Vernon P. Bagley

Vernon P. Bagley helped to save Floyd D. Jones from exposure, Seal Cove, Grand Manan Island, New Brunswick, February 26, 1963. A motorboat containing Jones, 36, laborer, and his brother became inoperable in the Bay of Fundy and in 12 hours was carried by rough seas and high winds onto a small beach at the base of a very steep cliff 200 feet high on Grand Manan Island. It then was dark, and the temperature had fallen to 18 degrees. As the rising tide inundated the beach, Jones and his brother attempted to scale the cliff. Jones was able to climb only 20 feet to a small ledge. His brother climbed the cliff and made his way to a lighthouse, reaching it nearly three hours after leaving Jones. The lighthouse keeper summoned a number of men, who went to the top of the cliff and lowered themselves 30 feet onto a large ledge. Bagley, 46, game warden, and Sidney A. Guptill, each with a rope tied around him and held by the other men, started to descend the cliff but returned to the ledge when several small slides occurred. In a lull in the wind they heard Jones moaning. Bagley again started down the cliff, which had patches of ice. The noise of the wind and surf prevented voice contact between Bagley and the men, who held the rope taut except when he signaled for more slack. Cautiously probing for foot and handholds, Bagley descended 100 feet and then shouted to Jones. Guided by a faint response, he descended another 50 feet and reached the small ledge. Jones was conscious, but his lower body was paralyzed from the cold. Bagley put mittens on Jones. The latter, most of whose weight was supported by Bagley, then grasped the rope behind him. With Jones at his back but able to do no more than cling to the rope, Bagley laboriously made his way 50 feet up the cliff, stopping frequently to rest and grope his way. Once their rope became caught on a rock 10 feet above them, and at times Bagley and Jones were supported only by the rope. Jones told Bagley that he could not hold on any longer. Bagley removed the rope from himself, and tied it around Jones. He then held to the rope from behind Jones and pushed him upward. By the time they thus had ascended another 50 feet, Bagley nearly was exhausted. He said he would climb to the ledge and return with another rope to aid Jones the rest of the way. Climbing hand over hand up the rope, Bagley reached the large ledge about 90 minutes after he had left it. Completely exhausted, he told the other men of the situation. Guptill, with a rope tied about him and held by the men, then cautiously descended 50 feet. He reached Jones, who by that time was unconscious. Holding Jones between himself and the cliff, Guptill pushed him upward. As the other men drew in the slack on both ropes, Guptill ascended onto the ledge with Jones. His act had required about 30 minutes. Jones was hospitalized and recovered.