The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1912-01-20
MAY RECEIVE
CARNEGIE MEDAL
REPRESENTATIVE OF coMMls.
!. SION lNouIRING INTO THE CASE
OF RUt1L SWlGER.

The bravery OF a 16 year old Fair
mont lad will no doubt win for him
the greatest honor which is now be
slowed for bravery in the United
States. that being medal and re-
ward from the Carnegie Hero Fund
n fund established by the phlIantho'
ply OF Andrew Carnegie.
The young man who so proved his
heroism as to merit the reward was
Ruie Swiger, OF 4his city, who during
the summer months of last year saved
1.-the life OF Miss Lena Hunsaker, Of
| this city, when he rescued the young
lady from watery grave after she
had gone down for the third time.
A party Of girls under the chaper.
ouage OF two well known ladies OF
| this city. were camping above this
city on the 1'ygarts Valley river at
Camp Comfort, and during the day a
number of the party went in wadlng,
they not aiming to swim, but rather to
remain In the shallow water, but three
of the girls got beyond the wadihg
depth, and before any assistance codld
be offered them, two OF the girls had
gone to their death. and another had
gone down for the third time.
Tho drowned were Miss Lillian
Knight. a daughter of Mr.. and Mrs.
IL. A. Knight, of this city, and Miss
Ruby Miller, the daughter of Mr.. and
Mrs. j. 4. Miller Of this city.
1t seems thatsa party OF young boys
of this city were in swimming at a
point sfuste u distance below Camp
Comfort. and hearing the outcries Of
Ithe stricken girls. young swiger i'm
mediatcly climbed into a row boat
which the boys had with them and
rowcd to the camp, where he found
Miss Hunsaker had Just gone down
the last time. The young man imme-
diately plunged into the water and
swan to where the body of Miss Hun
saker had gone down, then returning
to the shore with the body.
After forty.fve minutes of heroic
work, signs of life we're discovered,
and later Miss Hunsaker recovered,
today being we'll aid healthy.
Miss Leoma Hess, of this city, was
in the party and attempted to reach
one of the girls, brt was unable TO do
so.
On Thursday of this week z Mr..
Thomas, the field representative of
the Carnegie Hero Fund, visited this
city and took afI1davIts from all of
hose who we're present when the
girls we're drowned, and 1t is very
likely indeed that Mr.. Swlger will soon
be the proud possessor of medal tes
tffyfng to his bravery.
The father of Miss Hunsaker on
Christmas just past showed his appre.
citation OF the Young mans bravery
by presenting him With handsome
gold watch as a gift. and Mr.. Hunsa-
ker feels that nothing could be more
appropriate than a medal and reward
from the Carnegie fund for Mr. swi-
ger.
There is no doubt that the young
man saved the life Of Miss Hunsaker,
for IL she had remained in the water
much longer she would have passed
beyond recovery, as there was no one
else nearby WHO could have saved her
life. While tie Carnegie Fund can
not be distributed unless one risks
ones life in an attempt to save the
lie OF another, all fair minded peo.
pie will readily see that Rule Swiger
really risked his life when he went
in water a depth OF several feet over
his head and brought forth the body
of the girl, even though she was M
conscious at the time.