William F. Bauman saved Richard T. Hamilton from drowning, Whitney, Texas, May 5,1951. While swimming in the Brazos River, Richard, 17, schoolboy, and another youth entered an area of strong backwash extending 80 feet downstream from Whitney Dam. Richard was submerged briefly in turbulent water 10 feet deep and drifted to a sluice opening in the dam. Becoming fatigued, he grasped a tree limb wedged across the opening and called for help. The other youth with difficulty swam out of the backwash. Bauman, 30, foreman, swam 55 feet to a submerged baffle. Richard attempted to swim to Bauman but was swept to the sluice opening by the current. Swimming to Richard, Bauman towed him clear of the opening, lifted him partly from the water, and placed him against the sloping face of the dam. He trod water for 15 minutes supporting Richard. Bauman groped and found a steel rod which projected four inches from the dam a foot below the surface. He raised Richard higher from the water, helped him to obtain footing on the rod, and continued supporting the youth for more than a half an hour. From the top of the dam life jackets were dropped to Richard and Bauman. A man protected by a rope held by others on the bank swam near the dam and threw an end of another rope to Bauman and Richard. They were drawn from the backwash and aided to the bank. Richard experienced dizziness, and he and Bauman were tired. Both recovered. 42285-3771
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