Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-08-10
Mother and Girl
Drown While
Wading in River
Swept to Death
BY Strong Current
Off Gout Island

A young mother and her Z
year-old daughter were swept to
their deaths by a strong Poto-
mac River current yesterday,
while wading of Goat Island In
Prince Georges County, police
reported.
The victims were Mrs. Bethiah
Jane Ford, 90, of 724 North Ivy
street. Arlington, and Carlyn Lee
Edwards. a daughter by Mrs.
Ford'S former marriage.
A second daughter, 9-year-old
Sharon Lee Edwards. and a fam
lily friend, George E. Hoffman.
IS, who is chief of the Baileys
Cross Roads Volunteer Fire De-
partment, witnessed the double
drowning from Mr.. Hoffman's
cupboard cruiser Desire II.
Rescue Efforts Fail.
Mr.. Hoffman and boatmen who
happened to be nearby franti-
cally tried to save the mother
and daughter but were unable to
locate them in the tricky cur
rent before it was too late.
Rescuers recovered both bodies
within half an hour.
Mr.. Hoffman took Mrs. Ford
and her two daughters for a
boat ride just after yesterday
evenings rain squall passed.
They pulled out of the Belle
Haven Yacht Basin about 6 pm.
and rode around for nearly an
hour. Mrs. Ford's husband,
Clifford S. Ford. usually went
along on boating trips with Mr..
Hoffman but had to work last
night. Mr.. Ford manages the
Hawk Welding Co.
Police said Mr.. Hoffman told
them he beached his boat at
Goat Island to wash the hull.
Goat Island is across the Poto-
mac River from Jones Point in
Alexandria. Mr.. Hoffman said
Mrs. Ford and her younger
daughter got out of the boat
to wade. Sharon wasn't feeling
too well and remained in the
boat.
The water is shallow near the
shore at Goat Island but drops
off suddenly, more than 20 feet,
according to boatmen who know
the area.
Police said Mr.. Hoffman told
them he had his back turned to
Mrs. Ford and her daughter
when he suddenly heard their
screams. He looked around in
time to see them disappearing
beneath the surface of the water.
He dived into the water again
and again, trying to find them,
without success. 80.
Fred Selover, 1908 North Tenth
street, Arlington, was passing in
boat and motored across the
river to Hunting Towers to call
for help. Meanwhile, Mr.. Hoff-
man returned to his boat and
pulled alongside a gravel barge
to borrow a rope and graphing
hook.
Girls Body Nearby.
Together with an employe on
the barge and Mr.. Selover, who
returned across the river after
calling for help, Mr.. Hoffman
started dragging. They located
the body of Mrs. Ford.
Two volunteer Alexandria fire.
men were passing in an cupboard
boat when Mrs. Ford's body was
pulled from the water. They
started dragging when they
heard the little girl wassstill in
the water and located her body
nearby.
They applied artificial respira-
ton to the little girl as they
rushed back across the Potomac
River to the Belle Haven Yacht
Basin with her, but she never
revived. Mrs. Ford's body also
was carried to the Belle Haven
Yacht Basin. Both were pro-
nounced dead after they were
taken from the yacht basin to
Alexandria Hospital.
Sharon Lee also was taken to
Alexandria Hospital for treat
ment Of shock. She knew her
mother and sister were there,
but hours after the tragedy still
was IInawar re they were daod