The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-08-14
Goes to the Rescue Of Three
Drowning Girls.
BRAVE AND uNsELFIsH ACT.
Cool Headed self-Possessioa Saves
Two Ltves-Noble Work at the
Drowninw Of Melsna Gaseh-Plung.
ing Into the water, the Young
Woman Brisgs Her sister and
Miss Gasch Ashore-Goes for Help.

Seattle possesses q genuine heroine IN
the person Of Emma Baker, who saved
the lives Of two young women In Lake
Washington Friday evening.
her noble work OF rescue was done in
connection with the drowning of Melina
Gasch an account OF which appeared In
the Post-Inteiiigsncer yesterday morning
1t appears that Meiina Gasch and her
oder sister. Martha Gasch, Emma Baker
and her sister. Marguerite Baker. were
enjoying themselves by wading and bath
Ing near the head Of the lake. having
started On their imprompsu excursion
about O'clock in the afternoon. Three
OF the girls waded ou, into the water
considerable distance. leaving Mss En-
ma aicne on the beach. From all ac-
counts, the beach al the point where they
were s rather dangerous one full of
unexpected shelves and ruts. For some
reason. which at the time was q mystery
10 her, Miss Emma saw the three bathers
suddenly disappear together beneath the
water. II turned out afterward that all
three. wading side by side, had suddenly
stepped into water beyond their depth
Iaking IN the situation at glance, Miss
Emma did not wait to throw of her shoes
but plunged at once into the water and
made her way as quickly as possible to
the scene OF danger. She first reached
her sister. who was already sinking
Grasping her firmly by the hair she
pulled her nearly 10 the beach to a po.nt
or safety. Fortunately just here she
found long pole or scantling. which she
seized at once. and with II made her way
back toward the two other girls When
she reached the place where they had
gone under, she found Martha Gasch I'M
conscious and just sinking for the last
time. tanning the long pole vigorously
at her had the result of causing Miss
Martha to grasp 1t firmly. and Miss Emma
drew her burden ashore Meanwhile
Melina Gasch had disappeared entirely.
Miss Enma's task was not yet done.
She had on her hands two half-drownsd
girls one Of them thoroughly exhausted
and unable TO take care for herself. and
the other in q totally unconscious condi-
ton. Leaving them on the beach. she
made her way rapidly to the house OF
Henry Ohland, nearly three-Quarters Of
mile distant. Mr.. Ohland promptly rel
sponded TO her call. and raising baA
OF neighbors went to the scene of,ch
trouble. The two girls on the .egan
we're cared for. and then the seare' urob-
for the body OF the drowned gtrLhe girls
ing about near the spot wher upon
had sunk, the searchers car once sun.
broken tree top, and IL VA had become
posed that probably Men 1t had been
entangled in it; but 7 to the shore to
dragged In near enoSt found. Mr.. OIL
see 1t the body waller then constructed
and and Adolph d.d the polling. while
a raft. ohlane water vigorously with
Engier strrsy rake Their search was
iong-hanaarded, and about $40 O'Clock
al length. the body. good deal nearer
they ioI than the place where the girls
the Sink From this fact IL is thought |
mad possibly after all, the body may
TIE been entangled in the tree top.
Miss Mel.na Gasch was universally pop
aIar N the community In which she lived.
the Maple Leaf addition 10 Green Lake.
where her parents reside. She vas
girl. with a wondrous wealth or
dark curly hair. and Il grace of manner
that won her friends wherever she went.
She was just II years old.