Mr. W.W. Rivers, Scout Executive for Tuscarora Council, Boy Scouts of America, will receive a life-saving medal from the National Council of Boy Scouts, it was learned yesterday, if the plans of some of Mr. Rivers’ friends are successful.
On August 21 last, Mr. Rivers saved the lives of two young ladies who were in swimming at Crescent Lake, which is located just South of the city. They were Misses Ruth Latta, of this city, and Clara Colvin of New Bern, who was visiting Miss Latta at that time. The young ladies while in swimming, walked off the concrete (or cascade steps) dam at the lake into nine feet of water. Neither could swim. A third young lady whose name is unknown, made an effort to help them to shallow water or to the rope, but was forced to abandon the attempt in order to save herself. Mr. Rivers, a visitor at the lake, after realizing that the young ladies were helpless, dived into the water, reaching them after they had gone under three times, separated them, and pushed them onto the ropes, and returned for the other, who had by that time apparently gone under for good. To rescue her, it was necessary that he return to the shore and take a running dive into the lake in order to reach the depth at which he expected to find the drowning girl. On finding her, he brought her to the surface, broke the stranglehold she had on him, and brought her to shore.
At the request of Mr. Rivers the News gave no publicity to the affair at the time. Mr. Rivers made the request because he feared the publication of the incident might injure the management of Crescent Lake and he said he had no desire to do this as it was, in reality, the only “swimin’ hole” near the city. Since the matter has been brought to the attention of the officials of the National Council, however, and it appears Mr. Rivers will be awarded a medal, it is now worthy of honorable mention.
Mr. Rivers has received a questionnaire, after being filled out, will be presented to the Court of Honor, a body of Goldsboro gentlemen, and if it there receives favorable recommendation, it will be forwarded to the National Council for their further approval. There is little doubt that both the local court of honor and the officials of the National Council of Boy Scouts will act favorably on the recommendation for a life-saving medal for Mr. Rivers.
--Goldsboro News, Oct. 24
From the front page of The Smithfield Herald, Tuesday morning, Oct. 27, 1925
newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92073982/1925-10-27/ed-1/seq-1/
No comments:
Post a Comment