Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1895-08-15
DROWNED WHILE
IN BATHING.
A DISTRESSING AFFAIR AT OCEAN
VIEW YESTERDAY.
MR.. BOBBlTT'S BRAVE DEED.
Mr.. r. e. Evans, Manager for the Armour
Packing Company, Swept Out by
the Undertow: Heroic But
Vain Efforts to Save

Wilmington Messenger.
The distressing intelligence
was telephoned to the City yes
terday afternoon shortly before
five o'clock, from the club house
of the Carolina Yacht club. on
Ocean View Beach, that Mr.. r.
E. Evans, manager of the Ar
mour Packing Company. in this
city and Mr., S. M. Bobbitt, of
Wilson, were drowned while in
surf bathing. Another message
was received a few minutes later
that Mr.. Bobbitt was rescued and
only Mr.. Evans was lost.
The sad affair happened in
front of the club house about 4. 80
p. m, while ten OF a dozen men
were in bathing. The tide was
just passed flood and had begun
to run out with a strong current.
The slough or channel which
runs along close into the beach
and which at low tide is about
waist deep, was over the heads
of the bathers in consequence of
the high tide. Among the bath
ers were Nh. l.. E. Evans and
near him were Messrs. W. A.
Dick. W. W. Murrell, S. n. Bot
bitt and others. They we're en-
the edge of the slough and it
was noticed that there was a
strong undertow running back
into it from the recoil of the
breakers on the beach. There
was considerable surf, and the
unfortunate accident was caused
by d big breaker that curled up
over the bathers and covered
them up.
Mr.. Dick, who was near Mr.
Evans, states that when he re-
covered his footing after the
breaker had expended its force,
he saw that Mr.. Evans had been
carried into the slough by the
undertow and was in water over
his head. He Was not d swim>
mer, and he shouted out to MI
Dick, Help me, Billy" Mr.
Dick heroicly went to his rescue
and when he got close to the
drowning man he told him to be
calm and not seize him and he
would save him. Mr.. Evans APP
peared to understand, but when
Mr. Dick seized him by the arm,
he lost control of himself and
clasped both arms around Mr..
Dicks neck.
This rendered the res
cuer helpless and Mr.. Dick real
lied that both would drown if
he could not free himself. The
two were then struggling II the
surf and a perfect panic seized
the spectators on the beach and
on the club house piazza. A
number of ladies were looking on
and were frantic in contemplate
ing the scene.
In the meantime Mr., Dick, by
a herculean effort, freed himself
from Mr.. Evans grasp and a big
breaker separated the two,
sweeping Mr.. Dick about ten
feet toward the beach where he
could touch the bottom. He held
his own but the receding waves
carried Mr.. Evans further out
Mr.. Bobbitt, at the risk of his
life bravely swan to Mr.. Evans
and also warned him not to seize
him, but the unfortunate man
grappled and almost drowned him
before he could free himself. Mr..
Evans was then beyond rescue
and Mr.. Bobbit was exhausted
and helpless himself. Mr.. Mer-
rill, a much smaller man, will
great bravery went to Mr. Boo
bits rescue. Meanwhile a lady
who had witnessed the
terrible affair shouted for some
one to take a life line to them.
5 The line was quickly passed to
l Mr.. Dick. and ne went through
the surf coiling it up, and in wa.
t ter where he could not stand he
: whirled it too Messrs, Merrill
! and Bobbitt, it fell acrossMerrit's
shoulder and he seized it anc
5 threw the end around Mr. Bob
bits waist and held him in its
8 grasp while Mr.. Dick pulled
them both in. Both were thus
saved.
: While the tragedy was at its
height Mr. Dick was shouting
= to the other bathers to help the
the man, but they were either
panic stricken or did not heal
: his appeals. Mr.. Evans had dis
= appeared beneath the waves ant
- a number of the bathers went in
J to the surf as far as they coult
with the hope that the sur
would bring him in. After he hat
:. been in the water a half hour hi.
body was cen and Mr.. H. K
Nash was far enough out to seiz.
il and with help brought i
ashore. The limp body was car
l ried to the cottage of the Rev
DR.. Strange's where E1friend'
We'd with each other in thei
, efforts to resuscitate the drown
ed man. DR.. a. Fl. Harris, O
} this city, and DIR. O'Donohue OF
Charlotte, had come on the scen'
: and they exhausted all thei
: means and science with thu
= hope of bringing life back. AL
: efforts, however, were in vain
and everybody was panied ant
= distressed to realize that the las
e spark of life had fed. Life wa
- IL