Raymond W. Ralston died attempting to save Gene Faris from drowning, Hollywood, Florida, July 2, 1941. While wading in the Atlantic Ocean, Faris, 20, student, and his sister and a boy, 17, lost their footing and drifted to water six feet deep. Faris’s sister and the boy were submerged, and Faris drifted to water seven feet deep at a point about 200 feet from shore. Ralston, 52, painter, swam 100 feet to Faris and took hold of him. Together they swam five feet toward shore, and then they became separated. Ralston stroked slowly at a point 15 feet from Faris, who thought Ralston would swim to shore for aid. A man, to whom a rope was tied that was held by men near shore, swam to Faris, who then was semiconscious, and Faris was pulled to shore. He revived. The man then swam to Ralston, who was motionless, and he likewise was pulled to shore. Ralston could not be revived. Faris’s sister was drowned, and the boy was saved by another man. (See case of HENRY ROSEN.)
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