Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1895-06-17
THE GRIEF STRICKEN WIFE.

TIL e GRIEF EFSTRICKEN WIFE.
A sad drowning occurred in our har-
Dor yesterday between twelve and one
o'clock, in which Mr.. w. III. Kerr, of
the Baltimore Yacht Club, lost his life
while attempting to save his little six
year-old-boy, who had accidentally fallen
overheard from their steam yacht, '.Wa-
tauga," while steaming out of the har-
Dor. No sooner had the cry been given
"boy overheard, y than the father plung-
ed in after him. The yacht was just off
the steamboat wharf and in full view Of
Mr.. w. III. Burtis' boat-house, where
there are generally a number of persons
Mr.. Burtis and his son Dan, who wit
messed the affair Immediately put out to
the rescue in batteau, and succeeded
in saving the boy just as he was sinking
below the surface of the water. The
father was nowhere in sight, and Mr..
Burtis did not know that the father
was overheard until some one on the
yacht called to him to save the man. 1t
was supposed that the father was under
the boy, holding him UP, and becoming
exhausted Immediately sank. A mum
Der of boats moved to the scene of the
accident, and began to grapple for the
body with graphing irons. oyster tongs,
&C., and Messrs. George Parkinson and
Geo. Collins, finally succeeded in bring
ing it to the surface with oyster rakes,
after it had been under the water
about forty-flve minutes. The lifeless
remains were taken to Mr.. Burtis' place,
where Drs. George Wells and Washing
ton &. Claude were summoned, who,
with the assistance OF others, did every
thing in their power to resuscitate the
lifeless body, but without success. Dur
ing the efforts Of the physicians at re-
suscitation Mrs. Kerr was at the side of
her husband encouraging the doctors and
displaying courage and nerve remarka-
bic in woman. At no time did she
give way under the trying ordeal.
Besides Mr.. Kerr and his wife there
were on board the yacht Mrs. George F.
Atkinson, wife of Professor Atkinson,
of Cornell University, and Mr.. Kerr's
only sister, s. 4. Patterson, A. N. Scott,
w. G. Kerr, Phillips Kerr, Spencer ii.
B. Atkinson, Clara Atkinson, Carrie
Harris and j. Fletcher Benton, engin-
eer. The Watauga, which left Baltimore
at five O'Clock Saturday, arrived in An
napolis at ten O'Clock Saturday night
and anchored in the harbor, opposite the
COLCHESTER steamboat wharf. Yester-
day Captain Kerr and his guests came
ashore, returning shortly before noon.
A half-hour later the yacht got under
way for Baltimore. The engines hac
Just been started when the distressing
accident occurred. Engineer Benton
gives this account of the drowning
1--WE were getting under way about
half-past twelve when l noticed Philip
Kerr walking along the narrow gunwale
of the yacht foreward Of the engine on
the port side. / warned the boy Of his
danger, as l had done before, but he re-
fused 10 come inside. i WAS about to
insist when i discovered that he had lost
his balance and had fallen overheard. In
his descent grabbed for him, but could
not reach him. l Immediately threw
overheard life preserver. which he did
not get, and quickly notified his father.
captain AeII, NllO WIS lOIMdIU, IublcU
aft and plunged into the water. Mrs.
Kerr was at the wheel at the time. L
Immediately stopped the engine, and we
were preparing to lower the yawl from
the dayits, when several small boats from
ashore were seen to approach the father
and son, who were then struggling In
the water. Captain Kerr had reached
the boy after swimming fifteen or twen-
ty yards in heavy, choppY sea, which
entirely submerged them at times. He
WAS good swimmer and had attempted
to swim with his boy on his back. 1t is
thought the father sacrificed his chances
to save his boy, who was above water
and probably upon his facher s shoulders
when the small boat from the shore
reached them. Before this, remarkable
to say, the boy kept atloat by padding,
as he could not swim stroke"
1t was said he was never out of sight
from those on board the yacht, fifty
yards away. The drowning was in full
view of the yachting party, who were
greatly distressed. The body was taken
in charge by Undertakes Wooley &
Evans, who prepared it for burial and
the remains were forwarded to Balti-
more on the afternoon train. followed
by the distressed wife and five children,
and members of the party, from whence
they will be taken to Raleigh, n. c., for
interment.