Dead Man's Hole Victim Underwater Four Minutes But Survives

July 1908--Twenty one year old John James of Coshocton found himself temporarily paralyzed causing him to sink into the Tuscarawas River infamous "dead man's hole". After spending four minutes under water, James was rescued on a fourth attempt by friend Ed Thornsley.

According to the Coshocton Daily Age, James followed a rapid succession of divers into the river and it's not certain what caused James to lose use of his extremities. Thornsley jumped in after James did not re-appear, and found James face down on the river bottom. Water was worked out of James' lungs and he was taken home where he was attended to by a doctor. He regained partial use of his arms, but remained paralyzed beneath his waist.