Gunnison news-champion., 1916-07-14
HELEN WEBSTER HAS NARROW
ESCAPE FROM being DROWNED
Ptesenceo Mind Saves Pop
ular Cunnison Young Lady
From Death in Swollen
Waters Of River.

Great excitement prevailed in Gunni-
son Wednesday afternoon. when the
news was given out that Miss Helen
Webster. daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. H.
N. Webster. had fallen into the Gunni-
son river and was surely drowned. And.
when an hour later it became known
that the young lady had maintained her
self in the swollen waters Of the river
for half an hour and had gotten her
self safely to shore by her own efforts,
the excitement gave way to general re-
joicing and wonder At the miracle Of it
all. Miss Webster was walking along
the railroad track short distance be-
low town when found by q member Of
the searching party. She fell from the
high swinging bridge near the Louis C.
Sharp ranch and was in the river until
she reached the location of the old To-
gelder bridge, distance Of nearly .
mile.
Miss Webster il recovering from her
experience very well, as no serious H.
ness resulted. Naturally she has been
weak and nervous. but she has stood up
under the shock exceedingly we'll.
Aiss Webster had gone to the river
With Miss Marie Sellars, and the two
were standing on the swinging bridge.
Il seems she had been pointing out
something. when Miss Sellars remarked
docs this not make, yoa dissyi" Ghs
rssiissd thst e ~ I'D sksstsd 70 IKE
bold Of The wirr railing. but missed ker
hold and tumbisd into the deep swirling
wster. Miss Sellars screamed and .
fisherman nearby noticed the plight Of
the young woman. II 10 said that Miss
Webster gave no sign Of distress but
floated down the swift current and was
soon out Of sight. The fisherman start
ed down the river. while Miss Sellars
ran to the house Of Judge McDougal
and gave the alarm. In short order
automobiles had . large crowd on the
river bank, and before the young lady
appeared. the searching party was along
the river for four miles. A score of
men on horseback had also been called
to help search the river, which il clear,
although still very high. Mr.. Webster
was down the river three miles when
the news came that his daughter had
been found. Several parties were search
ing the river near the state bridge, and
Miss Webster was walking along the
river near that point when she was
found.
Mise Webster learned to swim il
Lake Michigan when she was in the east
and 10 . good swimmer. She has won-
derful presence Of mind and allowed
herself to doat along, keeping her lunRs
free of water. 1t seems that when she
came to the place where she landed. she
was floating IN her back, with her
hands back Of her head. Her elbows
struck log and she Immediately threw
her arms around Il and, soon was able
to drag herself to the bank. A short
distance below the bridge whore she fell
into the river there 10 . place where the
river plunges over four foot falls.
There u not one woman In Q thousand
who would have stood the test Of this
experience. and It is ccusidered q per-
fectly miraculous that slender girilike
Miss Webster was saved In this way.
Miss Webster i home on her vacation
from Northwestern University where
she 10 student Last year she attend
ed Denver University and 10 graduate
Of the State Normal School here. She
il . talented reader. and very popular
and attractive. Her father has been
engaged IN the dry goods business here
for : great many year, and is town
councilman.