Perth Amboy evening news., 1913-06-06
TUGB0AT MEN
NEARLY DROWN
Fall Overheard While Wrsst-
ling on Deck of "Tacony'--
Bodies Mere InterIocked.
ONE GOES TO HOSPITAL
Captain lanes Pierson Comes
TO Rescue With Launch
Sank Second Time
ONE GOES TO HOSPITAL

A deckhand and a sailor, of the
Susquehanna coal tug Tacony, are
today recovering from the effects OF
being nearly drowned In the Staten
Island sound, near Shantz and Eek
ert's machine shops in Front street
yesterday afternoon. The former,
George Witham, is in the city hospi-
tai, having been entirely overcome
and almost suffocated by his stay in
the water. He was unconscious for
about an hour after the accident
Both men were going down for the
third time when they were grabbed
just off the New York and New
Jersey Steamboat Company's dock
by Captain James Pierson, who hap
pened to be in the vicinity with his
launch. NUM- Fleishland, an oiler
on the Tacony, aided Mr.. Pierson,
he having jumped into the water and
swan to his friends assistance as
soon as he saw what had happened.
The men had been In a friendly tus-
sic on the boat, and with their hands
and legs locked in a combat for su-
premacy, had slipped off the left side
of the boat.
The men seemed to be in an espe-
cially restless mood about O'Clock
yesterday afternoon, and one sug-
gested wrestling match, which was
Immediately started. Fleischland
was looking on with much interest
The struggle become more and more
intense, until Witham got his right
leg wrapped around his opponents
right leg and had his left foot
foot caught under Gary's left leg
Their arms were tightly clenched
about each other in a death" grip
One of the combatants weakened and
the two, locked tightly, fell on the
narrow ledge of the side of the tug
and tumbled into the water.
The two strugglers were so tight
ly interlocked and the descent into
the water was so sudden, that they
came up twice before they were able
to separate, and when they did sep
arate they were almost suffocated
by the water which filled their lungs
SO that they could not resort to
swimming Fleischland had Jumped
| In the water as soon as he had seer
| the men go down for the second time
and knew that they would be help,
less. The drowning men drifted with
the tide to near the steamboat dock
Captain Pierson had heard them
splash into the water and when he
ascertained they were in critical
condition, he guided his launch to-
ward them. The men in the water
came to the surface close to the
small craft, seemingly lifeIess, so ex-
hausted and suffocated were they.
They came up close to each other,
and Mr.. Pierson with a strenuous
effort grabbed each with one hand.
Fleischland had by this time appear
ed on the scene and assisted in rails
ing the two men to the boat, and
hence to the steamboat dock, where
both were energetically rolled
Gary was the first to regain con-
sciousness. and in few minutes be-
gan recovering rapidly, but Witham
was in worse condition, and though
the water was rolled out of him for
several minutes, he seemed not to be
relieved. remaining unconscious,
though respiration which had stop
ped, began to again feebly appear.
DR.. M. S. Meinzer was hastily sum
moned, and seeing the condition of
the man, had him taken to the city
hospital, where today he has recov.
cred materially, and may be dis
charged from that institution to-
morrow.