James E. Ruble assisted in an attempt to save Walter C. Beyler from drowning, Vienna, West Virginia, July 21, 1924. Beyler, 39, laborer, fell from a dam into the Ohio River 400 feet from the bank, where the water was 10 feet deep. Men on a flatboat moored just above the dam threw a rope to him, which he grasped, but they could not draw him up because of the slant of the wickets of the dam, over which water 1.5 inches deep flowed. Ruble, 60, lock engineer, accompanied by another man, rowed a boat, which was below the dam, 450 feet toward Beyler. It was caught under the fall of water and sank, throwing Ruble and his companion into the water. Ruble managed to get hold of a submerged prop of a wicket, and a rope was lowered into one hand, which he raised above water. With the aid of another man, who had rowed to the flatboat, Beyler was drawn upon it. A second rope was lowered to Ruble, and he was drawn up. His companion was drowned. 24517-1958
24517 – 1958
24517-1958