The Washington herald., 1909-04-19
HELPLESS, THRONG
SEES DEATH FIGHT
Boy Drowned in Swift Cur
rent at Tidal Basin.
TWO ARE SAVED BY NEGROES
Effort of Twin Brothers and Com
paniOn 70 Row Through Flood
Gates Results in OverturninE of
Boat-EImer Lacey sinks from
View as Rescuers Draw Near.

Struggling manfUlly against q strong
current flowing through the food gates Of
the Tidal Basin. Elmer Lacey. thirteen
years Old. was drowned yesterday after
noon. after being thrown into the water
from a oapsized rowboat While q hundred
persons watched Eelplessly from nearby
craft and The shore
While the boy was sinking. his twin
brother. Homer Lacey. and Dewey Nell
ten years old. were being pulled from the
water into a roWboaL
Badly frightened. and wet from their
plunge. the boys tried 20 assist their res
cuers in the search for Elmer S5andins
in the boat. they directed the efforts Of
Two negroes who had pulled them from
the water.
But the rescued lads. the rescuers, and
the throngs which watched the search
scanned the surface Of the water IN vain
Elmer Lacey did not reappear. and his
BODY now lies az the bottom OF the har-
bor. probably carried by the current q
long distance from the spot where he lost
his life.
Tragedy in sight of Bridge.
The tragedy occurred about 8 o'clock.
while the boys were rowing against the
current which runs through the food gates
from the Tidal Basin into the harbOr
The Lacey boys each Piled an oar. while
young Men reelined on a seat in the
stern. gazing at the procession OF fash
.ionable equipages and handsomely clothed
men and women passing over the bridge
above.
Elmer and Homer Lacey found the cur
rent strong. but for nearly ten minutes
they Iabored in ar eGcr; 20 pass through
The Hood gates Elmer became exhausted
and suddenly ceased rowing. while bis
brother continued 20 pull. Instantly. the
.current swung the boat sideways.
Pull, Elmer. pull quick" cried the
Neil lad in terror. but his warning came
too late. In an instant the boat was
overturned. and the boys thrown into
the water. They disappeared together.
while cries OF warning came from all
sides. Men IN rowboats saw the accident
and started for the spot where the lads
disappeared.
Suddenly a man on the bridge cried:
There they arer' and pointed a finger 70
a spot thirty yards from the cspsized
rowboat. where three small heads dotted
the water. The boys cried for help as
they reached the surface. and il was
seen by their frantic efforts that they
could not swim.
This knowledge lent more energy 10 the
men who were trying 10 reach the lads.
but the current played with the small
boats. The water was carrying the BOYS
swiftly OUT Of reach. but they managed
10 keep afoat by struggling.
Two negroes were in a boat e bIn-
dred yards or more from where the row
boat caDsized- The current was carrying
the boys in the direction Of the craft oc-
cupied by abe negroes. and IL was seen
the lads would be saved II they could
remain a1oat until the current carried
them the short distance 20 the boat
Rescued by Negroes.
The negroes had seen the accident and
were IoNiils 4eiAN -Dffsl+A t4-e po4a- olL
the current impeded their efforts. Crying
for help and struggling for their lives.
the boys showed signs OF exhaustion. and
il was apparent that they could not con-
tinue the fight much longer Then q
CRY went up as Elmer Lacey sank from
sight. Both Dewey Nell and Homer
Lacey saw the expression OF terror on
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