The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-07-04
Son of Russian Ambassador
Also Narrowly Escapes
Watcry Grave.
MIR. ASQUITH'S son
AND WIFE in PARTY
Bontmen Tell Of Their Many
Merry Franks on
Launch.
Spsr,di Cobis Despatch to TBr sr~.

SPECIAL C1bis Despdtck 10 THn srS.
LoNroN. July "A gay midnight river
party ended In n tragedy in the small
hours ~ Friday morning when the young
Raronct SIR Denis Arson and a bandsman
~ the name Of Mitchell. who tried to RES
QUO him. were drowned In the Thames
IN Battersea Church. while the young
G,unt Constantln Benckendorff. a son OF
the Russian Ambassador. who went to
the aid Of the two others. had the mar
rovest kind OF an escape. Much OF tho
outline Is as follows
Young Benckendorfr hired a large steam
launch from Hampton Court TO pick up a
party at Westminster Bridge for a mid
night trip TO Kew and back. Accord
ing to the story which the skipper told
70 the owner of the launch the party
consisted OF about fourteen women and
men All were in evening dress and
there was an orchestra OF seven musi-
clans and three walters. Provisions for
supper we're placed aboard the launch
II 1890 A. NJ.
II was a very lively party and they
danced and sang all the way 70 Kew ex-
oept when they were sitting on tho
Deck at an al fresco supper. On ar
irving at Kew the boat turned and pro-
eseded toward Westminster. The party
continued in a gay and festive spirit. and
although there appeared to be plenty OF
-ty,,ia
toward conduct, according TO the skipper.
until the boat was approaching Battersea
Bridge.
Dared Him 10 Jump In.
A. this point Sir Denis Arson got on
the bridge and announced that he pro-
posed TO take a header into the water
Capt White OF the launch prevented him
from doing this and requested the baronet
TO leave the bridge, which he did. but
when he reached the deck some OF the
women chaffed Sir Denis and he then
walked down the deck to an opening near
the engine room. put his hands over his
head and before the engineer. who
thought the thing was a joke, could pre-
vent him, dlved overheard.
suddenly showed signs of being In diff
Guilty. One OF the members OF the or
ehsstra named Mitchell jumped overheard
but was carried Off by the strong tide.
Then Count Benckendorff jumped In. lie
vas soon in trouble, but was rescued by
sboatman in an exhausted condition after
The others had disappeared under the
water.
The party ia believed to have come
from performance OF the Russian opera
a. Drury Lane. II included Raymond
Asquith, son Of the Prime Minister and
his wife; Jasper Ridley, brother of Wis
count Ridley and brother-in- law OF Coun;
Constantin Benckendortr Mrs. Ridley. Ed
tsrd Homer and Claude Russell.
further account by the skipper shows
clearly that the tragedy was the result, OF
dare The skipper says he heard
v'men talking to Sir Denis Arson and
some one OF them said: you dare not
DO It, Denis"
capt. White took no particular notice
OF the chan until he heard a splash. wher
he learned that Sir Denis was in tn,
water. He turned the boat as quickly al
he could and he then heard two othel
spIashts.
Tho mate OF the launch says: 81 no
uced that Sir Denis was being chaffed b!
Inc women and when l saw him stand nj
on a seat In the top of The cabin | pulled
MIN back 4 woman had hold OF hi
Hlnd az the time. Some one sald refer
tng 10 me: Chuck him in the water
Denis