The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-07-18
RIVER GIVES UP
BODY OF LEE
Absence Of Lights RespOn-
SiblH for Accident.
LAUNCH UPSET BY STEAMER
One Man Is Drowned and Another
Nearly Loses His
Life.

under command OF Commodore Sutton.
the body Of Edward G. Lee
from the river in the vicinity Of the
Ferns wharf. foot of ? Street south
west, about 9:45 o'clock.
IL was taken TO the mOrgue by the
men. and Coroner hewitt
viii hold an inquest over the remains
n the morgue at 10 o'clock Wednesday
morning. No arrangements have been
made for the funeral.
Witnesses to the accident which re-
suited in Lees death all agreed today
hat it was caused by insufficient lights
on the steam launch or dinkey on
which Lee was standing when the tiny
twelve-foot craft was struck by the
steamer Harry Randall, commanded by
Capt. J. T. Barker.
Criminal Negligence.
Men who have spent their lives along
the river front said today ii was a won
der that hundreds of similar mishaps
had not occurred before. The death Of
Lee will probably call forth a regulation
persons operating small
crafts on the river at night TO display
signal lights aft as well as forward and
to have them large enough TO be seen.
Captain Blake sent the following
statement to the local steamboat in
spectors this morning:
'Messrs. White and Wright, United
States Local Steamboat Inspectors.
Dear Sirs: On my return from
Beach. July i, 1904, about L 20
9, CLOCK In the evening, the steamer
Harry Randall Is said TO have run over
a small naphtha launch. l saw no boat
or lights. but heard a crash under the
wheel. The accident happened while
making the turn to go into the slip at
River View wha - Washington, d. c.
Yours, very respectfully,
y. T. BARKER,
Master 5tel mer Harry Randall,
Randall LII e, Washington. d. c"
Wm Known Yachtsman.
Edward zee was a paperhanger. and
lived at sos Seventh Street southwest
He was well known in local yachting
circles.
Several days ago he was invited by
Comm <f1re George II. Bright. of the
Capital Yacht Club. 70 accompany a
number Of members of the organiza-
ton down the river or a two days out
ing. He accepted. On the return trip
his life, and Mr.. Bright came near
being drowned.
There are a number of contradictory
stories told Of how the accident hap
pened- HarbormasteE Sutton and Capt.
+. S. Randall say they have heard the
true version OF the tragedy. II fol-
lows;
About u:2O o'clock the steamer Harry
Randall, Bound from Colonial Beach.
was coming up the river, and was pass
ed by the river steamer Samuel J. Pen:z
al GtesbO-O The PentZ had a lighter
load, and quickly went several hundred
yards ahead Of the Randall.
Saw the Mist.
Captain Barker says after the Pentz
passed mis- boat ne saw the lights Of :he
city reflected upon the sails Of a small
schooner yacht. which proved to be the
Mist, under tow OF the twelve-foOt
launch. which had been rugged Up with
an engine. He saw the sails, but no
lights. and did not see the launch at all.
because 1t was hidden from view by the
Mist.
he says he stopped the Randall ell
tirely when ne got zoo feet behind the
schooner yacht. After allowing sufil-
cient TINE. as he thought, for the Ran
dall TO clear the Mist, he prepared IL
make the turn TO go into the River
View wharf, where the Pentz was al
that time anchored. ASS soon as he had
sounded one bell for the boat 10 20
slowly in. ne heard d crash, but believed
II was a plank or log. and expressed
that belief 10 the quartermaster on The
boat
When the boat was tied up at its land
Ing some one informed MIN that the Ran
dali had crashed into a steam launch
and drowned " o men. An investigation
was started, and IL was ascertaIueo thai
I 90 wa ne drowned
Rrigh. had been rescued ny A. II. Greg
DRY, on board his yacht, the Louise.
Body Found
Harbormaster Sutton's men set I;
work Immediately and worked All nigh
without success. This morning they
went at Il again with renewed energy
The graphing hooks caught the body
shortly before 10 o'clock. The wheel nGi
struck the man on the head just abOV,
the right eye and inflicted a deep CAST
about two inches long. Other than ttIli
there were no injuries.
Mr.. Bright told his story last evening
He said he and the other members o.
the club had been down the river as IA
as Marshall Hail. and were near hOm'
when the accident happened. When tn
Mist rugged with two top mastS and Z
flying jib reached a point little allow
the Arsenal point, the wind died dow
and the little dlnkey launch was place.
in front OF the Mist TO tow ii 10 IN,
wharf
When the launch was pulling tn
schooner along at a fair clip. and IN
tow line was drawn taught. the swell
Of the Pentz forced the launch over nea
the path OF the Randall. The Randall
SAYS Mr. Bright. was not seen until ]
crossed the bow OF the launch.
Paddle Wheel Strikes.
The men aboard were trihe excited
Before they had time 10 make up thcl
minds what 20 do, the paddle wheel O
the Randall struck the launch. II We
smashed into small bits. The heavy en-
CINE sank to the bottom Of the river.
Lee was thrown into the water, an
I Immediately sucked under the sides O
the Randall Before he could make on
/ stroke away from the boat. he wa
( struck on the head by the paddle whee
and drowned.
! Meanwhile Mr.. Bright was throwing
of "a light pair Of trousers which n
wore over his bathing SUIT, and dive,
over 20 rescue his companion. II
/ reached position about i've feet iron
! the paddle wheel, and heard lee cal
for help.
/, Seeing he would sacrifice his own If
I and not rescue his mate. he started 70
ihe shore When picked up by GregCr
I lie was exhausted and unable to talk
J The passengers on the Randall an
B those on the schooner yacht We're a!
most thrown into a panic and Wer
/ quoted with much difficulty.
/ Capt +. j. Randall said this morAing
81 have the utmost confidence !