The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-07-22
FOUR DROWNED In THE SURF.
VAIN STRUGGLE or FATHER AND
DAUGHTER FOR LIFE. =
High Breakers IN Atlantic City Fatal to
Bathers Robert Tomac or Fanwood.
Nj. and His Daughter Helen Go Down
Tho other Drewninss Separate.

Nd. and His Daughter Helen Go Dow
The other Drewninss Separate.
ATLANTIC CITY, July 2i.-Robert Tomao
Of Fanwood, N. j., his daughter Helen,
aged IL years; G. w. sharpless Of Jenkin-
town, Pa, and Walter M. Whitlock Of
Richmond, Va, were drowned in the surf
while bathing late this afternoon. The
father and daughter and Sharpless lost
their lives OF the beach in the Chelsea
district and Whitlook died somewhere
above Tennessee venue, where his body
wa found floating by Frank st. Clair OF
New York and Joseph Long Of Philadelphia.
The battle wased by Tomao first to save
the life OF his daughter and later that Of
himself was watched by a crowd Of hum
dreds who gathered on the beach helpless
to extend help. The breakers ran with
terrific force sufficient to balk the efforts Of
life guards who rushed to help. Father
and daughter had gone In to battle at Hart
ford avenue, accompanied by Howard
Washington, a twelve-year-old friend OF the
girl. The children were wading in water
close to the beach, while the father had
gone further out for q swim.
A huge wave swept over the children
and when 1t broke the girl had been swept
out beyond her depth. She screamed in
fear and the boy, who had managed to gain
q foothold, echoed her cries. Tho father
turned and caught sight Of his daughter. He
reached the girl and olasped her in his arms.
lie found the current too strong and his
cries for help rang out until cola gers a
block away heard and rushed to the beach.
A SCORE Of men, including l~ifeguards,
plunged into the surf in their street clothes,
but were buffeted back.
The cries in the meantime had reached
Life Guard Capt. Clark, stationed a block
above, on the beach, and Guard Morales
just below. Both men ran with all speed
to the scene and plum ged into the surf with
a buoy. Neither Of the guards was able to
breast the wave and the watchers on the
beach wept as the father battled for his
life and that OF his daughter against over
whelming odds.
William A. Tux, employed in the Tented
City, a collection Of canvas shelters on
the beach, rushed from his tent and with
a running dive beat his way through the
breakers and into the deep water. The
hfeguards passed him a buoy and he forced
his way out neal the pair, but lost his hold
VII IL buoy dtiu was loISCd DdSh w "
By this time the girl was seen to have fallen
limp in her fathers arms, and it is believed
that she died with his arms clasped about
her.
Life guards Willis and Iafene manned
a boat and forced it through the surf within
reach Of the fathers body, which was float
ing face downward. His grasp Of the child
had looeened ard heT body had disappeared.
The men quickly pulled the fathers body
into the boat and carried him ashore, where
every effort of physicians was futile to bring
back a spark Of life. The body Of the. girl
washed ashore tonight.
Sharpless lost his life within a block Of
the scene Of the double tragedy and within
an hour of the time. He was seized with a
cramp and went down. The two had been
in the water but a short time when Sharp
less screamed and threw up his hands.
The friend went to him at once, only to be
seized with a terrible grip, which he was
forced to break to ave himself. His story
and that OF spectators ia that Sharpless must
nave been seized with cramps and gone down
at once, for he was not seen to come up after
his first disappearance. The friend re-
turned to shore and begged for assistance,
but the guards had gone of duty and no
one else dared to risk life in the breakers.
His story was told to a policeman, who re-
corded the accident at headquarters to-
night.
Frank st. Clair and Joseph F. Long Of
New York were bathing at the foot Of Ten
nessee avenue shortly before dusk, when
st. Clair was knocked down by the body Of
Whitlock. No one saw him drown.