New-York tribune., 1909-07-06
THREE DROW NEDlN BAY
WOMEN SEE HUSBANDS
AND BOY PERISH.
Lad Falls OUerboard and Father and
Friend Jump IN to
hid Him.

Two men and a boy. the of one of the for
. mer whom the men were trying to rescue from
drowning. lost their lives yesterday afternoon
in the swift running tide of Jamaica Bay, near
Barren Island while the wives sat in a naph-
tha launch, powerIess to render assistance The
bodies have not been recovered
The victims of the accident we're Charles
Doudera a wealthy painter and decorator, OF
Brooklyn, having offices at No. so Court street
and living in Delemere Place, Flatbush; his
seven-year-oId son, Elmo and Louis Edling' CT
No. 3S6A Pulaski street, Williamsburg, an IN
spector in the employ of DOudera
Both men were members Of the Jamaica Bay
and Canarsie Yacht Club and owned the naphtha
launch Idle Hour Yesterday morning they
started from Canarsic for Fourth OF July
outing The locker was full of lines for fishing
and the women had provided baskets OF gooo
things to eat and all preparations had been
made for an enjoyable trip. The party consist
ed of six persons the nne-year-old son of Dou-
dera being the sixth member of the party The
launch cruised about the bay all day, and about
> o'clock set a course for home Elmo Dou-
dera continued to fish with hand line as the
launch sned over the waters of the bay, and so
intent was he on his fishing that he fell over
board
The bows cries attracted the attention of his
father. who had been busy with the navigation
to Edling to take the wheel, Doudera dived over
the side of the launch and struck out with
strong, swift strokes for the point where his son
had disappeared He was forced TO dive several
times before he could find the body of the boy
but finally ne appeared the surface with his
hands tightly gripping his sons hair.
Meanwhile Edling had brought the launch 10
a stop and was maneuvring to get into posi-
ton to lift the man and boy from the water
aim n
and made the outcome of Doudera's struggle
doubtful. Edling finally got the launch near
enough to throw line and life preserver to the
father and son. but before the former could
grasp it and be pulled TO safety he was seized
with a cramp With an agonizng cry but
without loosening his grasp on the unconscious
boy. he sank from sight
Without hesitating a moment, Edling plunged
into the water, but he almost pOwerless in
the heavy tide which running, and while
the women and the boy in the launch looked on
in horror he also disappeared from view.
Neither he nor those whom he tried TO rescue
were seen again The accident. ali of whicn
happened in a few minutes, seen by Captain
James McAvoy. of the auxiliary schooner Frank
and Helen McAvoy. He put on steam and made
for the scene with all speed, but was too late
10 render assistance He was atle to calm the
women to some extent. however. and towed the
launch back to. the yacht club landing. AT
times he and his crew had to use force to pre-
vent the frantic women from jumping oFerboaro
and joining their husbands in watery graves
The place where the accident occurred is one
of the most dangerous pieces OF water near New
York The tide ebbs and flows with the speed
of q mountain torrent and many lives have been
lost there. So strong is the tide that every year
sees some part of Barren Island washed away
The police of Harbor Squad were informed
If the tragedy. and word was sent to HarDor
SQUAD A. at Battery Place and the North RIVER
A launch went out from the Battery to assist
In the search for the bodies.