Patrick J. Smith, Jr., 27, assistant foreman of freight house, died attempting to save John E. Winslow, 18, warehouseman, from drowning, Strauss, Kansas, July 6, 1943. A motorboat, in which Smith, Winslow, and four other boys were riding on the Neosho River, got out of control and drifted toward a dam. All except Smith dived from the boat, which went over the dam into turbulent water eight feet deep. The boys drifted over the dam and got hold of the boat, which then began to sink; and Smith, who had one arm through a life preserver, jumped from the boat. The others released their holds, and were submerged briefly. All but Winslow got hold of the boat again, but it overturned. Two of the boys got onto the boat, which then drifted at an angle to the bank. Two others swam to the bank. Winslow, who was held in the trough close to the dam 60 feet from the bank, bobbed repeatedly. Smith, who was swimming toward the bank, turned and with great effort swam 15 feet to Winslow. Reaching under the surface, he pulled Winslow’s head partly above the surface. They were submerged and reappeared separately several times but finally sank and were drowned. 39930-3356
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