Elizabeth M. Matthews, 46, office clerk, died saving Rosita Faber and Clune P. Mussett, both 7, from drowning, Marion, Massachusetts, August 11, 1959. Rosita, who could not swim, jumped from a wooden float into water seven feet deep, 90 feet from the bank of the Weweantic River, where she was submerged briefly and was unable to return to the float. Clune also jumped from the float into the water alongside Rosita, who grasped her about the neck. Both girls were submerged and then surfaced with Rosita still clinging tightly to Clune, who was choking from water she had swallowed. Mrs. Matthews, who was on the float with her seven-year-old son but did not intend to enter the water because of an abscessed ear, dived into the river fully-clothed and surfaced beside the girls six feet from the float. She trod water and instructed Rosita to climb onto her back, which she did; and Clune grasped an arm for support. By working her other arm and both legs, Mrs. Matthews moved three feet toward the float with Rosita and Clune. She then suddenly became inert and her head tilted forward into the water, but she did not sink. Her son extended a life preserver, which Rosita and Clune used to reach the float. With the preserver around his waist, the boy then entered the water and paddled to his mother. As both drifted slowly downstream, a man who was a good swimmer waded and swam to them. He towed them ashore, but Mrs. Matthews could not he revived.
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