George J. Griffen died attempting to save John D. Snelham from drowning, Irvington, New York, February 20, 1932. While skating on Hamilton Pond, John, 16, schoolboy, broke through thin ice at a point 65 feet from the bank, where the water was 10 feet deep. Griffen, 18, schoolboy, who was heavily clothed, skated from firm ice and then lay flat and crawled on thin ice to within three feet of him. John was supporting himself by resting his arms on the ice. A youth followed Griffen and hooked a hockey stick into one of Griffen’s skates, and Griffen extended another stick to John. John grasped the stick, and, as Griffen gave a pull backward, he broke through and was momentarily submerged. The hole was at least eight feet in diameter. The youth who had followed Griffen returned to the bank. Griffen got hold of ice cakes near the center of the hole, but they sank under his weight. He then called for help and sank. He was drowned. John got hold of the edge of the ice and supported himself until a rope was tossed to him. He was pulled out of the water and to firm ice.
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