Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-18
MIDSHIPMAN LUCAS BROWNS
HAD THREE WEEKS MORE
STUDY TIME AT ACADEMY.
Was Rescued by Companion Once
Smaller Man Could Not Hold Vic
tim When Canoe Upset.

ANNAPOLIS. Md. May 1S.-Midship-
man Arthur l.. Lucas of Cleveland, ONO.
q leading member of the class which Will
be graduated from the Naval Academy
June 8. was accidentally drowned by the
capsizfn1~ of a canoe in the Severn river
yesterday afternoon.
Carl d. Hibbard of Northfield Mimi. a
member of the third class. who was with
successful attempt to save his companion.
He was almost on the verge of collapse
when picked up by a steam launch which
was dispatched from the academy imme-
diately after the upset. Two hours after
the accident the body was recovered.
The accident occurred shortly before q
o'clock pm. and was within few hun
bred yards of the academy sea wall and
near the old ship Santee. Lucas is said
to have been fine swimmer. and it is
believed he was attacked with cramps
after his sudden plunge into the chilly
water.
River Was Choppy.
Lucas and Hubbard started out from the
academy shortly after dinner for an aft
ernoon's pleasure. The river was choppy
under a stiff southwest breeze, but not SC
rough as to render canoeing dangerous
The two midshipmen had padded about a
quarter mills from the Santee when their
little craft was overturned While sud
den tilt would have upset the canoe. d
| number of midshipmen who were sailing
about the vicinity state that the capsize
was probably caused by the swash from
a schooner which came into the harboI
| and passed close by the canoe.
The capsize came without warning, and
when Lucas and Hibbard came to the
surface they were several yards from
their craft. They were not heavily garb-
ed. both having on their white working
suits and started to swim for the canoe
Hubbard managed to reach II saieiy
CHANGING around he saw Lucas struggling
He swan to his companion and succeeded
in plotting him to the overturned craft
and holding him above water Tor a space
of several minutes. but became exhausted
and lost his grip on the drowning mid
shipman.
Close Call for Companion.
The accident was seen from the santee
and launch reached the scene IN about
ten minutes. Lucas had gone down foi
| the last time. however, and Hlppard was
exhausted He soon revived
Hubbard is a small, but athletic. men,
Der of the foot ball squad. and OF the Ia
crosse team. Lucas was much larger
He was over six feet tall and weighed
about l75 pounds. This burden OF "elgh'
proved too much for the smaller man to
overcome.
In addition to the steam launch score
or more of boats, made for the scene m
haste. but none of them arrived peiore
Lucas had gone down for the las. uiiie Z;
Tbo hodv was recovered by number OF
midshipmen with graphing irons.
The drowning CT Lucas has cast gloom
over the entire corps of midshipmen IL IS
particularly sad coming as II dld "sth ~.
three weeks before the completion OF ms
course At the academy. He was one OF
the brightest students of his class. and
popular among his classmates. He rank
ed No. in scholastic standing IN the Grass
tusntv-one wears old and the son OF Mr.
w. Lucas of 1922 Crawford road. CleFe
land. His father has been notlhed.