Laurence Whitehead attempted to save Everett A. Foster from drowning, Liverpool, Illinois, July 26, 1930. While Foster, 25, fisherman; his brother; Whitehead, 21, truck driver, and another man were riding in a motorboat in the wake of a steamboat on the Illinois River, the boat was struck by a wave and upset, throwing all into water 20 feet deep at a point 290 feet from the bank. All except Foster’s brother swam to the boat, which floated bottom up, and climbed upon it. Seeing his brother threshing 40 feet from the boat, Foster jumped into the water, was momentarily submerged, and threshed 10 feet from the boat. Whitehead, who was a poor swimmer and was fully clothed, jumped into the water, swam a few feet to Foster, and towed him as he swam toward the boat. When they were within three feet of the boat, Foster grasped Whitehead around the neck, and both were momentarily submerged. Whitehead called to his companion for aid, but he did not respond. After a struggle, in which both were again submerged, Whitehead got free, rose, and threshed. Foster rose but soon sank and was drowned. Whitehead was rescued by his father, who rowed to him from a point near the bank. Foster’s brother also had sunk and was drowned.
31125 – 2617
31125-2617