Ruth C. Culver, 35, housewife, helped to save J. Robert Hadley, 8, from drowning, Oil City, Pennsylvania, January 21, 1954. At dusk Robert and two other boys wandered onto an ice gorge that extended 14 feet from the bank of the Allegheny River and rose from the river-bed to two feet above the water. Robert slipped from the outer edge of the ice and was immersed in cold water seven feet deep. The air temperature was 17 degrees above zero. The other boys reached the bank safely. Attracted by the calls of one of the boys, Mrs. Culver and Helen L. Weaver ran to the bank and thence to the edge of the ice. Mrs. Culver and Miss Weaver lay prone on the ice and reached downward but could not get hold of Robert. With Mrs. Culver holding to the back of her clothing, Miss Weaver extended her body to the waist over the edge of the ice and obtained a hold on Robert’s trousers. As Miss Weaver tugged upward, both women slid into the water. Miss Weaver, who struck the side of her head on the ice, landed in the water beside Robert and quickly regained her hold on him. Mrs. Culver was immersed four feet from Miss Weaver and clung precariously to the ice. The 13-year-old sister of Miss Weaver approached the edge of the ice but was ordered back to the bank by Miss Weaver’s father. From a prone position near the edge, he got hold of Mrs. Culver and drew her out of the water. She crawled six feet toward the bank. The father moved along the ice to opposite Miss Weaver and Robert and separately pulled them from the water. Miss Weaver reached the bank and continued to her home. Robert and Mrs. Culver were carried from the ice and taken home. Robert, Mrs. Culver, and Miss Weaver were extremely chilled, and Mrs. Culver also was fatigued. All recovered. 43072-3962
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43072-3962