The sun., 1897-03-22
REACHED SHORE PAINTING,
TWO Y0UNG NKN BATTLE FoR IrF1
IN LONG LgLAND SOUND.

Their neat Capsfses Three MILES from Land
Ono Pushes the Overturned boat with the
Other Perchea Top For Hours, ana They
Finally Reach Bnr-Colinpso OF Both Men.
BR1DoEPoRT, Conn, March 21.-Burton Hast.
ings and Percy Overton, two wellknown young
men Of this city, battled for hours for their
lives yesterday afternoon with tho wind and
waves on Long Island Sound. They had been
out duck hunting and when about three miles
OF shore their boat was capsiEcd by sudden
freshening Of the wind. For several hours they
wero near death. and It was only by tho heroic
action Of young Overton that his companion In
now alive.
Hastings Is tho superintendent of the Barnum
Staples building and Overton Is a clerk in tho
banking house Of James Staples & Co. Both aro
enthusiastic sportsmen. and on Saturday they
took advantage Of the half holiday at the bank
and went duck hunting. In Overton's boat they
sailed along the shore OF Stratford Light, and
late in the afternoon when the days sport was
ended, they were about three miles off shore. As
Overton turned the boat toward shore sudden
gust of wind struck the sail and the boat went
over quick as flash. Hastings could not swim,
but Overton Is one of the best and strongest
swimmers In these parts. He called TO Hast.
ings TO crawl on the boat, which then was iioat.
ing bottom up. Hastings manage} to do 10
he was told. and then Overton swami 10 the nd
OF the boat, and, pointing her head toward shOre,
started to push the boat ahead OF him.
There was a strong tide against the boat and,
with Hastings top Of the craft Overton soon
realized that, instead of getting nearer tho
shore, they were slowly drifting out intp no
Sound. Some distance away Hastings, from Ar
seat on the top Of the boat, saw one of tho watch
boats of the oyster police. Every effort ryas
made to attract the attention of the men ar.tri
of her, but as the was running hi.-h 5.. t
nearly dark. they were not suurp-. 'r.l.
Hastings had a revolver. and he fired al n.
chambers in rapid succession to attract tla.'.
tention of the oyster police. When al la. 'h,
two men struggling in the water saw the ]! .
away they almost gave up hope OF ever reaching
There goes our last chance" said Ovcr,on.
Now IL we save our lives we've got to tgh, 'or
1t was almost dark. The wind had increased
somewhat, and the fog which had been han gin,
over the Sound had cleared away. The two rucn
could see the outline of the shore Oycriun's
peculiarities OF the tide came in good stead if,C
then. He knew that IL the boat once got iu :
certain place there would be some chance 0.
overton had already been in the water for
more than an hour and was chilled through.
After drifting for some time more overton No.
ticed a change in the condition OF thing. lie
obeyed The drifting Il e6G Outward pIh had G stoHpsd
his strength would hold out he knew that hp'I
would be saved For the next two hours he
SWAN behind the boat pushing it ahead as fast
When some distance from the shore ovcrtoniG
strength gave out, and, after giving the boat 8
strong push. he was unable to swim far enough
to take hold OF the boat and rest. He went down
just as he was about to grasp the side. II ,srin-s
in q moment had an oar, which he had picked ~
when the capsize occurred, stretched out. anil
when Overton came up he grasped that and was
drawn along to the side of the boat. \ few min
Mtes afterwsrd overtons feet struck bottom.
They were on sand bar, and were safe. Th,n
Overton collapsed. Hastings, who was stTon:,
took his companion in his arms and carried him
through the shallow water to the shore.
Overton was unconscious when they reached
the shore, and Hastings placed him on the sand.
He started for the residence of Frank Hopsou. st
lordships Park. which was fully two miles away
across the low, marshy meadows. About :
o'clock Mr.. Hopson heard noise on his piazza
and some person calling for help. He Went ont
and found Hastings lying on the stoop. He had
Just strength enough to say PEI. 5 j. dying on
the beach: so and help him." then he became
unconscious.
Hopson and some of his farm hands hurried TO
the shore with lanterns. They found young
Oyerton still unconscious and scarcely breath
ing. He was taken to Mr. Hopsons, and after
working over him for hours he regained con-
seriousness. Hastings, too, revived after several
hours, but it will be days before they will en-
tirely recover from the effects OF their struggle
In the cold waters OF the Sound.