Darrel E. Huddleston, 13, schoolboy, attempted to save Johnnie K. Martens, 12, schoolboy, and helped to save Ronald W. Ruby, 12, schoolboy, from drowning, Augusta, Kansas, January 29, 1955. Johnnie and Ronald broke through ice on the Whitewater River into deep water 20 feet from the bank and rose in a hole four feet in diameter. Advancing 45 feet on the ice from the opposite bank, Darrel then crawled eight feet to near the edge of the hole and extended a hand to Johnnie. As Darrel pulled and Johnnie tried to climb from the hole, two feet of ice broke off; and Darrel slid into the water, losing his hold on Johnnie. Meanwhile Ronald was maintaining his hold on the edge of the ice. Climbing from the water, Darrel obtained a knapsack he had left on the ice and returned to the edge of the hole. He extended the four-foot knapsack strap to Johnnie. As Darrel repeatedly tugged on the strap more ice broke off. The ice beneath Darrel sagged, and the knapsack slipped from his grasp and fell into the water. Returning to the bank, where he and another boy chopped down a six-foot sapling, Darrel retraced his course toward the hole. Johnnie sank and did not reappear. Crawling within five feet of Ronald, Darrel extended the sapling to him. As Ronald took hold, the sapling broke. Darrel, who obtained a longer sapling approached the hole with the other boy and extended the sapling to within reach of Ronald. They pulled Ronald from the water and thence to safe ice. Johnnie’s body was recovered by police and firemen an hour and a half later. Ronald and Darrel were chilled but recovered. 43533-4016
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