The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-08-04

The Mobile Item says: Thomas
Long. an emplOye of the street depart
ment of the city o. Mobile. residing
near Elmira and Scott streets. his
three young sons, all under Is years
O. age, and a friend, Dick BrOuthers.
had a narrow escape from a watery
grave yesterday in Mobile Bay.
The men aRS boys remained in the
time the sea was rough and a terrific
rainstorm was falling.
1t was thought that the young boy
would surely drown and the father. in
order to save them, tied them togethe.
and with the assistance of Broutherz
got them out of the water a number %
times.
steam launch sighted them and
the rescue was made in the nick o.
time. The boys were exhausted wheu
placed in the launch and were revived
at home.
All Hope Given Up.
Long and BToutheTs thought sure
that they could not hold out any
longer on account of the rough con
dition to the bay and the hard wOrE
that they had with the little fellow.
Long this morning. in describing thu
incident, SAYS that he had given up
all hope of saving his three children
and himself. and that he tied the
youngsters by the wrists so that in
case that they were drowned their
bodies would be together He says
that the sound from the launch was
the most welcome news he had ever
heard in his life
Crab Fishing.
Long and his party went out IN
sail boat yesterday to go crab fishing
in PoleCat Bay. The trip to the bay
was made in quick time and the fisher
men had been at their sport but
short time when a strong gust OF
wind came up and capsized the craft.
but not completely turning her over.
The boat went on the side and the
sail to some extent steaded her The
two men could swim. but the lads
could not, and it required but a few
minutes to get the boys on the side
o. the boat
Agonizing Hours.
The men had little trouble. how
ever, in getting the boys on the side
of the overturned boat. where they
chung on as best they could, stiH
breeze blowing over the bay at the
time made the water rather rough.
however, and the boys had no little
trouble in keeping their position on
At the time the boat Capsized the
two men believed that they would
presently see some craft passing and
would be picked UP. But not so. The
boat capsized shortly after 10 o'clock,
and at noon no boat had been sighted.
The boys were beginning to weaken
under the constant strain of holding
their positions.
Two o'clock rolled round and still
no boat was sighted. Another hour
dragged slowly by and the men were
beginning 70 get desperate. The boys
were growing weaker and weaker. 1t
was with difficulty that they were able
to retain their positions Another
thirty minutes dragged their weary
length away and despair began TO
settle over the two men, straining
eyes and ears in t1e hope of seeing
or hearing some passing craft BY
this time, the struggle of the boys to
keep on the boat was pitiful to wit
ness. They had become completely
exhausted and ever and anon one
lost his hoId and slipped into the
water. The men. with grim despair
in their hearts, Teseated the exhaust
ed lads and spoke words of hope which
they were far from feeling.
Relief at last.
At 4:30 the men had all but given
up hope of rescue But still they hung
on and struggled to keep the boys
above water Then suddenly TO their
straining ears came tle welcome
sound of the exhaust OF a gasoline
engine. II came nearer and nearer
and presently launch hove in sight
A Few minutes more and the now
thoroughly exhausted lads and no less
tired men were safe IN the launch and
were being driven to the city as fast
as the launch could be rushed.
The launch that rescued Long and
his party was in charge of that we'll
known yachtsman. Clarence WOOten.
who did everything in his power for
h.