Alexis Desjardin, 50, farmhand, died attempting to save Benjamin T. Skusevich and John P. Amshy, 20 and 25, respectively, factory operatives, from drowning, Pelham, New Hampshire, December 15, 1935. Skusevich and Amshy broke through thin ice 150 feet from the bank of Whites Pond. Desjardin, who was heavily clothed, ran on the ice and cast a line; and Skusevich got hold of it. Desjardin began to pull on the line, the ice broke under him, and he dropped into water 10 feet deep in a hole five feet in diameter five feet from the hole broken by the others. Both held to the line. Amshy sank. Edward L. Ducharme at that time was pushing a ladder 12 feet long on the ice with the intention of cooperating with Desjardin in aiding the others. He pushed the ladder to Desjardin, and Desjardin got hold of it. Men near the bank then began to pulI on a rope which was tied to the ladder, Desjardin lost his hold, and the ladder was pulled out of his reach. Ducharme walked cautiously on the ice, dragging the ladder to within four feet of the hole in which Desjardin was, and then broke through the ice. Keeping hold of the ladder, he broke ice to the hole in which Desjardin was and got hold of him. Skusevich then sank. The other men pulled on the rope, but the ladder caught on the edge of the ice. Ducharme held to the ladder and supported Desjardin for a half an hour until firemen arrived. A fireman went on roped ladders to Ducharme and took him and Desjardin to the bank. Skusevich and Amshy were drowned. Desjardin could not be revived.
35414 – 2951
35414-2951