The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-06-15
A BATHER'S LEAP TO DEATH.
WILLIAM y. GEARY DROWNED N
TYBEE CREEK.

Could Not swim, and While Bathing
With Friends, Missed the object
for which He Leaped and Was
Carried Away by the Current-Te-
role Effort 10 save Him by His
Cousin. J. G. Butler, Jr.-The Body
Discovered Yesterday Morning
and brought to the City-Funeral
This Morning Mt O'Clock From
the Cathedral.
William p. Geary was drowned at Tybee
while In bathing at the south end Of the
island Saturday night. The deceased was
a nephew OF Mayor John G. Butler Of
Tybee and was in his employ in his sash,
door and blind business in Savannah.
Death made a sudden call upon poor
Geary, and his shrift was short. A few
moments before he was in the full en-
joyment OF vigorous health. In company
with John G. Butler. Jr. and Horace
Brooks, he left the city on the O'clock
train. the intention OF the party being
to spend the night and the next day at
the south end of the island. Immediately
on arriving at their destination. the young
men went in bathing and began diving
the cottage Of Mr.. Grogan, who looks
after affairs generally at the south end.
There was a boat moored about twenty
feet from the wharf, and the young men
were diving from the wharf to the boat.
Geary could not swim, but, by making
Ons or two strokes after jumping
from the wharf, he could reach the, boat
He would then climb into the boat and
jump from the boat to the wharf in the
same manner. The young men were hav-
ing very enjoyable time, without thought
of danger, and their exuberant shouts
could be heard in the cottages nearby.
Geary, in attempting TO jump from the
wharf to the boat, failed to reach the
boat by a few inches and was Immediate
~ swept past ii by the current. He called
out for help, and Mr.. Butler, who was
In the boat jumped into the water at
once to assist him. He reached Geary,
but the latter in his fright seized hold
Of Butler and carried him down with
him. Under the water Geary released
Mr.. Butler, and when Geary rose to the
surface, Butler braVely went TO his
s.stance again. Geary again seized hold
OF him desperately and carried him under
with him. Mr.. Butler was in great dan
ger and came near being drowned. When
freed from the hold of the drowning man
again, finding that it was impossible to
help him, he was so exhausted that he
was barely able to make his way to the
shore. AS Geary went down the third
time, Butler heard him say family: Good
by, John"
Mr.. Grogan, who was at his cottage,
heard shouts for help, but thought at
first that the young men were merely
amusing themselves. He listened though,
shout, For Gods sake, help" He at once
ran down to the wharf, but arrived there
TOO late Geary had gone down for the
last time and there was nothing to in
dictate where the body was to be found.
IL was dark, and there was little pros
pect Of finding the body by diving on
account Of the current.
The young men were deeply grieved at
the awful suddenness with which their
sport had been broken into, and their
companion taken away from them. Mayor
Butler was notified of the death of his
nephew and went to the scene at once,
and he with five others dragged the creek
yesterday morning. Mr.. Grogan rugged
up drag of large hooks and aided in
dragging. The body was found on an
oyster bed about 300 yards from the wharf
from which Geary jumped. It was brought
ashore and placed under cover.
Coroner Goette was notified of the
drowning by Mayor Butler early yester-
day morning, but decided, after hearing
Mr.. Buffers statement, that no further
investigation was necessary. The body
was brought up to the city on the morn
ing train by Underwater ]. E. Hender-
son. and was taken to his undertaking
establishment, where 1t was prepared for
burial.
The deceased was a native of Savannah,
his father, Patrick Geary, being we'll
known here. The family removed to At
lanta several years ago, where both pa
rents died about two years ago. After
the death of his parents Mr.. Butler
brought his nephew to Savannah and
gave him employment in his business
The three sisters of the deceased reside
with an uncle in Colorado.
Mr. Butler was greatly grieved at his
nephew's. death and the sudden manner
N ~ n i'm bn
said that he was a quiet, we'll behaved
young man, and very attentive to his du-
ties. He had never had an employee, he
said, who. gave more satisfaction in his
Geary was a splendid specimen Of physi-
cal manhood, and gave the promise of be-
The fIineraI viii take Mace at q o.cioci.
this morning from the cathedral and the
interment will be in Mr.. Buffers lot in
the Cathedral cemetery.