The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1876-01-21

|
Brave Deeds OF an American John Lambert
| What John Horn. OF Detroit. Has DOne-His Own
Life Risked Again and Again for Others-Severe
| Atfsrss Of Illness Resulting from Cold and En-
| P"Surs hHrR's Account Of His Exploits
Among the applications made to tile
last Congress for a medal for services in
the saving of life was that of John Horn,
OF Detroit, who may be justly styled
home-bred John Lambert. The charac-
ter and adventures of John Lambert, of
Scotland, were very graphically de-
scribed by Charles Reade year ago in
the Tribune, under the title of '.Hero
and Martyr" Mr.. Horn is a young man
living at Detroit, assisting his father
there in small tavern near the public
wharves. Doubtless this proximity to
the water has given him the opportuni-
ties which he has had in several years for
saving what he calculates in the aggre-
| gate 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 attention of Congress. In collecting
information in regard to Horns singular
aad thrilling adventures, the following
letter was obtained from the hero him.
self. 1t is very modest and not de-
tailed report of what he has accom-
plished, told in simple and homely lam
guage, and will be read with peculiar
interest:
THE HERo's OWN STORY.
The Hon. Noses ". Field, House Of Represent
dtiUes:
DEAR SIR have never desired a
public statement of the service which,
under God, l have been able to render in
saving human life, but as you have
asked NE 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. l have never
kept record of the names, and the
number is so great that you will excuse
me if leave some unmentioned.
l think l have altogether saved more
than one hundred human beings, but
take no credit about this matter. and
have never regretted doing what 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 had
good mother to take care of NE at such
times of sickness. On the 2lst of May,
1S-, | saved Mr.. Manning, of Windsor
On the 9TH of July, 1865, saved Mr.
George Taylor, of New York State; be
was very near dead when got him on
the wharf. October 10, 1865, saved
child of Mr.. L. German, of Adrian; she
was about five years old, and was near
drowned when got her out. December
IL, 1866, saved a son of Mr.. Yates, who
kept a clothing store on Jefferson ave
nue.. The night was very cold, a high
wind was blowing at the time, and he
was very near dead when we reached
the wharf.
NINE PERSONS SAVED IN ONE NIGHT.
April IL, 1866, was the worst night
ever had. 1t will be ever memorable as
the night of the great confiagration at
the Detroit and Milwaukee Railroad
depot, when sixteen poor fellows were
drowned. l rescued nine, and then be-
came so exhausted that could not swim,
and had to abandon them to their fate.
got a very bad cold and lay in bed two
weeks. But that was nothing in CON-
parison to the good accomplished. July
25, 1866, | saved Mr.. Joseph Noble, of
Windsor, 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 strug
giles in the water, at which time re-
ceived severe internal injuries. April z,
1867, | saved the son of Mr.. G. Myres,
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 ferry boat 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 Is, 1867, saved a
colored man, who was a deekhand on
the propeller Meteor. He kicked me
about la the water terribly, for drown
ing men are always crazy. November 2,
1867, saved Mr. David Miller, the man
who drove wagon for Hull Brothers,
store keepers, on Monroe avenue. May
IS, 1868, | saved Dir. Robert Sinton,
known as Free Press Bob" You
know he used 20 be a reporter for the
Free Press. And in his haste to get
news he fell in, and got him out.
A few nights after that l saved Mr..
Steele, who used to keep a store on
Michigan avenue. He was on the fer
ryboat with his wife he had very spir-
tied 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. jumped in and got
him out all right. October A, 1868, /
saved daughter of Mr.. Mcdonald, of
Windsor May II, 1863, / saved Mr.
Flattery, one of the Fiattery brothers
who keep furniture store On Woodward
avenue He was heavy man; when /
got hold of him he was near gone, and
came near losing my own life in getting
him out. June 2l, 1870, saved man
called Mr.. George Brodier. | was eat
ing dinner at the time, when some per-
son came running in after me, saying,
''there is a man in the river" | ran
out and jumped into the river, and as
soon as got near him he clutched me
like wise and took me under the water
twice. When | came to the top the last
time, my father handed me long pole.
which caught and that saved me. He
was a powerful man, and kicked and
struggled so hard that he made NY legs
black and blue for many months
My mother goes To the edge of the
wharf with Ine very often, when jump
in; but when she sees persons struggling
in the water and drowning, she never
holds me back.
RI5KIyG HIS LIFE WHEN FIVE HUNDRED