The Semi-weekly leader., 1919-07-09
FIVE DROWNED IN
EFFORT TO SAVE ONE
Death Takes Fearful Toll at
GuIfpOrt Sunday-Four
Bodies Recovered.

OuuudJ hA6At q AoA 90 ANSS@
workers from Gulfport and a force
of men from the Gulfport Naval Sta
tion, were dragging the channel just
off Edgewater Park, in an effort to
and the body of Essie Trepagnier, a
13-year old New Orleans girl, who,
with four other persons, was drown
ed shortly before 10 o'clock Sunday
morning.
The dead persons composed a
bathing party, and four of the num-
Der lost their lives in the effort to
save the fifth, who was drowning.
Four of the bodies were recovered,
but that of Essie Trepagnier re-
mained hidden beneath the waters
of Mississippi Sound while hundreds
of men and boys dived in the effort
to locate it, while at least 1000 per-
sons stood with tear dimmed
eyes upon the shore.
The dead are:
G. r. Garret, prominent resident
of Gulfport who was engaged in gov
ernment work.
Mrs. L. Thompson, of Gulfport.
Miss Lena May, of Gulfport, sister
of Mrs. Thompson.
Helen Bufkin, aged 13 years, Of
Gulfport.
Essie Trepagnier, aged 13 years,
of New Orleans.
Fritz Garrett, son of the drowned
man, was with the party, and was al
most drowned in his effort to save
them.
DEEP CHANNEL FATAL.
The party went bathing at $3.50
o'clock Sunday morning, going about
quarter of mile from shore. The
water at this place is shallow except
for IA foot channel which was cut
some time ago by dredges engaged in
the work of building q sand beach.
After remaining out few minutes.
Miss Lena May complained OF having
a headache and the party turned and
began walking back to the shore.
through water which was about
chest deep.
They were aware of the channel
and had taken course to avoid it.
Suddenly Mrs. Thompson stepped in
to the cut and sank with a scream,
Mr.. Garrett, who was an expert
swimmer jumped to her rescue and
was dragged beneath the water by
her. Miss Lena May screamed and,
making desperate effort to save her
sisters life, plunged into the deep
water, where Mr.. Garrett was strug-
Cling with Mrs. Thompson.
Fritz Garrett plunged into the
channel and the two young girls, in
endeavoring to reach helping hand
to their companions also, were drawn
into deep water. ALI six sank. Fritz
Garrett, finding himself unable to
rescue the others, finally freed him
self and ,half-drowned, swan ashore
and called for help.
Two men, B. G. Sprinkles and Geo.
Buck, were on the shore and gave
the alarm, then jumped into row.
boat and hastened to the scene of
the drowning. They rescued the
bodies Of Mr.. Garrett, Mrs. Thomp-
son and Miss May, and hurried to the
shore with them.
A. j. Hatfield and another man
who heard the alarm, plunged into
the water in an effort at rescue, and
Mr.. Hatfield was almost drowned
Physicians worked hard in an at
tempt to resuscitate Mr.. Garrett,
Mrs. Thompson and Miss May, but
finally abandoned the effort.
A large number of bathers were in
the water at the time of the drown
ing, though several hundred yards
distant. They heard the screams of
the drowning persons. but attributed
them to play. and paid no attention
until after the alarm was given.
Immediately afterward, hundreds
of persons gathered on the shore,
while hundreds of men and boys div
ed in the channel in an effort to find
the bodies of Helen Bufkin and Es-
sic Trepagnier. AS the hours wore
on without any trace of these, the
search became more intense, and 1t
was not until 900 o'clock, four
hours after the drowning, that the
body of Helen Bufkin was recovered.
SEARCH CONTINUES
The search for the other body was
renewed with greater vigor, Mayor
Charles Hayden directing the work.
The shore was lined with thousands
Of persons. The force was augment
ed by large number of men from
the naval station, who began drag
ging the water with hooks and nets.
and this work was still in progress
late Sunday night.
The tragedy cast a pail Of sadness
over Gulfport, and the little coast
city, where Sunday usually is a day
of sunshine and merriment, became
clouded with sorrow. 1t is the worst
tragedy in the history of Gulfport
for many years. While thousands OF
persons go in bathing here each week
at this season Of the year. drownings
are infreQuent.
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