Weekly American. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1858-1858, 1858-04-03
RICHARD HOLMES.


What nation is it that annually bestows a
reward upon that citizen or subject who has
during the preceding year, saved the life or
lives of Pone or more human beings And
what can be more worthy of the highest COM
mendation, and of public thanks and reward,
than the saving of the life of one human being,
or ofmanys Surely he or she who has done
this has relieved the distress Of any fellow
creature, or rescued them from imminent peril,
perhaps at the risk of his own life, may well
feel conscious that he has not lived in vain.
What man or woman in the world does not ad-
mire the lofty disinterestedness and saint-like
humanity Of Florence Nightingales Even
Queen Victoria herself, SO dearly loved by the
British nation, might almost envy, If goodness
could envy, the affectionate regard which not
only the British nation but the whole Christian
world; entertain for that noble woman.
Now, though unknown to fame, there is an
individual at present in our midst, who has
probably saved more human lives at the risk
the frequent risk of his own, and at the entire
sacrifice Of his health, than any other in the
nation We allude to RICHARD HOLMES, Of Cape
May County, New Jersey. The dangers Of the
coast of New Jersey to vessels bound to New
York, and the great of shipwrecks that
happen there, are well known. Mr.. Holmes
has for many years acted as the agent Of the
New York and Philadelphia Insurance Compa-
MES and underwriters there, and has, conse'
quently, had great experience of the perils Of
that coast, and in saving ships, crews. and car
goes when thrown among the terrible breakers
SO fatal to everything that is at their mercy
No man understands the management Of Q
boat better than Mr. Holmes; no man ever
showed himself more dauntless on all occasions
| than he !; no man could exhibit more skill in
rescuing human beings from the fury of tht
waves than he has, and we may add that nc
one has ever been more ready to "dare tn,
| dangerous wave" when the voice of humanity
rose above the roar of the maddened sea, ant
the walls Of hundreds Of men, women, and chill
dren came over the surf to reach and touch hi!
heart 1t is moderately estimated that be ha.
been mainly instrumental in the hands, and BY
the blessing Of Providence, of saving the lives
of at least eight hundred human beings, in tn,
doing of which he has almost always riskeC
his ownl frf51U rg.1trg- ,4ss,
81 His skill, judgment, nerve, courage, and &C
tiyity, were so well known to the boatmen HI
employed, that they never hesitated to go wher,
lie was willing to lead but he never said +" go
boys Y his exhortation was, COME BOYS =
there is danger, but we must brave it, and w
have stout hearts and strong arms cheerily
boys! there are human beings in yonder shiI
that must find watery grave, if we do mo-
save them; we can, and must do it'll" a,
8 A few years ago Mr.. Holmes was 1.-THE, active
full of spirit and confidence, and, as we hav,
long known him well, we can say, full Of goot
will to all mankind-with heart as big as ,
bushel in slender frame, that did not weigh
more than one hundred and thirty pounds
| What il he nowp His hand and heart, thanl
God, are as sound as ever, but his frame is bu
awreck, made so by paralysis, brought on By
exposures to severe cold, amid snow, ice, hail
and breakers, and by over exertion when thu
exposed. But though he is no longer able b
enter, take command of, and manage boat, no
to even walk, he has not been unmindful of hi
fellow human beings, and has, while confines
to his house invented a LIFE Boar, which W
will venture to say cannot be surpassed no
equalled. One of these is now at the Navy
Yard and has excited the admiration of thos
most capable Of judging of her good qualities
and he'asks the most rigid trial of her by off
GERS of the Navy and others. Zone of her emf
nent qualities is, that if upset in the surf, sh
will Immediately right herself without ship
ping water enough to do any harm, and she i
theonly self-righting boat ever invented Ssh
sits upon the waters like a thing oflife, and be
HAYES in the surf as if she knew what her dut
was, and was determined to do Il, as her in
ventor and author had ever done his until dis
abled by the act of God. r ~
We shall not undertake absorption Of her
we are not capable of doing it but those VIII
are, have done so, and have spoken Of her Il
unqualified praise. "a
The Insurance Companies ofNew York an,
Phhadeipma, winch appointed committees Z
examine and test her, speak Of her in the strong
est possible terms Of commentator. That i
enough for us. erfF
The President Of the Mutual Insurance Com
pany Of Philadelphia, Richard s. Smith, Esq.
says: hH f.n Ieft rH
"Mr. Holmes has won the confidence ant
regard Of the underwriters by his self-sacrifc
ing devotion to his duty. He has rescued from
wrecks hundreds q believe may say thou
sands) Of persons, many Of whom must hav,
persisted, but for his bold and energetic &C
\ TOM ffl, ~ n' if' ~. l9h
And now, we commend Mr.. Holmes TO mem
bers Of Congress, and hope he win meet hi
just reward. hta nEf
| gses THE MORMON WAR. a,..