The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1905-08-18

SEASIDE, Ore, August 4.-Miln Day
ton, of Portland. aged is years, was
drowned in the breakers on Seaside
beach at noon today, while returning
Ia shore in a Hawaiian canoe.
Allen Prentice, aged % years, one of
n party of five rescuers, came near
lpsing his life. Dayton's companion,
Charles Freeth. 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 son 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 a Hawaiian model, be-
ing a catamaran with a floating out
rigger, and was caught in rapid sue
eession of waves which turned 1t up
on its bow and then capsized it.
CAUGHT BY UNDERTOw.
Contrary to Freeth's instructions,
Dayton Bumped out on the seward
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
the carsized canoe for lfebelt. When
ne came mp Dayton had been swept
cut 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 az a protection for bathers. In
the party were p. A. Smith. Russell
Smith, Allen Prentice, Henry Wessin-
ger and a man named Cakes, 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 n
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 II
in the Necanicum. went out into the
sea, and sailed down the ocean to Hotel
Moore, where they made a successful
run in through the surf. Several trips
were 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 We're 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
ends, apd then an enormous wave bur-
led him out of sight.
When FIeeth reached the shore he al
Snce 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 hin
from entering the ocean again, but h,
fiung them off and plunged in the surf
This time he stayed so long that tw,
swimmers went after him and brought
Rim out almost a raving maniac. Il
hook three men to hold him.
This evening Freeth Is watching the
shore for the body, sitting sadly in tn,
beach observatory of the Dayton home
This accident proves that the old life.
boat is entirely Anticipated, and haC
there been a modern boat and equip
ment, with a crew, no life would have
been lost.
THOUSANDS LINE THE BEACH.
ut was one of the most narrowing
sights / ever saw, and hope never tc
see the like again." said d. C. Pills
bury, of this city, who was an eye
witness to the tragedy. "It was about
1880 o'clock in the morning when ]
happened to be walking along the
beach, and saw Dayton and Freeth en-
tering the water with Hawaiian
canoe, opposite the bath-house and q
little distance from Moore's Hotel.
about 100 people were scattered
along the beach. Nothing happened
until Dayton and Freeth, IN their canoe
were 100 yards from the shore, and ther
was Mortified to see the canoe capsizt
and both men fall into the water. TIL,
tide was going out at the time anC
there was heavy undertow TIL,
breakers were high.
women near me screamed, and a
FIRST nobody knew what to do. Mei
IN their street clothes ran out anon,
the breakers, up to their waists II
water. By this time the alarm haC
spread, and people came running from
all directions until about 1000 persons
had assembled. We saw that Dayton
had become detached from the canoe
while Freeth was apparently trying I,
loosen the lifebuoy.
I'VE saw Dayton wave his hand
ever his head; then a big wave washe