The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1876-01-20

last Congress for medal for services in
the saving of life was that of John Horn,
of Detroit, who may be justly styled a
home-bred John Lambert. The charaC-
ter and adventures of John Lambert, of
Scotland, were very graphically described
by Charles Reade year ago in the 7ri-
btlne, under the title of a Hero and Mar
tyr" Mr.. Horn is young man living at
Detroit, assisting his father there in a
small tavern near the public wharves.
Doubtless this proximity to the water has
given him the opportunities which he
has had in several years for saving what
he calculates in the aggregate at about
one hundred human lives from death by
drowning.
The Hon Moses w. Field, of the House
of Representatives, who knew Horn in
Detroit, brought his claims to the atten-
ton of Congress. In collecting informa-
ton in regard to Horns singular and
thrilling adventures, the following letter
was obtained from the hero himself 1t
is very modest and not detailed report
of what he has accomplished, told in
simple and homely language, and will be
read with peculiar interest;
THE HERo's OWN STORY.
The Hon. Moses W, Field, House of Representa-
tVes:
DEAR SIR Il have never desired a
public statement of the service which,
under God, have been able to render
in saving human life, but as you have
asked me to send you list of the men,
women and children whom have res
cued from drowning, will do so, so far
as can from memory. have never kept
record Of the names, and the number is
30 great that you will excuse me II l
leave some unmentioned.
/ think | have altogether saved more
than one hundred human beings, but
take no credit about this matter, and
have never regretted doing what l have
done in any case, although have had at
times to keep my bed for many weeks on
account of the exposure in the cold
weather. 1t is well for me that l had a
good mother to take care of me at such
times of sickness On the 2lst of May,
18-, l saved Mr.. Manning, VT Windsor
On the 9TH of July, 1865, | saved Mr.
George Taylor, of New York State; he
was very near dead when l got him on
the wharf. October 10, 1865, saved a
child of Mr.. F. German, of Adrian she
was about five years old, and was near
drowned when | got her out. Decem-
ber u, 1866 saved son of Mr.. Yates,
who kept clothing store on Jefferson
avenue. The night was very cold, a
high wind was blowing at the time, and
he was very near dead when he reached
the wharf
NINE PERSONS SAVED IN ONE NIGHT.
April IL, 1866, was the worst night l
ever had. 1t will ever be memorable as
the night of the great Conhagration at
the Detroit and Milwaukee Railroad de-
pot, when sixteen poor fellows were
drowned. l rescued nine, and then be-
came 30 exhausted that could not swim,
and had to abandon them to their fate,
got very bad cold and lay in bed two
weeks, but that was nothing in COmpari-
son to the good accomplished. July %,
1866, saved Mr.. Joseph Noble, of Wind
sor, and believe you were there at the
time He was once engineer on the
Great Western Railroad. You know he
came near drowning me by his struggles
in the water, at which time l received
several internal injuries. April Z, 1867,
l saved the son of Mr.. G. Myers, who
lived in Mullet street. He was boy
about twelve years old. June IA, 1867,
/ saved the daughter of Mr.. Andrew
Morse, of Cleveland. She was going on
board the ferryboat with her mother and
some other ladies, when she fell off the
plank. When got to the wharf she
was going out of sight for the last time,
and plunged in and brought her to the
surface. September 15, 1867, | saved a
colored man, who was a deck-hand on
the propeller Meteor. He kicked me
about in the water terribly, for drowning
men are always crazy. November 2, 1867,
saved Mr.. David Miller, the man who
drove a wagon for Hull Brothers, store
keepers, on Monroe avenue. May 10,
1868, saved Mr.. Robert Sinton, known
as "Free Press Bob" You know he used
to be a reporter for the Free Press. And
in his haste to get news he fell in, and l
got him out.
A few nights af.er that 1 saved Mr..
Steele, who used to keep a store on
Michigan avenue. He was on the ferry
boat with his wife; he had very spirit
ed horse, and was holding him by the
head when the boat struck the wharf
The horse jumped and threw him into
the river, when the current swept him
under the wharf l jumped in and got
him out all right. October 4, 1868, l
saved a daughter of Mr.. Mcdonald, of
Windsor. May II, 1868, l saved Mr.
Flattery, one of the Flattery brothers
who keep a furniture store on Wood
ward avenue. He was heavy man !;
when got hold him he was near gone,
and l came near losing my own life in
getting him out. June 2l, 1870, l saved