The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1880-03-04
A HERO AT FOURTEEN.
John Higgins, BOOtbIack, Putting q ThrOng Of
Grown Men To Shame.

Grown Men To Shame.
The boys of Mr. Burt's class in Yandewater
street night school were unusually inattentiVe to
their teacher and their studies on Wednesday
night There was an undertone Of whispered
conversation beneath the volume Of the noise Of
recitation and Of song. and nearly every boy
looked at Johnny Higgins more than In his book.
Johnny Higgins is one Of the ibrighteHt Of Mr..
Burts pupils, He is the son Of poor parents,
whom he assists with money earned by blaoking
boots. When many boys at school are subject to
the pressure of en- all absorbing secret they are
certain to relieve themselves when the strain be.
comes unbesrable. The teacher has only to wait
as one does for the thunder In hot weather In
time, therefore, a boy raised his hand. and with.
out waiting for an encouraging nod from Mr..
Burt, eased his mind:
"Did you know said the boy, that Johnny
Higgins saved boys life to-day7"
Mr. Burt had not heard the news, II was told
In detail and afterwards repeated to Principal
MCNary. The story was that on Wednesday after.
noon Johnny waspolishing mans shoes in front
Eglesons iron warehouse, 1855 South street, across
the way from the basin south Of Roosevelt street
pier. He heard the splash Of body falling into
the water, and he saw a constantly growing
throng Of men along the string piece Of the dock,
gesticulating and shouting. "Hold on" said
Johnny to the man whose shoes his was blackiDg
"Ill run across and see what that is"
He saw little child sink and rise again In the
muddy water. He looked at the faces Of the help
less men and boys along the stringplece,and then
he threw off his coat and leaped into the basin
The child was nearly dead with fright and sx.
hSustion when Johnny seized him and swan fol
some distant logs Yet the child unconscioasly
crippled him by It's struggles, The logs were
reached and Johnny clambered back to the
streets while man In q row boat took the child
to the next pier, Both the boys then went to the
cabin Of the tugboat, stripped and dried them
selves and their clothing. The companions Of the
child ian away and returned with the mother o.
the rescued child, who embraced the daring boot
black and offered him two dollars, which she said
was all she had. John refused to take the money
There was enty Of corrOborative testimony ir
support Of this story and gentleman who heard
the tale wrote about 1t to a morning paper.
When "a Sun reporter saw Johnny in the bare
walled bare Aoored attic room at 287 Front street
in which he and his parents live, he had we'll
worn copy of this newspaper between his shir
and vest, and his mother asked the reporter t
read It aloud as though she could not hear It toe
often.
"May God in Heaven bless the boy and may hC
never do worse" was her comment.
Johnny Higgins's face shone with pleasure, bu
ne held 1t Ehyly down or turned 1t from his Wis
itor.
II didn't take the money" said he, because
saw the woman couldn't afford to part with 1t
was big fool not to ask her name. They called
the boy Willie, and heard he came away from
the Bowery. He had on short trousers, whit
waist and light hat with black band. No, 1
wasn't sovery cold until Igot out Of the water
You see, the men was hunting up little bits o
ropes that wasn't no good to throw to the boy,ant
the boy was drowning, That's why went II
| for him."
Johnny Higgins ia a regular attendant at thu
Vandewater street night school, and the teacher
both speak highly of him. He is IA years DID,
Ne0 York Sun.