James Pettas, 13, school-boy, died attempting to save Thomas R. Keeshan, 11, from drowning, Queens Village, New York, May 29, 1937. While wading in a pond, Thomas, who was a poor swimmer, got into water 10 feet deep eight feet from the bank and threshed. From the bank James waded and then swam five feet to Thomas, reaching him face to face; and there was a struggle, during which they drifted two feet farther from the bank. Joseph H. Wernet then swam to James and Thomas. He reached toward them, but they continued to struggle, and he did not get hold of either. He then extended a stick to them from wadable water, but neither took hold of it. James and Thomas finally became separated; and Wernet from wadable water swam to Thomas and took him to the bank. He then swam toward James, but James sank, and Wernet dived several times but could not find him. James was drowned.
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