The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1913-06-11
YOUNG MAN browns
PROMINENT AIKEN LAWYER Los.
ES LIFE At ISLAND.
Went TO Catch CRABS
Cut Off on Reef by Rising Tide Not
knowing Safe Retreat, Steps in
Deep Water.-Cries Mistaken for
Calls to His Dog.


The Charleston Post says Charles
Ashley, prominent young lawyer OF
Aiken, who was spending a few days
at Sullivan's Island with his mother
at station 2S, was drowned Wednes-
day afternoon off station 30, when,
cut off by the rising tide while on a
reef extending out from the beach, he
attempted to return to the shore by
the shortest route, and stepping into
deep water, he perished, his cries for
belp being mistaken for calls to his
htle dog who had accompanied him
a grabbing expedition.
Mr.. Ashley left his boarding house
about one o'clock Wednesday af-
ernoon, taking with him grabbing
net and basket, planning to catch a
mess of crabs for supper. His pet
dog went along with him. Friends in
cottages along the beach watched his
progress toward Breach Inlet, and
saw him go out, the tide being low,
along a reef that is notably treacher-
Gus. He waved his hands to watchers
from time to time and was apparently
enjoying the novel excursion.
Meanwhile tide had come in, shut
ling from sight parts of the sand reef,
and when Mr.. Ashley discovered that
he was being cut off, he turned shore
ward. Unfamiliar with the safe
course to take, he tried to wade back
across intervening waters, and sud-
ienly 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, thinking he was command
ing his dog to follow him. perhaps.
The unfortunate young lawyer dis
ppeared from sight and his badly has
lot been found, although diligent
liligent search was made by organiz-
ID parties, who went as far as the
Isle of Palms, thinking perhaps that
he had succeeded in getting out of
the waters grasp, and had continued
his outing across Breach Inlet. His
dog made its way to the shore safely,
and later the crab net and basket
we're found on the beach.
There is deep gloom at the Laird
cottage, known as Aiken Den, at sta
ton %, 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. Ash
ley had visited Sullivan's Island be-
fore, enjoying large circle of friends
who admired him for his genial dis
position and charming manner.
For the past year or two the reef
where Mr.. Ashley met his death 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 q long reef runs off from the
shore, that is covered by water, when
;'e is high, although any one famil-
ar with the lay of the land can make
lis way back safely to the shore by
ollowing the course of the reef care
ully.
However, Mr.. Ashley did not take
this fact into account, and made the
mistake of coming straight in from
where he was stationed when he
found himself cut off by the rising
waters. He was not good swimmer,
and when he sank over his head he
must have been practically helpless.
He was several hundred yards from
his cottage when the accident happen
ed, but in sight from the shore, his
movements being followed through
opera glasses. MI. Ashley was in his
early thirties, and unmarried. Deep
sympathy is extended to his bereaved
mother.