Louis J. Bouchard attempted to save J. Paul A. Guay from drowning, Indian Orchard, Massachusetts, December 30, 1932. Paul, 11, broke through thin ice into water 20 feet deep in the Chicopee River at a point 180 feet from the bank. Carrying a slender tree branch 10 feet long, Louis, 14, schoolboy, who was very heavily clothed, ran 190 feet on the ice from the opposite bank to a point 30 feet from Paul. Hearing the ice crack, he then crawled 10 feet toward Paul and broke through the ice. As he dropped into the water, he slid the branch toward Paul, but it did not reach him. Louis kicked off his rubber boots and tried to get on the ice but could not. Becoming almost exhausted, he rested his arms on the ice. Meanwhile firemen tried to walk on ladders toward Paul, but none reached him, and he sank and was drowned. Louis held to the ice for 45 minutes and was then rescued by men who pushed a boat over the ice. He became unconscious as he was being hauled into the boat. He recovered. 32830-2771
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32830-2771