Eric Philip Earnshaw attempted to save Margaret Metzler, and helped to save Thomas E. Brown from drowning, Peggys Cove, Nova Scotia, July 12, 1936. Mrs. Metzler , 40, was washed from a flat rock at the shore of the Atlantic Ocean, drifted into deep water, and became unconscious. The water was four to five feet deep just off the rocky shore; but waves three to four feet high broke heavily against the rocks, which were slippery; and there was a strong backwash. Earnshaw, 16, school-boy, who was not robust, removed his coat and trousers, dived from the flat rock and swam 60 feet to Mrs. Metzler. Supporting her, he swam to within five feet of the rock, where the water was two feet below the top but was carried out 10 feet by the backwash. Three additional times he swam to the rock and extended his hand toward persons on the rock but was carried out, and he became somewhat tired. Rena M. Luton, wearing shorts and a sweater, then dived from the rock and swam 15 feet to Mrs. Metzler; and she and Earnshaw towed Mrs. Metzler close to the rock, extended their hands, but were carried back at least 10 feet. They swam and were washed back and forth several times, with difficulty keeping Mrs. Metzler from colliding with the rock. Peter A. Hertzberg, who had removed his trousers and coat, tried to get hold of their hands, slipped into deep water, swam 10 feet, and also took hold of Mrs. Metzler. They supported Mrs. Metzler and swam within three feet of the rock. Brown, 45, secretary-treasurer, who had only one arm and could not swim, then slipped from the rock while extending his hand. He was briefly submerged and drifted to a point 15 feet from shore. Miss Luton then swam to Brown and supported him by his belt. He grabbed her arm briefly; and Miss Luton, holding him, swam and drifted parallel with the shore. Earnshaw then left Hertzberg supporting Mrs. Metzler, and he swam to Miss Luton and helped her to support Brown. They swam and drifted 45 feet to a rope that extended from shore and was anchored to the bottom. Earnshaw took hold of the rope, but it broke, and he was briefly separated from the others. With Brown holding to her arm, Miss Luton swam a few strokes; and Earnshaw helped her to get hold of the shore end of the rope. A little later they swam 15 feet to a boat, which approached them from the sea. They placed Brown in the boat, and then climbed into it. Meanwhile Hertzberg, who had been supporting Mrs. Metzler by repeatedly jumping up and down in water five to six feet deep, got hold of a rope that was tossed to him and wrapped it around Mrs. Metzler; and both were pulled out of the water. The boatman had refused to take his boat near Hertzberg and Mrs. Metzler. He took Brown to a safe landing place. Earnshaw and Miss Luton having jumped from it and swum and waded to shore. Mrs. Metzler could not be revived.
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