Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-20
SKATER MEETS DEATH
LEROY A. COLEMAN THE VICTIM
OF ACCIDENT.
Popular High School Cadet Breaks
Through the Ice at the
Tidal Basin.

A fatal skating accident occurred yes
terday afternoon In the tidal basin near the
Lcng bridge. The victim was Leroy A.
Coleman. who lived at 604 Spruce street
northwest. He was seventeen years old.
The boy lost his life near the inlet Of the
basin, where the loo was not thick enough
to hold his weight and apparently re-
suited from an effort on his part to reach
the sea wall. It was about 8:46 o'clock
when the accident happened. and the poles
report that the body was recovered at $40
o'clock. Policeman Peyton had warned the
boy Of the danger of skating near the thin
Ice. and the latter kept a safe distance
from the danger points until he had almost
crossed the basin.
Elliott Mason. living at COS Spruce street.
q companion of Coleman. was with him at
the time the fatal accident occurred There
were but few persons on the ice when
Coleman and his companion reached there.
They went first to the fish ponds, where
they found the Ice was too rough for good
skating, and went from there to the basin.
c. B. Harrington of 822 9Th street and
Truman Krauskopf of go e street were
skating on the Toe together when Coleman
and Mason. both high school boys, came
along. Harrington and his companion were
skylarking when the boys appeared. and
no attention was paid to the late corners
until Coleman went through the thin Ice.
tance around him and he started to swim
toward the thick ice. He lost his hat and
turned to get 1t when Harrington called:
Let the hat 60"
coats and did their best to get the gar
ments to him in order that they might be
able to rescue him. Finding their efforts
futile they hurried to a tugboat about fifty
small craft there. but it was fast in the
ice, and all the young men could get was
a board. Returning to the break In the Ice
they started to use the board. and 1t was
about this time that Coleman uttered
groan and went down.
Aid Summoned.
A pole with q nail driven in one end was
procured, and with this Harrington was
able to prevent the sinking Of the body.
While this was being done messages were
sent in every direction summoning assist
ance. The police Of the third and fourth
precincts, the harbormaster's crew and DR..
Perkins Of the Emergency Hospital staff
responded. 1t had been impossible for Ma
son and Harrington to go on the thin ice
to saw Coleman Policemen Peyton and
Creagh co-operated with Sergeant Doyle
considerable difficulty that the rescuing
party, by aid of small boat. recovered
the body.
Life had then been extinct for SO long
tndI mounting COulU US QOn6y anu tQ0 DOuy
was removed to the morgue. Coroner New
lit viewed the body, heard statements Of
the affair and gave a certificate OF acci
dental death.
The coroner said he was satisfied that
Coleman was frozen to death and that he
was not drowned. Witnesses, he said, as
sured him that every effort was made to
save the boys life, and those who made
the effort did succeed in keeping his body
near the surface and his head out Of the
water until life was extinct.
Popular High School Student.
The parents of the body and his many
friends were shocked terribly upon receipt
of the news Of his death. They are deeply
grateful to those who rendered aid Many
sympathetic messages from friends have
been received by the parents. Young Cole
man was a pupil in the Business High
School and was member of the cadet
company. He was transferred there this
year from the Central High School He
was extremely popular with the teachers
and his school companions. The deceased
was also a member of the choir of the
Gurley Memorial Church and was vice
president of the Christian Endeavor So
ciety of the same church. His funeral will
take place from the church tomorrow after
noon at 2:S0 o'clock. The interment will
be at Congressional cemetery and will be
private.
The palhearers will be Arthur L. Reiner
Lewis q. Doyle, James Cooper, Charles
Merwin, Fred Newburg and John Goodman
all of whom are members Of the church
choir