The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-14
VANISHEDONASMOOTHS SEA
ooNEH ISLANDS TALE OF THE FATE
OF REE MEN.

David Dalton, Lire Guard, starts TO swiua TO
sandy bHook-Two fen In n Lifesoat Ac-
company Don't Report Arrival
80 All the Islanders Mourn Them es LOST
All Coney Island was excited last night over
n report that Capt. David Dalton, one OF the lie
guards on the beach, had disappeared In the
ocean in an attempt to swim from Coney
Island TO Sandy Hook. He started at .
O'Clock yesterday morning in an attempt to
make a record for himself for the distance and
had not been heard from at Coney Island up TILL
midnight. He may have boon picked up by a
vessel or landed at Sandy Hook, but the Coney
Islanders believe he is rowned.
The beach was lined with natives ana visitors
last night and the life guards were on patrol In
surf boats.
The lights on tho big imitation Ferris wheel
we're kept burning all night to guide theswimmer
in case he should be still floating on the ocean or
had been taken in the boat by the two men who
accompanied him, and who were to pick him up
in case Of exhaustion. Searchlights were flashed
over the water from tho steeplechase apparatus
and the old iron pier in the hope OF discovering
the boat or the swimmer.
Capt. Dalton is 80 years old, and a sturdy man
in the water. He has spent many years as a
professional WINNER and teacher. and has long
been employed as n life guard at Ravenhall's
bathing pavilion. which is the last one on the
beach toward Norton's Point.
Fred Peters of New Bedford, Mass, and Walk
err Arnard of Boston are also life guards at
Ravenhall's place. Ex-Judge Peter Ravenhall.
a brother OF tho hotel proprietor. veri-
fed tho story of Dalton's disappearance
last night. He said that Dalton had
been talking for some time of taking the swim.
and had said he wanted to make a record for
the distance. Dalton expected. so the Judge
said, that by floating out with the eob tide for
IL l,l,,ro 1Aa x.nNtl ~. an prtnI nttf Inrnnd Snnhv
Hook, and when the tide changed he could
come In with 1t, and; by sxerting himself, make
is said, to telegraph from Sandy Hook announc-
ing his arrival there. He was ready ut = o'clock
yesterday morning, and Peters and Arnard IN a
him. All three wore bathing suits. and they
took no money. They had a package OF sand
and n flask of gin in the boat. Capt. Dalton
became impatient. so the story goes. and took
to the water about ten minutes before Peters
He was swopt out in n southeastcrly direction
by the swift cbb. tide, so Judge Ravenhall says.
and before the lifcbOat started he was almost
out of sight of those on the beach. The boat was
soon so far away that the watchers on the beach
could not see ii, 80 some of them went up In the
observatory to catch IL possible a sight OF the
swimmer.
Int Il was Ws,t tSsnt soi m til he ,o sft Sf III, the o s5s1s wasn
and although Judge ftavenhall says he
had a, pair Of powerful marine glasses.
were plenty of fishing smacks and yachts
in the course the swimmer and rowers took. and
of these craft. At any rate, the Coney Islanders
said Dalton had not been heard of up to 1
o'clock this morning.
Dalton Is said at Concy Island to have q long
record as a life saver and last night stories of
his heroism were told by the score. One of the
stories told was that he was charged with
unprofessional conduct by another guard
last week. An elderly woman. was caught
in the undertow. tho narrator said, and Dalton
and the life guard, who had that particular sec
tion Of the beach to look after, started for her
at the same time.
Dalton, the narrator said. got there first and
saved the woman. The other guard was much
chagrined and made some remarks about DIAL
said TO have retorted:
II would go to HI to save a life"
He is said to have a wife and family in Eng.
land. and both Peters and Armand have families
down east.
Some conservative people at Coney. Island
were saving last night that Dalton and his com.
panions were probably enjoying a laugh at the
expense Of the anxious watchers.