Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-08-17
A DISTRESSING ACCIDENT.

Charles Roeder and his sister Lillian
had left their home in Jersey City Yes
terday to go grabbing. Arriving at the
bay shore they went to the ''cove," F"
retired nook in an old fashioned stone
pier, about two hundred yards south of
the Greenville Yacht Clubs house.
The top of the pier was abont six feet
above the surface of the water, which
at that point is eight feet deep at high
tide. The tide was making flood. Miss
Lillian slipped and fell in. Her brother
grabbed for her and lost his balance.
Both found themselves struggling in
the water They saw nothing to fear
in the situation. Both were expert
swimmers. Yourg Roeder, as mem
ber of the crews OIL the yachts Ensign
aud Frank, is at home on the water.
His sister, the best skater in her set,
wheelwoman, thoroughly athletic
girl, is ut arly his equal. Standing on
the rock juttipg from the pier they
found themselves in only four feet OF
water
"Stand here, Lille" said her brother,
while I climb up, and then I'll give
you hand and pull you up"
He grabbed hold of a big bowlder in
the side of the wall to draw himself
up. Under his weight it pulled loose,
aud, to his horror, crashed down di.
rectly on top of his sister. She fell
backward, the rock, which weighed
fully four hundred pounds, tumbling
on her right leg. She screamed, and
ner brother dropped hack, expecting
to see her come up again, but she di
not come TO the surface. He went un
der the water after her. There he
found the heavy bowder bad pinned
her down, and he was powerless to ex
tricate her.
Putting bis arms under her neck he
raise her face above the level of the
water. AS her head wss lifted above
the water she gave q faint gasp aud
cried -
Don't raise me too high or you'll
snap my leg off"
Her brother was at his wits end
He could not get her lips more than
hare two inches above the water.
Every now and then q wave, hie her
than usual, would cover her mouth.
The only way she avoided strangula-
ion was to cease breathing until the
wave had receded. His arms were
steadily growing weaker. There were
some small boys on the pier and TO
them be shouted -
"Csll for help, boys, for Gods sake.
/ can't stand this much longer"
at the first cry for help Chas. john
son, of the Greenville Yacht Club, &C
companied by his son John and Albert
Lightbody, jumped into boat and two
,airs of oars soon brought them to the
scene, not a moment too soon.
"Don't waste any time" csllei
Roeder, "for my sister is pinned last
aud the tide will oover her in few
minutes"
Johnson dived and tried to remove
the stone with his hands, but could
not. Every movement of the rock
caused the girl excruciating paio, but
she bore it with fortitude, and said
Don't stop for the pain, but let me
get one good breath"
Lightbody was helping Roeder hold
uD ulS SlSlCI. JOuu JOhuoOu
ashore for hickory shad pole to use
as lever. Even with this the men
found their task still difficult.
They were afraid that sudden shift
of the rock would throw it over on the
other leg or cause the young woman to
faint with pain. The water rose steadi-
ly. Mr.. johnson had to remain almost
constantly below the surface TO get the
pole into proper position. Other men
arrived, and lent their aid. The rock
was removed, and Miss Roeder rose to
the surface.
She was put into the boat and rowed
to the club house, near by, where
stimulants we're administered till the
arrival of DR.. Limeburger. He found
the right leg broken and so painfully
mangied that he would not undertake
the task OF setting it there, and, on his
advice, Miss Roeder was taken to the
City Hospital.