Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1899-07-29
OCEAN CITY.

| The gaycty of this city was suddenly
changed to that of gloom Saturday
afternoon by the circulation of report
that two boys, Arthur and James Bir.
ney, who are summering here with
their parents, Mr. and Mrs Arthur
Alexis Birney, of Washington. were
drowned The report was circulated from
the life saving station. where a telephone
message had been received from the
Isle of Wight station. opposite which
the drowning occurred. In few min
utes the station here was crowded with
weeping parents who had boys out. and
feared it was their sons who had met i
sad fate. No particulars accompanied
the first message. but after Il little delay
II was learned that the drowned boys
We're those heretofore named There
Were three of the Birnev boys William
twelve years old; james, fourteen wears
old, and Arthur sixteen yearS-ind they
had gone down the bay on a pleasure
voyage. They had just turned their
course homeward and were "heating'
back when James hat blew off. and in
his effort To get it he fell overheard
His older brother. jumped over torcscue
him. He swan to him. and after great
effort managed to get him nearly to the
side of the boat, when he became ex-
haustcd and could not 20 further, 30
the two went down together The
twelve-year- old brother in the boat.
who is not able 10 swim, could do
nothing but watch till he saw his broth
er finally disappear below the surface
of the water Here the lone boy displayed
remarkable presence of mind In the
middle of the bay he planted a buoy
which he constructed with a hatchct. Il
rope and shingle 10 mark the spot
where his brothers sank After wait
ing few seconds 20 see if these would
serve the purpose intended. which they
did. He cut the anchor rope aud stecred
his craft To the nearest shore. from
" sitA II nv Ndlhfh w itit i~it III W lGitt
station and made known the above facts.
The captain of the station AT once tel
ephoned the sad news To the mother of
the drowned boys Thinking all her
children were drowned. She was over
come for awhile, but soon recovered
sufficient to realize that one was safe
In few minutes half dozen searching
parties aboard rs many yachts were on
their way To the scene. where they were
life-saving station. accompanied by the
youngest Birney boy. who told them the
best he could what had occurred. and
went with them 10 the scene. They
divcd and grappled till night. but were
unable To find the bodies Other parties
went ont ut night, and continued the
recovered the following morning and
taken to Ocean City Life-Saying Station
where they were prepared for burial
by Mr. James +. Wise and sons. of
Berlin. and on Monday were taken to
Washington. Mr. and Mrs Birney and
family accompanied the remains and
will not return To their cottage again
this season.
Capt Rabbit, of the Steamer Ocean
City. brought up more than half a hun
dred passengers from Chincoteague last
Sunday.
The Ocean City Fishing Company
broke AL previous records ever made by
them before by shipping last week to
the Northern markets two hundred and
seventy barrels of fine trout.
Joe Cans, celebrated pugihst, with
his manager. A. Hereford. who have
been sojourning in our city. where Cans
was training for sparring contest
which took place nj Coney Island last
Thursday, gave an exhibition To n
crowded house here Monday evening.
Mr.. and Mrs. Wesley Ward. Of New
York. are spending their honeymoon At
ocean city.
DIR King from Washington is occupy.
ing his handsome residence on Atlantic
Avenue.
y party of young men fourteen III
number, from Washington. u. c.. have
been camping at the lower end Of the
board walk These young men make a
pleasant addition 10 the society Of the
beach and their departure will be re-
GREETED by all
-Four members of the Camphene Club
of Philadelphia, have been here
making arrangements for the entertain
ment of members of their club which
will spend the first ten days Of Scptem-
Der at this place.
Ocean City still batheS i'll the light of
prosperity. Long may this state of af-
fairs continue is the earnest wish of the
writer.