The sun., 1919-08-03
Midsummer Activities in the
Collegiate and Scholastic World
Summer School Events at Simmons College, Columbia and
Wisconsin Death by Drowning of Rverdales Foot
ball Captair-New Athletic Field for Smith College

NND of those terrible school boy
tragedies which too often blur
school associations has cast q
,,oom over the fellows Of Riverdale
country School, New York city. Tho
captain Of the football team. who last
war also was 4 member Of the basket
bali and baseball teams, Harry Roby. a
FIFTH Former. was drowned few days
AGO at the homo OF his family at Lake
cayuga- The sad accident was 80 need
lass as to be beyond understanding.
The afternoon happened to be stormy I;
but not badly 90. Harry and a young
friend soon after lunch started across
a cove in a canoe, but stopped at a div
nr noat In the middle for the fun of
riding the waves by which this float was
tossed They pulled up the boat on
one corner while they frisked on the
other side. A sudden gust of wind car
rled the canoe OF, leaving them ma
rooned They were not far enough from
the shore to be bothered by this; but
without a moments hesitation Harry
Roby peeled on just his coat and
plunged in after, the boat. A powerful
athlete and an exceptionally fine SWIM
mar. he would ordinarily have had no
dificulty In overtsking the craft and
hlnging it back: but apparently a
,pring fed the water Just where he
Owed, rendering It icy cold. The chill.
coming so soon after a meal. evidently
uaralyzed him, for he Immediately called
for help. and his friend went after him.
The boys made a great struggle, but
were unable to get back; and Harry
Roby sank. The most pathetic part Of
IL all Is that some campers on the shore
saw the boat adrift and went after 1t !:
but evidently did not hear the cries of
the boys or see the boys. but saved the
boat while this fine young life was lost.
So deep was the water that the body
was not recovered for thirty-six hours.
It was a thoroughly heartbroken group
Of relatives, friends, teachers and
schoolmates of this splendid youth who
at the funeral on Sunday overcrowded
and spread outside the Chapel of the
Good Shepherd in the northeast Bronx.
This little church had been started by
the lads father and mother, and he had
been the first Sunday school scholar. and
had been confirmed there as well. The
Epscopalan ritual does not admit Of
any eulogy in the course of the noble
funeral ceremony, but words were SUI
perhuous to represent the way In which
this lad was held.
The Riverdale boys when they learn
OF this news will scarcely believe 1t.
for Of all the fellows Harry Roby would
seem the best able to take care of him
self in an emergency. He was one Of
the most powerful athletes the school
has ever had. He was, furthermore. as
well liked as any of the boys. Year
after year he had improved his scholar
ship record, and at the same time had
Increased his athletic prowess. He was
perhaps~the most ardent admirer In the
school OF Theodore Roosevelt, and many
Of the masters felt that he was delib-
erately patterning his development after
that Of this great leader. That at six
teen and a half such a sad accident
should have curtailed this high purpose
adds to the pity OF II all.
The Ave members of the faculty who
were near enough to the city To be able
to attend the funeral concurred unani-
mously to establish at once in the school
the Harry Roby memorial scholarship:
The headmaster. Frank S. Hackett, has
already announced this decision to the
family, and offered the honor OF first
award to Alfred Roby, Harry's younger
brother.
The Riverdale older fellows have al
ready planned when they return In the
fall to take such steps as will perpetuate
otherwise the memory OF this fine youth