Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-01-13

Two Ladies' Sunk in Front of the Inrolling
Tide.


Two Ladies' Sunk in Front Of the InroIlins
Tide.
From the San Francisco Examiner.
near approach to death in the qnicksands
Of the ocean beach was experienced by two
young women while out driving last Friday
afternoon, and the rescue that was effected,
with not moment to spare. brought a third
life into the peril. Capt Paul Busch Of the
Ocean House was the deliverer. but the most
that is known Of the women is that they were
about thirty years Of age, well dressed and that
at the time Of this adventure they we're in pos
session Of a brown horse and black open
buggy.
People acquainted with the shore Is il
stretches from the Cliff House southw
would have kept away from the edge Of the
water at the time in question. Every ex-
tremelv low tide uncovers trescherous and
varying beds of quicksand. At the middle Of
Friday afternoon the water was close to the
lowest mark of the year, and so travel along
the outer portion Of the beach was especially
hazardous The two women were totally ignor-
ant OF any such danger. however.
Early in the afternoon the women drove
through Golden Gate Park. Then thev went to
the Cliff House, and after watching the sea
from there for half an hour they started on q
trip along the shore. That at 3 o'clock.
u
and to then return to the city by way OF the
park. The wheels rolled easily and noiselessly
on the hardened sand as the horse trotted on.
The occupants Of the buggy were delighted,
and, becoming holder. they drove down to
where the shallow broken sheets Of water and
foam kept striving for a hold upon the shore.
Suddenly, before the driver perceived the
beginning of any change, the shore seemed to
be sinking.
The big brown horse was frantically strug-
Cling to get out Of the sand that reached al
most to his knees and which was slowly but
surely climbing. All his strong endeavors we're
in vain, though, against the suction. and in q
moment. as his whole frame shook and con-
vulsed in an upward, onward impulse, he fell
on his side and became more helpless, but he
fell toward land.
The wagon had at this time gone down 80 far
that the tide. just in the beginning of the food,
washed over the hubs. Terrified were the
women, but leap from the vehicle would have
only increased the danger. To scream for
help was the only hope, but the shouts were lost
in the laundering surf.
The place where the disaster befel the team
Is about half a mile from the Ocean House, in
the direction Of the cliffs. OFF that point 9
bark was wrecked some years ago, and huge
tlmbers washed ashore disappeared in the sand
exactly a. the wagon was now doing
Capt. Busch CHANGED to look along the shore
while the sinking sand was tightening its clasp
where the rollers were sweeping aud thought it
WAS a small boat that bad been thrown on the
shore. His two driving horses were standing
in harness at the Ocean House. and in an
instant be had them galloping mp the shore
he speed of the horses was only increased
when the captain saw the dark object was a
buggy. for he knew the quicksand and under
stood the value of seconds where such a
peril was augmented bv the surf. And he
only made that halflnile dash on time. for the
rising water and the falling shore had nearly
gained the victory. Horse, wagon, women
and all were gradually sliding out into
the sea. Every motion was stronger than the
preceding one, and the growing force would
quickly have rendered the rescue impossible
The sliding tendency of the quicksands is we'll
known. and Capt. Henry Smith of the Golden
Gate life saving station declares it to be the
tim out into the water and 80 lessons the chance
of assistance
The story OF the rescue is told by Capt
Busch himself and corroborated by others who
FASTENED to the scene before the work was over.
when / got there, said Capt. Busch, "the
waves were breaking over into the box of the
buggy. | have been on the sea a good manv
wears and the rest of my life the shore. and
knew that there wasn't any time to lose. l
knew also that the solid sand must reach pretty
nearly to the buggy. And SO / concluded to
rush right up and get the women out, if posi-
tial footing could save myself by swimming
| felt the quickssnd as L stepped forward in the
water close to the buggy. so / didn't advance
the other foot. but reaching over as far as
could told one of the women to jump into
NV arms. She did So and l got her to shore
all right. Then l took the other in the same
way.
Beth Of them were drenched with water but
they didn't seem to care about that when they |
got on to dry land l got in the water up to
nv neck myself
The buggy and the helpless horse were all
the time settling out to sea- little by little and
didn't think could fetch either of them back
for the horse pretty well down. and it
wouldn't have been long before he would have
drowned. So l took hay rope that had and
tied 1t between the buggy shafts and my own
wagon Then, with hold of the rope, / got
over and cut the harness. and when freed the
horse managed to get on his feet.
Finally he succeeded in breaking out Of the
sand-for horse can do thing of that sort
when loose that would be impossible If he were
harnessed to wagou-and my horses pulled
the buggy out. So the whole outfit was saved,
after ALL"