Francis Sosnowski saved John P. Taube from drowning, Salem, Massachusetts, April 28, 1967. At night Taube, 25, salesman, was rowing a dinghy in Beverly Harbor when the boat was capsized by three-foot waves caused by very strong winds. Taube held to the overturned craft and called for help as it drifted toward Collins Cove. He had been in the water almost two hours when his cries were heard by Sosnowski, 16, schoolboy, at his home on a bank of the cove. Sosnowski launched a 12-foot plastic dinghy and began rowing in the direction of Taube’s calls. The oars frequently slipped out of their locks and he had difficulty maintaining his direction because of the wind and waves, but he persisted. After rowing 1,500 feet from one side of the cove, Sosnowski reached the overturned boat in water 22 feet deep 600 feet from the other side of the cove. Taube was too near exhaustion to climb into the dinghy. Sosnowski aided Taube aboard and then began rowing toward lights held by men on the bank. With Taube aboard, the rowing was more difficult. Sosnowski was very tired by the time he had rowed 600 feet to the bank. Taube was hospitalized. He recovered fully.
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