John F. Bennett, 32, fisherman, saved Frank A., 1; Charles K., 10, and India A. Bennett, 31, and Charles L. Bennett, 40, fisherman, from drowning, Bayford, Virginia, January 3, 1913. Charles L. Bennett and his family were on Chesapeake Bay in a sailboat, and when they were three quarters of a mile from shore, a squall blew the sail to tatters. An anchor was dropped, and Charles signaled to John Bennett for help. The wind increased to a gale, and there were waves six feet high. John put out in a gasoline launch, which was not intended for seagoing, and reached the sailboat in 20 minutes. Charles threw him a hawser, but in a short time the hawser broke, and John drifted a quarter-mile before he could regain control of the launch. It took him 30 minutes to return to the sailboat. The hawser was cast and tied. Waiting for favorable moments, Charles and John got Mrs. Bennett and the children into the launch one by one. Charles then jumped aboard, and the hawser was cut. The engine of the launch was started, but a moment later a huge swell struck the launch broadside. The launch shipped water, and the engine was flooded, and it stopped. The launch began to drift, and Charles was compelled to bail almost continually to remove the water shipped from time to time. Finally the launch drifted to a point 600 feet from shore, and then John put out two anchors. The sailboat was pounded to pieces by the waves. An hour and thirty minutes later, when the tide was somewhat lower, John waded to shore and got a scow. With the aid of two other men he took Charles and his family to shore. 11495-916
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