O. Richard Wardlow, 29, mail carrier, died as the result of attempting to save Daniel J. Sierocki, 26, mail carrier, from drowning, Au Gres, Michigan, January 10, 1950. While fishing through ice on Saginaw Bay during a gale, Sierocki was blown 900 feet across the surface onto thin ice and broke through into water 15 feet deep. Wardlow boarded a sled, rode it 300 feet with the strong wind, and then ran pulling the sled toward Sierocki, who had climbed from the hole. As Wardlow approached to within two feet of him, Sierocki grasped the sled and dug its runners into the ice to brace himself against the wind. Wardlow was blown 20 feet beyond Sierocki and halted, throwing himself face down on the ice. They crawled toward shore 20 feet apart, Sierocki obtaining purchase on the ice with the runners. Wardlow broke through after crawling 45 feet. Warning Sierocki to remain clear of the hole and to get help from shore, he tried to climb from it, but the ice broke repeatedly, enlarging the hole. Sierocki continued crawling and reached shore. Men carrying ropes and poles moved cautiously to within 50 feet of Wardlow, but he sank before they could reach him. His body was recovered the following day. 3673-41918
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