Eleanor May Chaffinch, 15, schoolgirl, died attempting to save Everette P. Shenton, 7, from drowning, Madison, Maryland, July 4, 1955. While bathing near the end of a submerged sandbar extending 350 feet from the bank of the Little Choptank River, Everette, who could not swim, slipped into deep water and rose floundering four feet from the sandbar. Eleanor, a very poor swimmer, 20 feet, plunged from the sandbar to Everette, and got hold of him. They drifted in a tidal current to eight feet from the end of the sandbar, Eleanor maintaining Everette’s head above water. Everette’s grandfather, who reached the end of the sandbar, extended a hand to Eleanor and in trying to pull her and Everette to safety got into deep water. He could make no headway in his effort to tow Everette and Eleanor to the sandbar. As they drifted 20 feet farther from the sandbar, Everette slipped from the grasp of Eleanor and was drowned. After drifting an additional 40 feet with Eleanor, the grandfather was unable to give further assistance and returned to the sandbar. Soon afterward Eleanor sank and was drowned. 43742-4033
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