New-York tribune., 1910-06-29
TWO M|DSH|PMEN AND
YOUNG WIDOW DROWN
Went for a Sailing and Bathing
Party from Academy at
Annapolis.
THEIR EMPTY BOAT FOUND
Middies Thought to Have Given
Lives in Effort to Save Su-
perintendent Bowyers
Daughter Law.
fBy Telegraph to Tho Tribune. ]


Annapolis June 2S-The Naval Acad-
eny is shrouded in gloom tonight over
the disappearance and probable drown
ing to-day of first class Midshipnlen
Sherman NJ. Mason, of Newport. r. L.,
and Grisby E. Thomas Of Union Bridge,
Ga. and Mrs. Marie Bowyer. daughter
in-law OF Captain John II. Bowyer,
superintendent of the academy
They started out sailing in a skiff. or
half rater," this morning. According
to the statement of Lieutenant Com
mander Mirtzbaugh. aid to the super
intendent, they were in bathing costume.
Mrs. BOwyer wearing a long cloak over
her costume. The party intended to re-
turn early this afternoon. At 2:3O
o'clock the boat was discovered by the
lookout aboard the station ship Hart
ford. 1t was unoccupied. and apparently
drifted on to Horn Point, which juts out
into Annapolis Harbor, half mile from
the academy.
A launch was sent out. and an investi-
cation revealed that the craft was
anchored. as If the occupants had been
bathing. In it We're portions of the
clothing of the party. while near by on
the surface drifted a midshfpmans
jacket.
A search was organized at once by
numerous steam launches, directed by
Lieutenant Scales, officer in charge OF
ships. from their torpedo boat Bagley.
At the same time land party. consist
ing of several companies of marines.
was sent across country to scour the
shores of the harbor. Both parties
failed to find any sign of the missing
trio.
1t Is supposed that the party went
ashore in shallow water to go bathing,
that Mrs. BoWyer got beyond her depth
or into hole and that the midshipmen
lost their lives trying to save her.
Miss Ruth Bowyer. daughter OF the
superintendent, was invited to be one
of the party. but for some reason did
not go. Midshipman Bushrod Howard.
son of Captain B. Howard, U. S. N. is
the roommate of Mason. and has been
sailing with him nearly every afternoon
since the summer term at the academy
began. He did not go with the party
this afternoon.
Mrs Bowyer was extremely popular
at the academy, as were both the mid
shipnen. She was the widow of Joseph
Bowyer a son of the superintendent,
and had made her home with Captain
and Mrs BOwyer since her husbands
death two years ago. Prior to her mar
riage she was Miss Marie Dean. OF
Pittsburg- She was twenty-eight years
old
Mason was a star athlete and an ex-
pert swimmer. This latter adds mys-
terv TO the affair and strengthens the
theory that Mrs. Bowyer got into too
deep water and that the midshipnen
were drowned in their efforts to save
her. Mason was a promising football
player when he first came to the acad-
emy and was considered the best quar-
terback ever trained by local coaches
until bad injury to his knee put him
out of the game for good
Both Mason and Thomas, who were
each twenty years old. were members OF
the Academy rifle team. which will COM
pete in the national matches at Camp
Perry. Ohio. in August With the rest
of the squad they remained behind for
the spring practice at the Academy
range when the midshipmen went on
the annual cruise in early June The
rifle team was scheduled to leave the
Academy tomorrow morning for the
regular navy practice range at Wake
field. Mass. where several weeks of final
practice were to have been put in
Captain Bowyer. after the search had
been abandoned for the night and when
every possible effort had been made TO
find some trace of the missing trio. in
formed the Navy Department and the
relatives of Mrs Bowyer and the two
midshipmen of the affair. After setting
forth the circumstances. he said that
they were probably drowned. The search
for the bodies will be resumed at 8
o'clock tomorrow morning.