New-York tribune., 1910-11-25
FOUR MEN co FISHING,
BUT ONLY ONE RETURNS
Tides That Race Past East ShOal,
OFF RoCkaWay Point, Get
Three More Victims.
THE SURVIVOR UNCONSCIOUS
Brooklyn Men on Power Launch
Petrol Put Up Grim Struggle,
but the Odds Proved
Overwhelming.

The waters that race past the East
ShOal, three-quarters of a mile off Rock
away Point. claimed the lives of three
men IN A motor launch yesterday after
they had put up a grim struggle against
overwhelming odds. One man Of the
four who started out in the morning in
the launch was rescued, but not until
after he had been pounded into uncon-
sciousness by the waves.
Before sunrise Joseph Hagstron. Of
No II Prospect Place, Brooklyn.
teacher of music, the owner of the o
foot motor launch Petrol: Louis Hopper.
Of No. 9 Van Brunt street, Brooklyn;
Louis Kestler. of the same address. and
Bernard Blonquist, of No. 644 Baltic
street. Brooklyn, appeared at Fred
Lundy's fishing station. at the head OF
the bay. and boarded the boat.
Preparations for an all day fishing ex-
cursion had been made. and the boat
was heavily loaded with supplies for the
outing Hagstrom and his friends were
in good spirits. and joked and played
pranks as they made everything ship
shape about the boat In a few minutes
they were ready and cast off the boat
from the dock
The launch, a speedy boat, built on
racing lines. was soon skirting the Ar
Verne coast and heading to sea. The
last seen Of it by those waiting on shore
was a smother of foam as 1t breasted
the rollers.
The Run to Rockaway Point.
It was shortly after , o'clock that the
fishing party started for home, and made
a quick run as far as Rockaway Point
This is spot which has long been
known as one of the most treacherous
on the Atlantic coast. even in the sum
mer, when the tides are not so tricky.
When the Petrol began to plunge her
long sharp Prov into the waters of the
shoals the tide was running with wrench
ing force
Hagstrom, who was at the steering
wheel. thought to save his craft by run
ming close in between the point and the
East ShoaI He knew the water in the
narrow channel was shallow. but the
Petrol was of light draft, and. besides,
she was being tossed like an egg shell,
SO he headed for the channel.
Aided by the sweep of the tide. the
Petrol fairly raced through the inlet
1t was risky. work, and Hagstrom and
his friends were momentarily in fear that
a heavy sea would swamp their boat.
The men lay fat on the deck, those who
had 10 be outside. while BIonquist,
running the engine. had 10 brace himself
against the side Of the cabin.
The launch had reached a point
channel. and Hagstrom and his crew
were just beginning TO be hopeful OF
ultimate safety. when a giant sea rushed
down on them.
The Petrol staggered beneath the
blow. her bow raised high in the air.
then shuddered and settled under the
weight of water. Hagstrom was swept
from the wheel At the same instant
the Petrol was turned over and tossed
I'D on the rocks at the eastern end of the
reef.
Hopper and Blonquist were carried
away. their bodies being thrown up close
besides Hagstrom. Kestler. who had
SOuSnI SilcttrT HI the CdOlu OL the RHtTHI.
was imprisoned and had no chance for
his life.
Blonquist and Hopper managed to
staGger to the overturned craft and
cling II her keel until the fishing sloop
Rose R. in command of Captain Rau.
hove in sight
Captain Rau ran the sloop as close as
he dared then brought her UP. while Van
Houten. the mate, threw a rope To Hop
per and Blonduist-
Blonquist caught it, but Hopper was
too exhausted Blonquist was pulled
n hoard the sloop. unconscious and bleed
ing. Hopper was swept away by the sea
Van Houten tied rope about his waist.
leaped into the channel. made his way
TO where Hopper's body was being beaten
bv the waves. and carried IL back on his
shoulders After this Van Houten re-
turned and got Hagstrom's body Eff
forts 10 find Kestler's body We're in vain
GREAT BEAR SPRING WAFER.