Barrie T. Smith, 21, office supervisor, saved Elsa Bremm, 39, and helped to save Max J. Bremm, 47, bank department manager, from drowning, Glen Cove, New York, July 4, 1949. A sailboat in which Bremm, his wife Elsa, and their son, 20, were riding on Long Island Sound was overturned in deep water a mile from shore in a violent gale. All clung to the hull and repeatedly were submerged in waves seven feet high moving with the strong wind. Numerous other craft were capsized by the waves. Aboard a sailboat 26 feet long, Smith, the pilot of the boat, and the latter’s wife lowered sails and made course toward shore as the gale rose, the pilot using only the tiller in handling the boat. Sighting the Bremms at a distance of a quarter of a mile, the pilot steered the sailboat to opposite them but was unable to halt because of the wind. Securing a rope to the deck, Smith cast the rope to the Bremms, but only the son was able to retain his hold on it. Bremm resumed his position at the capsized boat, but his wife was pulled 15 feet from the hull and drifted face down in the water. Smith dived from the sailboat and with difficulty swam 45 feet through the waves to Mrs. Bremm. Unnoticed by Smith, the pilot threw a life preserver into the water near Bremm, who swam to it. Raising Mrs. Bremm’s head from the the water, Smith towed her 75 feet to the sailboat and lifted her onto the deck. She was unconscious. The son worked his way along the rope to the sailboat and was assisted aboard. The sailboat continued 170 feet beyond Bremm. Unaware that Bremm had the life preserver Smith swam toward him. Although buffeted and submerged many times by the waves, he reached Bremm and trod water. Smith noted the life-preserver but saw that it afforded Bremm little support and made no attempt to take hold of it. Both repeatedly were submerged by the waves. Realizing he would be unable to tow Bremm in the turbulent water to the sail-boat, which then was 400 feet from them, Smith encouraged Bremm to tread water. Smith after remaining with him for five minutes sighted a cabin cruiser and by waving directed it to their position. Both were taken aboard and thence to shore. The sailboat also reached shore. Mrs. Bremm was revived. Bremm had swallowed water, and he and Smith were tired. Both recovered. 41781-3706
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