Melvin Allen, 21, seaman, saved Raymond J. Miller, 25, deckhand, from drowning, Duluth, Minnesota, May 22, 1921. As he was attempting to swing on a rope from a ship to a dock in the Duluth Harbor Basin, Miller fell into water 21 feet deep. The ship was six to eight feet from the dock and was slowly moving toward the dock, and Miller was in danger of being crushed between the vertical side of the ship and the dock. It was dark, and the water was cold. Allen, fully dressed, dropped from the top deck of the ship 24 feet into the water and swam 12 feet to Miller, who was dazed. Miller grasped Allen’s arm, but Allen freed himself and swam about 12 feet along the ship’s side to a rope, which was lowered from the deck. He put the looped end of the rope around Miller, and Miller was drawn up to the deck while Allen followed, partly supporting Miller and holding to a ladder, which was lowered on a rope to him. During the rescue the ship moved to within three or four feet of the dock. 21474-1815
21474 – 1815
21474-1815