Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-08-12
Gallant Boys
Save Drowning
Girls Near ChOnDs

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of a gallant and thrilling rescue by
young men of drowning girls in the
Kennebec as follows:
The training that Earl Oliver, Is, of
10 Milan street obtained in saving
life and rendering first aid during
his two years seamanship aboard
United States destroyers and the
bravery OF Horace MoInnis and Ern-
est Rogers are undoubtedly accounta
bic for the saving of the lives of Nell
lie Brown, IS, OF % Trufant street
and her cousin, Lillian Durrell. same
age, of Lowell, Mass. who is visiting
her. Both girls while wading in the
kenncbec river Tuesday afternoon
were suddenly swept into the chan
mel way beyond their depth and but
North end boys led by young Oliver
would probably have been drowned.
Lillian Durrell was 50 overcome by
her experience that it was necessary
to rush her to Merrymeeting camp
for girls, WoolWich. where medical
attention was given her by DR.. Nj. II.
Miller, medical director at that camp
and also at Boothbay camp for boys.
These young people were members
of party that accepted an invita-
ton Of Ernest Rogers, %, of As Truf-
ant street for Il motor boat trip in
his speed boat, the definite object
being a bathing party where the
young men were TO give a swimming
lesson to the young women. Others
in the party were Mrs. Ruby Long
fellow, a sister of Miss Brown and
both daughters of Mr.. and Mrs.
Frank Brown, Horace McInnis, %, of
IL Cummings street, son of Mr.. and
Mrs Daniel A. McInnis. Rogers is
son of Mr.. and Mrs George NJ. Rog-
erS.
Sturgeon island is near the north
erly end of Lines island and the
young women were landed at one
section of the island while the boys
went 70 another Miss Durrell and
Miss Brown were first in the water
followed by Mrs. LongfelloW. The
latter found that her bathing shoes
were too heavy and so she turned
back TO a point where the water vas
less deep to kick off her shoes and
pass them to one of the boys to
throw ashore when she suddenly saw
the Durrell girl go under She
screamed and at the same moment
Oliver went to her rescue. She strug-
gled and it became necessary for him
to strike her over the head to break
her hold as she was dragging him
under the water. He managed to get
her toward shore for short distance
when exhausted he turned her over
to Ernest Rogers and as Oliver start
ed for shore he saw Miss Brown 60
irg under so he started back for her
Rogers by this time was getting ex-
hausted and McInnis went to the res
cue of both and got Miss Durrell
ashore while Rogers went for the
motor boat some little distance away,
and in the meantime Oliver had made
a successful rescue of the Brown girl
When Mc1nnis ran up from where
he was when the accident happened
about 1oo feet away, all four we're
under water, Rogers with Miss Dur
rell and Oliver with Miss Brown.
McInnis found Miss Durrell hard
problem to handle and as he could
not get back to the bar on account
of the tide headed for Chops point,
about 200 feet away. Miss Durrell
pulled him under once but he man
aged to arise again. Then she had
him under again and this time she
swallowed considera bic water and
was semi conscious when he pulled
her to the surface. Having short
hair and wearing a bathing cap he
had difficulty in getting a hold on
her. After she was semi conscious he
took her by the waist and made the
swim and said it was the longest in
his life, not because of the distance
for he has swum that many times
but on account of the fight Miss Dur
rell made. When he landed her on
Chops point he was nearly exhaust
ed and Miss Durrell was unconsci-
GUS
In the meantime Oliver was having
hard fight 10 save Miss Brewh and
might not have succeeded but for the
help of Mrs. Longfellow who pulled
them on to the bar. Both were ex-
hausted
Rogers had the motorboat and the
girls We're taken to Merrymeeting
camp where DR. NJ H. Miller and a
nurse gave medical treatment.
Then the boys came to Bath for
clothes and the girls were brought
home and this morning all were feel