Arley Kelsey saved George B. McQuinn and attempted to save Robert H. Rohlf from drowning, Oregon City, Oregon, August 26, 1934. Robert, 17, and McQuinn, 30, waded 10 feet from the bank of the Clackamas River opposite a point 15 feet from a pier of the McLaughlin Bridge, and McQuinn swam to the pier. McQuinn, who had told Robert he would take care of him, called to Robert to swim to the pier. Robert took a step or two, was submerged in water 12 feet deep, rose, and threshed. McQuinn swam to Robert, and in a struggle both bobbed up and down as they drifted to a point 25 feet from the bank. Kelsey, 36, salesman, who was a poor swimmer and short winded, was attracted and swam 20 feet from wadable water to the two. Reaching them as they rose, Kelsey forced them apart and then swam and towed McQuinn, who threshed with one arm, 15 feet to wadable water. Another man aided McQuinn to the bank. Kelsey then swam 13 feet to Robert, who was threshing. Holding Robert’s arm, Kelsey swam toward the pier. Robert continued to thresh with his free arm and after being towed seven feet, grasped Kelsey’s wrist. Both were submerged, and Kelsey under water pushed Robert from him with his knees. Kelsey rose winded, but Robert did not appear, and Kelsey swam 13 feet to wadable water. A man who was a good swimmer located Robert 20 feet from the point he had disappeared and took him to the bank, unconscious. He was revived.
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