Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-05-07
Wednesday, May Z, 1902.

swimmer; but hampered by his cloth
es. He got into the deep water, Sue
ceeded in seizing Stevens and raising
his body above the surface; but af-
ter moment Stevens slipped away,
The troubled water on the surface in
dicated the commotion below. After
what seemed an age, Mr.. Black came
slowly up, and with difficulty crawleI
to the bank. He was utterly exhausted
and half drowned; but. at once COM
menced stripping himself with q view
Of going back to the boys. Here is
what he had to say about 1t himself, In
answer to questlons:
II really do not believe I can give
you an intelligent statement. You'll
have to ask some of those who were
there. Although 1t Is all plain enough
now, at the time I hardly appreciated
the danger Of any one else except Ste
vens. did not know who he was then.
and in the excitement do not think I
knew who the others were. Anyhow,
managed to get hold Of Stevens's arm
and lifted him up. thought for lit
tie while that I had him safe; but he
got away from me and went down at
my back The next thing I knew he
had hold of my suspender, and went
under with him. Then became stran-
gled, and began to try to look out for
myself. After a little I felt his hold
give way, and with much difficulty I
was able to crawl up the side of the
channel into shallow water. When I
got to the bank I stripped, intending
to go back; but I was so weak and
nervous, too, maybe, just couldn't do
it."
While Mr.. Black was struggling In
the water, Cadet Morrow was running
about tine bank hunting for a plank.
After what seemed an age but was In
reality only minute or two, he launch
ed 1t over the spot where the boys
went down. Then, single handed he
dived, brought up the body of Stevens
and fioated 1t to the edge Of the chan
mel. Here he was met by Captain
Stephenson, who had walked out in his
clothes, and Mr.. Black, who had re-
covered sufficiently to again be Of as
sistance, and together the three bore
the body to land. With the assistance,
and under the direction of Captain
Stephenson, the other cadets resorted
to the usual expedients for the resusci-
tation Of the drowned. Cadet Nor
row returned Immediately to his plank.
and few minutes afterward succeed
ed In recovering the body Of Nichols,
with which was repeated the same pro-
cess as in the case or Stevens. Tne
body Of Lindsay was more difficult to
find; but Cadet Morrow brought 1t up
also after Mr.. Norman Black had gone
down for 1t twice without success.
AS to how .ong the bodies were in
the water could not be definitely as
certained. Mr.. Black does not think 1t
was longer tnan fifteen minutes from
the time the first cadet went down un-
Morrow thinks the time was much
shorter than that; but Is not able to-
give a definite statement. Captain
Stephenson Is also very doubtful as to
the time, and SO are all the others who
were questioned on that point.
Immediately after getting to land
and before any of the bodies we're re-
covered, Mr.. Fred Black arranged to
send the news to Yorkville and ask for
physicians. Drs. w. G. White and ].
D. Mcdowell were the first physicians
to reach the scene. Drs. M. J. Walker
and ]. I. Barron arrived a few min
utes later. The doctors found that
Captain Stephenson had already caus-
ed to be done practically everything
they would have been able to do had
they been present when the bodies
were taken out. They, however, con-
tinued the process Of chatting the bod
les and attempting artificial respira-
ton. The work was kept up for two
hours without the slightest sign Of en-
couragement, except that one Of the
doctors thought he detected a faint
heart beat. DR.. Walker opened vein
in the arm Of Stevens and got flow
of blood; but the blood was black, show
ing hopeless lack Of oxygen.
AS utterly futile as 1t proved to be,
and as they evidently deemed 1t from
the first, the work of the four physi-
clans was most faithful and intelligent.
The probable reason Of their non-suc-
cess was the chilled condition Of the
bodies and the long period during
which circulation had been stopped. In
other words, had the water been as
warm as during July or August, their
chances would have peen increased.
Upon the first news Of the disaster
people began to collect at the pond
from Yorkville and the surrounding
country. Within less than an hour
there were something like. a hundred
present. There was but little evidence
Of idle curiosity, however. They were
attracted by the awfulness Of the dis
aster and a hope Of being of service.
They put themselves at the disposal Of
the doctors and performed willingly
every task assigned.
Mr.. T. J. Nichols, father Of one Of
the drowned boys, happened to be in
Yorkville when the news reached here.
He hurried to the scene and worked un-
til the doctors informed him there was
no hope, when he broke down. Capt.
and Mrs. Lindsay, the parents Of an
other one Of the boys, were also on the