Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-13

BROWNS IN SURF
AT OCEAN PARK
LIVES OF THREE OTHERS ARE
IMPERILED
TWO YOUNG WOMEN RESCUED
WITH DIFFICULTY
James T. cIeary Dies in Effort to Save
Girl Who Slips from the Raft
When Sister Falls Into
Water
Especial to The Herald. ]


n CEAN PARK, Sept 12.-In a gal
liant effort to rescue a young
" woman who had slipped from a
raft on which four young persons were
enjoying themselves this afternoon in
the surf opposite Sunset avenue, James
L. Clearly young attorney of Los An
geles, lost his life. The other three oc-
cupants of the raft were rescued after
twenty minutes of heroic and exciting
work on the part of expert swimmers
who rushed to their assistance.
Cleary and James l.. Irwin, an attor-
ney in the office of Joseph Scott, presi-
dent of the board of education, We're
today the guests of Miss Adelaide and
Julia Smith, daughters of James Smith,
clothier at 1877 South Spring street,
Los Angeles The four young persons,
donning bathing suits, borrowed a large
rubber raft belonging to E. L. Doheny,
a millionaire oil man. and intended to
pass the afternoon in the surf.
While the raft was about one hun
dred yards from the shore, Miss Julia
Smith, becoming excited slipped from
the raft into tide rip. Irwin dived
instantly to her assistance Excited
by the peril of her sister, Miss Adelaide
Smith lost her balance and fell into
the swift current. Cleary, though not
a strong swimmer, without hesitation
plunged to the aid OF the second
young woman.
All Four in Danger
The accidents occurred just as the
raft was crossing a tide rip and where
a strong current was running. Doheny,
who was bathing close to the shore,
hurriedly left the water, ran to the
nearest house and telephoned for as
sistance to the Venice and Ocean Park
bath houses.
For fifteen minutes, before assistance
could reach them, the two girls, Cleary
and irwin struggled and floundered
desperately in the rough water. The
first to reach the imperiled party was
Lee P. Bergtn.
Realizing Cleary's efforts to support
Miss Adelaide Smith were fast weak
ening the young man, Bergin seized
the girl and succeeded in dragging her
to safety.
Allen E. Morphy, chief clerk of the
Edison company. and his brother, e.
P. Morphy, both strong swimmers, and
Charley Colt, an expert young swimmer
from Venice, reached the fast weaken
ing bathers and each seized one of the
imperiled young persons Allen Morphy
safely landed Irwin; Colt, with the as
sistance of Louis Marcoux and Charles
Bassett, life guards from Ocean Park,
pulled Miss Smith to shore.
While the others were being carried
to the beach. u. p. Morphy was en-
gaging in a desperate struggle to save
the life of Cleary, who was very weak
and fast becoming unconscious. Nor
ply reached the young man. seized him
by the hair just as Cleary lost con-
soiousness, but was separated from
him by a huge breaker.
Body of cIeary Sinks
Again seizing the limp form Of
Cleary, Morphy started toward the
shore. Another immense wave darted
between them and again Morphy's hold
was broken. He made third attempt
to seize the body of Cleary, but it sank
rapidly Morphy dived In final effort
to save the young man, but was unable
| to get hold of the body.
Life guards patrolled the beach. and
surf from Windward pier to Marine
street all the remainder of the after
noon, but were unsuccessful In their
| efforts to find the body of Cleary.
Cleary was 81 years old and lived at
| 715 South Hope street, with offices in
the Merchants Trust building. He
came to Los Angeles four years ago,
after graduating from Georgetown col
| lege, from Grand Island, Neb., where
his father, mother and brother live.
The brother, who is district attorney
Of Hall county, Nebraska, is a promi-
nent Elk and attended the reunion held
this summer in Los Angeles.