The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1910-07-07
DOUBLE DROWNING
IN JAMES RIVER
Make and Sidney Cohen Go to Watery
Graves Before Eyes of Father.
RICHMOND. VA-Specfal-

RI eli MOND, VA-Spe cial.-
Make and Sidney Cohen, aged ten
and eight years, respectively, were
drowned in the James River at the
1901 Oh Iwelith Street yesterday after
noon shortly after 1 o'clock before the
eyes of their father, Meyer Cohen.
who was helpless to save them The
parent, in vain attempt to rescue
his offspring, jumped into the swiftly
moving current and narrowly escaped
with his life.
To ffteen-year-old Earl Nicholas.
who witnessed the double drowning
is due the salvation of Cohen. Divin-
ing the utter helpleSsness of the dis
tracted father, who, it developed. can
not swim stroke, the youth clam
bered down the PERCEPTIONS edge of =
htteen-foot wall, plunged into the
stream and went to the drowning
mans rescue.
The little party were on pleasure
oent, having started out yesterday
morning on fishing jaunt Cohen
was astride the wall, hook and line in
hand, while just below him Make and
SiGney were playing in the water.
Ihey were either swept off their
ieet or We're pushed into deep water
by companions-the truth may never
be known-being rapidly carried ONT
beyond their depths
The first the father knew of their
predicament was when he heard n
plaintive appeal for help from Sid
ney. Hastily looking in the direction
of the call. he saw a disseminated
head bobbing up and down, first un-
der the water and then above il.
AS the boy went under for perhaps
the second or third time Cohen leap
ed-he knows not whether from the
top or the base of the wall-into the
Surging waters at a point where he
saw the little fellow disappear beneath
the waves.
Being unable to swim, he was swept
off his feet, the swiftly moving cur
rent carrying him rapidly down the
stream and into fish trap. where he
was thrown in an unconscious heap
and in imminent danger of being
swept off to a watery grave.
1t was at this juncture that young
Nicholas appeared upon the scene.
Hesitaung not second. he plunged
into the water and swan rapidly to
the unconscious form, which he pull
ed further up on the trap and out of
reach of the tapping waves.
BY this time others had rallied to
the aid of young Nicholas, and to-
gether they rolled the unconscious
form over and over, at the same time
vigorously pumping Cohen's arms UP
and down, until much of the water
that had entered his lungs had been
expelled.
The still unconscious form was taken
in a boat to Seventeenth Street, where
il was met by the ambulance. The re-
suscitating movements were again
gone through with, but without sue
cess, until the maneuvers were re-
peated at his home. 1t was at first
feared that all attempts at resuscitation
would prove futile.
Cohen's first words upon regaining
consciousness was an inquiry regarding
the safety OF the boys. When told that
they had persisted, he cried, in a grief
stricken tone, My God! Ny Godr
Physicians and trained nurses were
in waiting at his home, 229 South
Cohen's arrival he was put to bed and
hot-water bags and other appliances
administered.
The double drowning occurred near
way and Power Company. Steps were
Immediately taken looking to the re-
covery OF the bodies, but as yet all at
tempts have proved futile.
spread rapidly, and within half an hour
after the catastrophe several hundred
people lined the banks of the river.
Immediately upon being Informed of
the drowning OF her little ones, the
mother of the drowned children, toEeth-
er with Asher Michael, their grandfath-
er, hurried TO the scene, and il was with
difficulty that they were prevented
from throwing themselves into the wa
ter.
There are two other children-Jas-
per, aged six, and Leila, aged three
years. Mr.. Cohen is thirty-nine years
old, and his wife is nine years younger.
Cohen is an agent of the Life Insurance
Company of Virginia.
The arrangements for the funeral
cannot be made until the bodies of the
drowned children are recovered. The
search for their bodies will be prose-
cuted with vigor until success rewards
the efforts Of the searchers.