Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-08-02
pANGER oEnIrnERS.
An Exciting Rescue Witnessed by n Will
IninEtonian at Atlantic CITY,

iningtonian at Atlantic City.
The rescue Of John Connolly, No. 423
North Fourth street, Philadelphia, was
| the most exciting incident Of the day al
Atlantic City Sunday. Connolly had
gotten out beyond the safety line and
becoming exhausted, would have
drowned but for the work of two brave
rescuers who did more than anyone
else to save the mans life. A resident
OF Wilmington was an eyewitness to
the incident.
The latter was with party of bathers
when their attention was attracted by
the cry Of man who had gotten beyond
his depth, and becoming exhausted was
fast going under. Two plucky bathers
made straight for the drowning man
and seizing him by the body began
holding him above water in anticipation
OF the arrival of the life guards. The
| accident occurred at u point opposite
Arkansas avenue. There is generally
life boat out in the breakers near this
point, but at the time of the accident,
shortly after IL o'clock, none was visi-
BILE, nor did the boat arrive until after
the man was taken in.
The plucky bathers who held the
tich iAiht1 man hDpfG WdLCI WdlLtu
patiently for help. A number of other
bathers, noticing their peril, tried to
form life line by catching hold Of
hands and extending the line into the
beach, but this proved unsuccessful, as
some of the more timid bathers persisted
in letting go of hands, and the others
We're unable to pull the drowning man
and his rcscuers in.
One big muscular fellow swan out to
the point where the man was drowning
and caught a glimpse Of his limp form
and distorted face just as q wave almost
dashed the unconscious form out of the
rescuer's hands. "Oh, he's done for,
anyhow" he said, and turning he
guided his strokes in the direction Of
the shore.
This cowardly remark had little effect
on the two men remaining at the drown
ing mans side, further than to increase
their desire to save the mans life. The
drowning man was very muscular,
weighing perhaps 1870 pounds, and it
was all the two men could do to keep
him above water. 1t was impossible
for them to attempt to drag such dead
| weight to shore.
A half dozen men stood near the trio,
reckoning out the guards. The first one
to arrive was Life Guard Bell with a
life-preserver. Then some one came
out with the lifeline, which was passed
to the two men holding the drowning
man, who seized it and all three were
swiftly dragged ashore by hundred
eager men. The guard with the life
preserver swan by the side Of the un-
conscious man and the two other
rescucrs, holding the preserver under
his body with one arm and directing his
strokes with the other. 1t took but a
very short time to haul in the limp form.
Tho two men who had remained with
| the drowning man until the final rescue
were completely exhausted by the exer-
| ton, and afterwards threw themselves
headlong on the beach until they re.
covered their strength. Neither of the
men were of heavy stature, and both
were young, but they had the courage
and power of endurance that was re-
markable.
IL was afterwards learned that the
man they rescued was named Connolly,
and although an expert swimmer he
had miscalculated his strength in going
beyond the safety limit. 1t required
over half an hour to restore Connolly
TO consciousness.