In 1909, Stephen Ernest was standing in only three feet of water when he vanished.
The Brooklyn man could not swim, so he remained close to shore while bathing at Coney Island, with his wife watching from the beach. She looked away for only a moment. When she turned back, the water where her husband had been standing was empty.
Her cries brought nearby bathers rushing into the bay, but no trace of Ernest could be found.
Police later dragged the water with equally grim results.
Drowned in Shallow Water
CONEY ISLAND, New York. — Stephen Ernest, of No. 206 Willoughby Avenue, Brooklyn, was drowned while bathing at West 22nd Street and Neptune Avenue, Coney Island, yesterday.
Ernest couldn’t swim and was wading in about three feet of water. His wife was on the shore watching him.
She turned her head away for a moment, and when she looked again her husband had disappeared. Her screams brought several bathers to the scene, but although they searched for some time, no body was discovered.
The police dragged the bay for the body and their efforts were equally fruitless.
Source: New York Tribune. New York, N.Y. July 19, 1909.
