Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-09
A NARROW ESCAPE
JOHN ZEHANSKoW SAVED FROM
DROWNING AT BATHING BEACH.

John Zehanskow, a young man, whose
home is at 1922 New York avenue north
west, spent three minutes beneath the sur
face of the water at the bathing beach
yesterday afternoon about 4:30 o'clock and
Is about. able to relate what. If anything,
he remembers of his exciting experience.
Two companions of the young man, b.
Cohen and NJ. Levinstne, came near losing
their lives in their efforts to save him. 1t
was only after considerable difficulty that
they managed to free themselves from him
and reach the surface of the water in
time to summon assistance. There were
two life-guards at the beach, Frank B.
White and John T. Herrity, and they
promptly responded to the call for aid
White was first to respond and he dislo-
Gated his shoulder when he made the first
dive. Returning TO the beach, he sue
ceeded in getting his shoulder in position
again and then returned TO the water
Herrlty appeared upon the scene In time
to assist the other guard. and the uncon-
scious form of Zeha nskow was soon lifted
from the water There was scarcely a
sign of life in the body, but with the aid
or the Sylvester method of treating such
cases the water pumped from the
almost dead man and he was breathing
fairly well when the ambulance from the
Emergency Hospital arrived at the beac oh.
Dr. Whitney was in charge of the ambu-
lance and he worked hard on the patient
all the way to the hospital. Life-guard
White accompanied him to the hospital and
rendered assistance to the doctor Tho
patient had been under treatment only a
rev minutes before the doctors EXPRESSED
the belief that he was on the road to re-
cOvery.
Was Unable to Swim.
1t was shortly after o'clock when Ze-
nanskow and his companions reached the
beach and registered. 1t was stated that
the young man who had such terrible ex-
perience was unable to swim, but his com
panions were good swimmers and were 60
ing to look after him. Guard White was
standing on the plank walk which leads
TO the water and was looking at the
pathers He thought he saw Zehanskow
upon the back of one of his comma MONS
VINO was swimming. His head was turned
only snort time when he heard a terrible
commotion in the water
somebody was calling for help. and he
went 10 ms assistance quickly as pos
siDie AS already stated, he lost no time
IN getting into the water near where ne
was told the bather had gone down. 1t
was necessary for him to make a second
dlVe before he succeeded in touching the
man whose unconscious form was upon
the bed OF the river, but his shoulder was
then d1siocated and he was unable to man.
age the drowning man without help. II
was Just IN the nick of time that Herrity
came to his aid and the two men dra yeed
ZehanSkow from the water as soon as they
were able to get him to the surface, Then
the work of resuscitating him was started
and was not stopped until signs of life were
visible ard the ambulance was there with a
physician to take charge of him. A Quick
run was made to the hospital and the vic
tim was soon being treated by members Of
the house staff
1t was not until after White had returned
from the hospital that he learned of the
exciting Incidents attending the narrow es-
cape from death of Zehanskow and his two
friends. Zehanskow out a long dis
lance from the shore for a man who could
not swim, and although it was said he had
become fastened in the mud and kept at
the bottom of the river the guards declar-
ed that he not in the mud. AS soon as
he disappeared and failed to come to the
surface of the water, the guards were told,
his friend Cohen went in search of him.
Grabbing Cohen the drowning man held to
him with deathlile grip. Levenstine then
tried his hand at the work of rescue and
also in danger of losing his life. He
was SO much fatigued and excited when he
reached the surface of the water that he
was hardly able to speak. The guard saw
him making motions and heard him say
something. but could not understand what
it was. He concluded that he was trying
to summon assistance. and as soon he
could reach the spot the man indicated he
went to the bottom and soon had Zehan-
skow located. AT late hour last night the
physicians al the hospital said the patient
was doing we'll and they could see no rea-
son why he should not recover.