The Red Cloud chief., 1877-12-06
A BOy Hero.
Garry Benscn. the Eighteen--Year-Old
Youth who has Saved a Dozen Lives.

A Boy Hero.
Garry Jsenscn, the Old
Youth h has Saved a Dozen Lives.
Various people have various ambi-
tons, for which there is no accounting,
and which We DO not propose to account
for, or even to enumerate. The partic-
ular case just now in mind is that Of an
Albany boy, aged Is, named Garry Ben
son The object Of his life thus far
seems to he the rescuing OF people from
the embraces Of the ~treacherous waters
of the Hudson. Within the past five
years he has saved from death az least
a dozen people, and that without fee or
reward. He does not set up TO be "A
hero either, but is rather reticent about
narrating his adventures. He is a strong,
stOutly built young fellow, with black
hair and eyes, a round face, and skin
which shows much exposure to the
weather. He lives at 800 Broadway.
He has worked about the river "a great
shareOf his life, and loves the water like
a duck. For some time he has been in
the employ of the Mutual Boat Club,
about their house and boats, but just
now in the dull season is employed on
the new capitol. A reporter of the
Erening Times had an interview with
him the other day, but found it extreme
lydificult to make anything sensational
out of his very modest ~matter-Of-fact
story. Saving human life was with him
such a matter OF course that really he
could hardly recOllect w the names of
those who owe to him the continuance
of their earthly existence.
About five years ago he said, he fished
out the first one, a boy named Fitzpat-
rick, up in the basin. He was in swim
ming, and, in getting him out, Garry
came near going under himself, and
caught a frightful cold. ButOne learns
by experience.
In May, 1872, two girls named Scher-
merl9rn and Corners. about thirteen or
fourteen years old, were in the boat ia
the basin near the elevator and close to
the dock; they began fOOling. the boat
upset, and both were thrown into the
water. Garry. happening to be near,
plunged in and saved them.
In July, 1873, William Plat and VIM.
Allen were rescued by Garry, near the
end of the pier; they were young fell
lows in swimming.
In July. 1876, Benjamin Klup and Jas.
Kenny Garry was not quite certain
about the names) were in a boat, when
a boy, chased by the police for being in
swimming, jumped into the boat, which
upset, and both were thrown into the
water. Garry saved them, as he did be
fore a younger brother of Kenny, last
summer.
Last summer John Flood, of Scranton,
Pa, while drunk, fell into the river and
was pulled out by Garry.
Last winter Thomas Haggerty. also
drunk, fell in at the foot of Hudson av-
enue. Garry was standing at the corner
of Broadway and the avenue. 1t was
1890 at night. He heard a cry for help,
and, running, he arrived in time to pull
the poor fellow out.
W'ni"-~ vo.--o,- 80 tLo -n-~o NJ on
other rescued, and a boy named Flynn,
taken with cramps, makes out a round
dozen.
This is not all the service young Ben
son has done. He is not Omnipresent,
and in his absence people sometimes
drown. 1t is an important thing to re-
cover their bodies. Benson has brought
to the surface the remains of four
Michael Healey, young Grace. Mrs. Hart
and Anthony Z. Phalen. For this he
has received in one instance only $23
and we understand that a proposition
will he made to the Board of Supervi'
sors TO vote him some compensation IoI
this service at least. Surely some recog'
milton of modest bravery would be fit
ting. Benson is poor, and a little money
would 90 a good ways with him. He
said he had noticed IN the papers that
Young fellow in New York, named
ONeil, who had sa Jed only two or three
lives, had been given gold medals and
a good position. Why cannot as mucf
be given for Albany's life-preserver
Garry Benson IN. ", Times