The St. Louis Republic., 1900-08-02
RIVER CAPTAINS
BATTLE, FOR LIFE.
He Deserts His Children on a Sink
ing Barge to Save His
Wife.
BRINGS HER SAFELY ASHORE.
Then Plunges Back After the Ba-
bies. but Succeeds in Rescuing
Only One-Craft Sank in
the Night.

REPUBLIC SPECIAL.
New York, Aug. Captain Charles King
a veteran rverman, was called on this
morning 10 make a choice between rescuinS
his wife or his two children. The family
were sleeping aboard the coal barge j. L..
kiers. when the craft began to fill with
water. 1t was while all four were battling
for their lives in Newtown Creek that Cap
tain King was required to make the deci-
sion. He chose to save his wife. Later he
rescued one Of the children, but the other
drowned
Now Mrs. King and the girl are in St.
GATHERINGS Hospital, Williamsburg. suffer-
ing from symptoms Of pneumonia. and the
devoted husband, torn with anxiety for them
and grief al the death of his other child, is
on The verge of nervous prostration.
Kings barge is one of the fleet owned by
the Berverwyck Towing Company of this
city. Loaded with coal, the craft reached Il
dock at the foot of Clay street in Williams
burg on Tuesday afternoon. When the fam
fly retired about9 O'clock that night every
thing about the barge was in satisfactory
condition. and the steam pumps We're left
In good working order. About o'clock in
the morning Captain King and his wife We're
awakened by water running into their
berths. Mrs. King was at the time sleeping
with her two children, Alice S years cid.
and Jessie. 6.
One Chance for Life.
Captain King found that the craft was
filling fast. The four hurried TO the pier
side of the barge. expecting TO reach safety
In that way. The tide having run out The
sinking boat was found to be too far below
the string pieces to allow q passage. The
only chance OF safety was in jumping from
,h.. hnaf ,i,,,r lf
the pier.
Jump right in, shouted the Captain to
his wife. Swim around it. I'll look after
the children
Mrs. King did not hesitate, and she was
followed by the Captain with the children
in his charge. All We're IN their night clothes,
and at that hour Of the morning the water
of Newtown Creek is cold. Alice, the Oldest
girl. frightened at the peril and confused
at having been so suddenly aroused from
her sleep, began TO struggle. In trying to
quiet her the father lost his hold of the
youngest, Jessie. Just ut that point Mrs
King was attacked by cramps.
Save me, Charlie; oh, save me- she
cried. Il am going To drown"
1t was then that Captain King was called
upon TO make his choice-that of husband
as against parent. 1t all flashed through
his mind and in his agony he shouted tor
help The appeals from his wife grew more
urgent and gurglng sound told that she
had begun to sink in the water.
Saves Wife First.
In moment Captain King had struck
out, reached her side and aided her to
reach a string piece Of the pier. AS the
woman sank back exhausted she falterinSly
asked about the babies.
They're gone" sobbed the Captain, 1.-THE
little ones are gone
Daddy, save Daddy, save
came faint voice from the water.
1t was the last despairing plant of Alice
the oldest girl. In a second the Captain
was overheard again and he returned to the
pier and his wife with the little one clasped
in his arms.
Then the father went back to the string
piece and listened for further sounds. He
strained to get a glimpse of the youngest
girl, Jessie, and suddenly gave shout OF
joy as he once more plunged into the river
He was thoroughly exhausted little
later when his wife pulled him TO the pier
Then they all cried together at the dsap.
pointment. What Captain King had though,
to be his girl was only some driftwood.
The body of the lost child has not yet
been recovered. 1t is said that the barge
sprang a leak through the opening of one
| of the seams in the bottom.