The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-07-09
DKCoRA1HD BY CONGRESS.
The Meu whese Bravery has hferitsd Gov.
ernment MedaIs for LILO AaxihR.


ernmeut Medals for Lifo Saving.
Probably the most coveted reward for life
saving Is tho modal awarded by Congress to
decoration, the medal Of the first class being
Of gold and the second Of silver. They are
struck OIL upon an order from the Secretary OF
the Treasury at one Of the national mints and
are superb pieces OF coinage. The difficulty
experienced in obtaining these medals has also
had much to do with enhancing their value In
the eyes OF aspirants for them. An applicant
for q medal Of either class must file his appli-
cation In the office OF the United States Attor-
ney for the district in which he lives. Proof is
then taken before United States Commission
or. and the papers are forwarded to Washington.
Under an act OF Congress OF June 90 1874.
1t becomes the duty Of the Supervising Inspec-
tor-General Of Steam Vessels. the Chief Of the
Division Of Navigation. and the General Super
intendent Of the Life Saving Service to pass
upon the application and the proof offered in
standardization Of 1t. and TO report their finding
to the Secretary OF the Treasury. The gold
medal Of, the flret class %. reserved for those
shown extreme and heroic daring in saving
the lives Of fellow creatures. The medal award
%en Of th q
District Attorney who forwards the application
Tor presentation .n t9 The person who has merited
the Southern District Of New York which In
endes this city, applications Tor medals are re-
Conkling; Evidence in support of the applica-
ton is taken before United States Commission
Pour Congressional medals have been ap-
piled for by residents Of this city within the
past few months. Dominick ]. Ryder OF 1875
psa s WITH Wtnesses WHO tesed se
reseuing OF six persons from drowning by
his case 70 Washington, and his appcation is
still under consideration By the Examining
John d. Rapp dealer in lumber at the foot
for saving q number Of lives from the waters 81
Tim Esr 1hs made
q his leaning toward the h;metallic theory.
After Mr.. Rapp had received his medal Mr.. Cox
theory on his part PROMPTED him, as Mr. ltapp
SON. who owl was present In the Material arms.
silver watch So Mr.. COX took of his own watch
and hung the watch cord about the babes
Policeman, $. 8; COX of the steamboat squad
is the delighted ppssessor Of a recently re- ..
enviable by his fellow policemen on account Of
bis fine appearance and popularity with the
Occupy s yI conspi POSITION Whenever n new
steamshtp Is placed on , exhibition, =, and his
promptitude. On several occasions he has
tose that
saved have been venturesome boys. Police
man :. =. Cox Ia not a relative OF Congressman
The fourth Of the men whose bravery has
lately deserved decoration at tho hands Of Con-
gress ia the best known Of the four. He Ia @.
| A. j. Queckberner, an amateur athlete of this
city. who. has won nearly fifty medals. princi-
recent occasion he wore all Of these trophies
| OF hard fought athletic Journeys and his breast
2 Is 70 the S
quenters OF Long Beach, who see him fearlessly
| riding the foaming billows far outside Of the
on the sands q bronzed masterpiece Of Drawn
and muscle. He is employed by the proprietors
S"i Ss b FGm ca @sSwenf 6 Hs
States in his seventh year with his parents.
He is in his, twenty-thtrd year. =, Quoek-
pSrsens from na' death by droSns In several
instances he has narrowly escaped death in
He has found il necessary, no says. to devise a
iorsbie way Of freeing himself He places his
me 69dy the
strength of his powerful limbs to push himself
away. As soon as he is clear he returns. and
~. NJ, 3aeek6frners medal" Assistant Die,
still in my Keeping. But It win BIO presented 70
him formally or infoTmally whenever he esks
r. ners 1t Sis 1 Sa velvet
| 1t, showed q silver medal of tasteful desgn II
| is larger and thicker than q trade dollar On
| the diverse is engraved a rescue from drown
| Ing. Around the edge ID inscribed, Life Saw
| ing Medal OF the Second Class. United States OF
| America" On the reverse tho inscription N
| " In testimony of heroic deeds in saving life
| from the perils Of the soa. Presented to G. A.
Queckberner under act ct Congress OF June 20
| 1874. for bravely resoulng several persons from
| drowning in 1881"
Though there Ia ample ground for boliey.
| ing" MIR. Conkling continued. that Mr.
Queckberner has saved all Of the lives that he
| given him because the legal evidence In his
| case was not as strong as in that OF Mr.. Rapp
| who has received tho gold medal Mr.. RapT
| seems to have been more careful about soour.
| ing the names and addresses OF witnesses than
| Mr.. Quockberner has. But Mr. Queekbernsr IL
| not barred from yet winning the gold modal
| Tho number of Congressional medals that q
man NAV receive is not limited by law but
cannot recall any man who has earn
| I'd more than one. After tho WOrlG
| building fire. several persons applied to
| me for the Congressional medal on the ground
| that they had saved life ut the fire. But waf
compelled to inform thom that there is no lega
authority Tor such an award The statute o.
| June 30. 1874. providos only that medals shall
| be given for saving lives from the perils of the
| sea- A great deal u difficulty is experienced
| by applicants for Congressional medals In fur.
nishing the required testimony. Very few as
| certain the names Of those who witness their
| deeds OF daring, or OF the persons whom they
| rescue. and on this account q gFoat number Of
| applications for a nober decoration than any
| king can confer fall to the ~ ound."