Carl R. Blum attempted to save George W. Webb from drowning, Nauvoo, Illinois, May 15, 1932. George, 15, schoolboy, dived from a rowboat into water 20 feet deep in the Mississippi River at a point 900 feet from the bank and was unable to make progress against the current toward the boat. Carl, 16, schoolboy, was swimming a few feet from the other end of the boat and was attracted by the cries of George’s younger brother, who was in the boat. Calling to George’s brother to bring the boat, Carl swam 45 feet to George, who then was 20 feet from the boat, and tried to tow him. The boat drifted farther from them, George’s brother having lost one of the oars. George put his arms around Carl’s neck, and both were submerged. They rose separated, and Carl took hold of George, who threshed and then became limp, and swam and drifted as he angled across the current 2,000 feet to wadable water. George could not be revived.
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