The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1906-07-04

| o'clock in the afternoon and drove to
the Brevard creek, which it seems has
for some time been quite a resort for
their outings. They were supplied with
intoxicants and drank some but from
their appearance after the accident
could not have taken enough to seri-
cusly effect them, though the surviv-
ors admitted that it was recklessness
that led them to take the fatal risk.
Immediately upon arriving at the
stream they donned bathing suits,
went into the water where it was only
few feet deep and soon began ban
tering each other to wade into deeper
water, never realizing that the stream
was swollen from the recent rains and
that deep places had been washed out
by the freshet.
A BRAVE DEED.
Suddenly and without warning, the
four women found themselves strug-
Cling in the water beyond their depth.
They were unable to swim, but for
some reason none of them made an
outcry or called for help in any way.
They simply struggled helplessly to
reach spot where they could secure
footing. Marguerite Hamilton, see-'
ing their great danger, called desper-
ately for help, but realizing that none
was near, and that the women were
drowning, she plunged into the water
to help them. Nearest to her was
Ethel McWhorter. She had twice sunk
from view and was almost exhausted.
Marguerite, standing in water which
almost covered her, was able to reach
the drowning woman and grasp her
clothing, and with an effort that re-
quired all of her limited strength,
succeeded in dragging hert to the bank
in an unconscious condition. Without
stopping fer q second thought, she re-
turned to the water for Willie Moore,
who had disappeared under the sur
face. The young girl, without thought
of self or danger, went under the water
after her. It was only step or two
to where the water was not so deep
and she was able to get her burden
there before her own breath was ex-
hausted and then to pull her bodily
out of the water, senseless and ex-
hausted. When the brave girl turned
to go for her other two, they had dis
appeared and were seen no more until
their bodies were recovered an hour
later.
Realizing that she must have help.
Marguerite Hamilton, with fine forti-
tude, jumped in the buggy and drove
until she found several men, whom
she sent to the aid of the women she
had left and then drove several miles
along the Bluff road toward the city
to call for physician and to break
the news of the tragedy to her friends.
When she had done this and returned
to the spot, the bodies had been taken
from the water and both of those who
had been saved had been resuscitated.
The good people of the neighborhood
who heard of what had happened at
once came to the aid of the unfortu-
mates. Buggies were secured, the
bodies were placed in them and they
started for the city. In the mean
time, Corner Walker had been noti-
fed, and assuming that the bodies
would not be removed from the spot
until his arrival, started for the scene
with the morgue wagon. He had gone
only about four miles when he met
the buggies containing the remains.
They were transferred to the under
takers wagon and were brought on to
his establishment.
Willie Moore and Ethel McWhorter
were able to ride back to the city and
several hours later had almost entirely
recovered.
CoNTINUEE TO FIFTH PAGE.