Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-09
browns IN POTOMAC
VIM. H. Walters Loses Life
While Bathing.
FORMER HIGH SCHOOL BOY
Resided With His Mother Near Lang
ley, Va.
BODY NOT YET RECOVERED
Search to Be Renewed Early This
Morning by Crew of the
Police Boat.
BODY NOT YET RECOVERED

Langley, Va, was drowned in the Potomac
river off Fortyfoot rock, on the Virginia
shore, mile above the Aqueduct bridge,
about o clock yesterday afternoon. The
efforts of The six persons who had been
with him and of the crew OF the police
launch Major Sylvester failed to recover
the body.
The young man graduated from the West
ern High School last spring. and Is said to
have been a good student. He was a sub
stitute on the base ball team and was pop
uiar among the boys at the school He
lived with his mother in Langley, Va. and
through police headquarters she was
notified last night of the drowning The
boy. 1t is stated, worked for the telephone
company in this city, but this could not be
confirmed last night
About o'clock number of per- ons start
ed up the river for a swim. In the party
We're William LeDuc of 14O3 21st street
northwest, his three sons Louis Arthur
and Harold; b. Mccall Mercer and Charles
mercer OF 1909 10Th street northwest. The
party, all of whom live in the same vicinity
were passing along sd street, in George
town. when they met young Walters Nc
eau Mercer knew Walters as a FELLOWSHIP
dent at the high school, and he invited him
20 go with the bathing party.
Boys Hire a Boat.
walters agreed to go, and part of the
crowd went to Reynolds boat house and
hired boat. Four started up the river in
the boat. the party including the two Mer-
Ger boys, Louis LeDuc and Walters. Mr..
LeDuc and his two younger sons, Arthur
and Harold. decided to walk part of the
distance, and join the party later. which
they did.
When the crowd reached Forty-foot rock.
"A mi lie
preparations were made for swimming. and
there was a scramble to see which would
get into the water first. The boys took off
their clothes the shore and plunged in
1t was noticed that Walters was in the
water with the other boys shortly after
ward. and he seemed to be enjoying the
sport as much as any of the others In a
few minutes one of the boys noticed that he
was working hard to get back to the boat
ana walters was asked IL he wanted anv
help. lie made no response was apparent
~ able to take care of himself and no mora
attention was paid to him for the time
being. ~
Ten minutes later 1t was discovered that
waters was missing. The others In the
party became alarmed and began to look
about Tor him. His clothes were found
piied In little heap on the shore, but the
boy was nowhere to be seen The river
was looked over carefully and the banks
lor some distance on each side were
searched His name was shouted MANY
times, also, but there was no response
An Unavailing Search.
For over an hour the members of ttre
party searched for their missing friend but
being unable to find him they concluded he
was drowned and determined to report the
matter to the police. They dressed. and
putting Walters clothes In the boat. they
returned to Georgetown. Mr.. William b
LeDuc and Mr.. Mccall Mercer went to the
seventh precinct station house, carrying
Walters clothing with them, and reported
the drowning to the police.
The harbor precinct was notified and the
launch Major Sylvester, under the direction
OF Acting Lieut.. Russell Dean, was dis
patched to the scene at once. On account
Of the fact that the harbor police did moi
know the exact spot Of the drowning they
were able to do but little. They watched
the surface of the water in the vicinity of
Forty-foot rock until dark without finding
any trace Of the body
The persons who were with Walters wben
ne was drowned will be requested to ac
company the police boat to the scene this
morning and assist in the work of draeeing
the river bottom. The efforts in that AZ
rection viii be continued until the body is
recovered. 40
The place where the party were svir,-
ming. and where, 1t Is believed Walters
was drowned. is one Of the deepest holes
in the river and the currents are very
strong.
In their efforts to communicate with tie
relatives of the boy the polio reached the
residence of y. s. Walters at Langley, Va.
by telephone, and 1t was stated he was an
uncle of the boy. and that the boys mother
lived only short distance away Mr..
Walters notified the mother. The dead
boys father is dead, 1t was stated.
]. NJ. Stein & Co. in New Quarters.
J. NJ. Stein & Co., tailors. have announced
that they have removed from their old
headquarters at Alb 18th street northwest
to their new building at 523 18th street
northwest. The show rooms at the new
location are large and commodious, and. II
is stated. the cutting department and work
rooms are modern In every respect. The
removal of the firm from its 1ith street
store was determined upon some time ago,
when IL had been thoroughly demonstrated
that the available room then at Its dis
posal was inadequate to meet increasing de-
mands and the preparation Of the new store
followed. In its formal announcement the
firm states that full line of fad and win
ter imported woolens IL now being shown.