PLUNGE FROM A PIER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18759, 12 January 1923, Page 8

PLUNGE FROM A PIER

MOTOR CAR TRAGEDY. HUSBAND AND WIFE LOST. AMERICAN RIVER ACCIDENT. A sensational motor car accident occurred in America recently when Mr and Mrs O, Schutrick were drowned in the Hudson River at Highland, when their closed car plunged from a pier. Mr S. R. Davidson, of New York, broke tho windows of the machine and swam to the shore, dragging after him two young women who refused to give their names. Mr E. Meyer, of New York, the sixth occupant of tho motor, was rescued by a dock policeman. Tho accident occurred while the Schutrioks and their party, together with several other motorists, were waiting for a ferry boat to take them across tho river. Mr Schutrick had parked his car near the edge of the pier, and would have been the first in line if the ferry boat had begun nosing into tho slip. It was some time before the boat was to come, however, and Mr Schutrick and his party evidently decided to take a ride. Apparently Mr Schutrick threw tho car into reverse when ho attempted to start it. Other persons on the pier, none of them near the machine, heard the cries of the occupants as the car backed slowly off the dock into tho river, and they were able to see it for a moment as it hung over tho edge of tho planking, with Mx Schutrick struggling desperately with the levers and with the other meii trying to open the doors. Presently there was a splasn, and before anyone could reach the edge of the pier the machine was in the water.

For some moments tho machine seemed to be balanced on the end of the pier, but not long enough for Messrs Schutrick, Davidson, and Meyer to open the doors and' let the three women get into tho’ water. Then the persona who had rushed to the edge of the pier to see what had happened saw tho car slowly tilt and begin to go down hood first, tho weight of tho engine causing it to sink rapidly once it got started. Messrs Davidson and Meyer seem to have been able to smash the glass of tho windows just as the car started towards tho bottom of the rivor, because as tho machine slid below tho surface the watchers on the dock heard the crashing of broken glass. A few minutes later Mrs Schutrick’s head appeared above tho water. Sho struggled and screamed for help, but sank and was drowned before anyone could get to her, or even so much ns throw a rope to her. Her husband appears to have been trapped inside the machine behind the steering wheel. By this time dock policemen had been summoned, and several were on tho pier throwing off their clothing ready to swim to the help of anyone whose head might appear above the surface. For what seemed a long time no one appeared, and there was no movement above the spot at which the car hud gone down except the gentle swishing of the waters as they lapped the edge of the dock.

Then tho head of Mr Davidson appeared, and it was seen that he was swimming. Behind him came two dark objects, but it was not until he had almost reached tho dock that those on tho shore saw that ho was rescuing the two girls.

Several hands reached down and dragged Mr Davidson and the young women ashore as they neared the edge of the pier, and then a cry went up as the head of Mr Meyer broke the' surface of the water. He, too, tried to swim, but he had been under water a long time, and he was almost exhausted. But a dock policeman jumped into the water and ewam to his aid, and reached him just as he was beginning to struggle feebly to keep his head above water. Ho was taken safely to shore.