The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-07-04

Sadie, aged Ia. and Alethia. aged 1 R
years. daughters of Mrs. A. v. Smal,-l
wood, of AIS North Fourteenth avenue.
were drowned yesterday afternoon,
about $40 o'clock, at a point on tha.
beach just east OF Muscogee wharf.
Up TO past midnight neither of the{
bodies had been recovered. although
speed boats from the air station. and
even scouts I'm airplanes were made use
or to watch for any trace OF the little
forms Vigilant friends ana neighbor.
worked hard with drags ana the uHs
OF great mackerel net for houra.
combing the bottom of the bay. ami
both sides of the channel. but failure
met all these efforts up 10 a late hour.
What makes the loaa OF the two lie
Tie girls peculiarly sad Is the fact thar
their father went to his eternal rest
ABOUT two weeks ago, and the most
sincere sympathy was extended the
heart-oroken mother last night by
friends
Eight children, II was stated. were
in the water at the time At tho
point where the little boys and girls
had donned bathing suits for a CAV
wadfng party. the shallow beach ex-f
tends into the bay for considerable
distance, and it had been a popular
pastime for little ones to go there
from day TO day and wade. But, jusr
beyond where the whitenede beach
sand breaks or suddenly in a deep. |
treacherous undertow. When the tid,t
runs OFT Of Bayou Texar it forms AMI
that
last night. crab ana shrimp fshermenj
have been thrown or their feet. Thet
merry little party. however had been3
there no often that they little dreamed
OF danger. and they played for hours
Ihey were having a gay time, accord
ing to Witnesses. and their laughter at
tracted attention. Among those who'd
saw that they were approaching un-i
comfortably near tho treacherousI
sweep was w. c. MilIigan. residing atf
601 North Seventeenth avenu. ct
thought they we're boys at first" saidj
Mr., Msligan. "and was going to warm
them that they were out too far. Burl
the first thing / knew. they had step
ped into the deep and both were gone.
did not see them as they disappeared.
but am told they were pleading forl
help"
~hAOehCh htoU gill a hLtl6 MAYYllt04
child. came precariously near sharinSi
the fate OF the unfortunate sisters.
Had IL not have been for the. bravery1
and presence OF MIND of little AyiH4
Roberts, daughter OF Mr. and Mrs w.
Roberts. OF 1903 East Belmont street,
he Mayville child would probably
nave been lost. Little Avis, however
lid her bit at the right time and puIledl
Ter little friend to a place of safety.i
The father of the little MayviIle child
8 sailor, and is probably now in
Trance.
The children were with a nuu1bera
Il little friends. and Mrs. SmalIwood-
Il Mobile. sister-in-law, who came oyeri
o attend the funeral of their fatheri
wo weeks ago. Mrs. SmaIiwood's hus-i
and had returned TO the city of MOI
lie. but wire last night will cause.
is return this morning. Mrs. Smaii-i
vood, although trying to reach the IT.
lie girls as best she could. experiencedf
he terrible sensation of seeing the lft-l
lie ones go to their deaths In the uni
ertow. The alarm was immediately1
aised. and searchers began work Nod
he slightest detail was lost sight on
4 the confusion, for someone sum-
loned physician, and Or. Thos4
tokes responded in a hurry, remain-t
,g for hours on the scene ready toJ
pply first aid methods In case elther4
r both the bodies were recoveredl
ut this application was never made
Several boats passed the chfIdreng
3 they played about in the water. anal
ne boat with three men in It, is rel
orted so have passed just a moment1
: two before the sisters went down
he hoatmen. however. like some OF
lose on the beach did not realize thael
7s were for help until 1t was tos
tie.