The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-02-19
f. +. FRENCH, A VISITOR, DIES IN
THE WATER.
Sad Ending of a Young Man from San
While Bathing-Body Recovered.

E. T. French, tourist from San
Francisco, who came down on the last
Australia and has been stopping at
San Souci for several days, was
drowned in the surf about $3.50 o'clock
this forenoon. The body was recov-
cred by natives about three hours
later. No one witnessed the accident
except IA native in the employ of MIR.
Irwin, who was a long way off at the
time, and could render no assistance.
For this reason the exact spot where
be determined, and it was only after
a long, systematic search that the
body was recovered.
1t is believed that French was taken
with cramps while swimming. He was
a good swimmer, and no other credible
cause can be assigned for the accident.
During the past three days French had
been a guest at San Souci hotel, and
was very fond of bathing. This morn
ing he got UP little before o'clock,
and had breakfast, eating quite heart
lily. Twenty minutes later he APP
peared on the lanai in his bathing
suit, and started for the beach.
There were no bathers in the surf,
but, being good swimmer. French
! did not hesitate to go in alone. He
must have swan out into the ''chan-
mel" where the water is quite deep.
There it is probable that he was taken
with cramp. A native working in
the Irwin garden, adjoining the hotel
property, heard a faint cry or help,
and, looking toward the oce; 4, saw a
commotion in the water about seventy
five yards off shore, and a mans hand
waving frantically. 1t was probably
the drowning mans last struggle, for
the water soon became quiet.
Alarmed by what he saw, the native
rushed into the house to call Mr.. IT.
win. Word was Immediately sent to
the hotel, and Mr.. Lycurgus at once
sent out searching party. Three ma
tives, all expert swimmers, put off in
a canoe, and after a diligent search,
discovered the body on the sandy bot
tom, in the channel, about seventy-five
yards off shore. 1t was then 12:15 p.
m, and there could be no doubt that
life was extinct, so that no effort was
made to resuscitate the body.
hnl Rrnvyp and t,narinnr Con
sui General Mills were notified of the
accident shortly after 10 o'clock. The
former sent Capt. Renllen and Officer
Dckerson of the Mounted Patrol tC
the scene, where they remained until
the body was recovered. Consul Gen
eral Mills, accompanied by Star re.
porter, also went to the scene.
Mrs. o. Jennings, the grandmother
of the deceased, who accompanied hin
here from the Coast, was at the Ha
waiian hotel when she was Informed
by telephone of the accident, about
10:30 o'clock. She went Immediately
to the beach, accompanied by Mrs. DR.
Woods, and was there when the body
was recovered. Mrs. jennings was
prostrated by the blow. The young
man was her favorite and constant
companion. The greatest sympath,
for her was expressed by the thronl
of people who gathered at the beacl
and watched the search for and recov
cry of the body.
French was about 27 years of age
His home is in San Francisco, and h,
had wide circle of acquaintance!
there. Of recent years he had beel
marked as a victim by dread con
sumption, and his grandmother, ben
on making his last days happy, in
duced him to accompany her on tril
to Honolulu, intending to take hin
afterward to the Orient or to Austria
liza, as he should choose. The youn,
man was devoted to his grandmother
They have been staying at the Hawaii