The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-08-14
GIRL LOST As LAUNCHES HIT
MOTHER SAVED, BUT SIZE LOSES
HER HOLD on HER CHILD.

Family Party ives Riding on Newark nay
when hi Crash Came In the Dark
Other Launch Speeds Away and Of
fers No Aid-Many Join In Search for w.
A small launch containing q family
party was struck by another lannoh
last night In Newark Bay about q mile on
shore and a mother and daughter were
thrown overheard. The mother grabbed
her daughter. but as she herself was being
! rescued she lost hold Of the little girPs
! clothing and the daughter was drowned .
The mother was Mrs. Idr Ferguson OF
a Clerk street, Jersey City. The little girl
Mildred, was seven years old and an oniy
child. Mrs. Ferguson and her dsn9hter
were out for an evening with q party OF
relatives In the launch Blonde, owned and
operate 4 by Capt. Ike walling.
They were about opposite Herig's boat
| house. at the foot Of Danforth avenue.
Jersey City. at $50 O'Clock. when without
warming another small launch appeared
suddenly. and before Capt. Walling was
able to avoid a collision the other boat
had struck them. apparently brosdside.
The blow was OF sufficient strength TO
drive the Blonde over on her side. She
righted quickly, but Mrs. Fer' uson and the
little girl fell backward into the water.
Capt. wallins Immediately stopped his
engine and warning the other passengens
not to crowd TO the side OF the boat and thus
swamp Il reached for Mrs. Ferguson.
When the woman reappeared at the sur
face Il was seen thai she was clutohing the
child to her breast. They were too far from
the launch for walling TO reach them with
his hands. With a bosthook he caught hold
Of tho woman's clothing and broaght her
to the edge Of the boat.
She already was almost unconscious and
wallinR and the others called to her 70
cling 70 the child. Gait. Wallng then
got hold Of Mrs. Ferguson and with the
aid OF one OF the men OF the party lhted
her up the side Of the launch.
The woman had swallowed . great'deai
Of water and her body hung limp as it
was lifted up. Just as the men got her over
the eunwale the woman's arms dropped
to her side and the child slipped back into
the water. ,
Others In the launch took charge Of the
unconscious woman and while they gave
her fret aid Capt. Walling and the man
whom no had impressed searched the water
In the dark for the child. Finally Capt.
walline went overheard and swan Q
the launch and then began diving, but
could find no trace OF the child's body.
when II was seen that the search was
fuitless the launch put In to shore. On
r-ecoverina consciousness Mrs. Ferguson
asked for Mildred, and when Tho others
could not show the child TO her she became
.hystsrioaL She was In q dangerous oondi-
ton late last night. i.
The other launch. which as o o a. IL
could recover from the crash had sped on.
did not return. No n on the Blonde
could see this other boat well enough to
get an inkling OF her name or OF her pas
sengers. Az soon as the accident was re-
ported to the police word was sent all along
the waterfront to watch out for small
launches In an attempt to locate the run
away.
Capt, walling gathered a group Of men
from { o waterfront and returned In his
launch TO the spot where the child sank.
At a late hour no trace had been found OF
the body. Other rivermen volunteered
TO find the second launch AMI did not mince
theie words when they gave their opinion
Of crew which would run away In a case
of the kind. These men said they would
find the guilty launch befo 9 morning.