Los Angeles herald., 1907-04-30
LAW STUDENT IS
DROWNED IN SURF
LIFE SAVERS DIVE IN VAIN
FOR BODY
7. Wright Robinson Of Seattle Loses
Life In Sight Of Companions
While Resouers Launch
Boat
Special to The Herald.

Special to The Herald.
LONG BEACH, April 2o.-T. Wright
Robinson, twenty-nine years old,
law student from Seattle, WASH,
who had been spending five
weeks vacation in Los Angeles,
was drowned in the surf here this
afternoon in front of the bath house at
about $3.50 o'clock. Whether his death
was caused by cramps or by the un-
dertow is a matter Of doubt. He sank
from sight while life savers and three
friends were trying to reach him. AT
a late hour tonight his body had not
been recovered.
Robinson was the son of T. w. Rob-
inson, a merchant of Macon, Mo. An
uncle resides at 625 Welcome street,
Los Angeles.
About 3 o'clock Robinson, in COM
pany with II. Roe of Denver, Colo,
and 70. II. Heydenreich and T. P. Nc
Maui, both employees of the Los An
geles railway, entered the surf. The
four men made their way out toward
the end of the ropes and Robinson pro-
ceeded into the water, which was be-
yond his depth. The surf was rough
and the other men said afterward that
the undertow was strong. Suddenly
the others heard Robinsohs cries for
help. McNaul started toward him,
but not being a good swimmer, did not
dare go out into such deep water. The
other two men ran to the beach and
called for help.
Life Saving Station Locked
AS the bath house company does not
put on it's regular life saving service
until May 1, the life saving station con-
taining the lifeboat and the life pre-
servers, was found to be locked. The
men then ran into the bath house. Carl
Witte, one Of last years life guards,
heard their calls for help and ran out
with them and unlocked the boat
house. The three men, and others
standing near pushed the boat out.
Owing to the roughness Of the surf 1t
was difficult task The boat was
carried in by the sea and had to be
started out the second time, Life
guards Jackson, Moody and Witte, the
last named in citizens clothes, aboard.
After fighting desperately several
minutes for his life, Robinson had dis
appeared below the surface when they
reached the breaker line. Jackson, who
is an expert underwater swimmer,
dived repeatedly in an attempt to To-
cate him, but without success. 1t is
supposed that the breakers pounded
the man senseless and that then the
uHuerIOW DOrez MIN swiftly out TO sea.
Ned Bryant, a Shriner from the east,
who was in bathing with Robinson a
few days ago here, said tonight that
Robinson complained then of being
troubled with cramp, and that he
advised him to stay out of deep water.
Lifeboat CapsIzed
According to McNalil. who was an
old friend OF .Robinson's, the unfor-
tunate man had planned to start back
for Seattle day after tomorrow. He
has been reading law there with the
firm of Hastings & Steadman, Ga Hal
ler street.
While the life savers were attempt
ing to reach Robinson, an elderly
woman on the beach heard that some
one was drowning and thought 1t was
her husband. She tainted and had to
be given medical attention in the bath
house emergency hospital.
When the life boat was coming in
to shore the second time a large breaker
caused it to turn turtle. The men
jumped out quickly, but Witte was
hit on the back Of the head and pain
fully bruised.