William H. Bowen

William H. Bowen, 28, ship oiler, died attempting to save Roy V. Byerly, 26, seaman, and George S. Slavin, 19, cook, from drowning, Seward, Alaska, October 3, 1927. While Byerly and Slavin and another seaman at night were rowing to a ship that was anchored 1,200 feet from shore, their boat swamped in rough water at a point 40 feet from the ship. The water was very cold. Bowen, who was almost fully clothed, descended a ladder at the side of the ship and jumped into the water. In the meantime a line was thrown from the ship toward the men, and one of the seamen swam to it and was pulled to the ship. Bowen swam 40 feet toward Byerly and Slavin, but all drifted farther from the ship in a current, and wind caused the ship to veer away from the men. A boat was launched from the ship, but Bowen, Byerly, and Slavin sank before it got close to them. All were drowned.