Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-08
Fraternity Trophy Will Honor
Memory of Albert Sharf,
River Victim.
C0LORED MAN LOSES
LIFE WHILE BATHING
Friends Save Youth, Down Second
Time, After Venturing Into
Deep Water.

niSAlb III tiie OHiCIOH Alpha ldu FRA
| ternity of George Washington Uni
versity will perpetuate the memory of
Albert Thomas Sharf, 20-year-old stu
dent, who was drowned while swimming
in the Potomac River yesterday after
noon after his grip on the arm of a
reScuer relaxed.
Another man lost his life in the river
yesterday, while boy was saved by
five companions when he ventured be-
yond his depth. The second drowning
victim was Richard Davis Douglass,
colored, of 1918 Central avenue north
east.
Ralph Champion, 9, of 4103 K street
extended was rescued when he stepped
of sandbar opposite the Three Sis
tiers few minutes after Sharf was
drowned. In nowise daunted by his
experience, the lad left his home for
the swimming pool at the Georgetown
Playground as soon as he finished
breakfast this morning.
Sharf's parents, Mr.. and Mrs. Thomas
Sharf, of Hampton, Va, came to Wash
ington this morning for their sons
body. 1t is thought that funeral SER
vices will be held in Hampton to-
morrow.
Sharf Only Fair Swimmer.
Sharf and Benjamin Rosen. also a
student at George Washington and a
member of the Omicron Alpha Tau
Fraternity, 2034 F. street, where they
both resided. left the fraternity house
about noon yesterday for an excursion
on the river. They hired a canoe and
padded to the Anchor Inn float near
the Three Sisters. After diving from
the springing board several times. they
swan about 20 feet from the float, pre-
paratory to leaving the water.
''Sharf was only a fair swimmer and
I cannot swim we'll at ALL" Rosen said
today. He was about S feet ahead of
me when called to him that couldn't
swim any further. I turned around
and just was able to make the float.
Then I looked back and saw him float
ing. Thinking perhaps he needed help.
began to unite the canoe to go to him
when suddenly he seemed to be taken
with cramps and went down."
Gene Swift, 17-year-old Central High
School student, who was nearest, dove
Just as Sharf sank from sight. He
struck Sharf, who grasped his arm.
Thinking Sharf would hold on, Swift
began towing the other to the surface,
but Sharf's grip weakened and he again
sank
Swift, with several other young men.
repeatedly dove for Sharf and, although
the water is but Is feet deep at the
spot and they touched bottom several
times, they were unable to locate his
body.
Meanwhile Rosen, who saw he could
be of no use in the actual rescue work,
got in a canoe and padded to the Viz
GINA shore, where he located a tele-
phone and phoned the police. No help
came after about IS minutes, RoSen as
serted this morning. so he again went
ashore, this time to the District Of Co
lumbia bank, and summoned the harbor
police.
Capt. Reynolds Locates Body.
The speed boat Maj. Hesse was dis
patched to the scene. When 1t arrived
several men were still diving. Capt.
Reynolds boathouSe, finally located the
body and brought it to the surface.
BY this time the Fire Department
rescue squad, which had been sum-
moned to work on the Champion boy,
had taken him to Emergency Hospital
and returned with pulmotors in COM
Wandered motor boat to work on
Sharf The youth had been in the
water more than an hour, however, and
they considered it futile to attempt to
revive him. His body was removed to
the morgue in the police boat.
Rosen said today that his companion
cramps. since he thinks he was capable
of swimming the short distance back
to the float.
Young Champion met with difficulty
on the District side of the river almost
directly in front Of his home. He had
been Wading on Sandbar with Russell
Swan, is, of 5000 K street, and Will
liam Sweeny, Is, of 1925 o street
Swan, said to be an excellent swimmer.
struck off into deeper water and.
against the warnings of his older
his arms about Swan when he felt
himself sinking and it was with diff
ficulty that the older youth freed him.
self
The Champion boy then seemed to
collect his wits and began to tread
water. Swan and Sweeney called to
James Magarity, 16: Raymond King.
%, and his brother, James King. II, all
of Mclean, Va. who were nearby:
They swan to the struggling boy and
reached him Just as he became ex-
Between them they brought him to
shore, where Magarity directed artificial
respiration until the rescue squad ar
rived.
Wife Identifies Body.
Although his condition was not seri-
GUS, the boy was taken to Emergency
HOSPITAL by the firemen. He and Swan
are students at the Curtis School, while
young Sweeney attends the Jefferson
Junior High School.
While harbor police were dragging
the river for Sharf the call came that
Douglass had drowned at the foot OF
Half street southwest. where he had
been swimming. According to wit
nesses, he apparently was swimming
Strongly when he tired and went down.
Police dragged the bottom for more
than two hours before locating the
body. which was sent to the norgue.
where it was identified by Douglass
wife. Essie Nav Douglass.