Perth Amboy evening news., 1911-07-10
Charles Hill, 10 Years Old
Sinks While Learning to
Swim Yesterday.
BODY NOT RECOVERED
Willis Hembsr OF Fishing
Party Off Acksrs Victim
Goes in Bathing.
GOT eVER CONFIDENT
Disappears Upon Letting Go
of Boat--Fulila Rttsmpts
10 Rsscus by Party.
GOT eVER CONFIDENT

His first lesson in the art of
swimming proved fatal yesterday af-
ternoon to Charles John Hill, eigh-
teen years old, of 683 South Twen-
tieth street, Newark, when he let go
of the stern of the boat from which
he had been fishing and sank in
twenty-five feet of water. The acci-
dent took place in Staten Island
sound, off R. A Acker's boathouse,
Before the eyes of two companions
and many spectators. The former
had urged the unfortunate lad not to
try breasting the waves alone, while
the latter, of which John Buhil, of
Newark, was one, formed hasty con-
clusions that the victim was in a
playful mood and rehearsing some
carefully learned stunts" Their
first comprehension of the fatality
occurring before their eyes was when
the two companions endeavored to
put the boat about and hurry to the
scene of the drowning. A long tire
some search was made, but the body
still remains in its watery grave.
Engage Boat at Acker's.
With two friends, Barney Eller-
man, sixteen years old, of 695 Spring
field avenue, and Charles Vonhoff,
seventeen years old, of 696 Spring
field avenue, Newark, the victim went
to Sewaren Saturday night and en-
gagged a boat from Acker and set off
for a two days fishing trip. The
boys had spent their holiday on July
4 in the same manner, and had look
ed forward to yesterdays sport with
pleasure. Their luck ran well yes
terday and about o'clock in the
afternoon they started for shore and
home. 1t was then that Hill an
nounced his intentions to take dip
in the treacherous deep, though
warm and exhausted from long
row.
Knowing that he could not swim,
his companions demonstrated with
him, but he dropped over the stern
and, holding tight to the gunwale,
shouted with glee as the water cooled
his warm body. Then, becoming
over confident, he yelled to his
friends, I'm going to try it alone, ]"
and before he could be persuaded to
change his mind he slipped from the
rear and had padded but few times
when he threw up his hands and
sank from view.
Futile Attempts to Rescue.
Their attempts to put the boat
about were made entirely ineffective
by their frightened haste, and when
they reached the spot where Hill had
sunk there was not even an eddy on
the smooth surface Of the water to
mark the boys unfortunate end.
For an hour a search was made
for the lads body, but unsuccessful
ly. The disheartened companions
then rowed to shore and informed
Mr.. Acker of their fatal experience.
The tide was running IN at the time,
and the opportunity to recover the
body was materially lessened there
by, but the boys went back to their
search, this time accompanied by
several willing bystanders. The boy
sank in mid channel right opposite
the Sewaren House, near the Staten
Island shore. Today, when an EVEN
ING NEWS reporter visited the scene
Of the tragedy, no searching party
was out hunting for the body.
Parents Grief Stricken.
1t was dark when the two boys
made their way back to Newark.
Fearful of facing the parents of the
drowned boy they sent little George
Hook, a six-year-old boy, of 693
Springfield avenue, to break the news
to them. Mr. and Mrs. Hill were
grief-stricken when visited by friends
last night.
The dead boy was most popular In
the section where he had lived. He
was employed by Briscoe & Smith,
sash and blind makers, of 500
Springfield avenue. and was devot-
ed member of st. AIMS Roman Cath
olic church, Newark.