New-York tribune., 1903-03-02
RESCUE CAME TOO LATE.
Speed7oay Spectators See La6orcr
Family Destitute.

Tn full 1,IAu, Of a number of spectators who
were enjoying the sport on the Speedway yes
terday afternoon, and after a gallant struggle
on his part to save his life and on the part OF
others to aid him. Edward Doyle. coal shovel
Ter in the employ OF the city. was oro"heo III
the Harlem River.
Doyle's duty was to shovel coal from barges
for the use Of the waterworks at High Bridge.
There is a. pier just above the bridge where
the barge ties up and the coal is landed Just
before ]: 80 p. m. yesterday Doyle was going TO
work To reach the barge he had TO walk
short plank which connected the boat with the
shore AS he crossed the plank he started to
take of his coat and in so doing lost his bal
ance and fell into the river.
On the barge were Patrick McKearn. of No.
1927 Amsterdam-ave. and Patrick Taglan. Of
No. 14IO Amsterdam-ave. AS he swept
bv the barge Taglan threw a wooden bucket, to
which was attached a rope, within Doyle's
reach Doyle grabbed the bucket, but the rope
was twisted from Taglans grasp and Doyle
hoated beyond reach.
! Taglan and McKearn ran to the Speedway
and met Mounted Policemen Maloney and Nc
Kean. The policemen were as unable to aid the
drowning man as the others. but they ran along
the bank shouting encouragement to Doyle. tell
ing him aid would soon reach him.
Meanwhile Doyle had pulled himself across
the bucket, which served as good support on
account of the air chamber that had been
formed by the turning of the vessel upside down
The water was icy cold, and the unfortunate
man must have been getting gradually weaker
as he swept along the swiftly running tide.
for his cries grew fainter and fainter. Under
Washington Bridge he was carried we'll away
from the reach of those who would have aided
him from the shore. Scores OF people were
keeping up with Doyle. but at this part or the
river there is not a boathouse for a long
distance and no help could be sent to him.
The first boathouse above washington Bridge
is kept by Joseph Lieson. The policemen gal
loped up there and asked him to put out IN
boat to rescue Doyle. At this season OF the year
the Harlem River boatmen are getting their
boats in order for the coming summer, and most
OF the boats seams are uncaulked. II was so
sank almost Immediately. Then he put out an
other This also partly filled. but at this mo-
ment DOYLE came floating by. Seeing there was
no time to lose. Leson took his life In his hands
and pulled out after the unfortunate Fellow In
the fast sinking boat
"a "a I,ieson reached Doyle and dragged him into
his boat Doyle was unconscious and blue from
the cold As soon as the shore was reacned the
fwo policemen set to work giving nrst ala 10
fhe unconscious man. while some one else sent
in an ambulance call to the J. Hood Wright
Hospital
Ponud that aid had reached Doyle too late. All
cfEortK failed 20 resuFcitate him. The doctor
said he vas undoubtedly dead when first taken
fror. the water. having succunoed to the snocK
az the immersion and exposure
Doyie lived Mt No. 40 Amsterdam~aVe. He
,aaxex widow and six children. the eldest being
elGvor ar twelve wears old TheY are IN almost
6esfIfute circrIrnsf snc4s one OF the cnifdren De-
ing in need of medical aid