Howard E. Pierce, 21, pump assembler, died in an attempt to help save Annabelle Ferry, 15, from drowning, Williamsburg, Ohio, June 8, 1947. While swimming in turbulent water 12 feet deep close to the base of a dam in the East Fork of the Little Miami River, Annabelle was unable to return to the bank and called for help. Pierce and Yandall Scott ran to the bank. Almost fully clothed, Pierce dived and swam 40 feet to Annabelle and took hold of her arm; and Scott, having waded in water a foot deep on the dam to a point opposite her, dived and took hold of her other arm. They tried to tow Annabelle toward the bank, but made negligible progress, and then trod water. At Annabelle’s request they released their holds. Scott remained at her side. Pierce swam to a point three feet beyond Scott, called for help, and quickly sank. Intending to get help, Scott with great effort swam against a strong current for 30 feet, and for 30 feet farther and climbed onto a rock. He was winded and very tired. After Annabelle had trod water for 15 minutes, Robert A. Hess reached her, he having swum from the bank, and supported her briefly at times as they trod water. Five minutes later men arrived with ropes. Meanwhile Scott swam to the bank. Taking a rope, he waded on the dam and lowered one end to Hess, Hess and Annabelle each then having an inflated tire tube that had been thrown to them. While Hess held to the rope and also to the tube to which Annabelle clung, Scott waded to the bank; and other men helped him pull Hess and Annabelle on the rope to the bank 60 feet from the dam. Pierce was drowned. 41078-3521
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