Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-29
BODIES
IN SEVERN RIVER
Continued from First Page.)

oars were manned by the midshipmen,
including the whole of the upper class
men, who are here as members OF the
rifle team. to which both Mason ana
Thomas belong.
No event in the recollection of any one
here has ever caused so much feeling
and regret at the Naval Academy as the
present occurrence.
Gloom at the Academy.
While the friends and companions OF
the young people bore themselves calmly
all were filled with the deepest emotion.
AS the hours passed and hope grew less
deem gloom took possession of all.
The work of dredging began at once.
It was found that the depth of the water
where the boat was anchored was noI
over Ave feet, and that the members or
the party could easily have waded
ashore. ~
IT was also found, however, that the
bottom shelved off suddenly to one size
of the bar being what is known mere as
up and down water inns gave eiI
the matter. -. a..
There can be little doubt that the
Young people were drowned by getting
into this deep water, it being aitosetnes
nrohable thai Mrs Bowyer got beyond
her depth first and that the young men,
who were strong swimmers, made an Ell
fort to save her, but were uhapie u
do SO. - ,,
every possible theory other than their
death was acted upon. From the fact
that the water or the bar was shallow
and it was possible to wade into the
shore 1t was suggested that the party
might have gone to the shore, Which 70
that their boat might have been taken
away by the passing launch during their
absence.
A Er,,ifless Search.
To test this theory squad of marines
was sent across country to the point Of
land opposite where the boat was found.
They secured the country thoroughly and
found no trace of the missing trio.
1t was thought possible that the young
people had waited at the point when
they found their boat was gone, expect
ing that some one would be sent for them
and had delayed to start on walk back
to Annapolis. This would have been
natural course. inasmuch as Mrs BoWyer
was in bathing dress and would not
have wished to walk through the country
and Annapolis in this garb
1t was even hoped that they might have
decided to wait until dark before making
on shore was shown to be untenable
when the squad of marines returned from
its search and when no effort was made
to attract the attention of the boats from
e,
done If they had been awaiting some
craft to take them to the academy.
At first strict orders were issued by the
superintendent that no information should
be given by any one at the academy In
regard to this affair. This was done in
order that the feelings Of the relatives OF
those concerned might be spared as long
as there was any hope at all that the
AFFAIR might not have a fatal termination.
However. the news spread all over the
Naval Academy and Annapolis. and In
quries at once began. Soon the details
became known, and it was realized that
there was little hope for any member Of
the party.
Official Statement.
Shortly after . o'clock last night
statement was made through Lieut.. Com
mander d. w. Wurtzbaugh, aid to the
superintendent. which may be looked
upon as official. 1t is:
"Midshipmen Sherman N. Mason OF
Newport, r.. L., and Grisby f. Thomas of
Union Point Ca, accompanied by Mrs.
Joseph Nice. Bowyer, were out sailing
this morning i'm half-rater. They were
in bathing clothes.
THE boat was found about = pm. an
chored off Horn point. apparently for
swimming. The occupants are probably
drowned.
.'Diligent efforts are being made to find
the occupants. but there has been no
trace Of Them"
There was no other tenable theory as
to the disappearance Of the party except
that they had been drowned, and every
effort was made to locate the bodies.
Dredges, graphing lines and oyster rakes
were used, and after dark the work was
continued by the rays OF the searchhght
of the Bagley.
AS nothing was found, however. about
10 o'clock last night active search was
abandoned. but was renewed in the morn
ing. The harbor is wide at this point
and the tide has almost the full sweep Of
the Chesapeake bay.
The young men started from the Sante.
wharf by themselves and picked up Mrs.
Bowyer. who was bathing across the
Severn with number OF others. They
apparently invited her to take sail
across the harbor. and she accepted.
1t Is known that others narrowly
missed being members of the party.