New-York tribune., 1873-03-06
HEROES OF FIRE WRECKS.
THE PRIZE MEDALS BRAvELY EARNED-EPISoDES
OF A PERILOUS CALLING.


OF A PERIL0US CALLING.
Every day men risk their lives to save those
of feowbengs, aud many times these noble acts unde
seryedy escape public attention The giving OF medals
for worthy achievements is custom honored by
tme These tokens conferred principally III
foreign countries for naval and military services. but
the saving OF life from fire and water Is at the
present time often rewarded by gold and silver medals
one of the most celebrated is tho Waterloo medal.
which is of silver. with the head of George ~, and
the words "WaterlOO, Wellington" 1t hangs from
crimson ribbon. with stripe OF blue near each
edge The Crimean medal also OF silver attached TO
blue ribbon with yellow edges when worn for service in
the Crmea and to yellow ribbon with blue edges when
for service in the Baltic.
As an illustration Of the manner in which various gov
ernments recognize bravery in citizens the following IN
cdent which has never appeared print may be cited
Several months ago Midshpman Mason OF the United
States Navy saved the lives OF two men, in NOW YORK
Harbor, at his own great peril. The young man was
formally by the Commodore of the fleet in
which belonged and received handsome testimonial
from the Secretary of the Navy Several months after
the occurrence he received a medal from the Royal
Humane Society Of England, and only lately has had
conferred upon him the order of the Rose knighhoodl
10y the Emperor of Brazil.
At the headquarters of the Fire Department OF New
York there is large volume resembling ledger, on the
pages Of which are recorded the OF emen in tho
selves by saving fc and also the particulars of each in
cdent Many OF these the newspapers have never made
known Every year the book is carefully examined by
the Commissioners and the two who have been most
instrumental in preserving endangered lives are pre-
sented with medals furnished from fund endowed BY
| James Gordon Bennett. The recent ceremony OF the
presentation OF the medals Of 1871 and 1872 has been fully
detailed in TaE TRIBUNE but the me-orOus services Of
the fremen thus hOnored deserve careful refer
| enoe.
On Feb O. Is7l fire broke out in the building on the
| northeast corner OF Division and Forsyth-ss. When
the remen reached the place tie entire first floor was
! in flames and the escape of any who might be
/ in the upper stories almost entirely cut of.
! Charles L. Kelley, the Assistant Foreman Of Engine
No 49, was on the ground before the ladders had arrived
and climbed up the awnings and shutters of the ad-
Joining house. into the second story OF the burning
house. where lie found half dOz persons, three OF
whom lie lowered with the help ofis companionto the
sidewalk Tie others he carried or guided down the
burning stairs through smoke and heat and reached
place OF safety almost su1Ocated. Mr.. Kelley Is now
foreman Of Engine No o. and holds one OF the badges
In the same year on April o. Ambrose L. Austin OF
Engine No. at the repair yard with the tender
when an alarm OF fire sounded for fire at No 80
/ Bowery He proceeded tbither with the jumper. and
whie assisting stretching hose in front OF the burning
house, observed a woman ondcaVorlng TO mount thc
stems leading from the basement. and crying for help
She fell down the steps overcome by the heat and smoke
| Austin immediately jumped down the steps ana
snatohed her from the flames which had already taken
hold OF her clothes lie carried her 10 the sidewalk and
gave her in charge OF "a policeman Inc rescuer was
/ Thomas Henry Assistant Foreman of Hook and Ladder
Carriage No distinguished himself by brave and heroic
conduct at fire No. 23 Sunok-st, on Feb l5 1872.
ne climbed into tho second story OF the house, and
rescued persons whose escape by the stairway
! completely cut of by the dense smoke. He handed
them safely out OF the window 10 the members OF the
company who were on ladders waiting to receive them
The persons Mrs. Metz siiss Metz Mary walsh and
/ Mrs. Greenwald beside tour children.
| The fireman who received the second medal OF 1872
was Thomas Hutchinson. member Of Hook aud Ladder
Carriage No l. On the night OF Dec 90 1872 he 10
fire at Ne 63 Baxterst, ana on arriving there was IN
formed that there people in the building He made
his way 10 the OF the house where he found hrees
cape Although the thick smoke poured IN volumes from
the burning building he assembled 70 the second story
very dangerous undertaking, and, looking up dlscOy
cred boy hanging from the platform OF the fire escape
the third floor Hutchinson called To the boy 10 drop
| aud he would catch. him. The young man. who was
Henry Basch, did fearessy and the sturdy fireman
District Engineer William II. Nash was presented with
bronze medal, the hrst gwen by the Department He
would received gold medal but as the choice lay
between him and private he generously Insisted on
giving up mis- claim to It. de Is one OF the DTaVest men
On the force, and Col T. Bailey Myers gave TRIBUNE
reporter the following facts OF his public hte He
served in the great Indian war IN Texas, convey
| ing dispatches between Two posts lS miles apart
through the COmanche country without any escort and
close OF the received the thanks OF Cen Har
At the outbreak Of the Rebellion ne entered the
service captain in the first regiment OF sharDshoot
e[s on the deatg Of h.s colonel ne to9x command m %,
first TO cross the kappahannock he was taken prisoner
at the batte oi Tue nlaer1ess ana par o to 'he %
was ielowprlsoner with Cen Smaller lie entered the
department with Recommendations from seven United
States GeueTas and was appointed 10 the lowest grade,
but has 10 an Incredibly short tme become second
rank in the department.
| On Dec 2T, 8. j. Gordon rescued from burning
building by tue efforts OF Assistant Engineer Brandon.
Foreman William Rowe, ana OTHER members VI HOOK aud
Ladder Carnage No. O. Mr.. Gordon fully appreciated
their services sent $50 to the Commissioners 70 DO
divided among the members vi the company Whloh hAd
| saved his life.
In speaking OF the medals. and the who received
them Col Myers alluded TO the circumstances attending
the endowment Of the medals Mr. Bennett sent him
check for which no ackn0wIedg gmeDt asked.
Not being willing TO assume the trust alone Inform
ally, ne had associated with him james NJ. Mci/sOD,
President or the Citizens Insurance Company, and Rob
). Hone, President of the Resoluts Insurance Com
pany the die cast too heavy for the the
fund, 800 and therefore the medals had DO made
thinner, with great risk OF inurng the dies. The
fact mentioned 10 Mr. Beunett no begged 10 be
allowed TO add 70 the fund sufficient Keep tho
medal at ts original weight without regard 10 tue
. amount v. money required
The example of Fulton and Morse in seek