fear. Soon
a sailing vessel came near and Thornton
shouted frantically for help. Those in
the boat heard him, rounded to, lowered
boat, and in few minutes the half
drowned pair We're taken on board.
Miss Eva Becomes Delirious.
The sailors could not speak English, and
could only express themselves by signs.
On board both were given attention and
restored to consciousness When Thorn
ton recovered he could not zee land and
knew not where they were being carried
BY morning the girl had become delirious
and raving over her escape. No land was
in sight and Thornton could not induce
the captain to put them on shore He
finally explained by signs that if the girl
recovered he would put them on the first
vessel he met going to New York. The
girl still continued to rave at intervals
and then fever set in. keeping her very
low for many days. After thirteen days
and many failures they managed to hail
vessel that stopped and took them off
Arrival at Jacksonville.
This was a Spanish craft, so Thornton
says. This vessel was bound for Yucca
tan, going through the Florida straits
After ten days life on board they ap-
preached land. much to Thornton's joy,
and on Sunday last boat put them
ashore near the mouth of the St Johns
river. After going five miles they met
farmer with mule and cart and hired
him to drive them to jacksonville They
arrived at night and after wandering
around for several hours found shelter in
a boarding house. Thornton cannot tell
the names of either of the vessels strange
to say, and his story in some other WAYS
is very queer. The girl tells the same
tale aud sticks to il that it is all true