John W. McCormick, 28, lineman, saved Mary Cardoza, 43, from drowning, New Bedford, Massachusetts, February 17, 1929. Mrs. Cardoza jumped from a pier into Clarks Cove 180 feet from shore and drifted away from the pier and farther from shore. Though the weather was very cold, McCormick, wearing only a bathing suit, ran 900 feet from his home to the point from which Mrs. Cardoza had jumped. He dived from the pier and swam 100 feet or more to her. She was unconscious. Placing one arm under her head, he swam toward the pier, but when he was about half way, Mrs. Cardoza revived and tried to grab him. He then held her at arm’s length and swam to the pier. He was cold and weak, and he wrapped his legs around a pile. After considerable time had been taken in trying to take McCormick and Mrs. Cardoza along the side of the pier by means of a pole, a rope was lowered, and they were towed to wadable water. McCormick was blue from cold, and one of his hands was cut by barnacles on piles, from which he had to keep clear while being towed.
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