The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-08-12
DEATH In THE LAKE.
Whitfield Brooks Drowned
While Bathing.
HEROIC EFFORTS TO SAVE HIM.
But Life Could Not Be Brought Back
He Was Taken with Cramps
and Sunk 10 the Bottom.

Whitfield Brooks. a young drug clerk
well known in Seattle. was drowned in
Lake Washington last evening about $50
o'clock while swimming at the Laurel
Shade bathing place.
Accompanied by e ". Smith. who
works in the same place. the young man
lef. for the lake at 80 o'clock. The two
were Joined on the way out by Mrs.
Smith. and on reaching Laurel Shade re-
scr. the three went In bathing After
remaining in the water a short time Mrs.
Smith went ashore leaving the other two
on the feat which lies anchored in the
water about fifteen feet from the shore.
Neither Brooks nor Smith were very good
swimmers. and when they left the 1oae
for the shore Brooks went first. while
his companion sat on the edge OF the
boards watching his progress. AS Smith
watched the swimmer. who was making
Abor.ons headHay IN the style known as
dog fashion," Brooks head suddenly
disappeared beneath tho water. when
about fifteen feet from the float. There
was no outcry. but the vain thrasEtng of
the water told Smith that his friend was
In distress. HE Immediately plunged 10
the rescue and endeayored by getting I'M
der Brooks 10 raise his head above the
surface. He called 10 Brooks 20 put his
hand on his shoulder. but the drowning
man appeared not 10 hear. In his frantic
he grasped Brooks by the feet and at
tempted TO make for the shore. The des-
perate swimmer had turned about In his
struggles and was trying TO reach the
float. Smith was finally compelled 10
release his unfortunate companion. who
Immediately sank from sight and was
seen no more
A short distance away in a canoe was
Duncan G. Inverarity. the well known
athlete and as he padded quietly along
the shore OF the lake, shriN cry OF nelp
burst on his ears. 1t came from the Lau-
rel Shade bathing house, and sending his
light craft rapidly forward. he soon
reached the float. Smith was there almost
beside himself with sorrow at the unex-
pected termination of the evenings outing.
and TO Inverarity's rapid questions ex-
planned the circumstances and pointed out
the SPOT where Brooks head had last been
seen Inyeraritv was losing no time, and
hardly had Smith finished speaking, when,
witkslis hat, coat, vest, trousers and SHOES
of, he made straight dive 10 the rescue.
The water at that point Is about twelve
feet deep. and the soft mud bottom makes
II too muddy for a diver 10 get clear
view beneath the surface. The young attn
lete reached bottom. but his graspins
fingers encountered no body. Rising 20
the surface he dove again for the same
SPOT from another direction, bat still with
on, result. The cries for help had row
attracted the attention OF several people.
and they watched from the balcony or the
bath house while Inverarity dove aAaln
ana again. He went down about nine
times. and then was obliged 20 abandon
the idea OF getting the body that way.
A boat fitted with graphing hook was
than secured and by this means the
heavy form was found II lay beneath the
float in about fifteen feet of water. and
the graphing iron caught beneath the
arm. II required ali the strength OF In
verarity and another who was IN the ooat
20 draw Il TO the surface.
In the meantime. telephone MESSAGES
had been sent 10 DR.. J. F. Kloeber. DR..
James shannon and DR.. Hasell. ana 70
the home OF Brooks parents. corner ot
Terry avenue and Jefferson street Tne
two first doctors Daniel Jones. capt. +.
D. Hughes and Mr.. Brooks. father O. me
victim arrived on the scene about htteen
minutes after the BODY had been recover
ed. More than an hour vas spent IN tryiSs
ali the expedients known to be enicscious
IN such cases While they lahered over
the bosv. the eyes opened quite plainly
twice Dr. Shannon saved a boy IN Norta
Seattle about a year ago who had been IN
the water a long time. and vain nope
that this might prove another exceptional
case kept the doctors working seine time
after ell chance was over Brooks vitality
rad been somewhat impaired By an opera
ton four or five months ago for appendl-
citis.
lie was IN the water probably half an
hour and the suppos!tion is he was caught
With a cramp. He dii not rise after the
Trst time. which is taken as an evidence
that he was drawn beneath the float on
first going down. The coroner was sum-
rnoned and G. II ButterwoTth. Of Butter
worth q Sons. acting as deputy, went out
for the body. which was taken first % The
undertaking Dariors. and afterwards 10
the family residence.
Withheld Brooks has been employed IN
lanes Lees pharmacy. corner OF Second
avenue and Columbia street. for the past
three months. He was an exceptionally
bright Young man ard showed extrao-dt-
nary talent for the drug business. Mr..
Lee said last night that he had never had
snv clerk in the pharmacy who took more
readily 10 the drug business and showed
greater aptitude. He was y years OF age
and took great interest IN athletic sports
~ al kinds Boating was his chief de-
liz ht- and almost every evening he went 70
the lake for row. He WAS wei liked
hv au. his refined, quiet manner winning
many frienas Young Brooks was an ex-
rsrt vfoiinist He had been living IN the
Tevvgs residence at Terry avenue and JEFF
farsrn street. which Is kept by his parents.
The family came here from Hamilton
three months ago. There his father vas
$1,000 Tcs~ z Ia rye rfFr1