Morning journal and courier., 1893-08-26
xauNG NoRroN,s STORY.


City by the Life-Savtng Force-A
Captive ON a Piratical Craft-Bound
and RObbed-His Escape-Connict.
Ing Versions Given-A Fairy Tale of
Adventures on the Sea-Identifca-l
ton of the Son Complete-To Return
Home To-day.
The report that Louis E. Norton, who 1t
wss supposed had been drowned while
swimming in Long Island sound near this
city two weeks ago yesterday, had turned
up alive and comparatively well at Atlantic
City, N. j., late Thursday evening. caused
considerable excitement about town and
was the principal topic of discussion about
the streets yesterday. The story of his
escape, which reads almost like fairy
tale, and which was printed In the New
York papers yesterday, is Substantially as
follows, under date of Atlantic City:
The most remarkable story of the sea
ever told in Atlantic City was related at an
early hour this morning by Louis Norton
of New Haven, Corn, to Chief of Police
Eldridge and Willard Jones and James
Mills, life guards.
About 11:30 O'Clock last night while
Chief of Police Eldridge and two life
gusrdsmen were standing on the Ocean
boulevard, near the wooden pier, they
heard faint cry for help. An immense
sea was on, and the three men hurried
down to the water line. They heard the
cry repeated. Then the glare from the
electric lights on the promenade, where
there were thousands of people still pass
ing to and fro, showed them the figure of
a man drifting to and fro among the
piling by which the long pier, which ex
tends /, ZOO feet into the sea, is supported,
The guards, throwing aside coats, vests
and hats, plunged into the surf and swan
towards the helpless and drowning man.
With great difficulty they got him clear of
the dangerous timbers and dragged him
ashore in an insensible condition.
He was carried up under the board
walk, where he was partially resuscftated,
and while still in semi-oomatose condition
was conveyed by the police patrol smbu-
lance to the central police station. There
restoratives were applied and the man re-
gained consciousness. When he revived
he gave the name of Louis Norton, clo-
thing merchant, twenty-fours of age, of
New Haven, Conn. His face and neck
were bronSsd by the sun and wind, and
his hands and arms were covered with
blisters. 1t was at least an hour before he
could give connected account of him
self. The statement he made to Chief
Eldridge in the presence of Police Ser
geant Woodruff and the life guard was as
| follows:
On Friday of last week he left his home
in New Haven, telling his family that he
was going in bathing in Long leland sound.
He took small row boat, and pulling out
| in the sound anchored the boat, and strip
ping, took several dives from the craft.
While swimming he noticed couple of
men in dory approaching his boat. They
| rifled his clothes, and when he swan tow
ards them to protect his property he was
struck on the head with an oar by one of
| them. He lost consciousness, and when
| hs came to found himself bound hand and
| foot in small schooner, which he thinks
| is engaged in the smuggling trade. His
own boat was towing astern.
His abductors seemed to be Italians,
| though he says one of them spoke very
good English. They had robbed him of
| money and valusbles worth over $500
| Among this plumber were several keep
sakes, gold loeket containing pictures of
his father and mother, silver cigarette
| case, gold lined "a present from a LADY, and
a gold pencil. His initials were engraved
| on all of these.
In response to his entreasies the thieves
returned to him these trinkets, first taking
care to scratch his initials Off each article
| with psnknife. The defaced articles are
now in the hands of the chief of police.
The same afternoon the smugglers put a
case of champagne, several cases of claret
and some other goods in a package and
| rowed away towards the distant shore,
leaving the schooner at anchor and Norton
bound hand and foot on board.
The prisoner at last loosed the ropes
| with which his banda were tied and then
1 nrtfoi hic foot 10 r,,oIo hic To he
little cabin, where he found knife, and
fearful that the thieves would return, he
| cut the anchor rope, and getting the sail
in position sailed away from the scene OF
his disaster.
He says that at this time he was In @
| dazed state, caused from the blow on the
head. but of which no visible marks can
now be seen.
The breeze WAS directly abaft, and scud
ding before the wind 1t was not long be-
fore he was out of sight of land. The
schooner, small craft with double bows,
| sailed very we'll AS soon as he lost sight
of land he became confused, and kept sail.
ing on in hope of attracting the attention
| of some passing vessel.
He saw number of steamers and
sohooners go by, but they paid no atten-
ton to him, although he says he shouted
and waved his handkerchief. He Is no:
very clear, he says, as to his actions from
this on. There were plenty of provisions
on board with one case of claret, and be
| Jared very well SO far as food was con
cerned.
Tuesday he began to experience bad
weather. 1t increased in severity until
Wednesday, when it blew gale.
He weathered the storm, and some time
yesterday morning caught sight of the tall
Absscom light in the upper part of this
city. He tried to set his course towards
Ii. In doing SO the mast was blown out OF
the boat. Shortly afterwards the boat was
| capsised.
He clung to the upturned craft until late
in the afternoon, when a great wave
washed him off and tore plank from the
craft. He managed to reach this and
chung to it during the day. AS soon as
darkness get in and the four miles of cleo
trio lights in the city cleaned out he began
making vigorous efforts to reach shore,
and was in imminent danger of being
dashed to pieces among Its pilings when he
| was fortunately reached.
After Mr.. A. o. Norton, the father OF
| the missing young man, had read the story
| ridge for confirmation of the report. In
q short time he received the following
| reply signed by a. E Eldridge, chief OF
police:
| "Louis Norton was washed ashore here to
| night. He is alive and well; has money
| wishes me to notify you at once"
Immediately upon receipt of the above
telegram Mr.. Norton secured direct com
| munication with Chief Eldridge by means
of the long distance telephone and received
verbal confirmation of the report. He was
also told that his son was alive, but toe
weak to talk through the telephone. Mr..
Norton then directed the chief to do every
thing possible TO make the boy comfortable
at his expense and provide him with suit
able clothing and funds to get home and
draw on him for the bill.
1t is believed that young Norton, the
hero of the above remarkable escapade,
will arrive in this city this evening.
About 2:30 o'clock yesterday afternoon q
telegram was received at J. J. johnson &
Sons store addressed to A. o. Norton.
Me, Norton was absent, SO Mr.. johnson
opened the dispatch, which read as fol-
| lows:
| A. o. Norton, New Haven, Conn:
! Telegraph me $40 Immediately.
(Signed) LOUIS L. NORTON.
| This dispatch aroused some suspicion, as
| Mr.. Norton had made arrangements to have
| his son provided with money to bring hi m