R. Carlyle Stephens died attempting to save Catherine M. Roberts and Beulah M. Cook from drowning, Occoquan, Virginia, June 29, 1924. Beulah, 12, fell from a rock on top of Catherine, 13, who was swimming in the Occoquan River near the rock in water 10 feet deep. Beulah clung to her, and in their struggles they moved to a point six or eight feet from the rock and 15 feet from the bank. The bottom of the river was rocky and irregular. Stephens, 27, carpenter, who was dressed, dived from a rock projecting five feet from the bank into water on a ledge and rose beyond the ledge beside the girls, who were then slightly under water and were dazed. Stephens pushed them at least five feet toward the ledge but then sank suddenly in deep water and was drowned. The recovery of his body revealed a severe bruise on his forehead, indicating he may have struck the ledge when he dived. Another man waded from the bank and swam a stroke or two to Catherine and Beulah and took them to the bank. 24702-1967
24702 – 1967
24702-1967