Horace D. Beck saved William M. Hillegas from drowning, Beach Haven, New Jersey, October 20, 1913. Beck, 29, engraver; Hillegas, 40, physician, and two other men were crossing Great Bay in a launch during a gale. The launch caught fire, and the men were compelled to jump overboard a half-mile from Tow Island. Each man had a belt life preserver around him, and in addition Hillegas had a ring life preserver under his arms. Hillegas was a poor swimmer and suffered from heart trouble. There were waves six feet high, and Hillegas could not make headway through them. Beck swam 250 feet to Hillegas and grasped him. The other men were then about 300 feet away and were swimming toward the island. Beck remained with Hillegas, and by pushing and pulling Hillegas, he swam a half-mile with him through waves that constantly broke over their heads. Hillegas gradually became helpless and then unconscious. Twenty feet from the island, Beck became so weak and dizzy that he could scarcely swim. He had been swimming with Hillegas for an hour. One of the other men, who had reached the island exhausted, swam out and helped in getting Hillegas to the island. Beck was exhausted and was weak and nervous for 10 days. Hillegas recovered. 11809-1072
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