William Charles Jarvey, 14, schoolboy, died attempting to save Jean M. Asikainen, 12, and Ruth M. Knapp, 10, from drowning, L’Anse, Michigan, July 18, 1966. Jean, who could not swim, and Ruth, a poor swimmer, were wading in a dredged basin at the mouth of a river when the diversion of water into a nearby mill was greatly curtailed. The resulting flow of additional water into the basin caused a sudden increase in depth and current, and the girls were swept into water seven feet deep. They struggled to stay afloat 40 feet from a seawall at the bank as the current rapidly subsided. Jarvey ran 200 feet to the wall opposite Jean and Ruth, kicked off his shoes, and jumped into the water. He waded and swam 40 feet, reaching a point alongside Jean. Ruth was treading water feebly four feet away. Jean grasped Jarvey by the shoulder, and he was submerged briefly. Jean then seized both of his shoulders. Jarvey was submerged again, and Jean released him. Jarvey did not return to the surface. By that time Ruth was no longer in sight. Two youths and a young woman, with the aid of an inner tube, took Jean to the seawall, and she was removed from the water. Divers later recovered the bodies of Ruth and Jarvey.
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