Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-17
TWO RIVER VICTIMS
Naval Seaman and Boy
Drowned in the Potomac.
TWO OTHERS ARE RESCUED
Boat From the Yacht Mayfower
Capsizes in Squall-Rescuer
Risked His Life.

Arthur Parks, twenty-four years old,
Of High Bridge. n. j., seaman on the
Presidents yacht Mayfower, and Joseph
Harper fourteen years old. who resided
at 70S oath street northwest, were
drowned in the Potomac river yesterday.
Harper lost his life about 1 o'clock in
the afternoon. while he was swimming
near the abandoned government pier at
the foot Of 26th street, while the drown
ing of the seaman resulted from the cap
sizing of sailboat near the forks of the
Washington and Georgetown channels,
between the extreme southeast point of
Potomac Park and Giesboro Point, about
2 o'clock.
Charles L. Griffith and Walter Collins,
seamen on the Mayfiower and compan-
ions of Parks, were rescued from what
threatened to be watery grave by
Charles H. Coe of 2947 Mills avenue.
Langdon. Lieut.. Dean, in command of
the police boat, says the two seamen
would undoubtedly have drowned had 1t
not been for Coe.
Thrown Into Water.
When the sudden squall came up about
2 o'clock many Of the occupants of small
boats on the river lowered sails or made
for the shore The seamen did not take
the precaution, however. and when the
boat reached the forks Of the channel 1t
went over, throwing the three men into
the water
With the seamen went the pet dog of
the crew Of the yacht, but the canine did
not make an effort to save the men. Col
Inns and Griffith managed to get hold Of
the overturned craft and cling to 1t. but
Parks was not so fortunate. His body
49, ~ r.
and did not reappear. The suggestion
was made that he had been struck by the
boom and knocked overheard. but there
was no mark of violence on the body
when IL was recovered
Collins and Griffiths' appeals for as
sistance were heard by Coe, the latter
having anchored his small craft near the
black buoy marking the channel. to wait
men when they were almost exhausted
He helped them into his boat and then
went ashore with them. A telephone
message sent to the navy yard brought
Ensign Hester l. Spencer in an electric
launch from the May1ower
Collins and Griffith were taken to the
May1ower. They returned shortly after
ward to assist the seamen in the work Of
dragging for the body. The crew of the
police boat also dragged for the body 1t
was recovered by the seamen, however,
and taken to the Mayflower, where the
commander of the yacht had it prepared
for burial.
To Send Body Home.
Last night the naval authorities COM
municated with relatives of the deceased
and arranged to send the body to High
Bridge. after a brief service held at an
undertaking establishment in this city
Arrangements were also made for a
board OF inquest to investigate the at
fair.
The holding of the investigation. it was
explained by an officer of the Mayflower,
Is merely for the purpose of having an
official determination Of the accident, the
rules requiring such an investigation
Grifhth and Collins, the only witnesses
TO the drowning, are to tell the story Of
the affair.
Statements made by the rescued sea-
men will be repeated to the members of
the board. II was explained by them
that when they realized there was going
to be blow. they started to take in the
sails. but the boat capsized before they
could get them in. Parks was not a good
swimmer, and his companions tried to
keep him from drowning. They were I'M
able TO save him, however. and 1t was
with considerable difficulty that they were
able to save themselves
Joseph Harper. the boy who was
drowned, was a good swimmer He had
been in the water almost every day since
the weather and water conditions were
favorable. preferring the river to the
small pond at the bathing beach. Yester-
day afternoon he told his companions to
watch him make a high dive.
Did Not Reappear.
The boy disappeared beneath the sur
face Of the water and his body failed TO
rise. His companions, alarmed by his
disappearance. shouted for aid, doing
what they could to assist In recovering
the body.
George Dorcas. colored, succeeded in
recovering the body shortly after the ac-
cident happened. but efforts at resuscdta-
ton proved futile. The body was taken
10 the morgue by the harbor police.
Coroner hewitt viewed the bodies Of the
two river victims He heard statements
OF the manner IN which their lives were
lost and gave the necessary certificates
showing their deaths resulted from acct
dants.