Ariel A. Gerstenschlager, 41, electrician, died attempting to save Alvin Rae Moore, 23, student, from drowning, Mine La Motte, Misssouri, June 1, 1949. Moore, Gerstenschlager, and the latter’s 13-year-old son were fishing on Mine La Motte Lake from a motor-boat which struck a submerged stump and began to fill 115 feet from the bank. All jumped overboard. Gerstenschlager with his son, who could not swim, took hold of the boat; but Moore swam toward the bank. As Moore was 40 feet from the bank in water 11 feet deep, he called for aid and flailed his arms. Gerstenschlager swam 75 feet from the boat to Moore, took hold of him, and aided him 10 feet toward the bank. Suddenly Moore grasped Gerstenschlager around the neck and they struggled, submerging twice together. They came up apart then, and Moore followed by Gerstenschlager disappeared. The son was picked up by another boat and taken to the bank. The bodies of Gerstenschlager and Moore were recovered two hours later.
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