Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1910-06-29

ing, when the news gained headway,,
and got beyond the Naval Academy
walls, and outside the gates, then it
was known that Mrs. Joseph McC.
Bowyer, widow of son of the super
intendent of the Naval Academy, and
Midshipman Sherman M. Mason, of
Newport, R. l., and Midshipman
Grisbey Z. Thomas, of Union Point,
Ca, who went out early in the morn
ing, were probably drowned.
The entire town was aroused. Peo-
pie spoke in whispers everywhere.
The entire river was covered with
small craft. A steam launch went
out from the Naval Academy. found
the boat with sails set, anchored near
Chink Point and moved it three hun
dred yards away. later taking it to
the Naval Academy Two men from
Eastport, Frank Short and William
Rodgers, who were grabbing in a
skiff, saw the empty boat about
2;30 yesterday afternoon, and gave
the alarm. The searching party of
marines went out, about sixty
in number, each carrying lanterns,
to scour the country for the missing
ones. At Back Creek bridge they
encountered difficulty, the bridge
having been totally destroyed by
the tides and storm. Here the
squad of marines took a small boat
and ferried across the creek two at a
time After making a search along
the shores and through the woods, the
recall was sounded and they returned,
their efforts having been Intellectual
Little groups gathered from all
parts of the town and Eastport. near
the scene of the then supposed trag-
edy. Everybody spoke in whispers.
and all orders directing the work of
the searchers were in monotone. A
death-like silence prevailed, and a
pail was over all. Indeed had any
man of that party spoken in his
natural voice, he would have appeared
to be screaming, so profound was the
stiffness.
While the friends and companions
of the young people are bearing them
selves calmly, all are filled with the
deepest emotion, and as the hours pass
and hope died, deep gloom has
taken possession of all.
The work of dredging began at
once. 1t was found that the depth of
the water where the boat was anchor
ed was not over five feet, and that
the members of the party could easily
have waded ashore. 1t was also
found. however, that the bottom
shelved off suddenly to one side of
the bar, being what is known here as
''up and down water" This gives
the clue to the more reasonable ex-
planation of the matter
There can be little doubt that the
young people were drowned by getting
into this deep water, it being alto
gether probable that Mrs. Bowyer got
beyond her depth first and that the
young men, who were strong swim
mers, made an effort to save her, but
were unable to do so.
1t was thought possible that the
young people had waited at the point
when they found their boat was
gone, expecting that someone would
be sent for them and had delayed to
start on a walk back to Annapolis.
This would have been a natural
course, inasmuch as Mrs. Bowyer was
in bathing dress and would not have
wished to walk through the country
and Annapolis in this garb. 1t was
even hoped that they might have de-
cided to wait until dark before MAX
ing the trip, but the theory that they
were on shore was shown to be un-
tenable when the squad of marines re-
turned from its search and when no
effort was made to attract the atten-
tion of the boats from shore, which
would certainly have been done If
they had been awaiting some craft to
take them to the Academy
At first strict orders were issued by
the superintendent that no informa
tion should be given by anyone at the
Academy in regard to this affair.
This was done in order that the feel
ings of the relatives of those concern
ed might be spared as long as there
was any hope at all that the affair
might not have a fatal termination.
However, the news spead all over the
Naval Academy and Annapolis, and
inquiries at once began. Soon the
details became known, and it was rea-
lized that there was little hope for
any member of the party.
Shortly after 9 o'clock last night a
statement was made through Lieuten-
ant Commander D. w. Wurtsbaugh,
aid to the superintendent, which may
be looked upon as official. 1t is:
Midshipmen Sherman N. Mason.
of Newport, r. L., and Grisby E.
Thomas, of Union Point, Ca, accom-.
panied by Mrs. Joseph Nee. Bowyer,
were out sailing this morning in q
half-rater. They were in bathing
clothes. The boat was found about 2
p. m. anchored off Horn Point, ap.
parently for swimming. The occu-
pants are probably drowned. Dill.
gent efforts are being made to find the
occupants, but there has been nc
trace of them.
There was another tenable theory
as to the disappearance of the party
except that they bad drowned, anc
every effort was made to locate the
bodies. Dredges, graphing lines ant
oyster rakes were used and after dart
the work was continued by the rays Of
the searchlight of the Bagley. Al
nothing was found, however, about II
o'clock active search was abandoned
I hut was renewed at an early houl