The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1905-08-17
CHARLES FREETH IN AN
EXCITING ADVENTURE
Tempts Death With Hawaiian Canoe in Stormy
Oregon Waters---Loses Companion and
Is Almost Oemented

SEASIDE. Ore. August 4.-Miln Day
ton, Of Portland, aged IS years, was
drowned in the breakers on Seaside
d beach at noon today, while returning
to shore in a Hawaiian canoe.
Allen Prentice, aged % years, one oi
a party of five rescuers, came near
losing his life. Dayton's companion
Charles Freeth, a native of Hawaii
came ashore exhausted and suffering
from cramps, after having tried val
family to save the unfortunate boys
life.
Dayton is the only sor. of Frank Day.
ton, the. hardware dealer of Portland.
The father has been sent for, and is
expected to arrive tomorrow from
Portland.
The mother and two sisters are here,
and are bearing up bravely against the
heartbreaking loss. The canoe was
fashioned after Hawaiian model, be-
ing catamaran with floating out
rigger, and was caught in rapid sue
cession of waves which turned it up
on its bow and then capsized it.
CAUGHT BY UNDERTOW.
Contrary to Freeth's instructions,
Dayton Jumped out on the seaward
side before the canoe capsized, while
Freeth jumped out on the backward
{ side. Dayton gained a narrow bar.
where he stood waist deep, and Freeth
says he supposed the boy was then out
of danger, whereupon he dived under
! tie capsized canoe for lifebelt. When
y came up Dayton had been swept
OFT by the undertow and had disap-
peared.
Freeth endeavored to find his COM
panion. and swan about, though
cramps had partly manned his SWIM
ming powers.
Meanwhile party on the beach had
manned a boat which is kept on the
beach as protection for bathefs. In
Smith, Allen Prentice. Henry Wessin-
ger and man named Oakes, all of
Portland. Several of the rescuers were
poor oarsmen, and the boat could not
get out beyond the surf.
The craft capsized, throwing all in
mates out. All gained the shore after
tusseling against the waves. but Prem
tice was rescued with difficulty. Dan
j. Moore-headed an effort to run out a
lifeline. Excitement ran high. and
there was an unfortunate lack of life
saving appliances.
RODE SURF WEDNESDAY.
Freeth comes from Portland, and
works at the plumbing trade. He COM
pleted the. craft early this week, and
Wednesday he and Dayton launched it
in the Necanicum. went out into the |
sea, and sailed down the ocean to Hotel |
Moore, where they made a successful |
E1n in through the surf. Several trips |
@ere made through the breakers after
ward.
This morning about 10 o'clock the two
launched their craft and went through
the breakers successfully. When they
started in the breakers were rolling
extra high. Dayton swan well for
several minutes, but the breakers rolled
him over one otter another. giving him
no chance to recover his breath. He
was seen to throw up his hands and
lie inert in the water for a few sec
onds, and then an enormous wave bur-
led him out Of sight.
When Freeth reached the shore he at
once started back in the surf looking
for his friends body. He swan INTO
the surf and kept making his way
north, hoping the current would bring
the body within his reach. He too,
became exhausted, and came to shore.
HAWAIIAN FIGHTS REscUERs.
The spectators tried to prevent him
from entering the ocean again, but ne
flung them off and plunged in the surf
This time he stayed so long that two
swimmers went after him and brought
hin, on. almost a raving maniac. It
took three men to hold him.
This evening Freeth is watching the
shore for the body, sitting sadly in the
beach observatory of the Dayton home.
Islis accident proves that the OLD iie'