Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury [Connecticut]) 1900-1903, 1902-08-28
EXCITEMENT AT wooDMoNT.
Drowning Boy Clutched His Rescuel
by the Throat--Both Saved.

by the Throat-Both Saved.
Woodmont was yesterday afternoon
much excited over what narrowly
missed being two drowning accidents.
Among the bathers at the beach was
a lad named CORNWALL who,. to assist
himself in learning to swim, had
donned contrivanee guaranteed to
support The swimmer upon the water
and keep him afoat. Whether the
apparatus was improperly donned, or
whether 1t was defective, does not APP
pear. The boy. having adjusted it,
sprang into deep water. Hardly had
he done sU when it slipped off and he
sank.
Miss Helen Barber of Derby, who
CHANGED to be on the float from which
the boy sprang, realizing his peril,
called loudly for aid Her cries were
heard by Minot c. Bradley of New
Haven, who was stopping at the cot
tage of = N~o+her, and he hastened
to the scene. He saw the boy as he
sank and dove to the rescue AS he
neared the lad, the drowning boys
hands closed upon his throat in death
grip, nearly strangling the would-be
rescuer. Once more they came to the
surface, the boys hands clenched up
on Bradley's throat, and again they
sank
Miss Barber again called for aid
ana was heard by fruit vendor
named Wild, who Glanced to be driv-
ing past Leaving his horse and wag-
on, he ran to7the beach, jumped into
a boat and showed off, only to discover
that he was without oars But there
was no time to lose as two.liyes were
in peril.
Leaning over the bow Of the boat.
Wild with both hands padded the
craft ahead. On reaching the spot he
saw Bradley and the boy in a life and
death struggle. The former was try
ing to shake off the lads grip upon his
throat, while the latter with the tenac-
fty of the drowning clung tightly to his
hold. Wild reached over and seizing
the boy, forced his hold from Brad
ley's throat, and catching the bows
bathing suit in his teeth. held him sus-
pended on the surface of the water
With one hand he seized Bradley by
the arm and held his nose above water,
while with the other hand he clutched
the boat.
h1uSil was LIE pOSiLlOu OIL IuG SGCODu
rescuer when Miss Barber's continued
screams for help brought Bradley's
brother and It. e. Abbott of Derby to
the rescue. They jumped into a boat
and began padding to the scene, drag
ging the boat anchor all the way. They
also We're without oas, and it was some
time before they could reach the other
boat On doing so they lifted Bradley
into their boat and he sank across the
seat, apparently lifeless
On getting him ashore they tried in
vain to bring him to, until at last a
woman with presence of mind brought
a barrel from the fruit vender's wagon
which stood nearby. and across the
barrel the inanimate body of the ap-
drowned man was laid. and
back and forth he was rolled until at
last consciousness returned. and after
a deathly sickness he was so far recov-
cred as to be taken to his brothers
cottage and put to bed, where he re
ceived prompt medical attendance and
his life. was saved.
Meanwhile Wild, with the assistance
Of an expert swimmer named Skinner
who on hearing Miss Barber's screams
for help hastened to the rescue. and
had managed to get the Cornwall boy
ashore. where he was revived after
difficulty.
Miss Barber, whose lung power had
played such a prominent part in the
rescue Of the two imperilled ones, sank
down, overpowered from the strain,
after she saw the others were safe.
But little later she revived and was
receiving the thankso f the Bradley
family and the congratulations Of
friends for the part she had taken in
the saving of the two lives.
There has been no such excitement
in Woodmont before this season, and
last night the Bradley cottage was
thronged with Deople to pay their re-
spects to Mr. Bradley and offer con-
upon his brave act In saw
ing the life of the boy, in doing which
Eae. .a.nn r.lar Last his xAsnxrs