The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-11-15

In the afternoon shortly after
luncheon Miss Rush expressed desire
to take a swim in the surf. This was
one of the main reasons for her stay
ing at Coronado, as she was an ardent
swimmer. During the last season the
surf has been unusually high and the
breakers were rolling in on the beach
with great force. Several persons
warned Miss Rush of the danger, but,
as she was d trained athlete and very
strong, she felt no fear. Accompanied
by Wilton HeriOt one of the members
of the company, she entered the surf
at point about midway between the
hotel and the bath house
The couple had been in the water
something more than half an hour,
when suddenly huge breaker struck
Miss Rush, carrying her off her feet.
The undertow was strong and despite
her frantic efforts to regain her feet
and battle with the waves she was
being carried out to sea. Her escort
was quick to recognize her danger and
Immediately started to her assistance
Miss Rush was some distance from
shore and the breakers rolling in
struck Heriot time and again until he
was nearly exhausted.
T. r. Pitcher. one of the clerks of
the hotel. perceived the plight of the
couple, and, without a moments hesi-
tation plunged into the water after
flush, and. graSping her bodily
started to shore. HeriOt was also in
need of assistance and was helped to
shore by Pitcher Frederick Jaffa and
ii. B. Smith and Mrs. Smith. an resi-
dents of this city, were Strolling along
the beach at the time of the accident
ana when Pitcher reached the shore
with Miss Rush and Heriot assisted
in dragging them up on the beach and
away from the waves
ne men started the work of resusci-
tatlng Heriot and within a short time
the latter was able to walk to the hotel
Without assistance. although very weak
In the meantime a message for rnedi-
cal assistance had been sent to the ho-
lei. Dr Lorfni. the house physician
quickly responded and was followed
shortly afterward by Dr. Gof. The
physicians saw Miss Rush was in a
dangerous condition and that her
chances of life fere slight No effort
was made to remove her from the
beach. as every minute was considered
valuable and the physicians were soon
at work trying every aid known To
lnedlcal science in an effort to restore |
respiration
Their work was in vain however. and !
the physicians announced that there |
was no hope. although they continued /
efforts to resuscitate Miss Rush No
pulse could be detected. About this time
Mr. Truss. acting manager of the com
pany' appeared on the scene. having |
been notified by one of the members
IF the company of the accident Dur-
ing all the time the PHYSICIANS Were
working over Miss Rush on the beacb /
she was covered with a canvas. About
s:30 O'Clock she was carried to the ho-
tel and placed in a hot bath. In addi I
tion 10 kneading and rolling the body. |
several powerful injections were given. /
but all were without effect
At 3:45 o'clock Miss Rush was nro-
nounced dead, but efforts were sim
kept up to restore respiration The
physicians continued their work for % |
minutes longer and then announced
that all life was extinct and gave uD
their task. DR. Lorini believes that
death was due to heart disease. which
had been superinduced by the excite
ment 1t is thought that Miss Rush
stayed in the water too long and was
taken with a cramp This.
at the same time that the
breaker struck her, frightened her and
was the real cause of her death
An examination of the body showed |
that there was no water in the lungs
which indicates that death was due to
heart failure The body was brought
q cross the bay and taken to undertake
ing rooms Coroner Morgan was sum-
noned and after hearing the stories told
BY the eye witnesses announced that I