Ruth E. McNeely helped to save Izola Azlin and Dema T. Nelson from drowning, St. Petersburg, Florida, January 30, 1915. Miss Nelson, 26, was teaching Izola, 17, to swim, and they got into a hole in the Coffee Pot Bayou at a point 120 feet from shore, where the water was 20 feet deep. Screaming and struggling together, they rose and sank. Miss McNeely, 19, student, who was somewhat tired from swimming, was with other young women about 60 feet from the hole. She waded and swam to Izola and Miss Nelson, but the other young women were too excited to render aid. Izola and Miss Nelson both grasped Miss McNeely, and the three went beneath the surface. Miss McNeely succeeded in getting herself and Izola beyond Miss Nelson’s reach after a struggle, and then a young man took charge of Izola. She and Miss McNeely were very tired and were still in deep water. Miss McNeely returned to Miss Nelson, but others arrived and took Miss Nelson to shore. Miss McNeely got to shore without assistance but was almost exhausted. 14422-1121
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