Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-30
TWO D. c. TEACHERS
DROWN AS CANOE
.UPSETS IN POTOMAC
Both Were Strong Swimmers,
Friends Say-Wet Clothing
Blamed for Deaths.
TWO OTHERS IN BOAT
SAVED BY CAMPERS
Exhausted Couple Cling to Sides
of Drifting Craft Until
Pulled Ashore.

Dragged down by their water soaked
turned in the Potomac a mile above
Key Bridge. young professor at Lang
ley Junior High School and his young
woman companion, physical director at
the same school, were drowned shortly
after midnight Another couple in the
same boat were saved by clingine to
the craft.
The dead are William Lavendar. %
years old, of Rock Island, ILL.,. living
at 2l15 F street, and Miss Merla Mat
thews, 80 years Old of Hampton Courts.
Miss Matthews came here from Har-
risonburg, Va. In the the boat with
them at the time we're Norman r.
Hagen. % years old, of the F street
address, employed at the Weather Bu-
reau, and Miss Della Wynn, 25 years
old, OF 1888 Sixteenth street.
Thought to Have Sought Aid.
The drowned couple were said by
friends to have both been strong swim
ners. 1t is thought that they were
attempting TO swim ashore to procure
aid for Hagen and Miss Wynn when
they were dragged under. The canoe
finally drifted to the river bank short
distance below the Colonial Canoe Club
and the exhausted couple clinging to it
were pulled ashore by occupants of a
riverside camp.
Neither Hagen nor Miss Wynn could
give an accurate description of the
manner in which the mishap occurred,
beyond saying that Lavender stood up
in the canoe.
Harbor police we're notified and the
police launch was dispatched to the
place where the canoe finally reached
shore. Dragging was commenced at
once, but was greatly hampered by ig-
norance OF the exact spot where the
canoe overturned.
Hagen's Cries Attract Campers.
Occupants of camps about half
mile above Key Bridge said they were
first attracted by the cries OF Hagen,
calling. Bill. where are you?" This
Is thought to have been some time after
Lavender and Miss Matthews started
for land. Cries for help sooner might
have brought rescuers to the place
in time to have saved the pair.
The party started out from one of
the lighthouses near Key Bridge in a
hired canoe. Four persons In one
canoe would have overcrowded 1t. po-
lice declared, the usual capacity OF
such craft being three.
Hagen Refuses to Comment.
Hagen arrived at the scene this MORN
ing with harbor police. He refused to
discuss the calamity other than to say,
1T was one of those things"
Witnesses alleged that Miss Wynn,
after being rescued, told them that she
and Hagen were padding the canoe.
She was seated in the bow and Hagen
in the stern. Feeling the canoe rock,
she looked around and saw Lavender
standing up. The canoe instantly over
turned.
Miss Wynn and Hagen, clinging to
the canoe, did not call for help be-
cause they thought their friends would
reach the shore.
A few rods. from the scene they
passed the cabin of Edward Gibson,
who was returning from Washington.
The girl last night said that until that
time they had made no outcry. They
said that he told her that 1t was not
necessary as he was sure Lavendar and
Miss Matthews would reach the shore
safely. Observing the light in Gibson's
cabin, Miss Wynn called for help.
Gibson Swins to Rescue.
Gibson said that he observed the
overturned canoe before he heard the
girls cries. but 1t was dark and he
suspected that they we're merely swim
ming. When Miss Wynn screamed,
Gibson pulled off his clothes and swan
to their rescue.
When the overturned canoe was
reached, Hagen is said TO have run up
and down the shore calling to Lavendar.
Rescuers attempted to quiet Hagen,
but for some time their efforts were
futile. He would give no coherent
statement of the disaster and seemed to
be unable to recall the events leading
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