Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-08-04

volunteer life saving crew at SaviI
Hill beach, Dorchester, Mass, for tn,
protection Of bathers and swimmer:
who visit there during the summer
months, says the Boston Herald.
For the past three years there Ia.
been a volunteer crew Of life savers
stationed at the pretty beach at the
head of Dorchester bay. but made VI
of men. The crew was very enthusias
tic for two years. but last season il
seemed to lose interest in the work and
early this season disbanded.
The heroic rescue on June 10 by Miss
Agnes L. Kersey of boy named Ed
ward ellis. together with her previous
rescue and the saving of life by other
| young ladies at the Sayln Hill beach,
| suggested the organization Of girls
| crew OF life savers, and few days
ago the corps was instituted. with Miss
Agnes L. Kerscy as captain.
1t IS the first organization of its kind
ever formed in the world, and the
young ladies comprising the crew are
being roundly congratulated for taking
| the initiative in such n humane cause,
and in Worcester and one or two other
places the formation of other crews Of
young women IS now in progress.
| The Ladies' Volunteer Life Saving
corps of Savin Hill beach, which IS the
name adopted by the plucky young
| women, will engage in regular boat
| drills and rescue work and will be
| trained to the work of restoring the
| apparently drowned and otherwise fit
ted for the duties they may be called
| upon TO perform.
Such experienced instructors as Peter
S. McNally, james c. Hurley. Thomas
r. Delahunt. John w. Glenister, Wal
ker \. Smith and VI. ]. Leary will de-
vote much time TO fitting the crew for
all kinds of emergencies. 1t Is conf
IDENTIFY expected that 1t will give good
account of itself during the season.
The people of Dorchester are deeply
interested in the corps and have prom
Used 10 lend every assistance to pro
mote its efficiency. The young women
of the crew are very enthusiastic. They
are above ordinary intelligence and
have n full understanding Of the dan
gers they may he called upon To meet.
Following are brief sketches of the life
savers:
Miss Agnes L. Kersey, captain. is
nineteen years old. has saved several
from drowning 10y swimming ont to
them and towing to safety. She was
born in Milton. where she ut present re-
sides. Miss KCrscy is of very rugged
constitution and delights in all kinds
of athletics. She learned to swim three
years ago under the instruction of
Peter S. McNaIly and Walker y. Smith
and is very proficient in the art, swim
ming all styles and performing most
difficult fcatS with ease and grace.
She never seems TO tire in the water.
and the distances she swims would
make many strong male swimmers
tired to even think Of them.
Miss Kcrscy's girl friends call her
the amphib." for she spends almost
as much time in the water as out of it.
In the summer of 1902 she rescued a
ten-year-Old girl az Savin Hill who had
got beyond her depth, and last summer
she assisted several to the shore who
had become exhausted. Miss kcrscy
comes Of Il swimming family, having
two brothers and two sisters who are
experts. During the summer months
she lives with her sister. Mrs. Thomas
Delahunt, at Dorchester, short dis
lance from Savin Hill beach.
Miss Mary i. Kerscy, sister of
Agnes, is Il member of the crew. She
is capital swimmer. strong and
plucky. She is fearless in the water.
She says she would swim daily
throughout the winter but for the fear
that she might be regarded as of I'M
sound mind. y year ago Mary rescued
a woman and Il child who were thrown
overheard from 4 catboat in an upset
and swan with both for fifty yards I'M
til assistance arrived.
y charming young woman is Miss
GeOrgina Milne. seventeen years old.
born in RoXbury of Scotch parentaGe.
Il graduate of the Edward Everett
Grammar school. dorchester. and the
girls high. She lives at Dorchester
and is very athletic, can run like 4
frightened deer and can swim untiring-
". She learned 10 swim ut Sayin Hill
beach about four years ago. Two lit
tie girls owe their lives to GeorGina's
presence OF mind and bravery. She
rescued them ut Savin Hill beach last
summer. both rescueS being made on
the same day. Miss Milne is clever
o3rSwoman. 4 good cauoeist. can sail Il
Catboat and is an enthusiastic baseball
fan.
Margaret Mills. eighteen years old.
whose home is in Dorchester. is tall.
10 swim since she was thirteen years
old and is thoroughly familiar with the
waters Of Dorchester bay. She is
plucky and will render good service
when required. Miss Mills is interest
cd in al kinds OF athletics
The smallest member OF the crew is
Miss Annie II. Grieve OF Dorchester.
She is nineteen years old, five feet one
inch i'll height and weighs ninety-six
pounds. She has been swimming since