Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-09-05

bathing beach, and heard complaints regard
ing the beach, he decided to make a full in
vestigation of the circumstances attending the
drowning Of the young men, and instructed
the officers Of the sixth precinct to summon
jury Of inquest and also q number of witnesses.
1t was stated to DR.. Schaeffer that there we're
dangerous holes in the beach and Mr.. McGraw,
father Of one Of the Young men who lost their
lives. also made complaint that the boys were
permitted to go in bathing while there was no
one on the water to look after the youngsters.
The jury was summoned for noon today and
the witnesses were also present, but owing TO
some Misunderstanding 1t after O'Clock
when the taking of testimony was begun.
The inquest was held in the case of Henry
hief,r AID the jury viewed the body at the
home of deceGseds parents, 921 5th street.
The testimony was taken at the sixth precinct
police station on New Jersey avenue.
The jury was composed Of Everett Wroc,.
Patrick Cusick James Gregg, W. H. Sleeper,
Alex. c. Lambert and George Russell
POLICEMAN corrER's TESTIMONY.
Policeman David Cotter, who is stationed at
the bathing beach, was the first witness called.
He testified that he WAS on duty at the beach
Thursday when the drowning occurred and he
was present when Refers body was recovered.
There were about 200 men and boys in the
water that day. Witness had met de-
ceased there several times and being
of pleasant disposition witness had conversed
with him several times. Thursday witness
said he offered to open one Of the bath houses
for Mr.. Kiefer, but the latter declined, saying
it would be an exception and others might ex-
pect the same.
He said he would therefore undress with the
boys. Witness said he considered the young
man good swimmer and Thursday he saw him
diving from the plank and swimming in deep
water.
DIR. Scbaefer asked witness If all the boys,
small and large, were permitted to go IN as
deep as they pleased, as there was nothing there
to limit them He said he had cautioned small
boys not to so in the deep water and had fire.
quently asked the boys to look after each other:
Witness had also heard Mr.. Stevens warn the
boys. MIR. Stevens, said witness, lis not there
all day. He is patent attorney and has bis
business to look after. He is usually there in
the morning and evening. Mr.. Stevens is
really the father of the beach"
Witness then went on to describe the location
of the beach.
THE BEACH DESCRIBED.
The beach, raid witness, is $40 feet long, the
east end being for colored people and the west
end for the whites. The beach is supposed to
be covered with nine inches of sand, and is
about nine feet below tue mainland.
There is a wharf at each end of the beach,
from which the boys dive. There is no sign
bath h1u.e doors
Witness said he had seen the regulations for
the beach printed in The STAR. and when he
went on duty there he perfectly familiar
with them. The rules, witness thought, were
prepared by Mr.. Stevens and they were ap-
proved and promulgated by the District Com
missioners.
''Do you remember any clause in the rules
calling attention to any dangerous place in the
beach!" inquired DR.. Schaetfer.
DON'T KNOW ANY DANGEROUS PLACE.
Il do not" responded witness, nor do I
know of any dangerous place in the beach"
When further questioned witness said there
was a rule prohibiting boys under a certain
age (witness thought sixteen) from remaining
in the water more than one hour, unless &C.
companled by parent or guardian.
DIR. Schaeffer remarked that the need OF a
bathing beach was because of the number OF
boys who were drowned and asked witness
concerning the marks, signs or presence of
anything to indicate the end of the beach.
Today, witness said men are engaged in put
ting down poles and rails. When witness left
the beach today Mr.. Stevens and two other
men were at work putting up the rails.
I've did the very best We could, remarked
witness, with the force we had"
Witness has been in the water a dozen times
and he never found any dangerous holes in the
beach. With man in a life boat these witness
would consider it very safe beacE.
HE RESCUED ONE BOY.
When further questioned witness said he res
cued one boy, whom he cautioned before he went
in swimming. That boy was in danger because he
had life preserver on and it got down below
his waist. Witness threw him plank but lie
did not get hold of it, and witness had to jump
| in and get him out.
Mr. W. X. STEVENS CALLED.
Mr.. W. Y. Stevens, superintendent of the
/ hail nr Sch a.
told him that SO far as he knew at present there
told Mr.. Stevens that he was at liberty tc
answer or refuse to tell about the beach, &c.
rs he chose.
| Mr.. Stevens said he would answer any ques-
ton asked him; that there was nothing bu,
what he would tell Il was the originator Of
who grew to be thirteen years old
and who did not know how to swim
| The idea Disguised me, and knowing
| there was no place where people could swim
without wading through mud 1 started out to
secure the erection Of a beach where there
would be no current"
Witness explained the location and work on
| the beach. The selection Of the place was ap-
proved by Col. Hams, but he did not thinl
that Col Hams had inspected it recently.
| During the progress OF the work, witness said
one colored boy was drowned, while away from
| tho beach there was about dozen.
| He explained that the object was to have the
beach slant out gradually SO that one might
wade with perfect safety until the water reached
a depth of five feet.
NOT YET FINISHED.
| Thursday witness said he went to the beach
about o'clock, during low tide, and had them
take hold of hands and walk from the shore
! Only one hole was found and that was not 9
| dangerous one. He thought the beach was in
| excellent condition.
Day before yesterday, he said. there was nc
fence to make the limit Of the beach, but today
there is. The beach, he said is not yet fin.
| ished and has not yet been opened.
Continuing, witness said that while the worl
was in progress considerable trouble was ex
perienced in trying to keep the boys away
| While the men were ut work ON one end the
boys would appear and get in the water at the
other end.
COUNTING THE CLOTHING.
Mr.. Stevens told the jury that he was at the
beach when the first call was made for the
clothing, and he told of Officer Cotter making
the boys come out and claim the clothing
There was no clothing extra, and the extrs
clothing was not found until q second count
was made. When the boy first stepped on the
body it was in water about waist deep
and when one OF the boys attempted te
pick up the body it slipped OF the
side of the fl, where the water is about twelve
| raaf 1aar Wsfp.-Ss aaarrhad tho haa oh for tvr