Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-05-06
BROWNS TRYING TO
SAVE HER FRIEND
Miss Elizabeth A. Walker, Aged
Nineteen, Perishes in Fall
ing Creek.
PICNIC ENDS WITH TRAGEDY
Girl Plunges Bravely in Stream to
Rescue Mrs. Kendler, but
Stays Down.

In an attempt to save the life Of her
friend. Mrs. l.. l.. Kcndler, 423 South
Pine Street. who had fallen into Fall
Ing Creek from a boat. Miss Elizabeth
r. Walker, nineteen years OF age, of
1919 East Broad Street, dived into tho
water and was herself drowned about
23o o'clock yesterday afternoon. Mrs
kcndler was rescued by Miss Bessie
Nelson, 421 North Thirty-third Street
The body of Miss Walker was rccov-
cred from the creek half hour after
the accident by Special Officer Traylor,
OF the county police, and Boatkceper
Recvcr of the Richmond Yacht Club
The drowning of Miss Walker was
the tragic elimination Of q days picnic
participated in by Miss Walker. Miss
Nelson. Mrs. kendlcr. Miss Nellie Holt,
Miss Bette Holt and their mother. Mrs
Nettie a. Holt. of 20G East Thirteenth
Street. The party. made up OF stanch
friends. who were employed at the
same place. the Chesapeake and Poto-
mac Telephone Company. left Rich
rnond for the days outing at IL O'Clock
yesterday morning. They were to have
returned TO the city early yesterday
afternoon.
GIRLS HAD PLANNED
CIRCULAR HEN PARTY"
IT'S to be a regular hen party"
tocularly remarked Miss Walker to one
OF her friends just before the party
left. There's not going to be a man
in The party, and we are going wading
and padding and have n generally good
time She waved a merry farewell.
anf "as gone. In less than six hours
later her body was brought back 10
her residence by members OF the
family, who had hurried to Falling
Creek upon receiving message from
Coroner Loving, OF Chesterfield
Miss Nellie Holt last night gave
members Of Miss Walkers family their
first description OF the manner in
which Miss Walker was drowned. She
said that several OF the girls had
gone padding in the waters near the
mouth Of the cree; just before IL
empt!ed into James River at the Yacht
Club. Mrs. kendlcr, with Miss Nelson,
had entered a boat which was tied to
n tree on the bank. Miss Walker, with
Mrs Holt and her daughters were on
the bank OF the stream. While stand
ing up In the boat, Mrs. Kendler lost
her balance and fell headlong into the
stream. For some seconds II was i'm
possible to guide the boat toward her
She came to the surface only to sink
ond time she sank.
FULLY CLOTHED, GIRL
PLUNGES INTO STREAM
Miss Walker saw that rescue must
be effected in the next few seconds II
Mrs. Renders life were to be saved
Without word and not stopping to
dom any OF her clothing. she plunged
into the creek. She had hardly entered
the stream, however. when Miss Nelson
succeeded in directing the stern OF the
row boat close to Mrs. Kendler and in
catching her hair. The young woman
managed TO retain her hold until those
on the bank reached her and assisted
in drawing Mrs. Kcndlcr out.
BY that time Miss Walker had dis
appeared. Whether she was taken with
fainting spell, TO which she was said
to be subject. or whether she stepped
off the edge OF submerged bank, Is
unknown. She was unable to keep
above the surface. and had sunk while
other members of the party were lend
ing their aid to Mrs. Kendler The
weight OF her clothing is believed to
have speeded her drowning.
Mrs. Holt and several OF the girls be-
gan TO scream when they realized what
had occurred. Mrs. Kendler was able
to care for herself in a few minutes.
Miss Bette Holt rushed the distance
TO the Yacht Club and notified Reeves,
Traylor. and several other men who
were there. of what had taken place
Ehc men hurried to the spot and sue
ceeded in locating the body about
twenty feet down stream in little more
than half an hour. The men made
every effort to revive Miss Walker but
life was extinct.
PHYSICIANS FAIL TO FIND
SIGN OF LIFE
Special officer Traylor notified Coro-
ner Loving and DR.. RaGland. and the
two physicians arrived in n short time
They, too, werc unable to find any
signs OF life Coroner Loving tele-
phoncd Miss Walkers family and her
father. with C. II. Hardesty, went to
Failing Creek on the next car. Tho
coroner gave permission for the re-
moval OF the body to the girls home.
and 1t was returned to Richmond late
yesterday afternoon.
According to Miss Holt. the water in
which Miss walker lost her life could
not have been of any great depth un-
less there was n submerged bank in tho
stream. She said that several of the
girls had waded about in the stream
near the bank for some time previous
to the accident. and that they had
found the creek exceedingly shallow
IIardesty, who is a brother-in-law OF
Miss Walker said last night that she
had learned to swim q few strokes
while at Buckroe Beach last summer,
and that the accomplishment was a
source OF considerable pride to her. lie
was OF the opinion that she could swim
only short distance, however. and
said that the weight OF her clothing
would probably have been too much Of
burden for her.
BELIEVE PAINTING SPELL
CAUSE OF DROWNING
Mr.. Walker said that his daughter
had been troubled with fainting spells
for some time. and thought perhaps
that one of them might have been
:, brought on by the, excitement and the