The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-07-16
{. Uhlbrecht Crowned
at Makapuu.
VAIN EFFORTS TO SAVE
Well-known Young Man Lost il
Sight Of His Companions
Sunday.

Emil Uhlbrecht, a young man of
family, met death by drowning in the
heavy swell and breakers of Makapuu
Point yesterday morning while he was
engaged in searching for sea-shells.
The details of his fate and the heart
rending efforts of his three comrades
| to save his life are pathetic in the ex-
treme.
Yesterday morning bright and early
Uhlbrecht, strong and hearty, went
out beyond Koko Head in company
| with Harry idoore, D. E. Hayes and a
young man named Rylander, riding
| their bicycles. After arriving at point
where they could not proceed on their
wheels they left them and worked
their way along the rocks, looking for
sea-shells. Finally they saw some rare
specimens out among the coral and
rocks in the breakers and all undress-
ed, keeping only their shoes upon their
feet for protection against the sharp,
| jagged coral.
Uhlbrecht and Moore carefully made
| their way out to the place where the
| shells lay, working their way with eau
| tion from rock to rock as the swell of
the ocean was very heavy and threat
ened to sweep them off their feet. At
this particular place there is no beach,
nothing but a long line of rocks rising
jaggedly and precipitately from the
| sea, leaving a deep abyss of water
Lyanging from ten to- twenty or thirty
| feet The surf rushes in with terrific
roar. The outsweep is as strong as the
inward roll and by the peculiar forma-
ton of the shore, the water eddies
round and round like maelstrom.
| All went we'll for a while AS each
wave came in the two men braced
themselves and prevented the surf from
carrying them off their feet Moore and
| Uhlbrecht were about six feet apart.
| Suddenly wave. bigger and fiercer
than any which had preceded Ii, came
upon them 1t rolled over both men,
completely submerging them, They
hung on to the coral with hands and
feet. Moore's hands were torn, but
he held on grimly. He was almost suf-
focated and thought the wave would
never recede. An interval of a few Sec
onds sufficed for him to catch breath
and a glimpse of the spot where Uhl-
brecht had been standing. Moore glanc-
ed just In time to see the Inflated man
torn from his hold upon the rocks. Ther
Moore was again struck and battered
by the receding wave. He fought des.
| perately for his life and managed tt
cling to his support. Almost drowned
again, the wave finally passed over hin
and left him in an exhausted condition
He looked for Uhlbrecht. The latte
was struggling for life in the mfds
l 80 lxpr
sound escaped his lips. Moore felt tha
his companion was lost, and before tn
next wave came in he crawled up Z
a place of safety, knowing that he to'
would be drowned If he attempted Z
save Uhlbrecht, as he was too weak t
make an effort. The only reason Moor
, can assign for his own safety Is that n
had better place to cling to. He says
and Hayes and Rylander reiterate hi
statement, that no man, no matter nov
strong swimmer he be, could live Il
such a whirlpool of water. They woul
be dashed upon the wall of rock.
In the meantime Hayes and Rylande
, looked about for piece of timber o
rope with which to throw to Uhlbrecht
D but neither was to be had. They undi
their suspenders and knotted them to
E gether. but to no purpose. Uhlbrech
, was being carried further and furthe
| out by each receding wave. When n
was forty feet away from the rock
ledge he began to show signs of depart
. ing strength. Those on shore yelled
Keep on treading wateri" He obeye
them as long as he could. But he coul
. make no progress. The eddyiDg waite
carried him off his feet and whirle
him about like a cork.
s Finally with an agonizing look. Uh
{ brecht sank from sight. As his hea
: was submerged the right hand wa
thrust high above the water and NUT
. farewell was waved to his companion
. on the shore.
d Hayes who is a strong man physical
G ly, broke down while he was telling HI
story to Deputy Sheriff Chillingworti
I who had responded to telephone ca
for assistance. The iast sight of Uh
!, brecht as he slowly sank beneath tn
waves almost unstrung the three WI
had watched the deceased struggl
n against death for six minutes. To then
n they said. 1t seemed more like houi
:. than minutes. They waited for twent
minutes for the body to be washe
= in toward the shore, but 1t never cam
n The maelstrom continually worked
1, further and further away from tr
shore Hayes at one time thought Uh
D brecht was drifting in, and he rushe
l. down to the water edge. Lying fis
NJ upon his chest, he worked himSelf o,
over the water as far as his strengt
u would allow him. His feet were dug II
IN to the rocks for support. He chung
one hand and then another, wildly hol
- ing against hope that the unfortuna
young man would fioatin toward hir
l. At one time he was coming within h
In grasp, but as suddenly was washt
back Hayes knew that If the wat
did bring Ulbrecht in IL would be
At dash him against the rocky wall, pc
= haps to his death, but he hoped TO get
firm hold upon him before that happe