The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1902-10-06
LIFE LOST IN SURF
ON SHORE OF KAHALA
JAMES LUCAS DROWNED WHILE
CANOE RIDING-BODY OF BOY
NOT RECOVERED.

James Lucas, the 17-year-old son of
Mr.. and Mrs. Charles Lucas, was
drowned while canoe riding near I<a-
hala last Saturday afternoon The
tragedy was rendered all the more
dramatic from the fact that the child's
grandmother, Mrs. Mary Aud, was
watching the boy in the canoe and saw
him drowned.
In company with a native youth,
young Lucas went fishing near Kahala
which lies between Diamond Head and
Koko Head. There was a big haul
made. The surf was running unusual
ly high and Mrs Aud, who lives near
Niu, had some apprehension of the
danger. She warned the boys not to
go out surf riding but to pull the canoe
out of the water. This was done Lat
er she looked for the canoe and discov-
cred that it was missing. She then saw
that the boys had taken the boat and
were making their way out through
the waves to the edge of the reef, with
the evident intention of riding some
of the biggest breakers.
Mrs. Aud secured some field glasses
and watched the two boys in the canoe
She was aware of the danger The
surf was fully twice as high as usual
and as the canoe was a small one the
danger of being capsized was greater
than usual. She waved a piece of red
cloth for the purpose of attracting the
attention of the boys. The native
saw the signal and spoke to young
Lucas. The latter said that they would
ride in on one of the breakers. Before
the canoe could be gotten in position
a big wave broke broadside on the ca
noe and threw the boys into the wa
ter.
Both came to the surface, but an in
slant later went under again as chop
py wave swept along. A big breaker
followed. The native dived under it,
but young Lucas could not do So the
boiling waters had engulfed him, and
he was seen no more. The native boy
came to the surface but was overcome
for he was unable to struggle against
| the water and was picked up uncon-
scious by a rescue party.
Although reScuers made every effort
to find the body of young Lucas their
efforts were unsuccessful. The native
says that he felt young Lucas's feet
strike his back when the last big roller
came along. 1t was at first thought
that perhaps young Lucas had been
rendered unconscious by being struck
on the head by the outrigger, but this
appears incorrect. Though a good
swimmer the boy was not strong
enough to cope with the big waves
Chester Doyle had charge of a num-
Der of Japanese sampans yesterday in
a search for the body. Numerous ma
tives and other friends of the Lucas
family Joined in the search but no
trace of the bod was found. A reward
of $500 for the recovery of the body was
offered. 1t is more than likely that
sharks have devoured the body as the
waters on that side of the island are
infested with the sea wolves. Emil
Elbrecht, the bicycle rider, was drown
ed over year ago near the place
where Saturdays sad affair occurred,
and sharks devoured the body of Ell
brecht, a portion of the remains being
found in the stomach of a big bark
that was subsequently caught off Ka-
kaako.
Mrs. Lucas the mother of the boy,
is now absent on Hawaii, but a wire
less message was sent to her. She will
arrive tomorrow on the steamer Maui
ma Loa. Young Lucas was pupil at
the High School and was a great fav-
orite.