Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-08-17
lie persisted IN TIE SURF
Charles r. Bliss of Washington
Drowned at Ocean City.
WAS CAUGHT IN A STRONG EDDY
While He Was Swimming Out
Beyond the Breaker.
Heroic Rescue of Three Other Persons by
Bathers Under Conditions of Great Ex-
element on the Beach-One of the Rescu-
ers a Youth Fifteen Years of Age.

Ocean City, Md, Aug. 9.-At l23
O'Clock today Charles r. Bliss, cashier
of tho New England Mutual Life Insur-
ance Co. of Washington, d. O., was
drowned while bathing in the surf at
Ocean City. He, with several others,
was swimming out beyond the breakers.
Mr.. Bliss was caught in an eddy and
carried out still farther. Several per-
sons swan toward him, but the current
was SO strong they could do nothing to
help him, and he was drowned.
Mr.. Bell of the life-saying crew heard
Mr.. Bliss cry for help and ran to the
station to get out a boat. While the
life-saving men were making ready sew
raj other bathers who were beyond
their depth became exhausted and be-
gan to cry for help. Among these were
Misses Bessie Hunting and Alice Hunt
ing and Miss Geeting of Baltimore, and
DR.. W. M. Newell of Washington.
At this juncture Sidney Wilson of
Snow Hill, youth of ID years, boldly
rushed out into the breakers, swan to
Miss Bessie Hunting and succeeded
heroically in bringing her ashore.
Young Wilson'S efforts and cries at
tracted the attention of the crowd to
Miss Alice Hunting, and the Rev.
Francis Y. Nichols of Princeton plunged
to her rescue. He caught at her as she
was going down the last time, but
missed her. He then Owed and held
her up until Mr.. Gantz of Baltimore
and Mr.. Strauss went to his assistance.
They all three managed to get ashore
with the young lady. 1t took some time
to resuscitate Miss Alice Hunting. The
Misses Hunting were rescued in front
of Mount Pleasant Cottage.
In the meantime DIR. W. NJ. Newell
had become exhausted about 100 yards
below, in front of the life saving station,
near where young Bliss had gone down.
Raleigh DeShilds, son of Major De-
Shields of the Atlantic Hotel, swan to
DIR. Newell and though merely boy
held him up till young Sid Wilson went
to help him, and they both brought
the doctor safely ashore with the assis
tance of the lifeboat, which had just
been launched. Raleigh DeShields
also pulled Miss Geeting out of the
surf almost exhausted.
The lifeboat started to look for the
body of Charles R. Bliss, but as the
crew we're passing the first breaker Boz
Purnell of Ocean City and Charles
CAN'T of Baltimore saw the body, and,
pluneing from the boat, brought it tt
the surface. The body had been in the
water about an hour, and all efforts al
resuscitation by four doctors present
proved in vain. 1t was taken to one Of
the rooms of the life-saving station
where it was embalmed by Undertaken
j. E. Wise of Berlin. The family have
been notified.
Mr.. Bliss was 81 years old, gradu.
ate of the Washington High School, al
honored and trusted business man, ant
much thought .of in Washington. II,
Ii | on East Capitol street with hi
two sisters.
Too much praise cannot be given tn,
young men, Raleigh DeSbields and Sit
Wilson, for their heroism. In helpin,
DIR. Newell, DeShields, who is vel
known in Washington, had his shoulde
and neck badly scratched by the docto
in his desperate clutches. yet he man
aged to Keep clear and hold him up Til
Wilson arrived Nichols, CAN'T an
Strauss are also highly compliments
for their brave work.