Teresa Pearl Erickson, 37, housewife, saved Earl B. Wise, 4, from drowning, Rumble Creek, Montana, June 11, 1946. Earl fell from a foot bridge and drifted in a roaring current of four m.p.h. in Glacier Creek to a point 55 feet from the bridge and six feet from the bank, where the water was 4.5 feet deep. Although she could swim only 10 feet and was fully clothed, Mrs. Erickson jumped into the water and took hold of Earl. The current swept her off her feet. After drifting under the surface 10 feet, she grasped a half submerged trunk of a fallen tree but lacked strength to draw herself to the surface. She released her hold and drifted from under the tree with Earl. Thrusting her feet downward, she touched bottom and then struggled until their heads were above the water. Stumbling with the current 20 feet, she gained firm footing and carried Earl, who was conscious, to the bank. She suffered a bruise on one arm. 40773-3515
40773 – 3515
40773-3515