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The Vancouver Province in a despatch from Fort St. John, BC, today described how Gus Hedin, trapper, whose cabin is on a lonely lake in northeastern British Columbia, saved the lives of five United States army engineers when their pontoon overturned and 12 of their companions were drowned May 14.
Hedin twice braved the rough water of the lake in a leaky 14 foot rowboat with a cracked oar to pick up the five soldiers, and he saw two others sink in the icy waters of the lake as he tried to reach them. One died when he lost his grip on a rope tossed him by the trapper, and sank.
Saw Heads Bobbing
Hedin said he observed the scow crossing the lake while he was making breakfast May 14. When he looked again a few minutes later he could see nothing at first and then made out heads bobbing among the whitecaps. "My boat was out of the water ready to be caulked, but I grabbed a pistol in case they started to fight to get into the boat and drown us all, and in less than two minutes had launched my boat and was pulling for God's sake.
"I guess it took me 15 minutes to get to them. One oar cracked and I had to change it so as to have the good one on the heavy side away from the wind.
"When I came near, I heard them yelling for help. The first one I saw was clinging to a barrel. He called out, `Never mind me. Over there, they have have nothing!'"
Hedin said four men hooked their arms over his boat until there was only four inches free-board. He started to pull for shore "and then I saw another, his eyes glued on me, and I couldn't pass him up."
"I tossed him the tie rope and told him to twist it around his wrist and he did. But it was just a little while till a wave went over him and he let go. I could do no more but to get to shore and come back as soon as possible."
Hauled One Into Boat
When he got back to the scene of the tragedy, Hedin related, only two men were afloat. One of them sank when he was only a few yards away and the other was unconscious when he hauled him into the boat. Only a few planks, dunnage and some barrels remained afloat.
The survivors were in pitiful condition, Hedin said, and he did what he could for them before another scow passed and he signalled for aid. Before they left they gave him a board on which they had written "we all thank you for saving our lives," and signed their names.
"They won't forget me and my cabin, I bet," said Hedin, a native of Sweden who has been in the Fort St. John district since 1929.
Taken From the Canadian Press, 1944
Back in Fort St. John for a few days was Gustaf Hedin, the hero of the rescue of American soldiers from the icy waters of Charlie Lake in 1942. The United States and Dominion Governments have honoured Mr. Hedin for his bravery in many ways, but not the least of the honours given was that received recently which was a permit to Gustaf Hedin to ride on the Alaska Highway at any time of the day or night free of any cost in any vehicle of the Canadian or United States military organizations. This pass has been signed by Major Strauss, Director of Highway Patrol. Recently Mr. Hedin was also given a certificate of Service in Construction and Surveying of the Alaska Military Highway, Section J. from American Engineers Department Public Roads Administration. He was awarded a medal Oct. 10th, 1943, by Canadian Royal Humane Society, honouring him for his brave act. This medal was pinned upon his breast, on behalf of the Government of British Columbia, by Glenn C. Braden, M. P. Gus is a very modest hero. He has been a trapper and homesteader. His work in saving the lives of the American boys was widely referred to by newspapers in Canada and the U.S.A. While he nearly lost his own life in getting five of the party back to land, Gus says that he did no more than any other fellow would have done under similar circumstances.
Taken from the Canadian Press, 1944
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