The evening times., 1899-07-10
A STRUGGLE IN THE DELAWARE
Thrilling Experience of Men in a
Raging Storm.

Philadelphia, July l0.-t was long
battle for life-minutes seemed hours to a
party of men who were facing death in
the waters of the Delaware, with the storm
of wind and rain raging about them in
the darkness of Saturday night. There
were three OF them, all in the full vigor of
life happy in anticipation OF an afternoon
and evening pleasure. as they sailed away
from Penrose ferry bridge. two TO return
exhausted, one to remain behind. They
were young men-John and Anthony Voll,
brothers. and Otto Vanolan. The former
were saved, the latter's body is somewhere
in the river.
One Of the rescued, John Voll, tells the
story with saddening voice of their terri
bic experience when all seemed lost. They
were off shore below the noted Black Farm
when the gale burst upon them. The water
Iashed high over the sides of their little
boat until it was ankle deep. Bail it out
as fast as they might, it still rose until
with a tremendous gust blowing. it careen-
ed and the party were all overheard. They
were cool in what they did, with nc
thought of what was before them.
All of them could swim. Strong, hardy
fellows. they clutched the boat and tried
to right it. The task was too much fol
them They must wait till the storm
passed. The shore was too far distant tc
reach il in the darkness. Each encour-
aged the others. Three attempts were
made TO get the craft in such position that
they might climb into it. II was fruitless
| labor. Vanolan began TO weaken. One OF
I the brothers, John, caught the neckband
of his vest-all were coatless-and held
4 him up. Then the cries of the men for
help went dying out with the wind. There
was no response.
Suddenly John voil felt an awful grip
upon his arm. The finger nails of Otto
were being buried IN his flesh. He felt the
! form of the companion he was endeavorine
! to save grow heavy. He spoke to him. but
! without reply. The storm was unabate6
! in its fury If aid would only come
Vanolin seemed to have lost consciousness
/ There was a lurch of the boat against
them and he was gone without a word
Then, too late for one there came CLEAN
of light. 1t flashed from a Lincoln Parl
steamboat. The shouts of the brothers
were heard. They were swimming in ar
exhausted way toward the pleasure craft
/ and the latter was drawing nearer.
IL reached the men struggling for theil
! lives, with nothing in the way of time Il
spare. A rope was thrown to the two
They tried TO catch it, but failed In
few minutes, however, they were by tn
boats side. A ladder was run down ant
! the VOLS were soon on deck. All tha
could be done for them was done to max,
them recover from the effects of the lon,
struggle in the water. When they becam
stronger they told of Vanolan's death
John Voll barred his arm to show up an,
down 1t the blue marks OF his lost com
panion's gripping.
The drowned man belonged in Ney
York. He had been in Philadelphia bu
three months, and was working In a bak
cry at Ninth and Cross Streets with Johl
Voll, who lives at 914 Tree Street Th
stranger leaves a. brother and perhaps
family, because only week or SO ago b
stated to a friend that he had wife an
two children in New York. He was be
tween twenty-three and twenty-four year
OF age short of stature, and we'll bull
The crew of the police boat tried late O
Saturday night to recover the body, bu
with a depth of more than forty feet Q
water and a swiftly running tide not muc
could be done in the way of graphing.