Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-10
BROUGHT BACK TO LIFE
NAN UNDER WATER ABOUT
TwENTY-THREE MINUTES.
Prompt and Effective Methods Of Su-
perintendent and Surfmen
Of Life-saving Station.

HeSS NdFiu udyc, Wiicii many oaS p0~S-
Ing and the danger OF drowning Is not 30
far removed. it Is Of interest to know Of
some OF the efforts OF the United States
iife-saving service in their work of the
resuscitation of the apparently drowned.
July Robert Mooney was in a small
sailboat near Wakefield r. l., which was
upsetefn Point Judith pond. When the boat
was overturned Mooney was forced under
the sail and was. therefore, unable to come
to the surface.
Before aid reached the unfortunate man
he had been under the water for period
Of about twenty-three minutes. When first
aid was given from three and one-half
quarts to gallon of water was expelled.
similar operation a few moments later
expelled about pint of water.
Mooney at the time bore the appearance
OF drowned man. His jaws were clenched
tightly, and there were no signs of life.
The artificial respiration was employed for
q period of about an hour and forty eight
minutes, when the patient showed signs of
returning consciousness and then heated
rocks were applied to the arm pits heart
and soles OF his feet.
Detailed Report Made.
In detailing the case to Mr.. 8. I. KIM
ball, the general superintendent of the life
saving service Mr.. H. NJ. Knowles, the
superintendent OF the third life-saving dis
trict says:
Il have to report the efforts of Surfmen
George w. Streeter. Charles F. Whaley and
James H. Moore. members of the Sandy
Point, Quonochontaug and Fishers Island
Hfe-savfng crews, respectively; Charles II.
Whaley and Geo. Gardner, ex-members of
the Point Judith life-saving crew. and my
SELF, In bringing to life Robert Mooney,
who was caught under the sail by the cap
sizing OF fiat bottom sallboat in the Up
per Point Judith pond. A boat race was
scheduled in the Lower Point Judith pond,
under the auspices OF the Wakefield Yacht
Cub. by the mosquito class. be wind was
brisk from the southwest, accompanied by
rain squalls. The boat holding the cup Of
that class was captized just prior to the
start. which delayed the time of starting
Tor about half an hour second capsize
was by the winning boat just after the
finish.
Each boat had three occupants. but in
both cases wetting was all that resulted.
In third boat was Mooney. This was a
hat-bottom skiff with sail. The boat was
not entered in the race. Just as the regu-
lar race finished in the lower pond MONEYS
boat capsxed in the upper pond.
Artificial Respiration.
Superintendent Knowles, who was In his
launch, reached the scene of the capsizing
in about twenty-eight minutes after the
boat had been overturned and about five
minutes after Moneys body had been
dragged to the shore The party ashore had
Just expelled the water from MONEYS
lungs for the second time and had COM
menced the method Of artificial respiration.
The patient was as purple as a grape. ac-
cOrd1ng TO Superintendent Knowles, and
was lying on shore with his eyes, ears and
clothing filled with sand, where those on
shore had rolled him about on the beach
as best they could A moment later Super
intendent Knowles spread a small motor
cover Of canvas and removed the body to
IT and keeping up at the same time the bel
lows movement and friction by rubbing the
limbs. A fire was built and stones heated,
which in the course of thirty minutes were
rolled in jackets and applied to the arm
pits. heart and soles Of the feet The bell
lows movement was kept up while others
worked at the arm movement
Mooney is blacksmith by trade and
the muscles of his arms and legs were 80
stin that greater part Of the time il took
the strength Of a man with both hands at
each arm to maintain the arm movement,
while artificial respiration was being kept
up. The jaws were clenched and had to
be repeatedly opened by prying them apart
and then kept open by having sticks placed
between them"
First Signs of Life.
The first signs OF life. according to Super
intendent Knowles. was observed after the
life savers had worked upon the patient
for an hour and twenty minutes. This was
noticed when a hot stone was placed
The constant rubbing and ARTIFICIAL respira-
ton, with renewed applications of hot
stones, showed marked development of the
condition Of the patient. About twenty-five
minutes later physician arrived, and after
making test with instruments reported
that there was an action OF the heart and
pulse
The patient was then taken in the launch
to the boathouse some distance away. All
the time the bellows movement and rub
bling were kept up. This had been going
on for one hour and forty-eight minutes.
The patient had remained unconscious all
the time After arriving at the boathouse
the patient was worked with for some time,
and later taken to his home, where he re-
gained consciousness about 40 o'clock the
nexs morning.
Regards Case as Interesting.
In conclusion Superintendent Knowles
says he considers the case Of much inter-
est, and one worthy to be brought to the
attention Of the general superintendent for
the records of the service. He also COM
ments upon the fact that nearly three and
one-half quarts of water and later a pint
were expelled from MONEYS lungs. This
he says, was accompanied by about cup
full OF mucous, blood and water when the
patient was rolled the third and fourth time
face downward.
Superintendent Knowles also SAYS that
Mooney has very sore ribs. for over two
thirds of the time the life savers were
working upon him the superintendent
and others were engaged In performing the
bellows movement
Deaths in the District.
Deaths were reported to the health office