Blundering Bandleader Bites Big One at Beach

Col. Augusti Azzali, an officer of the Mexican Army and leader of the Band Gendarme of Guadalajara, which won honors as the head of the El Paso Elks in the Philadelphia parade, was drowned in the surf on July 20, 1907 after he had pushed three of his men out of deep water to safety.

Accompanied by 45 of his men, none of whom had ever seen the ocean, he went in for a bath that afternoon after lifeguards had left the beach. All rushed into deep water without knowing of the dangerous currents, and the leader and four of his men were yards ahead of the others when they felt the grip of the undertow.

Azzali reached shallow water, but seeing the danger of his men went back and shoved his men to safety. When he tried to return he sank. A bystander, C. S. Brown, went to his assistance, but both were in danger of drowning when four lifeguards rushed in and brought them to shore. The bandleader was still alive, but too far gone for resuscitation.