Leland S. Martin, 35, school principal, attempted to save George W. Culver, 15, schoolboy, from drowning, Montello, Nevada, January 20, 1943. While skating at night on Dake Dam with two companions, George broke through honeycombed ice 40 feet from the bank into water eight feet deep. Martin took a step toward the hole, leaned down, and extended his hand to George, who took hold of it. Robert Lee Hales at the same time took hold of one of Martin’s skates. The ice broke under Martin; and he fell on George, Hales also falling on top of Martin. George and Martin were submerged. Martin took hold of George around his chest and pushed on bottom, and they rose to the surface. George raked Martin’s legs with his skates. Martin and George became separated and got hold of unbroken ice, the hole then being six feet in diameter. Martin hooked one arm around George’s arm and supported him. Hales after two attempts climbed out. Taking hold of Martin’s wrist and collar, Hales pulled him partly onto the ice. The edge then broke, and the three were submerged briefly. Martin towed George to the edge of the hole, and both held to the ice. Meanwhile Hales again crawled onto the ice, and he tried to pull Martin and George out but could not. Releasing George, he pulled Martin, who was almost unconscious, onto the ice; and he tried to revive Martin. George sank and was drowned. Martin revived, and Hales aided him to skate to the bank. 40030-3329
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