The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-09-22
Upset When Eight Men
Made Sudden Rush
for Shelter.
BREAK THROUGH
UNDER WATER
Body of Alfred Jones Not Re.
covered; Others in Party Sav-
ing Themselves After Des-
perate Struggle With Up
turned Rowboat-Sev-
eral Injured.


near Falling Creek, on the James
River, Alfred Jones, OF Raleigh, N C..
who has been boarding at 6l4 North
Elghth Street, was drowned at o'clock
yesterday afternoon, and his seven
companions were saved only after a
desperate struggle.
Those in the launch besides Jones
We're: Joseph Robinson, of 309 North
twenty eighth Street; William 1.
Baker, of GIG North Twenty eighth;
maveri. of 700 North Seventeenth;
George Taylor, OF East Clay Street.
George Ellis, of 9o4 North Thirty-ffth
street. and d. r. Wyche, of 2105 Ed
ward Avenue. South Richmond
All OF the men, with the exception
or Ellis, were more or less painfully
injured, and Baker was so severely cut
about the arms and hands that he was
removed to the City Hospital imme-
diately upon arriving at Seventh and
ferry streets, South Richmond.
Cnpsizcd in Squail.
The launch was capsized in the
squall which arose suddenly at 9
o'clock. All of the men except Wyche
were in the forward part of the boat,
and when the heavy wind arose and
the rain began to beat down they made
| rush for the shelter of the cabin.
AS all of them were on the same side.
| the launch careened to one side and
| IN a moment had turned completely
over, catching the men close in the
| CABIN beneath the surface Of the water.
There was wild, helter-skelter rush
IN the darkness. and amid the inrush-
ing waters for the windows, and the
| men hurled themselves against the
glass with his arm, and Baker man
son got. out first, and rosc quickly to
the surface. six others followed. and
looking down, Robinson saw that
Baker was still trapped in the cabin.
he reached down and broke another
| glass with hi sarm, and Baker man.
aged to squirm through, rising. half
drowned. to where his companions
were struggling. He said afterwards
that he thought he was doomed. and
that he fought and kicked for what
seemed an interminable length of time
before he was able to free himself He
cut himself severely in several places,
and lost much blood before he was fin
ally taken from the water
Two Clinstng to Keel.
Rooinson and Du Val were clinging
to the keel OF the upturned launch
when Baker reached the surface of the
water. and the others were hanging
on to the rowboat which had been
attached by a tow line to the launch.
Baker had forethought enough to grab
! life preserver when he broke through
and found another floating free when
| he got To the surface. He placed the
free life preserver beneath him, and,
port himself without trouble until help
came.
| Jones. Wyche, Taylor, Du Val and
Primmaveri attempted to climb into
the rowboat in their excitement, and
the rowboat also was overturned 1t
still hoated. keel UP. however, and
four of the men hung on to II. Jones,
his companions say. told them that he
would swim to shore. They saw him
about thirty feet away. going toward
shore. when they had to turn their at
tontion to the boat again to prevent
1t from sinking. When they looked
around again Jones had disappeared
They did not know ct the time, though
whether he had been drowned or had
| safely reached the shore.
Showed Bont TO Shore.
BY dint of much kicking and pad
ding. the others managed to shove. the
rowboat to the Chesterfield shore. Du
Val and Robinson remained with the
launch. hanging on to the keel. Baker,
some distance away, was floating on
the two life preservers. and attempt
ing to swim. He was unable to make
headway. however. and decided to lie
still until some one came to his rescue
| The four men who had reached the
| river bank were SO exhausted by their
efforts that they had to rest before
attempting to go to the assistance OF
their companions ellis lay down In
tho mud until his strength returned,
and then put out In the boat to the
men clinging to the launch. He towed
| them In. and was about to go back for
Baker when another launch in cnarge
OF n man and woman came to the res
cue. They unfastened a boat they were
towing, and hauled Baker in. But
there were still no signs of Jones, and
his companions concluded that he had
either gone down or had got to the
shore at n point lower down. Taylor
ypff run nfH
the water, and brought them in.
Brought Him TO Hospital.
Headed by Robinson. the mon who
had been saved sought refuge in
small house near the shore. but when
it was seen that Baker appeared to be
badly cut all OF them, except Ellis, de-
cided to come to Richmond They
boarded a car OF the Richmond Pc
tersburg line. after wait of forty min
utes, and reached Perry Street Station.
The city ambulance was called for
Baker, and he was taken to the City
Hospital for treatment. Robinson
went home in taxicab. and the others
went to their various homes on street
cars
All OF the men had been more or
less seriously cut by smashing their
way through the windows Of the cabin,
and sought medical treatment mt the
first opportunity. Wyche was cut on
the shoulders and back. and Taylor wnE
severely cut on the knee. Baker was
cut In the left arm and on the right
hand. and the physicians found II nee
essary to administer an anesthetic bc-4.
fore they could sew up the wounds.
He recovered sufficiently to bo able to \
talk OF the accident. but VIII not ba
able to leave the hospital until late
to- day or possibly tomorrow. Ss
Stampcde Caused Upset.
The men had spent the day ,cowItg
the river enjoying themselves With a