4 Boys Saved In Creek at Gloucester

4 Boys Saved In Creek at Gloucester Rescue Squad Finds 2 in Mud, Others in Boat Four "shipwrecked" boys were saved by the Highland Park Rescue Squad Sunday night from Newton Creek at the foot of Yale ave., Gloucester City. It was shortly before 6 p. m. when Mrs. Anna Woodling, who lives nearby, telephoned police she heard cries for help from the creek and from her doorway she could see several persons in a rowboat. Sgt. Leon Mealey, of Gloucester police, dispatched the rescue squad to the scene. The squad found two of the boys, Larry Ludwick, 15, of 692 Woodland ave., and William Hamilton, 14, of 2269 S. 7th st., both of Camden, both overboard, and stuck waist deep in mud and water about 30 feet from shore. Two other boys, Larry's brother, Robert, 13, and Robert Carey, 14, of 726 Woodland ave., also of Camden, were in the rowboat, but unable to move it close to those overboard with makeshift board paddles. The rescuers, using hip boots, waded in and tossed a line to the boys in the boat, then pulled the craft close to those overboard so they could climb in. A winch on the rescue truck rolled the line in. The four were taken to the Gloucester police station, got a lecture from Sgt. Mealey, were fed hot coffee and waited until their parents took them dry clothing. At the police station the boys explained they found the rowboat tied to a dredge, anchored in the creek, and owned by a contractor on the Gloucester Bridge. They said they cut the rowboat loose and paddled it with boards until they began having trouble with the tide. Then, they said, Larry slipped and fell overboard, William went to his rescue, and both got stuck in the mud while the boat drifted from them.