Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1879-01-08
Four Young Heroes.


In New York there is juvenile asso
citation, the real objects and practica
work of which are manifest in acts Ol
personal bravery and humanity. Fol
nearly four months two young mel
and two boys have carried on what
they call the New York Amateur Life
saving association. They have formed
their association and elected president
and vice president. They do not need
a treasurer. and one of them acts as
secretary, his services in that respect
being confined to making entries in the
record book" These young men are
William O'Neill, twenty three years OF
age. residing at No. 62 Cherry street
Gilbert Long, aged twenty, of No. Is
Cherry street; Edward Kelly, aged 10,
Mark, aged ten, of No. : Oak street.
ONeill is an overgrown boy in appear
ance, and has been known as Nan, the
Newsboy." since he WAS six years old.
He sells papers and blac ckens boots on
the Sylvan Line of Harlem steamers,
aiding in the support of widowed
mother. lie has saved fourteen lives
within the past two years, three being
placed to his credit on Saturday last.
Long, is a tinker. employed in shop
in Burlington Slip; Kelly works in a
Gold street leather manufacto. Y, and
little "Patsey" Mark is learning the
painters trade at paint shop in Peck
Slip. Long has already saved four
persons from drowning in the river,
Kelly has saved two persons, and Pat
sey,n has rescued one. All are expert
swimmers and divers, and similarity
of tastes and ambition probably led
them into each others company. Near
" every day in the week these four
brave volunteers meet at half past
seven o'clock on the Dover street pier.
Starting from thence, O'Neill takes
either Mark or Kelly with him and
patrols the South street dock front
down as far as the South ferry or the
Battery sea wall. Long and the remain
ing patrolman go in the northerly dl-
rection and give their attention to the
flNtl lIbul w aS 1hS AAooNb
little below Grand street ferry. They
have scraped together money enough
to buy two life lines of slender, we'll
spun hemp rope, each about 100 feet
long and provided with a cross-bar of
wood To which person in the water
may readily cling, and which also aids
by its weight in the throwing of the
line. They remain on patrol usually
from two to three hours, always meet
ing again at the Dover street pier and
reporting the occurrences of the night.
Their plan of rendering assistance is to
allow one to plnnge into the rIver when
aid is needed. while the other remains
on the pier and aids the rescued and
the re>cuer with the lifeline in getting
out of the water. \ part of their patrol /
duty consists in practising the throwing
of their ife-liDes-aiming TO throw it |
accurately TO objects in the water. At
present they say they need several arti-
cles of equipment, such as a ife-buoy I
or two, and eventually they hope to get /
rubber caps and capes to wear ON rainy |
nights. These young heroes seem to |
feel some sort of contempt for men who |
need boats TO save life, because, they |
say, that many persons have been
drowned while others have been lock- |
ing for boat and running around for /
oars to go to the drowning persons
assistance. They would be willing to
have a boat themselves, however
merely because they would always
have it ready for use, and they could |
patrol their respective distances in
in front of the piers, see greater dis
tances. be more easily summoned, and
could go over their patrol posts three
times where they now do il once. Their
method of saving person is to go into
the water after them, seize them, and
supper. them. They will endeavor 70
have boat by next summer, but will
continue their foot patrols meantime.
O'Neill is trying to get an appointment
from the government on one of the life
saving stations of the coast.