New-York tribune., 1902-08-26
HOLLENBERG COMES BACK,
NEARLY DROWNED, HE SAYS. HE WAS
SAVED AND CARRIED TO SEA
BY A FISH BOa.

Henry W. Hollenberg. the missing New-fork
piano salesman who left his home in New
Rochelle on Tuesday, August II, and whose
clothing was found in bathing house at Coney
Island two days later. Unexpectedly returned
home at l o'clock yesterday morning.
Emacated and delirous from fever, the miss
ing man says that he put ashore from
fishing schooner which dropped anchor in the
Sound off New-Rochelie at midnight and which
then sailed for New-London.
The story of his remarkable experience told
by the salesman to his wife is as strange as
any romance of the sea He says that he knew
nothing about James A. Gray, OF Brooklyn,
who drowned the day he disap-
peared and who it has been supposed was with
him. The only person of that name he knows,
he says is James K Gray of Little Rock, Ark
He is very sick man." said Mrs. Hollenberg
to Tribune reporter. yesterday. Il have not
attempted to go into the details Of his expert
ence. He says that when he went in bathing
at Coney Island he must have swum out too
far. for when he attempted to return he found
the tide strong it kept carrying him out
to sea. He fought with the as hard as he
could, but after a while he felt himself sinking
and became unconscious. He remembered moth
ing more until he regained consciousness long
time afterward in a bunk in the forecastle of
fishing smack from New-London My husband
says that the sailors were kind to him, for he
was i'll. The only remark that he heard them
make about his rescue that he clngng
to a piece of wreckage or a broken spar about
four miles out to sea- when they saw and
cued him. The boat it's way the
fishing grounds The captain of the boat said
that 1T would be impossible for him to turn
back, and added that he would have to keep him
until he sighted boat for New-York No boat
was sighted and that is the reason my husband
didn't get home sooner. He had to stay until
Saturday, when the fishermen set sail for New
London. Then they offered to take him to New
York, but he asked them bring him to Glen
Island. so they landed here about midnight on
Sunday and rowed him over"
Asked about the Of the boat which
brought her husband TO New Rochelle and also
bout the crew and skipper Mrs. Hollenberg re-
piled:
My husband has been in such state that l
have asked him only few questions. / doubt
much II he would know the name OF either the
boat or the captain He delirious most of
the time while aboard We shall find it all out
however in a few days because he gave his seal
ring. a family heirloom to the sailor who
brought him ashore. He wanted to give the
man something and that was all he had he
told him TO bring the ring back in few days
and he would redeem II.
Mrs Hollenberg ridiculed the suggestion that
her husband might have been away on a round
of dissipation.
The police of New Rochelle are inclined to
believe Hollenbergs story They say that they
know of no reason why should have sud
denly disappeared. Hollenberg's condition also
bears out his story. Dr. Littlewood says that
he must have passed through a terrible
perence. for. although ne is a strongly built
man. he Is at present weak and nearly in