Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-08-07
HIS NECK TWICE BROKEN
Harry Richardson Is Still Alive,
Though Paralyzed.
A DIVE CAUSED THE ACCIDENT.

He Jumped From SprInGboard Into
Shallow waIcr-His Head Hung Down
When He Was Taken Out-Not Expected
to Live.
NEW YORK. Aug. Harry Richardson,
an accountant for the Fidelity and Sc
curity company of this city, dislocated
his neck while bathing at Bath Beach,
L. l., Saturday afternoon, and is now
lying at the point of death in the Homeo-
pathic hospital in Cumberland street,
Brooklyn.
Mr.. Richardson is conscious aud can
speak, but his body below his chest is
hope of his recovery. They say he may
live for days weeks or even months, but
that he cannot recover.
Mr.. Richardson has lived with his wife,
mother-in-law, son and daughter at St.
Nicholas avenue and One Hundred and
Thirty-fifth street, this city. He is 40
years old. Since July he and his family
have been at the Kathleen villa, Bath
Beach. 1t was his custom to come to the
city every morning.
Owed on Springboard.
Saturday was half holiday, and Mr..
Richardson remained at the villa. About
5 o'clock in tie afternoon he decided to
take a swim. The water was not more
than five feet deep. but Mr.. Richardson
though it deep enough to dive.
He went to the end of a springboard and
turned a backward somersault into the
water. He SWAN ashore, and climbing
again onto the board dived off head first.
None of the other bathers was watching
| Mr.. Richardson. His little daughter Ethel
| saw her father splash into the water and
| noticed that he was a long time coming to
| the surface. When he finally came up she
saw that something was the matter and
| Immediately gave the alarm.
Three swimmers FASTENED to Mr.. Rich.
| ardson's assistance. He came up and then
| floated with his head hanging downward
| and his back elevated. His limbs hung
limp. Thinking that he was drowning. hi,
l ompanions carried HIM to the shore. They
| supposed he had swallowed water, anc
| they rolled him on a barrel for severa
| minutes.
DR.. Searle of the Marine and Field clul
/ was summoned and on examination
| found that Mr.. Richardson's neck wal
| dislocated. DR.. Lewis, the family physi
clan, who happen to be at the beach, agreed
with him.
Mr.. Richardson was carried into tn,
L NAlldt anu bilC WV pllg SlSAahS SuSNCNNSN ~
setting his neck. 1t was then decided t.
remove him to the Homeopathic hospital
and yesterday morning he was taken Their
in a health department ambulance. Il
transferring Mr.. Richardson from tn
stretcher to cot in the hospital his necl
was again dislocated, and the doctors hat
some difficulty in resettinG it.
Neck Twice Disl coated.
Mr.. Richardson's body below the regiol
of the heart is paralyzed. He can eat
little food and can move his arms slightly
lie says he is troubled with a constan
pain at the point of fracture. and he ez
pressed the fear to his attendants that hi
neck had not been properly reset.
| Mr.. Richardson told his friends when b
had recovered from the first effects of hi
shock that he thought his neck was in
jured the first time he dived into tn
water. He said that he landed with grea
force on his back, but did not notice any
thing wrong. But just before he made hi
second leap he felt as If he was paralyked
The doctors said they could not determin
which fall broke his neck, though the
were inclined to his theory.