William H. Walsh, 14, schoolboy, attempted to save Richard G. Thibault, 10, from drowning, Cranston, Rhode Island, February 18, 1957. While skating on a pond with two other boys, Richard, a fair swimmer, broke through the thawing ice into water 18 feet deep 225 feet from the nearest bank. After one boy went toward Richard and broke through the ice, the third boy called that he would get help and returned to the bank. The ice broke off when Richard tried to climb onto it, but the other boy succeeded in getting out of the water and went to the bank to summon help. William arrived at the pond with another boy and saw Richard in the water clinging to the ice. He started toward Richard and broke through the ice 35 feet from him. The ice cracked under the other boy, who had followed William, and he stopped 25 feet from the hole. Meanwhile John Alexander Macleod, who had been informed of the accident, had run 1,000 feet to the pond, followed by two workmen. He started walking toward the boys and broke through the ice 80 feet from Richard. Carrying two 10-foot aluminum ladders, one of the workmen approached within 12 feet of the hole. He slid each ladder in turn to Macleod, who placed it across the hole and tried to climb onto it, but each time the ice gave way and the ladder sank. The man left the ice, and shortly thereafter Macleod sank beneath the surface. By that time 30 firemen and police had arrived at the bank. A policeman and three firemen ventured onto the ice and directed the other boy, who had not left his position, in walking to the bank. One of the firemen crawled to Richard; and while another man held his feet be removed Richard from the water with a pole, taking him thence to the bank. William was pulled to safety by a rope. Richard and William were treated for shock and exposure. They recovered. 44128-4110
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44128-4110