George Williams, 46, clergyman, saved Walter Shinall, 16, schoolboy, from drowning, Beardstown. Illinois, June 29, 1916. Walter swam to a raft 50 feet from the bank of the Illinois River, but he failed to grasp it and was carried downstream and became exhausted. Williams, who was dressed and wore hip length rubber boots, was on the raft. He tried to remove his boots, but failing to accomplish this quickly enough, he jumped from the raft and swam more than 30 feet to Walter. He grasped Walter and tried to swim with him but made no progress because of the weight of his boots. He then released Walter and repeatedly pushed him and swam after him until he reached wadable water, about 40 feet from where he had reached Walter. Williams was nearly exhausted but recovered. 17120-1319
17120 – 1319
17120-1319