The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1907-05-15
LOSES HIS LIFE.
Cadet Jackson Drowned in the
Surf at Isle of Palms.
The ANNUAL PICNIC

Was The Event That Took the Boys
to the Seashore and the Outing
Was Greatly Marred by the Sad
Accident. Cadet Simms, Rigby,
Dirube and Others Tried TO Save
Jackson.
The News and Courier says the
annual picnic of the South Carolina
Military Academy came to a tragic
end Thursday by the drowning of
one of the cadets in the surf. A num-
Der Of the cadets went in bathing af-
ter lunch and about FIVE O'Clock it
was learned that Cadet W. J. Jack
son, of Winnsboro, was drowned. The
young man was among the number
of three or four, who more venture
some than the rest, went out in the
Sea much too far.
It seems that all Of these were
good swimmers and felt confident
with the waves despite a warning
which had been given them that the
sea was running high. Young Jack
son had become exhausted and his
friends nearby became conscious Of
his perilous condition and immeolate
~ called for help. They were all
nearly exhausted and were in great
danger themselves.
Harold Simms, the nearest to Jack
son, seeing his friend drifting away
went brayely to his rescue, fighting
manfully against the waves and sue
ceeding at expense Of his remaining
strength to bring the half drowned
boy a few yards shoreward. He then
became suddenly helpless, but held
on, swearing to his comrade that he
would either save him or drown with
him Jaskson seemed conscious, but
altogether helpless, and made no ef-
fort to save himself, except as is US
ual with drowning man, at his res
cuer's expense.
It is reported that he begged
Simms to let him loose and save him
self. Cadets Rigby and Dirube, them
selves also exhausted rushed as we'll
as they could to the drowning and
almost drowned men. They succeed
ed in getting them closer to land,
when all of a sudden, an immense
breaker came and broke them apart.
Much of this happened before the
people on snore realized its true sig
nifcance. The calls for help were
at irst supposed to be in fun, as so
often is the case. But soon 1t was
realized that the cadets were in grave
danger and the people on shore i'm
mediately set to work to aid them.
Mr. Wingate, an employee on the
island stripped off his clothes on the
beach and swan out toward the boys.
Many cadets were soon with him and
they succeeded in bringing Cadets
Rigby, Simms and Dirube, they all
OF them in state Of exhaustion,
particularly Simms, who had to be
treated for some time before he was
quite himself. There was no doctor
present and the task was very dit
fcult.
Miss Estelle Thomas rendered
great deal Of service to the nail
drowned youth by her knowledge OF
nursing. Mr. Wingate swan out as
far as he could with safety to him
self and usefulness to the almost
drowned cadet before he gave up the
attempt. There was no boat on the
beach, but Mr. Wingate sent out a
sCuad Of cadets to the back beach,
where one was found and brought TO
him in the water; he refused to take
anv Of the crowd but Mr. Dave Cocn-
ran.
They rowed quite a distance out
searching all the time for the oooy'
for the young man had drowned. Inc
search proved futile, and taey re-
turned to the shore The colleagues
of the popular young soldier were not
content with this and despite the
great danger in which they placeo
Themselves. Cadets Buck, Grimbail,
woodward and Clark set out again
IN the boat in search. They were
also unsuccessful and it was not until
1910 last night that the oooy was
found by the patrol made up OF ca
diets and their friends.
The searching party was organized
so,n after the affair occurred and the
cadets divided themselves up into sec
lions to patrol the beach by turns
until the body was recovered: II
was about 1910 o'clock when Caoet
watson discovered the body OF tne
unfortunate young man about l'zoo
feet east of the pavilion. !mme-
diately after the sad event all the
pleasures of the day came to c!ose'
dancing ceased and the band !et1 the
Orayillion. At SIS most OF Ihe
crowd left the Isle.
A gloom was cast over the entlre
assemblsge and the day that dad pc
gun so auspiciously and happily came
to a most deplorable close. Cacel
William ]. Jackson was MEMBER
Of the Freshman class, having enter
ed the Academy in October, the hol,
der of a scholarship from Falrnelo
County. His home was in Wlnnsooro
and he was the pride and hope OF a
widowed mother. Mrs. NJ A. Jackson
He was a young man OF tlne paris
and in his short career at the Clta-
de1 has made many friends among
he students and faculty He was
snIendid specimen of young manhood
stood we'll in his class and, was
eTeat favorite Of all those who kne"