Lee C. Grissom, 46, truck driver, died attempting to save Hazel L. White, 24, and Sara H. Andrews, 16, waitresses, from drowning, Columbia, Tennessee, June 21, 1955. Miss White, Sara, and another young woman went bathing below a rock dam in Duck River, where the irregular bottom contained holes in which the water was unwadable. The gates were opened at a power dam upstream; and the water began to rise, causing Miss White, who could not swim, to lose her footing 30 feet from the bank and submerge briefly. Sara went to the aid of Miss White, who seized her, causing both to be submerged briefly. They finally secured footing on the muddy bottom, and Sara began to push Miss White toward the bank as the water continued to rise. The third young woman made her way to where Grissom was sitting on the rock dam and appealed to him to help the others. Grissom, who was subject to cramps and had not swum for two years previously, told the young woman that he would try to help. He sent her for additional help and, after removing his trousers and shirt, jumped into the water. He started toward the two young women, who were 25 feet below the dam. By then the water had risen a foot above normal level. Fifteen feet from the dam Grissom made feeble movements with one hand and then sank. Sara and Miss White lost consciousness and floated downstream. Two persons who were good swimmers entered the water and took them to the bank. Others revived Sara and Miss White. Grissom’s body was recovered an hour later. 43507-4066
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