100 years ago in Spokane: Teen hero pulls toddler from water

From our archives, 100 years ago

Jane Elizabeth Williamson, 3, was playing near a “water-filled excavation” near her house at 1103 E. 32nd Ave. She stumbled and fell into the water. Her playmate, Chandler Renner, 5, saw her disappear below the surface of the pond and he ran and yelled for help.

Minnie McCaffery, 13, heard the boy’s cries and came running. Minnie saw a foot appear above the surface and she plunged in without hesitation, even though she had no idea how deep the water might be.

She swam to the child and pulled her to safety. Little Jane showed no signs of life at first, but she was soon revived and was later said to be “out of danger.” Doctors said that if Minnie had merely run for help, instead of plunging into the water when she did, the child would certainly have drowned.

“I just could not have stood and watched that baby drown, even if I had known I would have drowned, too, getting her out,” Minnie said.

Little Jane’s mother and other neighbors said they planned to notify the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission of Minnie’s bravery.

Also on this date

(From the Associated Press)

1959: President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the Hawaii statehood bill. (Hawaii became a state Aug. 21, 1959.)