The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1920-05-31

Seldom has this community peer
more profoundly shaken than when
the news was received Saturday night
that W. F. Hallam president Of the
W. F.. Hallam Co., and one of this
sections most prominent developers
and best loved men, had been drowned
while bathing at st, Petersburg
Beach.
Mr.. Hallam's health had not been
the best for some weeks, and he had
gone to Safety Harbor for few days
rest and recuperation, after the close
of a, very strenuous and successful
season. He had with him an inti-
mate friend, Mr.. H. P. Daniels, o.
Washington D. c., and Saturday af-
ternoon Mr.. Hallam invited thi'
friend and Mr.. and Mrs. James H.
Thompson, of Oldsmar, to drive to st.
Petersburg Beach with him, have q
swim, and go to Clearwater for sup
per. Arrived at the island, the three
men went in swimming, Mrs. Thomp-
son and little girl remaining on the
beach.
Mrs Thompson, wife OF Mr.. Thomp-
son, who is general manager OF the
cldsmar proposition, says that nc
statement that there were signs ur
Warming bathers away from the point
where the men entered the water is
not true. She says the men wadet
out and when deep water was reached
Mr.. Hallam's two companions, wht
could swim only a little, turned bacl
toward the shore but Mr.. Hallan
continued to swim for while, ant
then began 10 call for help Tn
noise of the surf drowned his outcrie
so far as the men were concerned bu
Mrs. Thompson realized the condition
and gave the alarm A young MAJ
ramed J. G.. Johnson, who was neal
seized a life preserver and rushed 7
the rescue fully clad, not even stop
ping to remove his shoes. The bod
had sunk several times, but could nov
and then be seen floating on tn
waves, and Johnson at great per-
swan out and brought 1t ashore. 1t
thought that he might not haV
reached safety ith his burden had
rot been for the assistance OF som
members of a motion picture con
nany who were making films on tn
beach and who waded out and assis
ed the exhausted rescuer.
Some indications of life were ev
/, dent when the body was first take
4 from the water, and for two hours e
a ery known means of resuscitatie
y were used in desperate efforts to r
II store life. A physician, DR.. ., !
Feaster, was secured from st. Peter
= burg, reaching the scene In fourte'
d minutes. and a pulmotor was quick
10 brought into service but all enor
~ O'clock It became evident that t
ID o'clock it became evident that e
,e fight was hopeless. On account OF su
cess attendant upon the usual met
IN eds Of reviving person who mas oe
I'd drowned. It is thought by some th
a death was primarily due to heart ia
he nre and not to drowning. Howev
ed II IL certain that he drowned, Mu
n water was taken from his lungs a
,,t sor over an hour 1t was thought
40 oould he saved. Indeed, 1t seems u
q. one time he was not wholly =
ed conscious for he opened his MOI
A and swallowed some brandy .
di- seemed to know that efforts were
nd ing made to relieve him and ende'
ay- ored to respond to them.
nh The news reached Lakeland quich
,,v and produced a profound sensati'
sc- MFR Hallam's son, Mr.. Willard d
lam. was the only member of his f'
nm Iv here and be at once set out
Az st. Petersburg, accompanied Oy
IN friend. Mr.. Will sammon. The n
I'll, sage to the young man merely sta
,re- toat his father had met with an la a.
as. dent, and was in serious cOnditi
The fact of the death was not