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John McCandless was born in Derry a good while ago.
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(Derry on the Map of Ireland)
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At that time, Derry was part of Old Ireland.
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John was sent to school in Scotland.
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John's family eventually decided to emigrate to America.
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It was there that John completed his studies and went to college.
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He went on to attend Gallaudet College in Washington DC.
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A woman fell into the water and was swept away by the rapids
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in between the rocks, for about three miles.
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John saw the woman in distress so he tried to save her by swimming out to her.
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The woman was almost unconscious, so John stayed with her at the rock until help came.
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Her life was saved.
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The two Deaf men who saved her life was Mc Candless and Jaffray.
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They were celebrated as heroes, much applauded by Americans.
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John's first teaching job was at a school for Black Deaf children.
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John spent many years in Mississippi.
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John was a Protestant, a Baptist by faith.
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John was an ardent Church volunteer with a ministry with Deaf people where he helped discuss Protestant theology.
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He carried on volunteering for many years.