Perth Amboy evening news., 1910-06-17
DROWNING
BOYS ARE
RESCUED
Hailam Skeen CIinOing TO 0Y-
ster Stake William Han
son on Overturned Canoe.
FAINT CRIES FOR HELP
HEARD THROUGH FOG


Exhausted by crying for help and
keeping their heads above water
after their canoe had capsized
short distance from the lighthouse,
Hallam Skeen, of 20S Market street..
a popular member of the high school
junior class, and William Hanson,
also OF 208 Market street, were last
night picked up by Russell Rock, Ira
Moore, Mr.. Keck. Edgar Mullen and
Arthur LaRoe, who answered their
cries in the sailboat Araminta, own
ed by the two last named young men.
So nearly overcome were the half
drowned youths that, after being
brought ashore and attended at the
home of William G. Rock, which
overlooks the bay, they had to be
carried home.
But for the timely appearance OF
the sailboat Skeen would probably
have gone under. When picked up
he was clinging to an oyster stake,
barely able to keep his head and
shoulders out Of water. Hanson was
drifting out to sea on the upturned
canoe The rescuing party were un-
able to secure the capsized craft and
it is still floating about in the bay.
Members of the United States
Volunteer Life Saving Corps, who
have their headquarters at Bayard's
beach, hearing the cries of the boys,
organized rescue party and, in sew
eral boats, went to their aid, al
though the heavy fog which envelop-
ed the bay made 1t necessary for
them to steer their crafts in accord
ance with the direction from which
the cries came. The sailboat reach
ed the youths short time before
the volunteers, however, and they
were brought ashore, weak and ex-
hausted, in the first boat.
Skeen, whose parents recently
moved West, is remaining in this
city until the end of the school year.
After the Glass Day exercises yes
terday afternoon he suggested to
Hanson, with whom he is residing,
that they take a canoe trip. Hanson
postponed the trip until evening,
and about 7:30 o'clock both boys Sc
cured the canoe belonging to Ham
son, and, taking It from its shed at
Bayard's Beach, started out for
trip around the lighthouse
About 8:15 o'clock the fog de-
scended, light at first, but growing
thicker and denser every minute.
Becoming alarmed lest they should
lose their way, the boys turned
about, only to find that they were
lost. 1t was while trying to deter
mine In which direction to proceed
that the boys were thrown from
their craft by fast running sea.
Efforts to right the craft proved
futile. Fully clothed, the youths
knew they would be dragged under
M n fnrs nj o{I
hoping they could summon assist
ance. they desisted in their efforts to
right the canoe, saving their energy
to keep themselves afioat. Skeen
clutched at an oyster stake and held
on Hanson managed to straddle
the canoe.
Members of the life saving corps,
seated on the porch of Captain Sam
uel Bayard's bungalow, during lull
In their conversation, were startled
to hear cry coming family from
the direction of the lighthouse. They
listened, and again came the cry out
OF the fog, Help, we're drowning"
very faint, but loud enough to stir
the volunteers to action.
Boats were hastily secured. Into
one went Captain Bayard and Albert
Rippenbein; into another, Malcolm
Crowell, Lewis Compton and Wesley
Fletcher: into a third, Arthur Wight
and Arthur Colyer; and a fourth,
Harry and James Wight. Making
sure of the direction whence came
the cries, the party set out, pulling
their hardest on the oars to cover
the mile or so in as little time as
possible.
Arthur LaRoe and the party had
taken a trip down the bay. They
were on their return trip near the
New York & Long Branch railroad
bridge when they heard faint cries
of Help" from somewhere out in
the bay. With Edgar Mullen steer
ing, they headed straight in the
direction of the cries. Upon coming
close to the scene OF the accident
the cries grew faint. Russell Rock
yelled to the exhausted ones to keep
up courage and hold on bit longer.
The fog was dense and 1t was diff
cult matter to reach the drowning
youths. After several unsuccessful
attempts to get close enough to them
to take them aboard. Ira Moore
threw out life preserver and Skeen
grabbed 1t. line was thrown to
Hanson and, after some difficulty,
they were finally taken aboard the
saiiboat. A vain attempt was made
to get the canoe. 1t was slippery
and drifted away.
Captain Samuel A.. Bayard, who
headed the rescue party last night,
Instituted a search for the canoe this
morning and found 1t floating on Sea
Breeze.
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