Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1901-08-05
WATERY GRAVES
FATE OF THREE
G. Grier RatCIif, Former
NiImiBgtOnIaH, a Victim
OTHERS WERE TWO GIRLS
Two We're in Bathing When Girls
We're Overcome RatcIiii Died in
Attempt TO Rescue

Miss Ethel r. Phillips. OF Baltimore;
Miss Jennie White. of Whitesburg
Md. and G. Grler Ratclifl, formerly
OF this city, but until his tragic death,
resident of Salisbury. Md, where he
was engaged in the practice of law
with James e. Ellegood. We're drowned
in Sinepuxent bay, near Newark. Md.
ON Saturday.
Six years ago Mr.. Ratciff was in
the employ of the Adams Express Com
pany here and consequently was we'll
Known among Wilmingtonians. A. o.
II. Glier city editor OF the Every
Evening, Is a cousin.
The story OF the tragedy is told in
the following special dispatch from
Snow Hill
"A party. composed OF those who
were drowned and Miss Abby White.
daughter OF King V. White. OF Powell
vile, Wicomico county; Miss Iris Tull.
OF Marion. Somerset county. and S.
King White, vice-principal Of the Sal
isbury High School. drove to the land
ing OF Gordon B. Jones to spend the az
ternoon Shortly after arriving there
they all went in bathing. The shore
is sandy and the bathing Cor those who
are familiar with the spot is consld-
lered entirely safe, but at one point the
bottom dips suddenly into the chan
mel. The members OF the party had
been advised of this and Miss Phillips,
Miss White and Mr.. Ratcliff wore
bathing a short distance from the
others. and without realizing they
were in danger suddenly found them
selves beyond their ddpth. They cried
for help and King White and Miss
{Iull Immediately started 10 their as
sistance, but before they could reach
them they, too We're struggling in
water over their heads. Neither Mr..
iiatcllif nor Mr. White was an expert
swimmer, but Mr.. White succeeded In
getting Miss Tull to a place of safety
and started again to the assistance OF
the others.
Inc young women In the meantime
had become thoroughly frightened. and
In their efforts to save themselves had
entwlned their arms about Mr.. Rat
clite's neck Before Mr.. White could
quite reach them he saw all three sink
for the last time.
"As soon as they disappeared from
the surface. Mr.. White rushed to the
shore to procure a boat. at the same
time calling for help. Two men who
were working on the shore also had
reached the landing and went in the
boat to the place of the accident. but
it was about three-Quarters OF an
hour before the bodies could be found
The other members Of the party were
in a thoroughly exhausted condition.
but did all in their power to resusci-
tate their friends.
The alarm had been given and
large number of people went to the
shore TO assist in the work. The Rev.
+. X. Moore was among the first to ar
rive. and says that Mr.. Ratclim and
Miss Phillips were still warm and that
he was doing what he could to revive
hem and does not know the condition
|of Miss White, on whom others were
working. 1t is said that her body also
was warm.
The nearest physician was at Snow
Hill. twelve miles away, and could not
be reached in time to be OF service.
Miss Tull could not believe that her
friends were dead. and her grief when
at last all hopes Of resuscitating them
was abandoned. was pitiful. Tele-
phone messages were Immediately sent
10 Berlin and Snow Hill announcing
the accident The bodies were taken to
the Methodist Episcopal Church. at
Newark, and undertakers from Berlin
at once summoned. The body of Miss
White was taken to Snow Hin. the
nearest to the home Of her parents.
and was later taken there A particu-
larly sad feature of Miss Whites death
is the fact that she was on her way
home to visit her parents, stopped at
Powellville to go with the party yes
terday afternoon and had not seen her
family. She lived in Snow Hill in
1898 and 1899. but for the last two
years had been employed as a stenog-
rapher by the United States Fidelity
and Guaranty Company. OF Baltimore.
The bodies Of Miss Phillips and Mr..
Ratcliff were taken to Berlin and later
to their homes
Gordon B. Jones took the surviving
members Of the party 20 his home,
nearby"