Thomas McCrady died assisting in an attempt to save Robert M. Oliver and Edward J. Hetzel from drowning, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, January 13, 1915. While Oliver, 35, mill superintendent, and Hetzel, 30, clerk, were rowing on the rising waters of the Monongahela River, their boat was swept broadside against the upper end of a fleet of anchored barges, and water poured over the gunwale. The men stood in the downstream side of the boat and raised the gunwale above the water. More water was shipped from time to time, and the men bailed with their hands. McCrady, 23, laborer, who had but one leg, and another man entered a yawl at the opposite side of the river and rowed more than 700 feet to the scene of the accident. After having exacted a promise from the distressed men that but one of them should board the rescue boat on the first trip, they backed to the other boat with the bow of their boat headed against the current. Oliver stepped into their boat and sat down. McCrady and his companion then rowed hard and reached a point 30 feet upstream from Hetzel. They lost control of the boat, and the current then swept it broadside against the barges. All three men were drowned. Hetzel worked his boat along the barges and was given assistance by men who lowered a ladder to him. 14457-1135
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