Louis A. Snetcamp rescued Rudolph Miller from exposure, Weyauwega, Wisconsin, November 12, 1940. While automobile dealers Miller, 45, and Snetcamp, 53, were hunting on an island in White Lake, Miller rowed a boat 400 feet from the island in open water to get some ducks. Strong wind and waves two and a half feet high prevented his return and drove the boat through slushy ice 350 feet farther from the island and against the edge of thin, honeycombed ice. Waves overturned the boat, and Miller was thrown into the water. He sat upon and held to the boat, with his shoulders above the surface; but waves washed over his head at times. The temperature was 15 to 23 degrees above zero. Snetcamp dragged a metal boat 750 feet to the bank opposite Miller. He then rowed toward Miller, realizing he would not be able against the wind and waves to row back to the island, and reached him at 11 a.m.. He pulled Miller into the boat. Water an inch deep was shipped, and it froze in the boat. Snetcamp tested the honeycombed ice and found it would not support his weight. He tried to turn the bow toward the island, but the wind and waves pushed broken ice against the boat, and he could not turn it. Waves washed over the gunwale, and Snetcamp tilted the boat to keep out as much water as possible. In 20 minutes ice froze for 350 feet from the boat toward the island. Snetcamp wrapped extra clothing around Miller and kept him from sleeping by tapping him with an oar and by rubbing him. From 11 a.m. until 5.30 p.m., to keep warm, Snetcamp spent half the time trying to move the boat toward the island but moved it only six feet. Breaking the ice with oars and poles, men drove a motorboat to Snetcamp, reaching him at 6.45 p.m. and took him and Miller into the boat and to the island. Miller’s feet were frozen, one hand was frostbitten, and he suffered otherwise from exposure. He recovered. Snetcamp suffered from frostbite on one hip but recovered in a week. 38709-3208
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