Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-07-21
HOBSON SAVES
GIRL FROM
DEATH "
BY ALMOST SUPERHUMAN Eff
FORT NAVAL CONSTRUCTOR
HoBSON SAVES YOUNG WON
AN FROM DROWNING.

ST. LOUIS, No, July 17.-NIiss Mamie
Cert, daughter of Jacob Cert, 1907 La
Sale street. was the center of a sensation
yesterday afternoon at the Plaza Chau-
tauqua. Illinois, and playing an equally
important role with her In the dramatic
event was Naval Constructor Richmond
P. Hobson, the hero Of the Merrimac at
Santiago. t
The gallant career of the naval officer
was further demonstrated by the dashing
manner in which he rescued the young
woman from drowning.
Miss Cert. who is but 10 years of age,
and one of the most popular graduates Of
the st. Louis high school of recent years,
went to Chautauqua yesterday with a
party of friends. She is on the program
for the concert next Saturday afternoon,
and left the city thus early in order to
add an outing to the engagement
During the afternoon she was one of a
party that was being entertained by Wal
ter c. Bringhurts the st. Louis sculptor,
on his steam launch. the Camille Others
in the party were Misses Camille Bring
hurst, Alma and Eugenia Filsinger,
Tenice, Nettie and Clara Ewald, of this
city. and Mary Scott. of Perseyville.
Girl Fell Overheard.
The boating party was enjoying a quiet
ride on the river, and were deep in their
own offairs, when, of a sudden, while
momentarily arising from her seat, Miss
Cert toppled and fell into the Mississippi.
A cry OF horror arose from her COM
paniona as the speed of the boat carried
ii far from the unfortunate girl.
The river at this point is deep, and
the young lady remained under the water
shirt waist and a heavy broadcloth skirt,
and when she appeared on the surface 1t
was seen that the weight Of her clothing
was dragging her down.
She could not swim and her only ef-
forts were frantic, but fruitless, clutches
at the air. She sank below again and the
shrieks of her girl friends on the boat
were heart rending.
Hobson to the Rescue.
It happened that Naval Constructor
Hobson, who was spending a day at Pr
aZa, was swimming in the river near by
and his attention was attracted by the
screams. With powerful swinging strokes
he swept through the water to the drown
ing girl.
As she rose again to the surface he cir
cled about her struggling body and threw
his big arms around her. The ease with
which he had glided Though the water
gave a moment of confidence to the on
lockers.
But the desperate struggles of the girl
when in hts grasp showed that the rescue
would tax his strength to the utmost. She
was wild with fright and waved her arms
in frenzy of fear. Her clothes were by
this time soaked and very heavy.
The sailor Unanswered so as to get one
arm free and, with the other encircling
Miss Cerf's waist, he partially lifted her
out of the water and started for the shore.
The weight of the writhing young lady
bore HIS body beneath the waves.
With one arm cleaving the course ahead
of him he pushed onward with his legs.
His progress was necessarily slow, as
viewed by the anxious crowd on the land
and on board, but there was progress and
the pair moved on in wavering motions.
Desperate Duel With Death.
As the water became more shallow the
girl became more quiet. but the heavy
weight kept the seaman beneath the wa
ter Only his head was visible until he
was able to stand upright on the bottom,
and then, as he laid his burden tenderly
on the shore he gave a deep sigh of ex-
hausted relief as cheers and whistles burst
forth on every side.
Miss Cert recovered after short time
and It was found that her fright was the
essence of her injury.
When seen later she expressed the deep
est gratitude for her splendid rescue, but
was unable to explain the cause OF her fall
from the boat.
This fact led a number of those at the
Assembly to profess to believe that she
had Intentionally undergone the advep-
ture in order to enjoy a rescue by the ma
val hero. 1t was pointed out that the
point selected for the accident was the
one best suited for the deed, and its de-
movement, and considerable emphasis was
made on the feature of her lack OF abil-
ity to explain how she fell overheard or
why she arose from her seat at the time
she did.
Accident or Design7
1t is only fair to say, however, that most
of the critics who espoused this theory
were of Miss Cerf's sex, and II might not
be improbable that the idea was due to
jealousy of the young lady in having been
closely embraced by the famous Hobson.
At any rate. the appearance of the girl.
when she reached the shore in a dropping
mass Of drenched f1nery was proof positive
that the landing was the most pleasant
feature for her.
Miss Cert is a sister of Blanche Cert
a WEI known newspaper woman of New
York. who is at present connected with
Town Topics, who has written several
novels and some years ago had a meteoric
career as an actress.
49, AWAN ARHRR -