Russell A. Hanus, 14, schoolboy, helped to save Michael F., 6; Dennis J., 11, and Dorothy F. Devine, 39, from drowning, Northville, New York, July 13, 1953. Michael, Dennis, their parents, and two youths were aboard a motor-driven sloop anchored in Long Island Sound when a violent storm rose. The motor would not start, and the boat later broke free of its anchor in deep water 1,500 feet from shore as the waves attained a height of six to eight feet. Russell and his brother Edward A. Hanus launched a rowboat 10 feet long. Alternately heading the boat into the advancing waves and then moving along the troughs, Russell rowed 2,100 feet to within 260 feet of the sloop. Despite the efforts of Edward, who bailed continually with a can, the rowboat shipped three inches of water. A wave of extraordinary force suddenly struck the boat, and it was thrust 50 feet toward shore and almost capsized. With difficulty, Russell regained control of the boat, which had shipped more water, and he rowed 350 feet in a semicircular course to the sloop, which pitched and rolled in the rough water. Russell carefully maneuvered the rowboat to prevent it from crashing against the other boat as the father lowered Michael and Dennis to Edward. Russell resumed rowing and proceeded to within 10 feet of shore, the entire trip requiring half an hour. Others reached the boat, which contained water a foot deep, and dragged it from the surf. As soon as the boat had been emptied of water, Russell reentered it and began rowing from shore, persuading Edward not to accompany him because of the danger of overloading the boat. Russell reached the sloop after rowing for 15 minutes. As Mrs. Devine was being lowered to Russell from the deck of the sloop, a wave thrust the boats apart, and she dropped into the water. Russell and her husband got hold of Mrs. Devine and put her aboard the boat. Russell rowed to wadable water with her, and they were aided to shore. The sloop then drifted shoreward with increasing speed. In wadable water the father and the others jumped safely from the boat as it ran aground at a low jetty near shore and was demolished. Mrs. Devine, Michael, and Dennis also escaped injury. Russell was tired. 3872-42919
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