The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-06-11
LOSES LIFE IN THE TIDE,
Charles Ashley Drowned i'm Inlet
When He Attempts to Return 70
Shore.

Charleston June 5.-Charles Ash.
ley. prominent young lawyer Of
Aiken, staying on Sullivan's Island
with his mother at station 90. was
drowned yesterday afternoon and de-
spite a vigorous search last night and
today the body had not been recov-
cred. He was fishing at the upper
end Of the island, having taken posi-
tion on reef with his dog. 1t ap-
pears that he mus, have lost sight Of
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 a short cut
and he suddenly found himself in
deep water and unable to help him.
self. His calls for help were mistaken
for calls to his dog to follow him.
Mr.. Ashley left his boarding house
at about / o'clock yesterday afternoon,
taking with him grabbing net and
basket, planning to catch q mess Of
crabs for supper. His pet dog went
along with him. Friends in cottages
along the beach watched his progress
toward the Beach inlet, and saw him
go out, the tide being low, along a
reef that is notably treacherous. He
waved his hands to watchers from
time to time, and was apparently en-
Joying the excursion. Meanwhile tide
mad come in, shutting from sight parts
OF the sand reef, and when Mr.. Ash
ley discovered that he was being cut
off, he turned shoreward. Unfamiliar
with the safe course to take, he tried
to wade back 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 diligent search was made by
organized parties, who went as far as
the Isle of Palms. thinking perhaps
that he had succeedd in getting out
Of the waters grasp, and had con-
tinued his outing across Beach inlet
Ills dog made its way to the shore
safely, and later the crab net and
basket were found /on the beach.
There Is deep gloom at the Laird
cottage. known as Aikenden. at sta
ton 2S, and in the neighborhood
where Mr.. Ashley and his widowed
mother were staying Mrs. Ashley is
overcome with grief. He was an only
son. his brother meeting death some
time ago from fatal burns. Mr.. Ashley
had visited Sulivan's Island before,
enjoying a large circle Of friends who
admired him for his genial DISPOSE
ton and charming manner.
| For the. past year or two the reef
where Mr.. ASHLEY met his death has
been considered dangerous by those
using 1t for bass fishing. The shifting
sands in this section have changed
the character Of the beach. and now
a long reef runs Oft from the shore
that IL covered by W. Ter 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 reel care
fully. However. Mr.. Ashley did not
take this fact into account. and came
straight in from where he was sta
toned when he found himself cut off
by the rising waters. He was not a
good swimmer. lie 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 i,
extended to his bcrcaVcd mother.