The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1908-04-09
SKIFF SWAMPED:
THREE DROWNED.
Captain W. Y. Miles, Rufus Tyler and
Earnest Tyler SucCOmbsd.

O''N ASAAJ NOSh CT w ltiOuSuON
Spit, three oYstermen. Capt. w.
V. Miles. Rufus Tyler and Ernest
Tyler, were drowned at aboutS
o'clock yesterday mornings when
their heavy laden skiff shipped
heavy sea and sank.
After longing oysters from early
morning, the oystermen were re-
turning to shore when the tide
had turned, choppy sea being
kicked up by stiff breeze from
the Southwest.
A big wave caught the skiff
bro 'Cs:de, and she went down,
the oystermen sinking almost in
stantly. dragged down by their
heavy rubber boots and oil-skins.
When the skiff left the Eastern
end of Little Willoughby Bay,
wkere Captain Miles and the Ty-
Ter brothers had been longing.
she was heavily loaded with oys-
tiers, but the bay was compare
lively smooth and there seemed
to be little danger,
Before they had rowed half way
to the dock, where the oysters
we're to have been unloaded for
shipment, the wind sprar e :np,
and in few moments choppv
cross sea was running. The skif
soon began to ship water, and the
oystermen qulckened their stroke
and attempted to keep the -skiff
bow on to the seas.
They could not bail On account
of their load of oysters, and grad
uallv the skiff settled in the water
until when they we're still some
distance from the dock, each mo-
ment saw a cross sea wash over
the boat, drenching the men
When it seemed that safety had
been reached, the skiff was headed
in toward the dock, and almost
instantly she rolled as If water
logged a moment, and went dowr
Several oystermen, too far away
to he ( any assistance, saw the
men struggling in the water and a
colored bOatman at the Hampton
Roads Yacht Clubhouse, heard
their shouts for assistance.
Thinking that the shouts came
from further out on the bay, he
paid no attention, though had he
realized the plight of the oyster
men, he could easily have reached
the spot i'll time to save at least
one of them.
Soon after the occupants of the
skiff had sunk, Captain Houghton
arrived, and dragged for the
bodies, bringing them to the sur
face in less than an hour.
The remains were brought to
Smiths funeral apartments, Nor
folk, to be prepared for. burial,
after Justice Carmine held an in
quest.
Captain Miles was about go
years of age and resided with his
wife in a.cottage at Eleventh ST,
Willoughby Spit. He was the
son of ]. H. Miles. of Retz, this
county. and brother of r. L, and
B. P. Miles.
One of the Tyler brothers was
married and is survived by a wife
and several young children. The
other was not married. They
lived at Capt. Miles cottage since
they came to Willougnby Beach
from Somerset county, Maryland.
about year ago. Their remains
were forwarded to Somerset Co.,
Md, for funeral and interment.
The funeral of Capt Miles was
solemnized from LeKies Memo
rial Methodist church at IL o'clock
a. m. Tuesday and was numerous
ly attended by many persons
coming from a distance to pay
tribute to his memory. The SER
vices were conducted by Rev. G.
F. Greene, pastor of the church,
assisted by Rev. Graham H.
Lambeth. of Client Methodist
church, and Rev. h. A. Robinson
Of Colley Memorial PRESBYTERIAN