The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-01
DROWNED WHILE BATHING.
Four Women Lose Their Lives in the
Surf at Ocean City, n. j.

ATLANTIC CITY, n. J.. July 31.-The
most tragic drowning disaster of the sum-
mer season at any New Jersey resort oc-
Cured Just about noon today at Ocean
| City. across from Longport. and lear this
city. when four young women. daughters
Of well-known Germantown and Chestnut
Hill families were lost while bathing in
the surf The drowned are:
MISS BIRDIE LoNsDALE, aged Ii years
MISS JENNIE LoNsDaLE, OF Chestnut Hill,
Philadelphia.
MISS VIRGINIA LOWE, aged % years. and MISS
ELSIE LOWE, aged %. daughters Of Prof. Clenen;
b. Lowe, OF Germantown, Philadelphia.
Miss Elsie Lowe was an assistant libra
rian at the University OF Pennsylvania.
Two others of the bathing party. Mrs. s.
Mcndelson Meehan. OF Germantown. and
Clement B. Lowe. jr., aged fifteen years.
youngest son of Prof Lowe, we're rescued.
The four young girls and young Lowe
had been the guests Of Mrs. Meehan, at
her summer cottage, and during the bath
ing hour were all in the water together.
al had gone out quite a distance. where
the rough breakers succeeded in sweeping
two of the girls of their feet. There is a
strong undercurrent at that place. Their
cries attracted the attention OF the others
OF the party, and other bathers at once
went 10 their rescue.
Mrs. Meehan was the first TO give the
alarm. Life Guard Foster was at Eleventh
Street. and was soon hurrying toward the
scene with his life buoy. He was followed
at a short distance by Life Guard Lee.
Foster reached the drowning bathers first.
and seizicg Mrs. Meehan, brought her TO
Lee, who reached the beach with his charge
in safety and returned to the rescue. He
was followed by Walter Marshall. Of
Bridgeton, N J. BY this time Foster had
succeeded In reaching the boy, Clement
Lowe whom he passed on to Lee and Mar
shall
Foster then returned to the spot where
| the inanimate forms Of the other bathers
were floating, and still swimming, seized
the bodies OF Birdie and Jennie Lonsdaie.
and struggled with them to shore. aided by
Marshall and Lee Doctors were sum
moned The bodies OF the rescued Lonsdaio
girls were stretched upon the sand under
the board walk and willing hands aided In
the work of trying to bring them back to
life. Meantime nothing had been seen OF
the Lowe girls, and although there were
plenty OF rumors that they had come In
and were safe, search failed to discover
them.
Shortly after noon the bodies of elsie and
Virginia Lowe were found by Alexander
and Chaancey Peacock, OF Philadelphia.
These two young men swan out where the
bathers were last seen, and founf the
bodies tangled in a mass Of seaweed They
brought them ashore.
Despite the utmost effort of all the ply
sicians. the unfortunate girls could not be
revived The Lowe sisters must have been
Immediately drowned. for nothing was seen
! Of them until their bodies were recovered.
The coroner was notified at once and an
inquest was held at o'clock This eyen-
| ing the relatives OF the drowned girls ar
rived and took charge OF the bodies.
Tho terrible accident has caused gloom
over the busy little resort and many gym
| pathizers called at the Meehan cottage to
| express their sympathy.