Thomas J. Stapleton died attempting to save Elizabeth J. and Richard J. Schillo from drowning, Bridgeport, New York, May 27, 1933. While Elizabeth, 11, and Richard, 12, were wading in Oneida Lake, they stepped into water 12 feet deep, 20 feet from the shore. They struggled to maintain themselves at the surface as they drifted farther from the shore. Stapleton, 35, mechanic, who was fully clothed, ran 250 feet to the water, waded hurriedly toward them, and got into the deep water. The father of the children quickly followed Stapleton into the water, waded and swam to Elizabeth, and rescued her. He then waded and swam toward Richard, who was drifting farther from shore. Stapleton reached neither Elizabeth nor Richard, and as the father of the children reached a point close to Stapleton, he and Stapleton sank and were drowned. Richard continued to drift and was rescued by a man, who swam to him with a plank and towed him to shore. Richard was semiconscious but was revived.
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