Elliott D. Nichols, Jr., 13, schoolboy, saved F. Bernice Fleek, 17, from drowning, Watts Flats, New York, July 29, 1906. Bernice’s stepfather, an expert swimmer, was teaching her to swim in a reservoir. When they were 65 feet from the bank, where the water was six feet deep, he became distressed, and both went beneath the surface. He supported her with her head above the surface, although he did not reappear. Elliott, who was a poor swimmer, swam to Bernice with a short fence rail, and she grabbed him around the neck with both arms, jerking away from the grasp of her stepfather. Both went beneath the surface, and when they came up, Elliott told her to release him. She did so and grabbed the rail, and he swam 45 feet, towing her. His strength was almost gone, and when he cried out that he could not swim farther, a fishing rod was extended to him and he was pulled to the bank. Neither suffered any ill effects. 4768-737
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