Evening star., 1928-05-14
SEVEN ARE SAVED
AFTERBOAT SINKS
Four Girls and Three Men
Rescued-Cry for Help
for Hour.

Forced to take to the chill waters OF
the Potomac in life preservers. after
their launch had hit snag and sunk
last night. four young women and three
men cried for help for an hour before
they finally were rescued at the railroad
bridge, then shielded their identity with
names and addresses that could not be
verified by check-up.
The names on the Incidental book at
both the fourth and harbor precinct
stations were: Ruth Arnold, i6 years
old, 427 Massachusetts avenue: Joan
Pennington, Is, 436 Massachusetts
avenue; Mildred Swanson, 10, 735 Ken
yon street; Martha Thomas. 20. 63S
Kenyon street: Jack White. "a, Annapo-
lis. Md, and George Kaplan. 23, Ala
Fourteenth street. The name of the
other male member OF the party was
not obtained by the police. but the IL
cense number of the launch, P-304. was
said at the Customs House TO be entered
in the name of Alfred j. Wiser. 1920 K
street but he was not known at that
address. Customs officials said. how
ever. that ownership OF the vessel
might have been transferred.
Occupants of the premises listed did
not know the persons who told police
they lived there.
Trains Drown Cries.
Although the noise OF trains passing
over the bridge apparently. prevented
hundreds of motorists along the Speed
way from, bearing their cries for help,
Joy4ph Mfahh and Alexander Panlino.
watchmeH OF the bridge, finally heard
them shortly before midnight and
phoned the police
About the Game time. a woman whose
identity was not learned. rushed in a
grocery tsore at 300 Fourteenth street
southwest end told Earl Frere. the
Fairfex Apartment. and Charles Dom
aldson, 1865 ID street, southwest, that
some one was calling for help out In
the river.
The two men jumped in Frere's car
and drove to the bridge. Walking out
to the middle they obtained coll OF
rope from the watchman and thew 1t
TO the party below, pulling them over
to one OF the piles OF the bridge. With
some difficulty all the members OF the
parey were finally landed on the pile.
Rescued by Launch.
In the meantime. Acting Lieut.. George
Moran Of the fourth precinct. accom-
panied by Sergt. G. c. Gouldman and
PYtS. N. q. Tnayef ano r. n. AFeSColt,
had been dispatched to the scene In
response to the telephone call from the
bridge watchmen-
They drove to the Corinthian Boat
Club at the south end of Highway
Bridge. where they secured the services
of Samuel w. Steinmetz. 4707 Piney
Branch road. and his companian, Ed
ward J. Dowd. 1925 Girard street. who
carried the officers in Steinmetz' launch
Laura TO the people on the pier. All
were rescued and taken back TO the
boat club, where they got In FTere's car
and were driven to Sixth and L streets
southwest.
Frere obtained the names OF all the
members OF the party except that OF
one man who said he was the owner
OF the launch and did not wish TO dis
close his name Although thoroughly
| soaked and suffering from exposure,
the members of the party declined
Freres offer TO take them 20 hospital.
saying they would go to their homes.
and directing him TO discharge them
at Sixth and l. streets southwest.
The damaged launch was later towed
TO the harbor precinct.