The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-08-04
Terrible Disaster BefallS
 Pleasure Party.
Ledgard Scott, Bruce G. swinson and William Brewton the Victims Little Daughter of Mir. Scott
 Severely Shocked.
Advertiser Bureau,

Advertiser Bureau,
 Mobile, Aug 8.
 At Point Clear yesterday afternoon bolt of lightning out of a squall cloud killed three men, all well known, almost without warning. The dead are:
 Ledyard Scott, aged 42, prominent in business and social life in Mobile.
 Bruce Granville Slmson, aged g. young Engiishman located and engaged in developing lands at Beaver Meadow.
 William Brewton. aged r, young man. engineer on the Florodora, and living In Mobile.
 Miss Erwin Scott, the 10-year-old daugh- ter of Mir. Scott, was severely shocked. though not injured to any great extent.
 It was about 2:30 o'clock and the dinner hour was not yet over at the hotel at the Point when the tragedy occurred. Shortly before the tragedy Mir. Scott his daughter, MT. Simson, Engineer Brewton and Charles Baldwin, entered the launch Florodora, for a ride on the bay. They went directly out from the pier for some distance and. as an eye witness states, just as Brewton picked up the anchor to cast it off, the bolt of lightning descend- ed. Brewton was seen to fall to the deck There was commotion on board and then MT. Baldwin jumped into the yawi. at tached to the launch, and began rapidly pulling shoeward.
 A number of young men, headed by Wtli McCreery, entered a launch and started to the ill-fated craft. When they neared Baldwin he held up three fingers, which told the fatal result of the lightning $ bolt. The party soon reached the Floro- | dora and brought her ashore. It was found that the lightning had struck on the starboard side and ran diagonally on ] the port side. On the deck were the three bodies and on the breast of MT. Scott. | face downward, was the little girl. Brew | ton, who was instantly killed, was lying l in the stern, his clothing torn into shreds. Physicians who had hastily come on the scene, found that there was yet life in the bodies of Messrs. Scott and Simson and they worked heroically for two hours, hoping to revive the unfortunate men, but l to no avail.
 l Holcombe Quill, who was among those who went to the rescue, on boarding the Florodora picked up little Erwin Scott. who, as he tenderly raised her in his arms, said: Please don't hurt me-" She was brought ashore and given over to the kindly care of Mrs. Charles T. Hearin, who did all possible to assuage her great l grief She was not seriously injured. The three bodies were brought to Mo- | bile shortly after 8 o'clock last night and taken to an undertaking establishment and prepared for burial. The first news | OI the QiSdSbST ISdSHVU hSAC Gt Ssoo ~ SA~SA@ yesterday afternoon by the Mobile and | Fort Morgan telegraph line and told that | Mir. Scott had been killed outright and two others fatally injured. Intense ex- citement prevailed and anxious persons awaited to learn the names of the other victims. There was a great throng at the river landing when the Carney arrived. Mir Scott was the best known of the three victims. His early life was spent at the home of his step-father, Hon. Will lis O. Clark at Beaver Meadow, and when he had grown to manhood he went to l Japan, where he held a position on the ! staff of the faculty of the Imperial Uni l versity of Japan. He returned here with his little daughter, to allow her to be reared among her people. He embark l ed in the real estate business here. and prospered. He was a first cousin Of the | lamented Hon. Erwin Ledyard of Mobile, and Mrs. E. M. Hudson of New Orleans He has relatives in Nashville and St. 1 Louis His remains, after being pre- pared by the undertakers, were removed | to Elks Home he being an officer of that organization. where they lay until this afternoon. when they were inferred. William Brewton was son of Mir and Mrs Simon Brewton of No. 402 South Roy | al street He was a native of Baldwin county, and a most exemplary young man. 1 Though young in years. he was consid- | cred a capable man to handle launches and had the highest confidence of his em- ployers.
 Bruce G. Simson was a native of Eng land and. with George M. Bressler of Beaver Meadow, was engaged in land promoting and cattle raising. He visited Mobile often and had many friends here.
 The deadly squall which visited Point Clear gathered about 2 o'clock and in half hour had increased its fury and a1s complished it's fatal work. The squall crossed the bay and strucK Mobile about o'clock bringing heavy rain and great wind. In the city the lightning made it's presence felt striking at least two places. The house. No. 55 New St. Francis street. | occupied by Mrs. billiard, was struck ana somewhat damaged.
 Walter Alexander, young negro. reslo- l ing on Adams street. second north or | Calhoun, was seated on the back gallery with his sister when a flash of lightning stunned him. stripping off his trousers and shoes One of his feet was split onen and he was otherwise burned.
 The remains of Mfr. Scott were inferred in Magnolia cemetery at noon. followed hv A large concourse of friends. The Elks held services over the remains i'll their home, after which Rev. Mathew Brewster. rector of Christ Episcopal Church, officiated in the last offices for the dead. There were many handsome floral designs.