Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-09-01
HAD A REMARKABLE ESCAPE.
DIR. Carter Helm Jones and Family
Came Near Drowning.

The Detroit papers have been full Of
Jones and his family. of Louisville, KY,
from drowning in Lake st. Clair.
While fishing in the lake, a mile from
shore the boat suddenly capsized, and
DIR. Jones. his wife, daughter 90 years
old. and boy C years old were thrown
into the water. DIR. Jones, while
Richmond boy, had learned to swim in
the James. and had become a most ex-
pert swimmer. BY herculean efforts he
succeeded in getting his wife and chill
dren on the bottom of the upturned boat.
and kept them there for three hours.
until help came, though they were seve-
raj times swept off by wind and waves
and were only saved by the Intervention
of a merclful Providence.
The Detroit Free Press had the follow
ing editorial on the incident:
The name OF Jones is familiar Ameri-
can patronym. that enjoys an enduring
celebrity in the annals of nautical ad-
venture. How Commodore John Jaul
Jones. OF the Bon Homme Richard, gave
the English an impressive lesson In the
valor and pluck of an American sea-
fighter off Marlborough Head in Septem-
Der, l7z9, is a brilliant incident of our
nations earliest naval activity that has
been paralleled only by recent achieve
ments OF American courage and skill at
sea The remarkable naval battle be-
tween the Bon Homme and the Scraps
has lasting place in the glorious chron-
aeles related TO listening children. and
wives pray for boys with hearts as bold
as he who won imperishable fame In his
glorious victory over Captain Pearson.
SO much for the intrepid Jones OF the
revolutionary period. century and a
decade have not impaired the heroic fibre
of the family, according TO the narrative
OF the Rev. Carter Helm Jones's strenu-
Gus and noble struggle for the lives Of
his family i'm the waters OF Lake ST.
Clair. as published I'm the Free Press OF
yesterday. To battle against death I'm
the chilling lake for three hours to seek
the safety OF three loved ones IN such
q precarious and seemingly hopeless stu
etiOn until tile weakness Of exhaustion
was upon him. and finally TO accept the
frail chance OF securing assistance for
the wife and little ones. In their despe-
rate plight upon the overturned boat. by
attempting TO swim a mile TO landau
this called for the exercise Of "a spirit
OF pluck, courage, and self-forgetfUlness
as real and splendid as impelled the
Jones OF 1873 10 throw himself against
a powerful British fleet with his inferior
ships
And Jones. the minister, came of con-
queror over death as Jones. the mariner,
did An oar thrown from skiff was
all that he asked. as the rescuing craft
sped 10 the relief OF the family upon
the capsized row-boat lie took his
chances. even in his benumbed and ex-
hausted condition. until the safety OF the
others was assureG
but Dr. Jones will not accept all the
decorations for this noble work OF
Strength chivalry, and sacrifice. He In
sists that the others We're loyal lieuten-
ants IN the grim engagement with Death.
Inc mother, reduced 20 helplessness by
we shock and the effort TO right the
p,at suggested that the husband give
hls attention TO the children and lei her
a.hS u necessary 10 save the children.
me niue bog and girl remained perfecslv
.ain throughout the struggle Ia regain
as ooa, and sang 10 cheer the father
hs "e TRUCK Out upon what seemed T.
", VAIN quest for help.
- KEY, Lit. Jones and his brave u,t,o
&snny w1il continue their stay In his