The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1909-07-19
MRS. ktPLIhGER HAS CLOSE CALL
A Naxshachic Woman Came Near
Drowning in Gull at Galveston

Mrs Leonard Keplingor returned
Sunday morning from a visit to rel
aiives in Galveston. Mrs Koplinger
rad a narrow escape from death iu
the gulf there on the evening OF July
t4th and II was only by heroic ef-
forts of other bathers that she was
.escued The Galveston News con
ia ned the following account Of the
accident:
In the same hole between the two
fremont street in which John F.
McCune was drowned Friday night
July .. Mrs. Leonard Keplinger
visiting here from Waxahachie, Tex
as, was rescued from drowning
about O'Clock as she was sinking
beneath the water for the third
time Mrs. Keplinger's rescue was
effected only after fearless exertion
on the part of Mr.. John tJack)
Adriance Jr., of this city, in view of
hundreds who thronged the beach at
that hour. Although quite i'll from
nervous shock and the quantity of
water which entered her lungs, Mrs.
Keplinger will suffer no i'll effects,
it is said, from her trying expert
ence
In company with her brother-in-
law, Mr. Joe Palmer of Houston, and
a party, Mrs. keplinger entered the
water shortly after $50 O'Clock. Mr..
Palmer, while not an expert swim
mer, was proficient enough to take
care of himself in the water, Mrs.
Keplinger could not swim.
Mr.. Palmer stated that they no
ted the red flag moored in the wa
ter some distance out from the
ropes which mark the usual lines of
safety for pa thers. but did not know
the flags import, as he, and the par
with him were strangers. Mrs. KEEP
linger was floating upon her back,
supported by Mr.. Palmer, and the
tide being low they were some dis
lance out in water up to Mr.. Pal
mers' arm pits.
Suddenly Mr. Palmer stepped into
the hole which, since the drowning
of Mr.. McCune, has been marked by
a red flag. Startled, he attempted to
recover himself and Mrs. Keplinger
She became frightened and slipped
from his hands into the water, which
was over her depth. Mr.. Palmer call
ed for assistance, at the same time
attempting to rescue his sister-in-
law
Mr., John Adriance Jr,, swimming
from the Breakers bathhouse &c
Murdochs bathhouse, was within
ten or fifteen feet of the party when
he heard the cries. Turning back he
swan to the womans rescue, who
was sinking for the third time when
he reached her side. After heroic
struggle he succeeded in getting
Mrs. keplinger into a condition in
which he could handle her without
danger to himself In the struggle,
his bathing jacket was torn from his
body, his face and arms were badly
scratched and he bore other eviden-
ces of a severe fight After a swim OF
about thirty feet he reached compar-
atively shallow water when assist
ance came to him
Mrs. Keplinger was carried TO the
Breakers bathhouse in semi-con-
scious condition. and was there resus-
citated, Exhausted by his efforts
young Adriance was laid upon the
beach. While he is recognized as an
all-around athlete and especially pro
ficient in the water, his effort told
greatly upon him by reason of the
fact that he had been out of sick
bed for but three days.
Mr. Palmer stated that the hole
into which he stepped was deep
one, and that the sides were almost
perpendicular. The hole is a dan
gerous one." said he, land something
more than a red flag, which is liable
to be disregarded by visitors, should
most certainly be placed to mark
this treacherous and dangerous
trap"