The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1913-06-11
DROWNED IN THE SURF,
Prominent Young Aiken LAWYER
browns. Cut On by The Tide.

Charleston, June 5.-Charles Ash
ley' prominent young lawyer of
Aiken, staying on Sullivan's Island
with his mother at station 2S. was
drowned yesterday afternoon and de-
spite vigorous search last night
ana today the body had not been re-
covered. He was fishing at the nm
per end of the island, having talion
position on reef with his dog. If
appears that he must have lost sight
Oh the rapidity Of the incoming tide
and when he determined to return
to the beach, instead of taking the
circuitous route by which he had
reached the reef, he attempted to take
chort cut and he suddenly found
help himself. His cries for help
help himself. His calls for help
were mistaken for calls to his dog
to follow him.
MI Ashley left his boarding house
at about l o'clock yesterday after
noon, taking with him a Grabbing net
and basket, planning to catch mess
or crabs for supper. His pet dog
went along with him. Friends in
cottages along the beach watched mis-
progress toward Beach inlet, and saw
MN go out, the tide being low, along
reef that is notably treacherous.
He waved his hand to watchers from
time to time, and was apDarentlv en-
Joy!ng the excursion meanwhile
tide had come in, shutting from sight
parts of the sand reef, and when Mr.
Ashley discovered that he was being
cut off, he turned shoreward. I'm
FAMILIAR with the safe course to take.
he tried to wade across Intervening
waters, and suddenly found himself
over his head. Unable to swim and
being physically weak. Mr. Ashley
called for help, his voice reaching
children playing on the beach, but
they misunderstood his calls, think
ing he was commanding his dog to
follow him. The young lawyer disap-
peared from sight and up to this
morning his body had not been found
although dilligent search was made
by organized parties, who went as
far as the Isle of Palms, thinking
perhaps that he had succeeded in get
ting out of the waters grasp, and had
continued his outing across Beach
inlet. His dog made it's way to the
Shoresafely. and later the crab net
and basket were found on the beach.
There is a deep gloom at the Laird
cottage, known as Aikenden, at sta
tion 2S, and in the neighborhood
where Mr. Ashley and his widowed
mother were staying. Mrs Ash
ley is overcome with grief. He was
an only son, his brother meeting death
some time ago from fatal burns. Mr..
Ashley had visited Sullivan's Island
before, enjoying large circle of
friends whom admired him for his
genial disposition and charming man
ner.
For the past year or two the reef
WI. <houicy iICJ nlS ucdli Has
been considered dangerous by those
using it for bass fishing. The Shift
ing sands in this section have chang
ed the character of the beach, and now
long reef runs off from the shore
that is covered with water when tide
is high, although any one familiar
with the lay of the land can make his
way back safely to the shore by fol-
lowing the course Of the reef care
fully. However, Mr.. Ashley did not
take this fact into account, and came
straight from where he was sta
toned when he found himself cut off
by the rising waters. He was not a
good swimmer. He was several hun
dred yards from his cottage when the
accident happened, but in sight from
the shore, his movements being fol-
lowed through opera glasses.
Mr.. Ashley was in his early '30s
and unmarried. Deep sympathy is
extended to his bereaved mother
The State.