James A. Hostetler, 18, laborer, died attempting to save Julia C. Chilton, 18, from drowning, Meyersdale, Pennsylvania, October 15, 1954. At dusk an automobile in which Mrs. Chilton and her husband were riding stalled on a highway in the rising flood waters of a creek. Drifting 150 feet in a current of about five m.p.h., the vehicle was halted by a rope 40 feet long which had been stretched across the submerged highway and fastened to two trees. Mrs. Chilton, who could not swim, opened the right front door of the automobile. Hostetler, who also was unable to swim, and two other men waded to one end of the rope 12 feet from the highway. With a clothes line tied around his waist and held by the other men, he continued along the rope to the open car door and got hold of Mrs. Chilton. As Hostetler lifted her from the automobile and attempted to get hold of the rope, Mrs. Chilton seized him around the neck. He lost his footing and fell over backward but maintained his hold on Mrs. Chilton. The clothes line broke, and Hostetler and Mrs. Chilton were carried beneath the rope into open water. Hostetler briefly stood up and tried to lift Mrs. Chilton but again was swept off his feet by the current. Drifting altogether 185 feet to water 12 feet deep in the normal creek channel, Hostetler and Mrs. Chilton sank and were drowned. The husband of Mrs. Chilton was aided to safety after the flood waters receded. 43637-4014
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