J. Ray Shepard, 28, machinist’s helper, saved J. Paul Phelps, 22, clerk, and attempted to save Mary A. Stevens, 17, from drowning, Columbus, Pennsylvania, February 16, 1911. Mary and Phelps were walking on the ice on Lake Columbus when the ice broke and they went beneath the surface of the water 30 feet from the bank where the depth was over six feet. When they came up, they clung to the ice. Shepard ran over 500 feet to the scene and was 10 feet from those in the water when he broke through the ice and fell into the water to his shoulders. Mary and Phelps lost their grasp on the ice and again went beneath the surface. Kicking off his rubber boots, Shepard swam to Mary and Phelps, who had been in the water between five and 10 minutes. He supported them and trod water. Mary soon slipped from his grasp and was drowned, and Phelps became unconscious. Shepard was becoming numb, but he supported Phelps with one hand and swam until planks were laid on the ice and other men assisted him. Phelps revived. 6242-791
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