New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-08-06
BROWNS IN HARLEM RIVER
GID in Which Oarsman Was Row.
ing Capsized.
TUGS KICKED UP A SWELL
President of Victims Boat Club
Says His Life Is Price OF
Better Conditions.

/ pCttCI 0OAoAeASASs
Isador Davidson, of No. IS East 19tf
street, who was in the clothing business
with his father at No. SIS Bleeckei
street. recently Joined the Lone Stai
Rowing Club, which has a clubhouse a.
fifth street and the Harlem River
Young Davidson was an enthusiastic
oarsman, although he was unexperiencee
| in the management Of a racing shei
! This inexperience is what proeaoiS
caused his death last evening.
During the hot weather he made the
clubhouse his headquarters, and invited
various friends TO have dinner with MIN
Last night he had invited eoyhooo
| chum. Herman Schwartz, to dine WIFI
! him at 7:30 o'clock. and had ordered a
| ia BILE on the veranda Of the CLUBHOUSE
which overlooks the Harlem RIVER lroii
the second story of the building.
| He arrived at the clubhouse early, and
the wait for his friend becoming rathei
tedious, at O'Clock he stripped, donneo
| a bathing suit and, going to the float OF
the clubhouse. stepped into the gig. His
/ $4,000
| the water like q razor blade, and H. A
Loft, president of the club, and II. "A
Barnberger, a member, who were sitting
| on the veranda, made adEniring COM
l,,ents as they saw him rowing down.
stream.
| Even while they were talking about
Davidson and his excellent athletic
\ fJrn fJI0h l.
| ing south at top speed. IT think it is a
shame the way those tugboats go Whiz-
zing by here, quite Indifferent to the
MANY royboats and shells on the water,
| Mr. Loft remarked to Mr.. hamburger.
| .I think we oarsmen will have to get TO-
gether some time and protest.
The words were hardly out Of his
mouth when Loft Jumped to his feet and
exclaimed. Davidson is in trouble.'
The tugs speeding down the river
raised a heavy swell, and as they came
abreast of the gig in which DAVIDSON
was rowing, one close behind the other
the swell seemed to throw the gig ABOUT
| as if it were an eggsheil. DAVIDSON
seemed to be struggling for control, put
his oars were spun out of his hands.
I The next minute he threw himself over
The side of the gig and began swimming
| for shore
| BY this time Loft and hamburger were
| half way to the float They saw DaNlo-
I son lump into the river, and they alfhoSe
/ feI, into a rowboat in their hurry to go
| 10 his assistance. They could see MN
| swimming as they looked over their
| shoulders while rowing toward MIN, ana
| they saw him cleaving the water WITH
strokes as powerful as those WITH WHICH
| he had welded the oars.
| 4 rowboat shot out from the Albania
! Boat Club, at 152d street, and the TWO
rowboats. abreast of enc another, pulled
| steadily. and were fast approaching the
| dark head, which could be seen on top Oh
the water, when suddenly, without cry
| Davidson threw UP his hands and Sank
The noint of the river where Davidson
went down is very narrow. and it was
| hoped that he would be able to reach
the shore, but it is supposed that swirl
| undercurrent caught him in its grip ana
dragged him to his death
After diving for his body repeatedly IN
! A vain attempt to recover it the members
| of the boat clubs summoned the ponce
! of Harbor Squad B, who began TO
drsdge the river. For more than three
hours the police worked with their crap
Ming hooks. while the members OF
Bayi6fson's club stood grouped on the
float in sad vigil Along toward IL
o'clock the body was brought to the sur
face and towed to the Lone Star float.
Members of the Lone Star Boat Clut
held an Indignation meeting III the club
| banse last night, and it was determined
+o forward a petition to the Bureau ei
Nayfsatior of the War Department, ask
| ing that the speed of tugboats III the
Harlem, River be regulated during the
/ rowing season s., as to make that pas
| tine less hazardous.
| President Loft related an incident
which occurred two weeks ago, when AT
eight cared shell Of another club was
! struck by tug and broken III two
! throwing the oarsmeH into the water allc
compelling them TO swim for their hives
And the captain and crew OF that tug,
said MIR. Loft, laughed at the plight oil
oIr comrades Davidson is g. victim OF
the reckless sport of the tugbeat men
and the loss Of his life is probably the
price We had to pay for better conditions
on the river