Smyrna times., 1909-08-04
Party Of -Four Rescued After
Exciting Search
YACHT WAS Overturned
Cries For Help Was Searchers' Only
Guide In Darkness Three Miles of
Coast Of Avalon, N. J.-AlI Were
Lashed to Overturned Boat.

Avalon, N. j., Aug. 2.-Four hours
near death. clinging with desperation
to the slippery bottom of an overturn-
ed batteau, and finally a thrilling res
cue by the life saving crew, made up
a night of wild adventure for DR.. A.
A Sargent and his wife, of Philadel-
phia, with their sailing guests, Mrs.
Reba B. King and Adolphe Chalase.
Of Paris.
DR.. Sargent and his party had been
swept out to sea, and the life savers
were vainly trying to find the capsized
craft. The rescue came just after mid
night, three miles off shore.
DR.. Sargent and his family pass the
summers in Avalon, having a cottage
here. Mrs. King and Mr.. Chalase were
weekend guests at the Sargent cot
tage.
The party went sailing In small
boat and after a short time found
themselves caught in the heavy tide
that runs through the Thoroughfare.
DR.. Sargent got over an anchor in a
twinkling. knowing well the dangers
of crashing into distractions or other
boats. Unfortunately the anchor cable
was too short, and the boat was rush
ed along by the tide stream, despite
all that could be done with the sail
There was terrific Jolt as the mast
struck the irOnwOrk of the horseshoe
railroad drawbridge. This tore the
rigging down, smashed the mast and
sail and all fell, overturning the little
| Of ho
pants into the water. In the swirl of
the tide the crippled and upset batteau
was swept on toward the sea.
At the moment there was immi-
nent danger that the two women and
the two men would not be able to
reach the wreck. Fortunately DIR. Sar-
gent is a powerful swimmer He first
turned his attention to the women.
and with the help of Chalase got them
all to the boat The doctor. noticing
that faster and faster they we're being
swept to sea. lashed the women. and
afterward Chalase and himself to the
capsized sailboat. If 1t had not been
for this the women possibly could not
have survived the ordeal.
Cries For Help Heard.
When first upset, after all had reach
ed the wreck, DR.. Sargent stood higt
up on the submerged side of the boat
which had not then turned completely
over, and, clinging to the side out o
water as high us as possible, called
for help.
The cries Of the party were hearC
by Captain Richard Holmes, of Cap
May, who gave the alarm. After {
life boat was launched and pushed IT.
nose out through the breakers. bea
cons were lit on the beach, shots wer'
fired and rockets were sent high int
the air to let the imperiled party know
their call for help had been heard.
It was a blind search for the littl
boat, helpless in the current. For owe
four hours Captain Nichols and hi
crew pulled stolidly up and down tn
coast without once coming within
hearing of the cries. When about t.
abandon the search they heard fain
cries in the distance. 1t was a hal
hour after that before they came uDOl
the wreck. so exhausted was the littl
party on the upset craft and so weal
their cries for help.
Faints When Saved.
When Mrs. Killing was hauled int
the lifeboat she tainted. either frOr
exhaustion or from the sudden releas
from long nervous tension. She ha
been plucl1y while in the water neve
once giving way. 1t was some time be
fore she regained consciousness. Mrs
Sargent was too weak to even ministe
to her friend. It seemed as if the REF
cue came just in time.