The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-02
FIVE BATHERS DROWNED.
PARTY SWEPT INTo DEEP WATER OFF
BLACK ROCK, CONN.

Man, Two boys and Three Girls Wont In
Where the Undertow Was Stronghold
sank First and Others Went After Her
One Hoy Saved oatmnn wouldn't Help.
BRIDdEponr. Conn. Sept. Five lives were
lost this morning In a drowning accident near
| the little chapel OF 1t. Mary's-hy-t the Sea,
| which faces the Sound at Black Rock. Tho
| dead are: Elijah Middlebrook. aged 40. propri-
otor OF the Park City Ice Company. Long Hill /;
| Mary c. Mlddebrook. aged IA: Tony Kohler.
aged IL. OF Tashua Florence Hit. aged IL.
and Ethel Hit. aged IA, OF this city. All the
bodies were recovered and were brought to
this city this afternoon.
| Early this morning Mddlebrook. with his
| wife and their two children. Mary and Robert.
| left home to 60 to the seashore and have
| days outing. On their way to this city they
were Joined by Frederick Kohler. who is en-
| ployed by Middlebrook: Tony Kohler. Maggie
| Kohler and Kate kohler. brothers and sisters
| and Kate Wright. The family OF Louis Hit OF
| Grand street. this city. and the Middlebrooks
| are friendly. so Ethel and Florence Hit were
asked to join the party.
From here tho party went to the shore at
Black Rock. near the chapel at the mouth OF
Ash Creek None OF them could swim. but thev
had planned a good time digging clans and
wadinx on the sandy beach. They did not
their sport one OF the most treacherous
spots along the Sound. Where Ash
Creek empties into tho Sound there
10 a strong under current when the tide IL
running out. and. although the beach looks
smooth and sandy and has every indication OF
extending for q long distance with shallow
water, IL suddenly comes TO an end. aud then
deep water Is met. Residents In the vicinity
say that only the most expert swimmers are
safe there.
Becoming tired OF padding in the water.
some OF the party proposed that they 60 In
bathing. Bathing suits were put on and
Mddlebrook and his daughter Mary. Ethel and
Florence Hit and Fred and Tony Kohler went
into the water. The others sat on tho porch Of
the chapel and watched those in the water.
Ethel HIT was the most daring. She went
out farther than any OF the others. After
the party had been In tho water for
about an hour the tide turned and be-
gan to run out OF the creek swiftly.
Ethel. who was far beyond tho others. was
heard to cry out. She sank from sight. and the
others in the water started toward the spot
where she disappeared. Before they knew II
they had left the sandy beach and were In deep
water. They struggled franticaly to gain
their footing. and. those left on shore say. lost
their heads completely. A few minutes after
the cries OF Ethel were heard all was still. The
strong undertow had carried five OF them
down. Fred Kohler was the only one who sue
ceeded in reaching the shore.
Mrs. Middlebrook and the others. who had
not gone into the water, watched from the
shore. but were unable to render assistance.
When Kohler had reganed his breath. after
his struggle in the water. he started for Black
Rock village to give the alarm Timothy Con-
nelly and Frank OHara both OF this city were
camping out further up the creek. They had
q boat near at hand and started for tho scene.
With the help OF others they recovered all the
bodies. AS the bodies were taken from the
water they we're laid side by side on the porch
OF the chapel.
Mrs Mddlebrook was completely overcome
and physicians who went to the beach were
called upon to attend her. The bodies OF her
husband and her daughter were thela recov-
cred. Nothing would prevail upon her to leave
the beach until they were found. and when
they were brought ashore 1t was necessary to
hold her to prevent her from throwing herself
into the water.
Frank O'Hara. one Of the men who tried to
rescue the drowning. says there was man in
q boat near by and that he could have saved
two or three OF the drowned II he had made an
effort. O'Hara says he called to this man as
he and Connolly were rowing up TO row over
and help those people for Gods sake" and the
reply OF the man was TO go h" Then he
rowed AWAY around the point.