The Daily Alaska empire., 1935-08-01
SPORT { IS TURNED D TO
 GRIM TRAGEDY
Clifford Simpson, 9, Loses Life When Bike Plunges
 Off City Float Dock

/, Death laid grim finger upon boyish sport yesterday when a bi- cycle ridden by Clifford Simpson, g, and Terrence McGorty. 6, plung- ed from the dock in the rear of the Standard Machine Shop at the upper City Float, into the waters of Gastineau Channel. The Mc- Gorty boy was rescued unhar1ned, almost immediately, but Clifford Simpson. after a brief struggle in the cold water. sank to the bottom of the channel, and failed to re- spond to resuscitation methods ap- piled by Dr. w. w Council and the Inhalator Squad of the Juneau Fire Department, upon recovery of the body by the use of grap- bling hook about 25 minutes later.
 Clifford Simpson is stepson of James Lyman, Chairman of the Grievance Committee of the Juneau Mine Workers Association, who is employed by the Alaska Juneau Mine. The remains are at the c. w. Carter Mortuary. No funeral arrangements have yet been made.
 Close Friends
 The two lads who were fast friends had been riding about the streets of Juneau on the Simpson boys bicycle. They decided to ride. along the whole length of the City Dock and in making the sharp turn at the corner of the Standard Machine Shop, Clifford Simpson,, who was steering and pedaling the bicycle with Terry McGorty riding upon the handle bar, lost control temporarily The bicycle struck 8 I timber at the outer edge of the floor of the dock, and toppled into the water from height of ten or twelve feet. There is no hand rail at the point where the accident occurred. M as i Spectators immediately notified Paul Hudon and Roy Lunn, pro- prietors of the Standard Machine Shop, and turned in fire and police alarms. Hudon clambered down 8, ladder on the piling of the dock while Lunn rigged rope from the dock above. Hudon swung out over the water at the end of the rope and grasped the McGorty boy who was brought to safety
 Seamen to Rescue
 Meanwhile two seamen from the Tallapoosa, E. E. Gierhofer and D. D. Jeklin, who had been nearby engaged at removal of a snag from the water, noticed the excitement on the dock and brought their boat to that roint at once, arriving only few seconds too late to grasp the Simpson lad before he sank beneath the surface.
 Jack Holler plunged into the water fully clad in hope of finding the body but was unable to reach bottom because of a strong tide running at that time. HolIer made three attempts but failed each time
 A grappling hook was brought from the Standard Machine Shop and given to the Tallapoosa sea- men in their boat, who succeeded in raising the body of Clifford Simpson about 25 minutes after he sank from sight.
 Efforts UnavaiIing
 Attempts at resuscitatiofi were begun immediately by the Inhalator Squad of the fire department, who were waiting on the dock with their equipment. Dr. Council, who arrived soon after, continued at- tempts to revive the boy through period of more than half an hour. All efforts proved unvail- ing and the lads body was taken to the Carter Mortuary.
 Officers of the Juneau Police Force and members of the Juneau Fire Department established police lines to hold back a curious crowd of spectators while resuscitation methods were being applied.
 Mother Didn't Know 1 Terry McGorty son of MT. and Mrs. H. w. McGorty, was taken to his home in the Rosenberg Apartments on lower. Front Street near the City Dock, by 4Bingog O'Vian less than ten minutes after his immersion. Mrs. McGorty who had heard the fire alarm signals did not know of the danger to her son until he was brought home unharmed. This morning, Mrs. Nc Gorty expressed deep sympathy Tor the parents of the Simpson lad who she described as a wonder 1ui boy Mrs. McGorty said l'l felt so sorry for Clifford Il couldn't sleep last night"
 McGorty is employed by the White Line Cab Company.
 Clifford Simpson was the only child in his family Terry Mc- Gorty has one younger, brother