Louis William Royea died attempting to save Thayer N. Chase from drowning, Richford, Vermont, January 14, 1932. Thayer, 14, schoolboy, broke through thin ice on the Missisquoi River at a point 60 feet from the bank where the water was 10 feet deep. He rested his elbows on the ice at the edge of the hole and kicked to maintain himself at the surface. Louis, 13, schoolboy, who was closer to the bank, ran 35 feet on the ice to within two feet of Thayer, and bending slightly, extended his hand toward him. Before he could take hold of Thayer, the ice broke under Louis, and he went into the water and then held the edge of the ice with his hands. A man ran on the ice to within 25 or 30 feet of the hole and then crawled and shoved a board, which was 10 feet long, ahead of him to the hole. Thayer grasped the board and climbed partly upon it. The man moved Thayer on the board toward Louis, but the ice broke away from Louis, and he went under the surface. He was drowned. Thayer was pulled out of the water and to firm ice. 32523-2660
32523 – 2660
32523-2660