Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-05-14
STUDENT IS DROWNED
IN WESTHAMPTON LAKE
Edward Gillian Evans Meets Death
While Out Bathing
Alone.
STUDENTS SEARCH FOR HOURS
Body Is Recovered, but Efforts at
Reconsideration Are In Vain-Letters
to His Mother, Written Sunday,
Tell OF Plans for Summer Months.

Edward Gillian Evans. OF White
Deer. Texas. student at Richmond
College, was drowned yesterday morn
ing at $50 o'clock. while bathing
alone in the Westhampton lake. Anx-
iety was felt by his fellow students
early yesterday when Evans was found
missing from his room.
Evans was an early riser. Yester-
day morning he failed to wake. for
the first time this session. several Of
the students who slept on his floor OF
the Thomas Hall dormitory. Upon in
spection. his room was found empty.
his clothing heaped OIL chair and
his bathing suit gone. The fact that
none of the several towels in the closet
had been used raised the suspicion OF
the searchers.
When he did not present himself
at the Richmond College refectory,
immediate action was taken. 1t was
known that Evans could not swim at
all, and. as quickly AS possible. twenty
or more OF the students donned bath
ing suits and endeavored TO locate the
body.
At that time. however, it was not
definitely known whether or not Evans
had taken his accustomed dip. There
fore, 1t was deemed best TO postpone
Systematic search until noon. In the
hope that the missing student might
arrive on the campus A group OF
and. exactly at 1880. the body was
found by James Whitfield about ton
yards north Of the point at which
Evans is supposed TO have entered
the lake.
RESUSCTrATION IS
ATTEMPTED IN VAIN
Practically all OF tho student body
| cav the swimmers raise Evans to the
| row boat, from which they had been
a r h. IT, ~
With tense faces, they crowded around
the rigid figure when 1T was laid on
the bank of the lake and each one
offered his services. Resuscitating
inca; res were tried. but in vain;
Evans was without spark OF life
The morning, which was cloudy and
damp. added its cold to the desolate
scene Students In bathing suits stood
shivcring from cold and excitement
as the body was taken ashore and the
faculty stood aside with heads un-
covered. Glasses were practically sus-
pended for the day.
Ten minutes alter Evans had heen
laid on the shore, the sun came from,
behind the clouds and looked down
on the first tragedy Of greater Rich
mond College. AT this time. the arti-
hcial respiration measures. which had
been tried were abandoned. the figure
was covered with bathrobe and tho
onlookers dispersed.
Evans met his death when he stepped
MO steep depression in the bottom
OF the lake. lot being able to smiw
II Is presumed that he lost control Of
his faculties and died within q few
minutes.
LETTERS TELL Of PLANS
FOR SUMMER MONTHS
Four letters. written on Sunday
night. were found in the dead stu
dents room yesterday morning. They
were addressed 10 his mother Irs
c. l.. Evans. White Deer Texas: his
brother. w. w. Evans. Camp Travis,
Texas; Miss Flors l.. Maddox, Concord
Depot, Virginia. and Mrs. D. p. Mink.
GLADYS Virginia. The communicate ton
to his mother was opened by one OF
the professors before the body was
found. in the hope that 1t might shed
light upon the disappearance.
Nothing relating to the tragedy was
round. On the other hand. the letter
was an enthusiasts one. Written bv
Evans on Mothers Day. it contained
ms plans for The summer months and
referred TO the eager anticipation with
which he looked forward to the reun
ION with hts family. He expected TO
begin his trip 10 Texas to-day.
peculiar fact connected with the
tragedy is tfat no water could he
forced from the body by the rescuers
Ihe coroner rendered a verdict OF acct
dental drowning. shortly after he ar