The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1963-03-07
Tfc. Tucker Makes
Dramatic Rescue
Family Of Three
Were Perched Atop Car In
Flooded Youeh River
When Spotted

Trooper First Class Donald E.
Tucker and Sheriff James E.
Frantz figured in the dramatic res
cue of a family of three from the
swollen and icy waters of Yough-
iogheny river on Tuesday night
about $3.50 o'clock. The rescue was
made from the top of the family's
automobile which had been washed
from the Underwood road into a
nearby field, as they were enroute
to Oakland to see a doctor about
their infants illness.
The family involved was Harold
Ernest ellsworth, 81, his wife and
two months old daughter, Gene
We've After being washed off the
roadway they had managed to get
out of the car and climb to the
top of the auto where they sat and
shivered for half an hour or more
before Richard Weeks and friend
came along Weeks was travelling
around the area to see the high
water, and as soon as he spotted
the trio he went to a nearby tele-
phone and called Sheriff Frantz
Frantz then notified Tucker while
Deputy Sheriff Wayne Wilt went
for row boat that had been used
earlier in the day at Crellin to
evacuate three families from ma
rooned homes.
Trooper Tucker lashed a rope
around his waist and Waded a dis
lance of Is or 80 feet with the ice
cold water up to his shoulders, in
order to reach the stranded auto.
He got the baby and returned to
the roadway where Sheriff FrantZ
was waiting for him in water above
his knees. Tucker took a dunking
as he approached the roadway but
managed to keep the baby above
the flood waters About that time
Frantz also went down, and he had
difficulty finding the rope to keep
him from being drawn downstream.
Tom Fraley Immediately took
off the child's clothes, wrapped her
in d blanket and took her to the
Oakland hospital in the Minnich
ambulance. The rescuers then got
the rope to the father and mother
still on top of the car and hauled
them to safety through the deep
water. They also were rushed to
the hospital but later released. The
waters were too swift to use a
row boat, Frantz said.
The car had been swept from
the road on the north side, and
was on the west side of the Yough
river, between the bridge and the
Underwood church. Also on hand
to help in the rescue efforts we're
Sam Myers and Hobert WEIGH,
county roads employees, who also
brought county truck to the area.
There we're others who gathered
before the rescue was complete.
Apparently Trooper First Class
Tucker was none the worse for
his encounter with the icy water.
He took a hot bath when he went
home and was back on the Job
Wednesday morning. He would be
the last to admit that there was
anything unusual in the perform
ance, but the ones who assisted in
the rescue efforts were of the
opinion that he had greatly en-
dangered his life, and might easily
have been swept away in the swift
waters, while attempting to reach
the automobile.
Ellsworth told Sheriff Frantz
that they we're bringing the baby
to Oakland to see doctor because
the child had cold and cough.
They reside in the Underwood sec
ton. The child seemed to be doing
fine at the hospital last night and
probably was due for discharge
today.