The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-07-23
JUDGE PARKER'S LIFE In PERIL
HIS LITTLE GRANDSON SAVED
FROM DROWNING.
The BOY was In the Hudson on the Judges
Back and Clutched Him SO Tightly
About the Neck That both Went Under
boy Was Re.cued by Dystander.


PouaHKEEpsIE July 22.-Alton Parker
Hail. Judge Parker's fve-year-old grand
son, had a narrow escape from drowning
this morning. Will, he was swimming
with the Judge in the Hudson near
Rosemount. Judge Parkers home. Ed
ward Fritz, a photographer OF this city
jumped in and saved the lad. He had TO
dive two or three times to get him. and
Judge Parker, 1t is reported, also was IN a
pretty bad way when the boy was recovered
Fritz later on told the story OF the rescue
here. He had been camping with his
family for week or more on Esopus Island,
which is almost directly opposite Rose
mount He had met the Judges little
grandson many times for the latter was
often playing down around the river, and
they had come to be pretty good friends
Fritz broke camp this morning and
rowed over to the Parker pier at about
7:9O o'clock with his wife and two children
Judge Parker was just coming down for
his regular morning dip. His grandson,
who is his almost constant companion when
he is at home, was with him also, clad in a
bathing suit. The boy often went in
swimming, but always with the Judge
or some other grown up person.
The water in front Of the pier Is quite
deep-deep enough for the river steam
boats to tie up there. Judge Parker dived
of the pier while Master Alton stood with
his friend, the photographer, and the lat
ter's family watching tho Judge strike
out. The Judge is strong swimmer.
He had been in the water probably about
ten minutes when he asked Fritz to hand the
boy down to him. He came in close to the
pier and the photographer, picking the
lad up, passed him down into Judge Par
kers arms. Little Alton was chuckling
with glee as the Judge placed him on his
chest and swan out from the pier on his
back.
When he was about twenty feet from
the pier, the Judge shifted the lad from
his chest to his back, turning over in the
water az he did so. The boys head went
under and he became frightened, clutching
his hands tightly around Judge Parker's
neck and digging his little legs in under
the swimmer arm. Judge Parker turned
and struck out toward the shore. The
little fellow Rugged him closer, and it soon
became apparent to Fritz that Mr.. Parker
was in distress. Fritz saw that the lads
arms were gripped so tightly around the
Judges neck that his breathing was being
greatly hampered. The Judge could not
loosen the lads grip without considerable
danger and he concluded that it was SAFE
to try to make the pier with the boy as
he was.
Fritz however, didn't wait for any
further evidences Of distress. Throwing
of his coat, he plunged in, taking the pre-
caution first to warn his wife and children
OF what he was going to do and assure them
that there was no danger
Before he reached the spot where the
Judge and his grandson were both had
gone under. The lads grip. though, had
been broken. and as MIR. Parker came to
the surface Fritz dived for the boy. The
water was dark and he failed to get him.
The next time, though, he appeared at the
surface with the lad in his arms. The
boy was choking and gasping. but few
minutes after he had been brought to the
pier he appeared none the worse for the
accident.
Aside from being triae winded. Judge
Parker was all right. He thanked Fritz
warmly for what he had done, and, taking
the boy in his arms, trotted off up the hill
toward Rosemount. Fritz went with him
to Rosemount, where he was supplied with
suit of clothes from the Judges wardrobe
The boy is a son of the Rev. Charles
Hall, rector of the Mission Church OF the
Holy Cross, in Kingston.