The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1907-05-17
LOSES HIS LIFE.
Cadet Jackson Drowned in the
Surf at Isle of Palms.
THE ANNUAL PICNIC

Was The Event That Took tho Bows
to the ScasIlorc and tho Outinp
Was Greatly Marrcd by tho Sad
Accident. Cadet Simn.s, Rigby
Dirube and Others Tried to sayt
jackson.
The News and Courier saws the
annual picnic Of the South Carolina
Military Academy came to tragic
ehd Thursday by the drowning OF
one of the cadets In the surf. A num-
Dor OF the cadets went in bathing af-
ter lunch and about five O'Clock 1t
was learned that Cadet w. j Jack
son, Of W1nnsboro, was drowned The
young man was among tho number
OF three or four, who more venture
some than the rest, went out in the
sea much too far.
1T seems that all OF these were
good swimmers and felt confident
that they could successfully battle
with the waves despite a warning
sea was running high. Young Jack
son had become exhausted and his
friends nearby became conscious of
his perilous condition and immediate
ly 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 DraVely to his rescue, fighting
manfully against the waves and sue
Ceeding at expense Of his remaining
strength to bring the half drowned
boy few yards sh0rcward. 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.
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 shore realized it's true sig
niflcance. The calls for help were
at first supposed to be in fun, as SO
often Is the case. But soon it was
realized that the cadets were in grave
danger and the people on shore i'm
tmediately set to work to aid them.
Mr.. Wingate, an employee on the
island stripped off his clothes on the
i opl Il
Many cadets were soon with him and
Rigby, Simms and Dirube, they all
of them in a 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 diff
faeult.
Miss Estelle Thomas rendered a
great deal Of service to the half
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 tho
attempt. There was no boat on the
beach, but Mir. Wingatc sent ont a
squad Of cadets to the back beach,
where one was found and brought to
JllIll Ill lIlc WdleI, Ilc IcluSCu W lhhC
any of the crowd but Mr. Dave Coch-
ran.
They rowcd quite a distance out,
searching all the time for the body,
for the young man had drowned. The
search proved futile, and they 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 placed
themselves, Cadets Buck, Grimball,
Woodward and Clark set out again
in the boat In search. They were
also unsuccessful and 1t was not untll
1910 last night that the body was
found by the patrol made up OF ca
diets and their friends.
The searching party was organized
SOON after the affair occurred and the
cadets divided themselves up into sec
tions to patrol the beach by turns
until the body was recovered. IT
was about 1910 O'Clock when Cadet
Watson discovered the body Of the
unfortunate young man about 200
feet east Of the Pavilion. Imme-
diately after the sad event all the
pleasures Of the day came to a close
dancing ceased and the band left the
Dravilion. At G:l5 most Of tho
crowd left the Isle.
A gloom was cast over the entire
assemblagc and the day that dad be
gun SO auspiciously and happily came
to a most dcplorablc close Cadet
William j. Jackson was q member
of the Freshman class, having enter
ed the Academy in October, the hol'
der OF scholarship from Fairfield
County. His home was in Winnsbor'
and he was the pride and hope Of ;
widowed mother, Mrs. NJ. a. Jackson
He was a young man OF fine part:
and in his short career at the Cita
del has made many friends amoni
the students and faculty lie was {
splendid specimen Of young manhood
stood well in his class and, was ;
great favoritc Of all those who ltncv
him.
SHOT BKIDE or a NIGHT.