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Story
December 27, 1955
The Key West Citizen
Key West, Monroe County, Florida
What is this article about?
Airman Donald Ellison, 28, spent Christmas stuck on a narrow ledge in Arizona's Catalina Mountains, rescued after 24 hours by a team including two journalists.
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Christmas Is
Late For Him
TUCSON, Ariz. - Christmas came late for Donald Ellison of Tucson. The 28-year-old airman spent 24 hours on a two-foot ledge, fighting off sleep so he wouldn't tumble into a canyon.
Ellison was rescued yesterday by a four-man team using ropes.
After his leg muscles unkinked, he was all right.
It all began when Ellison, his wife, and another couple drove into the rugged Catalina Mountains as their Christmas turkey simmered in the oven and went for a walk.
Ellison took a shortcut and suddenly found himself on a tiny ledge. A sheer rock wall led upwards and there was a 175-foot drop to the base of the cliff.
Frozen with fear, he crouched down and faced the cliff.
"I didn't sleep. I caught myself dozing twice but got hold of myself before falling off. I was scared," he said.
Rescuers got close to Ellison early yesterday but couldn't get him off. Then two newspapermen, reporter Dean Prichard and photographer Jack Sheafler of the Arizona Daily Star in Tucson, got within 100 feet.
They shouted for help and two more men came. They lowered ropes and let Ellison down. His legs were so weak from crouching for 24 hours that they buckled under him.
After he worked out the stiffness Ellison said, "boy, will I love that walk back."
Late For Him
TUCSON, Ariz. - Christmas came late for Donald Ellison of Tucson. The 28-year-old airman spent 24 hours on a two-foot ledge, fighting off sleep so he wouldn't tumble into a canyon.
Ellison was rescued yesterday by a four-man team using ropes.
After his leg muscles unkinked, he was all right.
It all began when Ellison, his wife, and another couple drove into the rugged Catalina Mountains as their Christmas turkey simmered in the oven and went for a walk.
Ellison took a shortcut and suddenly found himself on a tiny ledge. A sheer rock wall led upwards and there was a 175-foot drop to the base of the cliff.
Frozen with fear, he crouched down and faced the cliff.
"I didn't sleep. I caught myself dozing twice but got hold of myself before falling off. I was scared," he said.
Rescuers got close to Ellison early yesterday but couldn't get him off. Then two newspapermen, reporter Dean Prichard and photographer Jack Sheafler of the Arizona Daily Star in Tucson, got within 100 feet.
They shouted for help and two more men came. They lowered ropes and let Ellison down. His legs were so weak from crouching for 24 hours that they buckled under him.
After he worked out the stiffness Ellison said, "boy, will I love that walk back."
What sub-type of article is it?
Survival
Heroic Act
Adventure
What themes does it cover?
Survival
Bravery Heroism
Misfortune
What keywords are associated?
Ledge Survival
Mountain Rescue
Christmas Mishap
What entities or persons were involved?
Donald Ellison
Dean Prichard
Jack Sheafler
Where did it happen?
Catalina Mountains, Tucson, Ariz.
Story Details
Key Persons
Donald Ellison
Dean Prichard
Jack Sheafler
Location
Catalina Mountains, Tucson, Ariz.
Event Date
Christmas Day (Rescue Yesterday)
Story Details
Donald Ellison got stuck on a two-foot ledge in the Catalina Mountains for 24 hours after taking a shortcut during a Christmas walk, fighting sleep to avoid falling 175 feet. Rescued by a team including two newspapermen using ropes; his legs buckled from stiffness but he recovered.