The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1915-01-02

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Smith on the island early in the after
noon, went to Hospital Greek and lay
around for ducks. He was probably
affected by the intense cold and, af-
ter shooting four birds, he dragged
the stern of his boat, the "sneakJbox"
type used by duck shooters, upon the
steep bank. The searchers found it
j n an almost perpendicular position.
Then he apparently tried to drag the
bow around by the painter and slip
ped on the icy bank and fell in. The
cold water probably shocked his
heart, already affected by his exer-
tons and exposure to bitter cold all
afternoon, and he was unable to reach
the bank and drag himself UP. His
position in the water and his right
hand mitten being off, indicated that
he had made a fruitless struggle to
regain the bank. 1t is also supposed
that his heart had been somewhat
weakened by his athletic feats in Y.
M. c. A. contests, especially in the
basket ball games, in which he was a
famous star player.
Mr.. Townsend's untimely end has
caused much sorrow in Longport and
in P~leasantville. His young wife, to
whom he was married several months
ago, and his father, with whom he
was in partnership in a prosperous
grocery, coal and pier business at
Longport, and his sister, Miss Elean-
or Townsend, we're FRUSTRATED with
grief at the tragedy. He was uni
versally esteemed for his fine quail
ties of manhood.
1t vas young Townsend's first
shooting trip this season. his wife hav-
ing prevailed upon him to give up the
pursuit, believing it to be dangerous.
He, however, could not resist having
a shot at the ducks for once, and
his wife finally consented, he being
"to the ANN born" in a boat or
with a gun, and considered the last
man to meet with an accident either
by gun or boat.
Townsend and young Smith set out
in their ~''sneak-box' at 2 P. M. Sat
urday and after feeling their way
around Hospital Island for game, it
was agreed that Smith should try his
luck on the island, while Townsend
went around to the Mainland. Hour
after hour passed and shots of many
duck hunters were heard by Longport
people. At $50 P. NJ. Harry Riley,
who was out around the island in a
boat, came across Townsend on the
Mainland, who had then bagged three
ducks and wanted to get another.
Shortly after he saw him shoot an
other duck, which fell into the water.
and that was the last time he was
seen alive. When evening came on
Smith Ma1End nyo1. 70 tho+ side r1aYt
ing for Townsend to come along and
swer. Smith shouted until he was
hoarse, and then went all over the
island, calling at intervals. He shout
ed at street car on the Longport
line, without success.
Finally the marooned young. mar
MANAGED to make himself heard to
mike" Mccoy, of the Life Saving
Station. This was about 1880 P. NJ.
Mccoy gave the alarm to the station
and he and Harry Riley, son of Capt.
Riley, manned a boat and set out on
the search. Two other boats were
also sen out from the station. The
island and the mainland were care
fully and laboriously searched in the
dark, but no signs of the missing mar
or boat were discovered until on the
second trip of Riley's boat.
James Stanley Townsend was re-
garded as a model young man and
citizen in the best sense of the term.
He was temperate to a degree, eve
touching liquor, or ven smoking.
Language that he would not use in
the presence of ladies was stranger to
his lips. He was quiet in disposition,
spoke well of everybody and avoided
all disputes. Prominent in Y. NJ. C.
A. affairs, he was extremely fond of
athletics and was considered a star
performer, especially in basket ball
and putting the shot. 1t is thought
that his heart was somewhat affected
by his athletic exertions.
He was a member of he firm of
J. B. Townsend & Son, of Longport,
and devoted himself strenuously to
the business with his father. Last
spring he was married to Miss Lavinia
Risley, daughter of the late Peter B.
Risley, of Pleasantville. The we'd