The Washington times., 1901-08-26
A MISSIEP LED TO DEATH.
Mrs. w. Leroy Pyles Drowned at
the Marshall Hall Pier.
Lost Hrr Footing While Attempting
to Speak to Her Mother on the Boat
Probably stunned by the Fall
Unable to Find Body Last Night

to speak to Her Mother on the Bont
Probably stunned by the Fall
Unable to Find Body Last Night.
The body of Mrs. w. Leroy Pyles, wife
of DR.. Pyles OF Providence Hospital, lies
PIT the bottom Of the Potomac, somewhere
near Marshall Hall, Md. Mrs. Pyles was
drowned last night about $50 o'clock. at
the close Of a day Of recreation, spent
with her hsuband at the river resort,
No trace of her remains to be found
last night. but efforts to recover the
body will be resumed this morning. DR.
Pyles and Mrs. Ferry, mother of Mrs
Psies. remained last night at Marshall
Hall, because of the accident.
Yester lay DIR. Pyles and his wife went
do-n the river on the morning boat,
reaching Marshall Hall about noon. Pre-
viously it had been arranged that Mr.
and Mrs. Berry. parents of Mrs. Pyles,
who live on Ninth Street southeast,
should go down on the evening boat and
return 10 the city last night in company
with their daughter and her husband.
Upon their arrival DIR. Pyles and his
wife had dinner and spent the afternoon
quietly. reading and strolling about the
grounds. As the time for the arrival of
the evening boat from the city drew near
the couple walked down on the pier. Few
other people We're about at the time. al
though quite a crowd went to the Hall
on the evening boat. AS the Manchester
neared her wharf, DR.. Pyles and his wife
were standing or the long pier retching
out into the river. Mrs. Pyles held in
her hand satchel containing several
small articles, which she had brought
with her. This sstchel was the cause of
the drowning OF the young woman be-
fore the eyes of her husband and par
onts.
Prior to the landing Of the steamer. Mrs.
Pyles seems to have recognized her par
erts. standing on the lower deck, not far
from the gang plank. which had not yet
been lowered. When the plank was
thrust out from the steamer, in order TO
effect a l;.1iing for passengers. Mrs.
Pyles, satchel in hand pressed forward
toward the side of the boat. DR.. Pyles
was a few feet away. Momentarily, his
attention appears TO have been diverted
from his WIFE who made fatal misstep
as she stretched forth her hsnd to pass
the satchel she carried to her father.
Several persons had already passed over
the gang plank, and Mrs Berry was about
TO do SO. when her daughter fell into the
river, between the side of the Manchester
and the pier Mrs Berry saw her daugh-
ter plunge into the river. and uttered a
cry of <>rror. Next she stood at the edge
of the wharf, hesitated a moment, and
WAS about to jump into the river after
her daughter, VINO had already disap-
psared.
Among the few who passed onto the
pier ahead of Mrs Berry was A S. Col
var. the lawyer. He heard the cry for
help, and turned in time to see Mrs. Ber-
~ rush toward the end of the pier. Mr..
Colyar seized Mrs. Berry, already frantic
from grief, and a struggle ensued. Mrs.
Perry is said to have fought on the edge
OF the pier, and was only prevented from
jumping into the river after her daugh-
ter b. sheer force.
Meanwhile the purser of the Macales-
ter. deck hands, and others. ran to the |
assistance OF Mrs. Pyles. She did not
rise to the surface at all, probably be-
cause OF the swift tide running at that
time Nevertheless, lanterns were Sc
begun for the body Of the woman. Dr.
Pyies, MIR. Berry, and others, cared for
Mrs Berry, who was taken from the pier
and to the hotel at the Hall, where she
spent the night. DR.. Pyles rendered med
ical aid. and Mrs. Berry slowly recovered
somewhat from the awful shock incident
TO the drowning.
For an hour officers OF the Manchester
and others searched and dragged for the
5ody of Mrs. Pyles without success. The
Macalester was held at the Hall long
after the usual time for starting for this !
city, but at late hour the search was
abandoned until today. It is expected
that the Harbormaster and his crew, in
the police boat. will go down this morning !
10 the Hail and drag for the body of Mrs. 1
Pyies
A rowboat was brought into service |
during the search for the remains last l
night. On the impulse of the moment, |
following the cry OF Mrs. Berry for as /
sistarce, George Z. Roberts of 9i6 New I
YORK Avenue northwest, jumped over /
board after Mrs. Pyles from the gang 4
plank OF the steamer. Roberts seized a |
rope which was flung 20 him from the /
Manchester. and after a vain attempt TO 4
dive for the body of Mrs. Pyles, was /
was then pulled out Of the river Owing
to the swift current Roberts himself had 1
a narrow escape from drowning He was |
of the water
II Is believed by many that Mrs. Pyles |
struck her chin heavily on the side of the
steamer in falling. and possibly was |
stunned or rendered unconscious So /
rapidly did she sink out of sight that
even Roberts, VINO saw her fall and who !
leaped INTO the river a moment later was I
unable to md trace of her. No effort was 4
neglected by officers of the steamer To-
ward saving the young woman. and az |
terBard. toward the recovery of her body /
Mrs. Pyles had been married about two
years. She leaves no children. Her nus
band graduated last year In medicine. /
ana Is one OF the resident staff of physI-
clans at Providence Hospital. DR.. Pyles |
Is well known. especially in the SOUTH
eastern section Of the city He is a son
OF J 7 ID. Pyles, the grocer. ana lives
a. a., - Eleventh Street southeast Mrs. /
Pyles was twenty-five wears az arc
j. Harry Stewart, Of IA H Street south
west, witness OF the accident. sad last
hlsnt mat Mrs. Pyles did not rise 10 the
surface at all after falling into the rive
Mr.. Stewart said the accident hapDened
SO quickly that few realized at once what
nad occurred Several women became
hysterical and there was considerahIe
confusion. although officers Of the steamer
did everything possible TO prevent undue
excitement. No blame is attached to the
stsamDoat company on account of me
accident