The San Francisco call., 1909-08-17
NOTED HE|RESS
LOSES LIFE IN
CARMEL SURF
Miss Alta GhirardeIli Gets Be.
y0nd Heavy Breakers and
Sinks TO Her Death
Launches With Divers to Be
Sent to Spot to Make Search
for WOman's Body

when within an ace OF joining Miss
Ghirardelli in death.
The girls body had not been re-
covered Tonight the beach is covered
with bonires. The sea has lulled,
but it refuses to give up its dead. The
mother and father of the dead girl
arrived this evening few hours after
they had news OF the drowning. The
countryside. from end TO end, is. tramp
ing along the beaches. hoping that each
successive wave will return that for
which they search, and the sea, satisfied
with the sacrifice which it has taken
unto itself, offers as its smallest con-
ISOLATION the inanimate form of it's
victim.
Suicide RumorS Secuted
Rumors Of suicide followed the
drowning. whispers OF womans sor-
rows. hidden from the rest of the
world, but these were secuted as ridicu-
lous The girl had everything for
which TO live-youth, beauty, wealth,
social standing and success in art. The
knowledge OF her vigorous tempera-
ment and her abounding health is
taken as argument conclusive that she
did not take her own life. Despite
the assertion OF her friends and rela-
lives. however, the whisper would not
be Stised
Miss Ghirsrdelli has been living at
Pine Inn at Carmel-by -the-Sea for the
last month. Her uncle and aunt, Mr..
and Mrs Chris Jorgensen, artists, are
at present in the Yosemite valley and
the girl was alone with her sketch
book and her thoughts. Daily it was
her custom 10 take long swims. An
expert swimmer and permeated with
daring which often went beyond the
lines OF caution. she frequently swan
out exceptionally long distances. Such
was her recklessness in this regard
that Mrs. F. B. Signor, keeper OF the
sathing pavilion at the beach, grew
alarmed and trained her collie dog to
swim after the girl, fearing the acci-
dent which ultimately took place. It
is said that two days ago Miss Ghirar-
delll in taking one Of her accustomed
swims was picked out OF the water un-
conscious, and the insistent whisper
connecting her death with suicide de-
elsred that this was an attempt on
her own life. There is. however, moth
ing tangible in these stories.
Takes Accustomed Swim
Whether there was any truth in the
story OF the accident two days ago or
not. it made no difference in the girls
habits. and yesterday she plunged into
the ocean to take her accustomed swim.
She swan out far beyond the line OF
breakers with the evident intention of
catching the current and floating to
Point Lobos. five miles away. The
sight Of the lonely figure rising and
dipping on the crest and valleys of the
waves seemed to have a peculiar fasci-
nation for those on the beach. They
watched her, commenting on her abiIi-
ties and wondering at her strength and
81 daring.
Then was heard the cry. The swim
mers arms upfiung from the water
signaled the danger and the tragedy
began 10 unfold itself. The waves,
whipped up by high wind and coun-
ter current. lsshed themselves against
the beach. growing more wrathful each
moment as If bidding defiance to those
who would have plunged in to the res
cue Mrs. Signor, from the pavilion,
saw the situation and understood. She
called to her collie and pointed excit-
edly TO the drowning figure. The ami
NAL doubled up his body at the COM
msnd of his mistress and headed
straight for the water. It was the
only chance. Where man could not
pass the dog might. Some cheered him
on. He scurried through the sand.
making II plain that he realized his
duty. The first numb horror which set
tied on the spectators as they heard
the cry Of the drowning girl gave way
10 frenzy of excitement. The dog
ran on. When with few feet of the
waters edge another dog dashed across
its path. There was a snap and a
snarl and the two animals rolled fight
ing on the sand. The shouts, the cries,
the commands were not needed by the
collie. The brute and his enemy
fought on.
Hope died then. The launching OF
the boat by Mitchell and Hitchcock did
not revive it. It was plainly realized
that the attempt was an exhibition OF
bravery, but futile from its very in
cepuon-
The men dragged the boat from Pine
inn. a considerable distance, and
launched IL at the mouth Of the Car
mel river The task OF hauling the
boat across the sands had sorely tasked
their strength and they were spent
men and tired as they jumped to the
oars
Well known as Painter