A summer outing at Manasquan Beach turned tragic when the tide cut off three bathers on a sand bar.
Frank Brown, a clerk at the Chemical National Bank of New York, had gone into the surf with his daughter Eva and Miss Josie Todd of Plainfield. They walked out onto a bar offshore, but as the tide came in, the path back to land disappeared.
When they tried to return, they found themselves stepping suddenly into deep water, with the sea running high around them.
Brown, described as an excellent swimmer, fought desperately to save the two young women.
A rowboat from the inlet managed to reach them and pull Miss Todd aboard, but as Eva Brown was being lifted over the side, a heavy wave swamped the boat.
All were thrown back into the water. Miss Todd survived, but Frank Brown and his daughter were taken from the surf dead.
Trapped By Tide On Bar
MANASQUAN BEACH, New Jersey. — Frank Brown, a clerk in the Chemical National Bank of New York, and his daughter Eva, of Jamaica, Long Island, were drowned while bathing in the surf at Manasquan Beach, at 1 o’clock today.
Mr. Brown and family were staying with his father-in-law, O.L. Herbert, of Marlboro, at their cottage on Manasquan Beach. Mr. Brown and his daughter, together with Miss Josie Todd, of Plainfield, went out to sea on a sand bar. The tide came in and they were trapped. In attempting to reach shore they stepped in water several times over their heads. Mr. Brown, who was an excellent swimmer, made a brave effort to save the girls, but the seas were running high, and he was powerless.
A rowboat put out from the inlet and succeeded in getting Miss Todd aboard, but as Miss Brown was being lifted over the side, a heavy sea swamped the boat and all were thrown into the water.
When taken from the water, Mr. Brown and his daughter were dead. Miss Todd was soon resuscitated.
Source: New York Tribune. New York, N.Y. July 31, 1905.
