The coastland times., 1956-07-27
DEATHS OF TWO VISITORS IN
DARE COUNTYWATERS SUNDAY
EMPHASIZE NEED FOR CAUTION
Geo. Spelman Downem Of Washington D. c.
browns at Buxton. and Sam Creekmore Of
Portsmouth. Va. Killed in Mo+orboa+ Collision
Near Nags Head; Better Policing and Service
to Visitors Needed in Vacation Areas.

Deaths of two visitors in a single
day in Dare County waters indi-
cate the need Of some organized
agency to give better instruction
and protection for those who come
to enjoy the charms of the coast
land. There is now no supervision
of recreational waters, nor regula-
ton to keep them from being over
crowded. Take for instance the
fresh water lake at Nags Head.
There is nothing to keep people
from crowding it to the limit.
Nothing to curb recklessness and
carelessness in this small area,
where the lives of bathers and fish
ermen might be endangered.
Sam Russell Creekmore, 80, of
Portsmouth, Va, drowned Sunday
afternoon when the motorboat in
which he was alone was struck on
the quarter by motorboat operat-
ed by J. H. Hall Jr. of Elizabeth
City, who was towing Jim Aydlett,
a water skier of Elizabeth City.
Creekmore is reported to have at
tempted to avoid a collision, went
into a skid and lost control and
when his boat was struck across
the stern, he drowned in 20 feet
of water. His body was recovered
about 6 pm. by Kill Devil Hills
Coast Guards. The Creekmores own
a summer cottage on the beach,
and were staying there at the time.
He was employed as an engineer
at the Norfolk Naval shipyard.
In Pamlico Sound, near the viii
lage of Buxton, George Spelman
Downem of Washington, D. C. was
out in boat with his daughters,
and while diving overheard, appar-
emily was injured or had cramps.
He failed to arise from the water,
and a search by Coast Guardsmen
discovered the body at 8 pm. Mon
day. He was 43 years old, and in
business at 1877 H. st. N. w.,
Washington, D. C. He was the son
of George Spelman and Casselda
Taudel Downem of Roswell, N. NJ,
but had lived in Washington for
the past ten months. He is sur
vived by a wife, Agnes Evans
Downem, and two daughters and
son; two sisters and a brother.
He was a veteran of World War
II. After preparation at the Twi-
ford Funeral Home in Manteo, his
body was sent to Arlington Ma
tional Cemetery for burial.
Mr.. Downem had been stopping
at the new Tower Circle Motel at
Buxton. Somewhere about noon, he
was out in the boat in shallow
water with his daughters, 10 and
IL. He had called for the children
to bring the boat to him, but in
their inexperience could not get to
him. He is thought to have suf-
fered cramps, an injury or a
stroke. The children finally got the
boat ashore, and at pm. Coast
Guardsmen received notice of the
mishap. A search until dark, was
made for the body and resumed at
daylight next morning. He died in
shallow water.
One great mystery to people ex-
perienced in the water and in its
ways, is why many more people
have not been drowned in Dare
County, since there is no super
vision of the waters, particularly
those distant from, and out of view
of the few Coast Guard stations
left in the county. Any persons
with the desire and the price now
own boat and they bring them
down to ocean waters, going to sea
and into danger in crafts complete
ly unseaworthy, and operated by
people who know nothing of winds
and tides. Luck has been with them
long time, but it may be failing.
Now that Uncle Sans economy
has stripped the area of the larger
part of Coast Guard facilities and
personnel, it looks as if civilian
initiative must take steps toward
regulation and protection on the
waters for the benefit of all.