John F. Hansen saved Helen J. Kelemen from drowning, Stolpe, Missouri, August 4, 1931. While Miss Kelemen, 19, was swimming in the Gasconade River, she got into distress in water 15 feet deep 40 feet from the bank. John, 16, schoolboy, swam 20 feet from a barge to her, and she grasped him with both hands. Both were submerged. After a short struggle, John struck Miss Kelemen and freed himself. He then clasped her with one arm and swam 36 feet toward the bank, where he got hold of willow branches that extended from the bank. In deep water he and Miss Kelemen held to the branches for a minute and then were reached by a man from the bank and were helped out of the water. John was temporarily exhausted. 32819-2770
32819 – 2770
32819-2770