Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 January 1913 — HUMAN LADDER SAVES FOUR [ARTICLE]

HUMAN LADDER SAVES FOUR

Man Falls Into Sound and His Wife Jumps in After Him. New Rochelle, N. Y.—Capt. James Clayton, his wife and two patrolmen, struggling in the icy waters of the sound near the New Rochelle Coal & Lumber company’s dock, were saved from drowning through the bravery of Albert E. McGill. Hanging from part of the pier by his legs, McGill called to the four in the water that he was a “human ladder." “Swim over here,” he said, "and grab my arms. Then you can get- to the pier.” They followed his instructions. First Mrs. Clayton seized him. She crawled from his arms to his shoulders and then reached the dock. Next he rescued one of the patrolmen and afterward the other tws men were dragged from the water. Captain Clayton and his wife were walking on a plank to a coal barge, when he fell in the sound. His wife called for help. She saw him sink and when he rose she jumped in after him. They were in a perilous position. between the coal barge that was swinging in the tide, and the dock, and Clayton afterward said he believed they were about to be crushed to death. Patrolmen Harness and Havard heard the woman call before she jumped. They ran to. the dock. A ladder was extended down one side of the pier and the last rung df it was four feet frt>m the water. Harness took off his coat and jumped from the pier, but Havard went down the ladder. A rung broke and he. too, fell into the sound. Then McGill, who owns the automarine garage, a storehouse for motor boats, went to the pier. • McGill crawled down the ladder as

far as he could, swung hlg legs through the last rung and performed hfs work of rescue. When all were on the dock Police Sergeant Deveau arrived with restoratives. These were given to the four, and then Clayton and his wife went to the barge Havard and Harness were sent to their homes. McGill returned to the garage. "I feel so cold,” he said, “that T’d like to swallow tt gallon of gasoline and a lighted match.”