Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-06
Survivor and Fourth Youth,
Who Refused to Explore"
Fail to Rescue Pair.
FOUND HOLDING
BODY HE TRIED TO SAVE
Police Lieutenant and Citizens
Dive in Search-Resuscitation
Proves Impossible.

Lust for adventure last night cost the
lives of Bryan Shifdett, IL years old, and
Stanley King, IL years OLD, q few min
utes after they had set out to explore"
the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal in bor-
rowed rowboat. A third member of
the CREW." George Becroft, Is years
old, narrowly escaped drowning when
the small craft capsized, throwing him
and his two companions into the water.
The trio, accompanied by Edward
Abel, Is years old, went to that part
Canal road. at about o'clock. They
discovered the boat, which was old and
leaky, as they were walking along the
bank.
Stanley, who lived at 4549 Conduit
road, suggested that the group row to
the other side of the canal and do a
bit of exploring. Bryan and George
acquiesced. but Edward decided such a
cruise would be too risky.
Fourth Boy Goes Home.
AS the three adventures embarked,
Edward returned to his home at 1882
Conduit road. The others padded
across the canal, went ashore on the
other side and played for a few min
utes.
firing of their sport, they decided to
take to their ship" again and continue
their cruise. They had not gone far
when the craft suddenly was upset.
Meanwhile. Edward had returned to
the canal. arriving Just as the boat
capsized and the explorers" were
thrown into tn. middle of the canal.
which is about SO feet wide and about
IS feet deep at this point,
Youngest of Trio Sinks.
Get Stanley!' Edward called to
George, pointing to the youngest men,
Der Of the party, who, being unable to
swim, was floundering in the water
Both George and Bryan swan toward
Stanley, but he sank before they reach
ed him.
Convinced that he could not save his
friend without additional help, George
swan ashore, ran to his home at 1889
Brewer place and told his father what
had happened After notifying the
police, the elder Becroft hurried to the
canal.
Meanwhile, Bryan. a fairly good
swimmer, had dived for his friend. 1t
is believed that he reached the younger
boy and was attempting to drag him
drowned. Stanley was clasped in his
arms when their bodies were recovered
about three hours later.
Police Lieutenant Dives.
Seventh precinct police, led by Lieut..
j. j. Burke, were the first to respond
to Becroft's alarm. The lieutenant,
who is SIS years old, removed his uni
form and dived into the water in an
he continued diving for the better part
of an hour. he was unable to find them.
In the meantime the Fire Rescue
SQUAD and police from the harbor pre-
cinct arrived and they dragged the
canal.
However, it remained for Daniel Sui
Ivan, "a years old, of 1415 Foxhall
road, to discover the bodies. He was
among the residents of the vicinity
who gathered on the bank of the canal
when the alarm was sounded.
Locates Clasped Bodies.
Returning to his home, Sullivan dom
ned his bathing suit, ran back to the
canal and joined Lieut.. Burke in div
ing for the bodies. He finally located
them about IS feet from the place
where the craft was overturned. He
broke Bryan's grip on the younger boy
and called members Of the rescue
squad.
Unable to revive the youngsters. the
firemen turned the bodies over to har-
Dor precinct police, who took them to
the morgue.
Stanley was one of the eight children
of Mr.. and Mrs. Ernest King. The
others are Raymond, IS years old; Will
liam, 10 years old; Mary, 9 years old;
Charles, years old; Edward, S years
old; Richard, years old, and Helen, 2
years old.
Bryan, who resided at ASST Conduit
road, was the son of Guy Shifnett. Be-
sides his father and stepmother, he Is
survived by two brothers, Claude, IA
years old, and Ray, 9 years old. and
and Walter, months old.
Neither family has completed funeral
plans, but tentative arrangements have
been made to bury Bryan at Oakton,
Va, early next week.