The sun., 1915-06-21
ATLANTIC CITY WAVE
SWEEPS 8 TO DEATH

extra exertion caused by their effort to
save others weakened them before the
llfeguards could reach them and they
disappeared while thousands were cheer
ing their brave efforts.
Charles Green, or. as he was familiarly
known here. Captain Green. was one
OF n company OF six in n fishing boat
from the banks when the boat was cap
sized by n giant comber. vast wave
struck the boat without warning. II
came as Unexpectedly az II the bottom
of the sea had heavej up. The others
In Green's boat were brought safely to
shore. but when the life guards found
his body in the surf life was extinct.
Several small boats were overturned by
the extraordinary wave. but Green was
The only fisherman who lost his life
Many Of these incidents had run their
course before there was time for the
life guards to reach the imperillcd
swimmers. BY the time the life guards
had run out boats there were at least
forty unconscious ba theirs floating within
fifty yards OF the shore, all in imminent
danger OF being swept out by the cur
rents. The life guards had frightful
struggle In getting these helpless per-
sons to shore. Pulmotors had beon OBJ
taned from the gas company and many
persons were treated with these as they
lay on the sands All save three were
resuscitated by the physicians who were
summoned from the hotels. and later the
three were restored to consciousness In
the hospital. There was plenty OF work
for the doctors FOR an hour or two, and
many OF them who had been summoned
to the beach In the finest OF summer APP
parel were bedraggled and watersoaked
when their first aid work was over.
Many Rcscuers In Need Of Help.
There was no lack OF volunteer res
cuers. Hundreds Of persons We're willing
to risk the dangers of the surf ana did
plunge In and make a fight to save life
But only the strongest could swim out
To the worst currents. Very many OF
these volunteers lost strength and wind
and had to he rescued themselves.
The scenes along the beach will not
he forgotten by any person who was
there. Hundreds OF terrified fathers
and mothers ran wildly along the sands
most OF them soaked by the dashing
waves. while they appealed TO life
guards and volunteers for Information
about children they have been separated
from. Never in It's history has Atlantic
City witnessed such scenes OF distress.
The beach was alive with panicstricken
men and women. II was while the
physicians were bending over the half
drowned persons the life guards were
bringing in by ones and twos that the
excitement and crush became so great
that the police, regular and special. had
to charge through the throngs to give the
doctors elbow room.
Occasionally "A great cheer was raised
as men were seen. head and shoulders
just visible above the waves, bringing in
unconscious hathers. As the news spread
through the hotels and far back among
the streets leading from the ocean
nearly everybody in Atlantic city, IL
seemed rushed for the watersiGe Il
was estimated that not less than lOO,-
600 persons witnessed the work OF res
cue from the Boardwalk and the beach
| Before them was spread a spectacle OF
terror and heroism such as few hastily
! gathered crowds have ever witnessed
/ For, literally, they saw men drown, saw
/ many others saved through sheer pluck
/ and endurance. saw the boats of the
| life guards capslze IN the immense roll.
ers anl the life guards fight a way back
| 10 the beach; saw the whole terrifying
| panorama spread evenly before them. In
| the midst Of the rescue work a moving
| picture operator was observed phley-
matlcally turning the crank Of his ma.
chine as he pointed II this way and that
Many persons had the narrowest pos
sible escape from death Among scores
OF these was James Russell Leach. a
son OF Judge Leach Of Phila delphia Mr.
Leach went out to aid Charles A. walz