Columbia University (then College) star athlete (Class of 1890, Arts; 1892 Mines) who drowned age 23 in the waters off Fire Island, New York. From a prominent New York family, son of Charles Victor Mapes (b. July 4, 1836), and Martha Meeker Halsted Mapes (1843-1911), married 1863. Herbert was one of five brothers; the others were: Charles Halsted Mapes (b. 1864), James Jay Mapes (1866-1896), Victor Mapes (1874-1942), and Clive Spencer Mapes (1878-1920). All five brothers attended Columbia University and were popular, talented athletes. Herbert was the former champion intercollegiate high jumper of USA; he was champion in the high hurdles in 1888 and 1889, and of the the low hurdles in 1889. He was president of the Columbia athletic association and captain of Columbia's college athletic team at his death. A strong swimmer, Herbert drowned in front of his parents as he apparently experienced cramps while swimming offshore beyond the breakers. Desperate efforts by others to swim out and rescue him failed when he sank below the surface before they could reach him. His body was recovered 12 miles away, three days later. The Mapes Memorial Gate, erected at the behest of his friends and classmates, was presented at the commencement exercises at Columbia in 1898: a large, grandly ornate wrought-iron gate with a dedication to Herbert on the pillars of the central carriage entrance. The gate was damaged in 1950 and later removed to accommodate construction of new buildings.
Columbia University (then College) star athlete (Class of 1890, Arts; 1892 Mines) who drowned age 23 in the waters off Fire Island, New York. From a prominent New York family, son of Charles Victor Mapes (b. July 4, 1836), and Martha Meeker Halsted Mapes (1843-1911), married 1863. Herbert was one of five brothers; the others were: Charles Halsted Mapes (b. 1864), James Jay Mapes (1866-1896), Victor Mapes (1874-1942), and Clive Spencer Mapes (1878-1920). All five brothers attended Columbia University and were popular, talented athletes. Herbert was the former champion intercollegiate high jumper of USA; he was champion in the high hurdles in 1888 and 1889, and of the the low hurdles in 1889. He was president of the Columbia athletic association and captain of Columbia's college athletic team at his death. A strong swimmer, Herbert drowned in front of his parents as he apparently experienced cramps while swimming offshore beyond the breakers. Desperate efforts by others to swim out and rescue him failed when he sank below the surface before they could reach him. His body was recovered 12 miles away, three days later. The Mapes Memorial Gate, erected at the behest of his friends and classmates, was presented at the commencement exercises at Columbia in 1898: a large, grandly ornate wrought-iron gate with a dedication to Herbert on the pillars of the central carriage entrance. The gate was damaged in 1950 and later removed to accommodate construction of new buildings.
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