The sun., 1878-11-03
NEWARK'S HERO BROTHERS.
TWO WATBRMEN VINO HAPE SAVED UP
WARD or roo LIVES.

The story or Rescue. from the Pns.n,o Fer.
formed by Phiiip and Freer,nn Bowers
who have had Neither Medals nor Rewards
Philip and Freeman Bowers OF East New.
ark have been watcrmcn on the Passaic Iiyor
for fifteen yoars. and in that time they have
rescued nearly two hundred persona from
drowning. Neither of the brothers has ro.
ccved n modal for his heroic conduct. al
though the giving OF medals TO them hns been
talked Of. md they have invariably refused to
accept money for their services. They nro
modest unussuminR men and they never boasl
Of their achievements. They own each largo
boat house on tho Enst Newark bank OF the
river, which aro fnvorite resorts for the oars.
men OF the Passac. many OF whom store th0ir
shells and gigs in their houses. Philips house
ia near the Pennsylvania Railroad bridge aud
Freeman had n house above tho East Newark
foot and wagon bridge. but II was destroyed by
fire several weeks ago. flo lost 1876 boats. in.
Guiding number OF shells and barges belong.
ing to oarsmen in Newark. Orange. Princeton.
and other places. His loss amounted to $4,000
tho savings Of lifetime. He had no nsur.
ancc. He is. however. rebuilding the house.
reporter for THE SUN called ut Philip Bow.
ers's boat house on Friday afternoon. Philipwas
not at home. but his wife told tho story OF her
I'VE have been in this place five years" said
Mrs. Bowers. and Phil has rescued great
many people in that time. IIo has saved oyor
one hundred men. women and boys sinco hs
has been on the river The first season We were
here he dove into tho river after IA dozen per.
sons. and ho brought them all safe TO shore Ild
took seven men and boys out Oi the river IN on1
day when the ice was Just forming on the water.
ono day, two years ago, n boy was seen floating
water and would have been drowned If PHI
bad not dived in after him.. Another day ho
went In after persons soot9n that had no
more dry unnerclothing for him. and ] said.
Now. Phil. you've done enough Of this thing.
The first you know you Will hn drowned
Well. he only laughed and said. | cant SEQ
without trying TO save thom.' Sometimes he
goes out in boat after pcopic. but in critical
right I'm. DR.. Arthur Ward warned him that lo
would gct his death OF coll. butthat did not stop
when the draw OF the bridge was bcing fixed
three years ago. people crossed the river in row
boats. One day hont with eleven men nnd
hoy wns capsiz'd. None Of the men could swim
Phil threw a lot OF planks into Q bont rowel
out to the, men. and. after hard work. saved
Fourth ~ July n man tried to swim from Rry-
nolds's boat house 10 the gas works. but when he
got in the current Of the river he thrcwnp his
arms and cried for holp. IN minute PM was
out after him. and he hro ught him 10 shore; but
1t was hard struggle. Several days ago no
rescued n littlo boy named DIETRICH. md hr haa
saved iftecn persons this seusOn. W. counted
them the other day. can't remember all that
Mv papn's took lots OF 'olks from tho water"
said ono 81 Mr.. Bowcr-'- little boys. and La
aiht afraid. 4 woman irl OF the bridge ono
afternoon, and pg jumped right into the river
with his clothes ANA b'o,s on ana took her out
There was lots oi mon on tho htnk' TOO but thcy
dlrrsht 40 IN alter her
Freeman Bowers WIS found NJ tho RUNS oi
his boat house. whore he wgs giving dire tions
TO the carpenters who arc 'ngagcd on bis now
building. lie II muscular. w"ii- i-hult mnn.
about % years Of age. lie snid that he had rcs-
rued over sixty persons since ne hhi y 'cu on
tes rlVsr' ,, some 90 w'1I ng NIX. nl
pericncc was eight years ago. A sailboat con-.
tanning two men and iyc women, WAS cllsiz 4
course of the lts,aic River AmatIur Rowing
Association. Tho current iS very strong thCri
si1nl nnd h. rowod to tho rescue ~ On
/ some OF the drowning persons grasund The
IN swim anl dive after two Of Tho women. liz
rescued four of the party. and throe w'r,
drowned. II was thoroughly exhaust n WHOM
hr finally g0t the boat and the rescued pnriios
- The bank ~ the river lie gftorwarl sayol
son II cN-iutcrnul Revenue Collector Baldwin
current. Ntuupthrr timn man fell Of llew =
4 Phillips's wharf. on the Newark side Of The
river. \ number ot mon saw tho accident
| Freeman threw a large block OF wood into The
| water, AMI SWAN with IL out TO the drowning
man. who was being rapidly carried down
| hold of rrrn'an's clothes and had Il not honH
| for he block VI wood, both would have heer
! drowned. Freeman kept the man on the orul
site side of the block, however. 10y wair
| strength. 1ud finally, uttcr u long struggle
| years ago he diyei after a woman and boy
| and saved them
Two years ago Frcnchm1n and his wifc ana
| baby were NJ set I'm the river near Balluntin z
| brew ~. Mr.. Bowers reached thom I'm tine e
! save AL. The baby slipped from lts m!thert
| arms hut tho thick woOllen wrulDngs kept
! from sinking until Mr.. Bowers reached H. /
! laughed and chucklcd ut its r"srucr whiio lg
! WAS swimming to shore with H. Thes' are uu !
! 20 tow uf the re-cucs mnle hy Mr. Bowers. lie
| sand 20 the reporter: " Pnil has saved mora p'p
/ ,no,,, r.varI ,,r ,vb"t .vc 10 n ia oos, -
! save person II you only k"ep coo. nni know
| what to do. Most people get excited and then
/ thcy stand and look on ho'plc-sly. Whom any.
! body is drowning you mustn't stop o. think %.
| th' best way In saNc them. but jump right in
| That's the way | do"