The record-union., 1895-08-19
SEVEN LIVES LOST.
Caused by the 0ver-Crowding Of a
Small SailbOat.
THE VESSEL CAPSIZED, AND ALL
BUT THREE DROWNED.
Bodies of Those of the Drowned Which
We're Recovered Presented q Hor-
riOle Appearance, Crabs Having
Eaten tho Flesh From the Faces
and Chewed the Fingers Off to the
kuuckles.
knuckles.

OCEAN CITY (Md.), Aug. 1S.-Seven
lives paid the penalty yesterday OF the
over-crowding of a small sailboat and
the unreasoning fright of the women
aboard, who, by sprlnging to one side
when the little craft shipped some water,
overturned it and threw the occupants
into the water.
The boat contained ten persons, and OF
these only three were rescued. The dead
are: William Storrs, aged forty five
years. painter; his wife, Mrs. Laura
Storrs, aged thiriy-three; their two
daughters, Ida May and Eva, aged four
teen and sixteen years, respectively; Lulu
and Mamie Hall, sisters. aged sixteen
and eighteen. respectively, of Bishopville,
Del, and Miss Myrtle stevens, aged four
teen years, of Shelbyville, Del.
The StOrrs family were residents OF
Philadelphia ana lived at 1919 Lancaster
avenue. The bodies OF Storrs and his wife
and TWO daughters and Miss Stevens
were found, but those OF the Hall girls
have not been recovered.
Mrs. Storrs was native of this place,
and since her marriage she and her hus-
band and children have Spent their vaca-
IiOn here every summer. yesterday MIR.
Storrs made up sailing party. and as the
day was fine pleasant time was antici-
pated. The boat of William Hudson was
engaged for the party. Hudson's boat
was a small one, aud when nine persons
came trooping gaily down the wharf to
embark he protested against 80 many
people going III her. MIR. Storrs laughed
and jested his objections aside, and
further said that as the water was so shall
low near the shore whore they intended
to sail that there would be no possible
danger. The party crowded into the
boat and the start was made for Ham
mock's Point.
! The point was safely reached, and II I'D
son tackled toward the inlet. In coming
about, and in shifting from one side TO
the other of the passengers the boat
| heeled and shipped a few bucketfuls OF
water. The keeling OF the boat fright
ened the women Of the party, and some
of them sprang to their feet. The sud-
| den movement of the terrified women
threw the boat over and it capsiZed, and
| the entire party was thrown into the
water. The boat for some reason sank,
carrying down with it its skipper. Hud-
son. with the strength OF despair. sue
ceed in drawing the mast from across
him and rising to the surface. Mr..
Storrs had been supporting as well as he
was able the struggling women.
The water at the place where the acci-
dent occurred was only six feet deep, and
the shore was but short distance off,
and it seemed possible that the entire
party might reach it in safety. When
the boat rose to the top Of the water, MIR.
Storrs and Hudson succeeded in drawing
the women of the party to it and getting
them to grasp the rail. The terrible eX-
ertions he had undergone, however, had
exhausted MIR. Storrs' strength, and as he
reached out his hand to take hold of the
boat he sank beneath the water. The
disappearance of her husband unnerved
Mrs. Storrs and she released her hold on
the boat and threw herself toward the
spot where her husband had gone down
as II to try and save him. She, too, sank,
and her children, horrified by the drown
ing of both parents, became hystercal,
and, loosening their hold of the boat,
sank. The two Hall girls became eX-
hausted and drowned together.
In the meanwhile the terrified shrieks
of the party had brought assistance from
shore, and Just as the rescuers were
within a few oar strokes of the capsiZed
boat Myrtle Stevens slipped from it and
went under. Hudson, William Hall.
brother of the girls, and Miss Ida Hud-
son. who still clung TO the boat. were res
cued in au exhausted condition.
Tho bodies of the drowned were imme-
diately grappled for, and all were re-
covered but those OF the Hall girls. The
bodies were in a horrible state when
brought 10 the surface. Crabs had eaten
the flesh from the face, the eyes were
gouged out, and the fingers chewed Off to
the knuCkles.
Uuavailing efforts were made to find
the bodies of the Hall girls, and the
search Will be renewed tomorrow.