Gordon F. Bjurquist, 16, school-boy, saved Shirley A. Fleming and Gaylord D. Erickson, 14 and 17, respectively, school-boys, from drowning, Pepin, Wisconsin, December 1, 1937. Fleming broke through thin ice into water 25 feet deep three quarters of a mile from the shore of Lake Pepin and took hold of the edge of the ice, which was six feet from firm ice. Bjurquist, Erickson, and another boy, who was a good swimmer, skated to a point near Fleming. They formed a chain, Bjurquist standing on thin ice between Erickson, who was on firm ice, and the other boy. The ice broke under two of the boys, and Erickson was pulled into the water. Biurquist swam to firm ice, climbed upon it, and aided the boy who was a good swimmer from the hole. Erickson, who could not swim, was submerged briefly several times at a point six feet from firm ice; and Bjurquist jumped into the water, swam to him, and towed him to firm ice and aided him from the hole. Bjurquist then aided Fleming to climb from the hole and climbed out himself.
36937 – 3045
36937-3045