William P. McGrath, 30, unemployed, died attempting to save J. Gilbert Finning, 40, manager of bowling alley, from drowning, New York, New York, September 21, 1938. While wading and helping to push a rowboat at night in the flood waters of the East River and Long Island Sound, Finning lost his hold and his footing and drifted in a current of two m.p.h. to water nine feet deep. McGrath, who with others also was pushing the boat, made a shallow dive and then swam toward Finning. He was observed at a point 15 or 20 feet from the boat and then was lost to sight. Finning then was not observed. So far as is known, McGrath did not reach Finning. Both were drowned.
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