John M. Niedringhaus saved Frederick Grote from drowning, Green Lake, Wisconsin, July 26, 1929. While Grote, 56, manufacturing company treasurer, treasurer, was riding with a man and two women in a launch on Green Lake, flames flared up in front of the cockpit. The launch was 500 feet from shore, and the water was 20 feet deep. Persons in another launch feared an explosion and remained 50 feet distant. John, 16, schoolboy, from a point on shore saw those on the burning launch and observed the other launch was moving no nearer to aid. Accompanied by a man, he set out in a rowboat toward the burning launch. Meanwhile one of the women jumped from the burning launch and swam away from it, and Grote’s other companions were pulled on a line to the other launch. Grote, who was burned and had climbed over the side, threshed briefly and then was submerged. John, who was winded from rowing, dived from the rowboat, and his oars went overboard with him. He swam 25 feet, and plunging under the surface, got hold of Grote at a point 25 feet from the burning launch. He raised Grote, who was unconscious, to the surface and towed him as he swam 50 feet to the other launch.
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