Violet L. Hendrick saved Theodore F. Olson, and attempted to save James A. Halama, Jr., and three men from drowning, Merriweather, Michigan, October 31, 1936. While Olson, 30, school-teacher, and six other men, and James, 12, school-boy, were riding in an outboard motor-boat on Lake Gogebic, the boat capsized; and all were thrown into water 20 feet deep 600 feet from shore. The water was cold, and there were waves two feet high. James, Olson, and four of the others got hold of the keel. The other two swam toward the shore, sank, and were drowned. The boat drifted slowly toward shore, and one of the men released his hold and was drowned. Mrs. Hendrick, 34, housewife, who was a poor swimmer and had little experience in rowing, rowed a boat 1,500 feet to the capsized boat, held the boats together with one oar over the keel of the capsized boat, extended her other oar to one of the men, and drew him to her boat. She then threw a life-preserver to one man and another to James. After putting on the life-preserver, James began to climb over the gunwale; and Mrs. Hendrick pulled him into her boat. She then pulled Olson and two of the others into the boat, one of whom pulled another man into the boat. Almost immediately the boat capsized, throwing all into the water. James and four of the men were drowned. Mrs. Hendrick was briefly submerged, swam seven feet, and got hold of the boat. One of the life-preservers was near her, and she put it on. Olson also swam to the boat. Mrs. Hendrick and Olson righted the boat and got into it. Almost immediately it again capsized. Both got hold of the boat, and Olson climbed upon the stern. The boat drifted 60 feet toward the shore, and Mrs. Hendrick’s fingers became numb. She released her hold and drifted and paddled toward shore on the life-preserver. A man met her in wadable water and carried her to the shore. She suffered from shock, was ill for two weeks, and recovered. When she left the boat, Olson entered the water, righted the boat, and got into it. He soon became unconscious and later was rescued by two men in a rowboat. He was revived.
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