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Story
June 13, 1946
The Republican
Oakland, Garrett County, Maryland
What is this article about?
Seaman Donald Friend and Margaret Louise White, both 18, were rescued after their rowboat capsized off Seven-Foot Knoll on June 10, following a four-hour struggle in choppy waters. The Love Point ferry saved them, but two other girls, Margaret Metzger and Dorothy White, remain missing and presumed drowned.
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He And Baltimore Girl Saved
After Battling 1 Hours, But
Two Other Girls Missing
Donald Friend, seaman 2/c, USNR, and Margaret Louise White, of Baltimore, both eighteen years old, were rescued after a four-hour battle against death in the choppy waters off Seven-Foot Knoll on Sunday night, June 10, but two other girls are missing and apparently drowned.
The two were saved by "Smoky Joe," the Love Point ferry, famous for the scores of thrilling rescues in which it has figured. The ferry was steaming past the Knoll at 10:20 when a member of the crew heard the faint sounds of a woman's screams.
He raised the cry, "Man overboard!" A searchlight revealed a girl clinging to a swamped rowboat about 100 yards away. A lifeboat crew brought her to safety but she remarked "Oh, get the others," before she fainted.
Further search revealed the figure of Friend clinging to a floating channel marker.
Friend was badly bruised on his body and legs and both hands were covered with raw blisters. He was so weak he couldn't shout or wave.
Search for the others, Margaret Metzger and Dorothy White, continued for an hour without avail.
Seaman Friend, who is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Friend, of Mt. Lake Park, and who visited the Whites while on furlough, gave this account of the accident:
"While I was rowing to try to reach shore which seemed almost hopeless against the heavy wind and waves, the boat kept yawing about and several times it nearly capsized. It was almost full of water and practically unmanageable. Suddenly we were caught by a heavy wave and the rowboat turned over.
"Margaret grabbed me about the neck as we went overboard and we both went under. I got her to the surface, grabbed the boat and told her to hang on. I swam about a long time looking for the other two girls. I never saw them nor did I hear any call for help. They must have gone straight down. Neither of them could swim a stroke, nor could Margaret for that matter.
"I tried to swim back to the boat with Margaret, but it was drifting too fast. It looked a half mile away.
"My clothes were weighing me down and I managed to struggle out of my uniform, shoes and all. I could see a red marker buoy about a half mile from where I was. I knew I could make it as the current was helping me. It was getting dark and I could not see Margaret or the boat.
"I made the buoy and hung on but the waves kept beating me against it. Time and again I almost got knocked loose. If I had I wouldn't have made it back again.
"After it got dark a small launch passed within 100 yards. I yelled as loud as I could but the wind must have carried my voice away. I saw no other craft until the ferryboat came up and lowered a lifeboat. They still didn't see me I thought, and it looked as though they would pass me up.
Suddenly the spotlight caught me and I knew I was saved."
After Battling 1 Hours, But
Two Other Girls Missing
Donald Friend, seaman 2/c, USNR, and Margaret Louise White, of Baltimore, both eighteen years old, were rescued after a four-hour battle against death in the choppy waters off Seven-Foot Knoll on Sunday night, June 10, but two other girls are missing and apparently drowned.
The two were saved by "Smoky Joe," the Love Point ferry, famous for the scores of thrilling rescues in which it has figured. The ferry was steaming past the Knoll at 10:20 when a member of the crew heard the faint sounds of a woman's screams.
He raised the cry, "Man overboard!" A searchlight revealed a girl clinging to a swamped rowboat about 100 yards away. A lifeboat crew brought her to safety but she remarked "Oh, get the others," before she fainted.
Further search revealed the figure of Friend clinging to a floating channel marker.
Friend was badly bruised on his body and legs and both hands were covered with raw blisters. He was so weak he couldn't shout or wave.
Search for the others, Margaret Metzger and Dorothy White, continued for an hour without avail.
Seaman Friend, who is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Friend, of Mt. Lake Park, and who visited the Whites while on furlough, gave this account of the accident:
"While I was rowing to try to reach shore which seemed almost hopeless against the heavy wind and waves, the boat kept yawing about and several times it nearly capsized. It was almost full of water and practically unmanageable. Suddenly we were caught by a heavy wave and the rowboat turned over.
"Margaret grabbed me about the neck as we went overboard and we both went under. I got her to the surface, grabbed the boat and told her to hang on. I swam about a long time looking for the other two girls. I never saw them nor did I hear any call for help. They must have gone straight down. Neither of them could swim a stroke, nor could Margaret for that matter.
"I tried to swim back to the boat with Margaret, but it was drifting too fast. It looked a half mile away.
"My clothes were weighing me down and I managed to struggle out of my uniform, shoes and all. I could see a red marker buoy about a half mile from where I was. I knew I could make it as the current was helping me. It was getting dark and I could not see Margaret or the boat.
"I made the buoy and hung on but the waves kept beating me against it. Time and again I almost got knocked loose. If I had I wouldn't have made it back again.
"After it got dark a small launch passed within 100 yards. I yelled as loud as I could but the wind must have carried my voice away. I saw no other craft until the ferryboat came up and lowered a lifeboat. They still didn't see me I thought, and it looked as though they would pass me up.
Suddenly the spotlight caught me and I knew I was saved."
What sub-type of article is it?
Disaster
Survival
Heroic Act
What themes does it cover?
Survival
Bravery Heroism
Misfortune
What keywords are associated?
Boat Capsizing
Sea Rescue
Drowning
Survival Struggle
Ferry Rescue
What entities or persons were involved?
Donald Friend
Margaret Louise White
Margaret Metzger
Dorothy White
Arthur Friend
Where did it happen?
Choppy Waters Off Seven Foot Knoll
Story Details
Key Persons
Donald Friend
Margaret Louise White
Margaret Metzger
Dorothy White
Arthur Friend
Location
Choppy Waters Off Seven Foot Knoll
Event Date
Sunday Night, June 10
Story Details
Rowboat with four people capsizes in heavy waves; Donald Friend helps Margaret White to safety buoy but loses sight of the other two non-swimmers who drown; both rescued by Love Point ferry after hours in water.