William H. Shaw, 22, locomotive wiper, died attempting to save John McK. Ritchie, 26, locomotive wiper, from drowning, Medicine Hat, Alberta, July 18, 1909. Shaw swam to Ritchie, who, unable to swim, had stepped into water over his depth in the Saskatchewan River 55 feet from the bank. When Shaw took hold of Ritchie, the latter immediately turned and climbed on Shaw’s back, forcing him under the surface. While he stood on Shaw’s back, with his own head above the surface, Ritchie called for help but sank in a moment or two and was drowned. Shaw came to the surface a few minutes later, and a man caught hold of his leg, but he lost the hold and Shaw drowned. 4696-539
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4696-539