Ernest G. Starck saved Robert E. Beiler and Joseph J. Weirich and Benedict A. Beilman from drowning, Aurora, Illinois, March 7, 1936. Schoolboys Joseph, 9, and Robert, 13, broke through weak ice 50 feet from the bank of the Fox River, where the water was eight feet deep. From the bank Starck, 40, school teacher, and Beilman, 20, student, walked rapidly on the ice, and Starck reached a point 18 inches from the hole and pulled Robert from the water. Robert ran to the bank. Meanwhile Beilman reached a point two feet from Joseph and on hands and knees took hold of Joseph’s wrists. The ice then broke under him, and he fell into the water and aided Joseph to keep up. Starck stepped nearer Joseph and began to pull him, but the ice broke, and Starck was submerged briefly. Starck with effort climbed from the hole and crawled five feet farther. Turning and lying on his chest, he pulled Joseph from the hole and then aided Beilman from the water.
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