Bemjamin White helped to save Nellie K. Wells from drowning, Lynn, Massachusetts, July 22,1942. Miss Wells, 58, dropped from an observation tower into Nahant Bay and drifted to water eight feet deep 47 feet from a sea wall that rose 10 feet above the water. Rough waves three feet high broke against the wall, and there was a strong back-wash from the wall. Removing his shoes, White, 32, salesman, jumped from the wall into the water and swam 60 feet to Miss Wells, who was unconscious. He then towed her 60 feet and took hold of a pile that rose above the surface 12 feet from the wall. Other piling near by rose almost to the surface. Miss Wells was washed free of his hold and toward the wall. He swam and took hold of her, and they drifted back to the pile. White clung with legs and one arm to the pile and held to it with difficulty. He called for help. Other men refusing to enter the water, William M. Falasca jumped from the wall, swam twelve feet, and took hold of Miss Wells and of a pile. The three were washed from the piling and against the wall six to eight times, the men swallowing water and sustaining bruises on their arms and legs; but each time they got back to the piles with Miss Wells. White was becoming greatly fatigued. After he had been at the piling for twenty minutes, an end of a line was tossed from the wall. He and the others were washed to the wall, where Falasca got temporary footing and raised Miss Wells somewhat. White tied the line around Miss Wells, and she was pulled out. The line in turn was lowered to Falasca and White, and each was pulled onto the top of the wall. White sustained cuts and bruises on one arm, and his legs below the knees were bruised and scratched. He was weak for a day. Miss Wells was revived. 39631-3290
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