Eugene H. P. Frey died attempting to save Ruth G. Schmidtke from drowning, Lake James, Indiana, July 5, 1948. Frey, 18, schoolboy, Miss Schmidtke, 17, and four other girls were riding on James Lake in a motorboat; and while they were sitting atop the back of their seats, a wave rocked the boat; and they were thrown into water 35 feet deep a quarter of a mile from the bank and briefly submerged. Miss Schmidtke, who could not swim, rose four feet from Frey. Frey swam to Miss Schmidtke, who grasped him at the shoulders; and he took hold of her clothing with one hand. A struggle ensued during which they were briefly submerged at least once, and Frey then sank. Shortly thereafter Miss Schmidtke, who was again submerged and lost consciousness, was rescued by men who arrived in a motorboat; and the other girls, who had trod water 20 feet from Frey and Miss Schmidtke, were also picked up. Miss Schmidtke was revived. Frey’s body was not recovered until the following morning. 41436-3580
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