The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-11-17
NAN THE NEwsBOY.
The Heroic Life-Saver Nearly Killed by
Gang Of Roughs. -
Assaulted and Cruelty Maltreated While
Performing His Duty as a Policeman.
buffalo NewsI

Officer William O'Neil, better known as
Nan the Newsboy," was sent to do duty
last night from the Oak Street Police Sta
ton in the most dangerous part of the city,
the lawless region on the East River en-
braced in the Twenty-frst Precinct. The
rowdies who have their homes in that local
ity were out in full force, lighting fires in
the street and endangering property. O'Neil
was put on guard at Thirty-ninth street and
Second avenue, and had not been there an
hour before conflict occurred. He was en-
deavoring to put out fire lighted by the
roughs, when they fell upon him in num-
bers and beat and abused him. 0'Neil
bravely struck back and fight ensued that
left him bleeding, unconscious and all but
killed on the ground. Two of his ribs were
broken, and he was delirlus from conclusion
of the brain when taken to Bellevue Hospi-
tai. His assailants, when they realized the
extent of their crime, fled to their hiding
places among the rocks of dutch Hill"
O'Neil lies in the Hospital in a critical con-
dition.-New York Graphic.
Nan IS one of the best known characters
in New York, and in fact has become fam
Gus all over the country for his heroic work
in saving persons in danger of drowning, in
New York Bay and the East River. He is
about twenty-three years old. Before he
was twenty-one he had saved score of lives,
and organized a volunteer life-saving corps
the members OF which t''Nan," Gill Long
and Ed. Kelly patroled the docks on the
East River Side at night, and "fished out"
as they said, persons falling overheard or
attempting suicide. The principal point
along the East River front was Dover dock,
the wharf nearest Chatham Square Many
,aI ir,f I,fS ;rbb II
and on various occasions the 'boys," as they
called themselves, succeeded in detecting
rObberies and recovering property which
the thieves, who abound..in the river streets,
had conveyed Ito a near bin or chamber
under the old dock. The lads worked in
various shops, or at selling papers, as in
Mans" case all day. and at night patroled
the river front till a late hour. The work
was one of simple benevolence and love of
adventure, for they rarely received any re-
ward from the poor people taken from the
water, and never asked any assistance
Mans plans of procedure when he jumped
into the water after a drowning person was
to swim up behind him and slug" him, or,
in other words, stun him by a blow on the
head with his fist "Dey can't clutch We
den," said Dan in explaining his process of
saving life. On reaching shore the rescued
man was wrapped in blankets provided by
the boys, and brandy was supplied to revive
him. IL very far gone Nan and his COM
rades thoroughly understood the various
systems of reviving apparently drowned per
sons by rolling, rubbing and artificial re-
spiration, and applied them with success
Two years ago the newspapers-principally
the Star and Sunbeam to record the
achievements of the volunteer life-saving
corps, and some months later a movement
was set on foot by Paul Boyton, the noted
swimmer, TO organize an endowed life-sav-
ing service. Nan and his comrades, Ed
Kelly and Gil Long, were introduced to
various bankers and brokers on Wall street.
Meetings were held, at which the boys made
short addresses and Boyton made appeals
for funds, and considerable money was
raised. Members of the Produce Exchange
took an active interest, and an association
was formed, with Franklin Edison President
of the Produce Exchange, as its President
The boys were formed into a uniformed
crew and hired at a salary of SIS week, their
clothes and sleeping apartments being fur
nished by the Association.
But there was too much shoulder straps
about the arrangement to suit the boys.
They thought Edison and Boyton were run
ming" the concern regardless of them, and
quarrel sprang up between Nan and Gil
Long, which broke up the organization, and
Gil and Nan formed separate volunteer corps
on the old model
A few months ago Nan was appointed on
the police force His acquaintance with the
dock thieves and his well-proven courage
have made him very efficient officer. Some
time ago he was in trouble for making an il
legal arrest, but an Investigation showed him
to be innocent of wrong in the case. Nan
has virtue rare among the rough class in
which he has been brought up-strict tenn
perance-he touches no spirituous liquors of
any kind.