Norman E. Williams, 20, laborer, saved Raymond A., 14, and Francis Dunlea, 10, and Robert J. Forand, 8, from drowning, Fall River, Massachusetts, February 20, 1939. When a rowboat in which the boys were riding in the Quequechan River began rapidly to fill, they jumped into water seven feet deep 100 feet from the bank. The boat sank almost to the gunwale, and the boys tried to reach it but could not. From the bank Williams, who was clothed, waded and then, calling for aid, swam 75 feet to Raymond and pushed him four feet to the boat. He felt a numbing effect from the cold water; but he swam six feet to Francis, pushed him to the boat, and then swam to Robert, whose head was disappearing under the surface. Taking hold of Robert, Williams swam a stroke or two and pushed him to the gunwale. Gasping from his exertions and the cold water, Williams got hold of the bow and with effort turned it toward the bank. Again calling for help, he swam 75 feet towing the boat, to which the boys held, to wadable water. All waded out of the water.
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