Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1904-10-13
Sad Drowning Accidents.

A very distressing episode occurred
at Virginia Beach, near Norfolk, last
Sunday. in which Miss Bette Wilson,
of Charles Town, daughter Of the late
Hon. VIM. L. Wilson, lost her life by
drowning. At the same time her Els
ter, Miss Mary Wilson, also of Charles
Town, Miss Louise Latimer, formerly
of Shepherdstown, Miss Mary Simp-
son, of Buchanan, and Miss Eliza Dill
lon, of Indian Rock, Va, were rescued
with great difficulty. So near were
they to death that they were uncon-
scious when taken from the water.
The young ladies referred to were
members Of gay house party at Vir-
GINA Beach. The Misses Wilson were
especially fond Of the high surf that
rolls upon the beach, and never missed
going into it on fine days. Both were
daring swimmers and thought nothing
of going beyond the lifelines, always,
however, accompanied by lifeguard.
A large party FROM the house where
the young women are staying went to
the beach to battle last Sunday about
noon. There was not a very high
surf, and as the young women were
accompanied by many friends, the lite
savers we're not as watchful as they
had been when only few went into
the water.
The young people had been in the
surf for almost an hour when Mr..
Starmont, one of the young men in
the party, rushed to the lifesaving
station on the beach and told the
guards that several of the young
women were drowning.
A boat was launched at once by
several of the young men, wnileothers
plunged straight into the surf and
swan to the rescue. They found that
several of the bathsrs, some Of whom
could not swim, had been carried be-
vond their depth by the uudertow.
The others were struggling 70 keep
them .nJat. The htestvers arrived
inst in TINE TO catch several girls wl0
were gong down, but Miss Bette
Wilson was nowhere To- be seem AS
soon as all Of tle other young ladies
had been taken from tue water tie
u-stver- started diving to lind h-I
and In a short TINE they were sue
ce-.nl They worked over her an
hour IN au effort TO revive her, bat
when PHYSICIANS arrived from the
Princess Anne Hotel they sud that
she was dead.
Ms Mary Wilson, Miss Louise
Laumer and Miss Mary Simpson, VINO
suffered most Of those VITO were res
cu-H We. c,ur-.. ..' -- hotel, where
thu. w-, r,. .a rar care of tie
physician. Miss Bette Wilson WAS
% years OH and the younger OF the
Two sisters
The news Of the sad death of Miss
Wilson cast a gloom over Charles
Town, where she Was general favor
tie and where her family had been
so sincerely loved and respected. Her
womanly virtues and sweet and amia-
bic disposition had endeared her to
all who knew her, and everybody was
sorry to learn of her death. She is
survived by her mother, one sister,
Miss Mary Wilson, and four brothers:
VIM. II. Wilson, of this county ; Pay
master Walter L. Wilson, of the U. S.
Navy Allen c. Wilson, of Washing
ton and DR.. Arthur L Wilson, of
Lynchburg, Va.
The body of Miss Wilson was taken
to Charles Town for burial Tuesday,
and accompanying the remains were
those who had been in the party at
Virginia Beach. Some of the close
friends of the family went to Hsr-
per's Ferry to meet the funeral party,
and at Charles Town large crowd
had gathered to await the train. Ser
vices were conducted by Rev. L. R.
Milbourn and Rev. DR.. A. G. Hop
kins, and the body was laid to rest in
Edge Hill Cemetery beside that Of
the late Hon. VIM. l.. Wilson.