Bertha Collins Plummer, 27, housewife, saved Donald E. Anderson, 11, from drowning, El Monte, California, January 24, 1943. Donald fell into the San Gabriel River and drifted in a strong current in water six feet deep. Mrs. Plummer removed her shoes, dived from the bank, and swam and drifted 35 feet to Donald. They took hold of each other and drifted 30 feet farther, Mrs. Plummer stroking. Supporting Donald, Mrs. Plummer got hold of a tree root at the bank for a minute, but lost her hold, and drifted 150 feet farther to turbulent water. Both were submerged and rose to the surface farther from the bank but were submerged again. Donald threw his arms around Mrs. Plummer’s neck, but she pulled his hands free, and they rose. She then swam and drifted towing Donald 225 feet to a sand-bar, where the water was four feet deep; but she could not maintain footing; and they drifted 20 feet farther to shallow water. 39884-3334
39884 – 3334
39884-3334