The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-02-13
NORCOTT'S NARROW ESCAPE
YOUNG DRUG CLERK ALMOST
 DROWNED YESTERDAY r. M.
skated Onto Thin Ice Under tho Coun- try Club Bridge and Was Rescued With Difficulty Human Fridge of No Ayaii-Was Unconscious When Taken from the Water.

Taken from the W hteBs
 Percy E. Norcott, a drug clerk enl- ployed at Sullivans drug store, SIS State street, had a most marrow escape
 from death by drowning at o'clock yesterday afternoon while skating on Lake Whitney. It seems that the young man, who is about twenty years Of age and resides with his grandmother at No. Elm street Ventured somewhat too close to the thin ice immediately under the bridge spanning the lake in front of the Country club. This ice was not thick enough to support Norcotts weight and he broke through and dis appeared from sight. Several people connected with the Country club and others who were skating on the lake at the time saw the occurrence and their cries attracted MT. Putnam, who lives near by.
 It seems that MT Putnam has assist ed in number of similar accidents and is prepared to lend assistance at any time He heard the shouts for help, and, taking a rope which has served the purpose of saving the lives of unwilling bathers from death in the icy waters of the lake, he rushed out onto the Coun- try club bridge At the same time aI student procured a boat near by and dragged it across the ice to the place. He pushed it into the opening and jumped into it,
 All of this time young Norcott was struggling desperately to rescue himself h,1t I,i of forts were unavaiing by reason of the fact that the cold water was fast numb- ing his members and rendering his strength unavailing. He sank twice, and as he arose the third time the boat which had been pushed into the water, was quite near and he would have been dragged into it. but another student lowering himself into the boat with view of assisting in lifting the drown ing man into the boat, stepped too much on one side of it and the boat was over turned This precipitated himself and the other student into the water, so that it was then necessary to rescue three instead of one. This was finally done by passing the rope around the body of Norcott and the other two CdlcIlinS npll bl bhC I'pN bliIii IiiNS were dragged ashore by MT. Putnam and others.
 All of this occurrence in the water had taken place immediately under the Country club bridge and about twenty five feet from the shore. The men were hauled up on the bank near the Coun- try club and carried into that building, Dr. Winchell was called to attend the men, and he found young Norcott un- conscious and suffering very much from the exposure The attaches of the Coun- try club worked heroically on the young men and by means of hard rubbing and the using of stmulants the two stu dents so recovered that they were able to leave the club house shortly after. pr. Winchell. however ordered that young Norcott remain in the club house over night
 No serious results are anticipated, but it is regarded that young Norcott had a most miraculous escape, and had it not been for the very timely and proper assistance rendered he would have been drowned. An attempt to rescue the young man was also made by five men forming a human bridge and spanning the opening in the ice, but they were unsuccessful.
 Mr. Norcott is an orphan, his father having been drowned several years ago near Long Island.