James Earl Young died attempting to save Elizabeth J. Parrish and Carolyn J. Watkins from drowning, Spavinaw, Oklahoma, June 17, 1931. While Elizabeth, 11, and Carolyn, 8, were wading hand-in-hand in Spavinaw Creek, Carolyn lost her footing in water two feet deep. She grabbed Elizabeth, and both fell in the water and were carried 50 feet by the current to water 4.5 feet deep. Young, 41, bookkeeper, who was not robust, waded from shallow water 60 feet to the girls and grasped them while they were struggling frantically. Both of the girls grabbed him. He waded two or three feet toward shallower water while the girls kicked and struggled, and then all went under the surface. Under the water the girls released their holds. Carolyn was drowned. Elizabeth drifted more than 100 feet in deep water and was rescued by a boy. Young was carried into deeper water by the current and was drowned.
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