The guardian., 1941-08-16

near Manomet =. 1t is a delight /
ful spot featuring deep, white
sand and heavy surf bathing /
we spread our blankets and settled
down for an afternoon of hot SUM-
shine and cold water Herbie
Doris and Uncle Paul disported
among the breakers which were
in at high tide with huge comb
erS rolling in from the open sea
as they broke with crushing force
upon the sands and all you
had to do was wade out to your
knees and let those towering
waves hit you again and again un-
til you just couldn't take it any
longer before we decided to come
out as we trudged Shoreward
we noticed there were very few
bathers in the water and fortu-
nately we left as we did for the
turn of the tide had already COM
menced and treacherouS under
tow was uscking out eevrything
within its grip within the short
space of ten minutes young
couple had been swimming near
us and soon people rose to their
feet all over the beach as pierre
ing screams of woman's voice
split the air as watchers turned to
see the white bathing cap on the
girls head being borne out to sea
by the surging undertow her
boy friend struggling desperately
was swept past her still further
out man plunged in, swan
for a few moments and then he,
too, was victim of the cruel sea
which spun its prey about in an
CRY glee people stoodp para
lyzed as the tragic scene was be-
ing enacted and then, galvanized
into action, another man leaped
into the raging water and Stroked
boldly out to the Shrieking girl i. :.
others ran up the beach to several
boats whose owners had slowed
the oars safely in their cellars
rendering these rescue craft use
less meanwhile, the coast
guard lookout at Manomet Point
had Spied the crowd and dis
patched speedy outboard motor
boat to the scene +. it was still
some distance away when the
swimmer caught up with the girl
and bade her lie quietly on her
back while he began the brave
battle shoreward he made ex-
cellent progress in fighting the
fierce undertow and a human
chain started out from shore to
assist him just as the life-saving
craft neared them a guard
plunged in to aid the rescurer
support the girl and they battled
their way in until grasped by the
human chain which pulled them
up on the beach meanwhile,
the motor boat neared the would
be rescurer and he grabbed the
side and clung for dear life ship
ping so much water inside that it
rendered the motor useless while
the other young man sank from
view, his black bathing cap still
floating on the surface in mute
evidence Of the tragedy i. 2. heroic
efforts were made to revive the
swimmers as the thousands of
spectators hurried to the scene
and soon the Plymouth fire en-
CINE with inhalator and surf boat
sped into view with wailing siren
and changing bells they
launched the heavy surf boat and
were transferring others who had
been picked up beyond their
depth from the laundering rescue
craft, when suddenly shout went
up from spectator who had
glimpsed the pounding surf rolling
in the lifeless body Of the first
swimmer who had been out in the
waters for over half an hour
a priest administered last rites
and the others we're revived al
though the man was in serious
condition which necessitated hos
pital treatment let it be a
lesson to all stay within your
depths remember the week