Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1882-07-22
REWARD OF MERIT
ARTHUR VAN DUSEN'S HEROIC
ACT APPRECIATED.
The San Francisco Stock Exchange
Present Him with q Gold Medal
Hon. X. NJ. Daggetts Presentation
Speech.
Virginia (Nev.) Chronicle, July 1871

Virginia (Nev.) Chronicle, July 1871
Last evening the Opera House was
closely packed, even the aisles in the
gallery being closely filled with
standing men. The occasion was
the formal presentation to Arthur
Van Dusen Of the medal struck for
him by the San Francisco Stock and
Exchange Board to show the appre
citation of it's members of his brave
exploit in penetrating to the miners
imprisoned in the Alta drift. Par
ties came up from Silver City, Day
ton, Sutro and Gold Hill, and the
whole surrounding country, as we'll
as Virginia, was well represented in
the great audience.
On the stage sat Van Duscn, the
seven rescued miners, the speakers
Of the evening, and james Orr, Pres
ident of the Virginia Miners Union,
who presided Cara's band, in full
uniform, filled the orchestra in
closure.
Hon. r. NJ. Daggett opened the
proceedings by advancing to the foot
lights with Arthur Van Dusen. For
a moment or two the audience-not
many of whom had seen him before
regarded with silent interest the
slight but sinewy figure of the man
of middle height and middle age,
with sharp features and dark com
plexion, who stood before them in
neat suit of black, not donned for the
occasion, but such as he always
wears. Then a wild storm OF APP
plause broke forth. When quiet re-
turned, Mr.. Daggctt turned to Van
Dusen and spoke as follows:
MIR. DAGGETT's ADDRESS.
Mr.. Van Dusen, my worthy fellow
townsman: To me has been intrust-
ed by the Miners Union the very
pleasant duty of presenting to you,
on behalf of the members Of the San
Francisco Stock and Exchance e
Board, whose kind opinions are q
compliment, this rich and eloquent
testimonial of tneir recognition Of
your heroicc services in assisting, at
the hazard of your own life, in saw
ing the lives of number of your
fellow miners in the lower levels Of
the Comstock.
Permit me to assure you, sir, that
this offering is not made as Il reward
of the courageous service you per-
formed, for the truly brave man
shrinks from recompense for the per-
formance Of what he believes to be
his duty. 1t is intended to subservc
a higher and a nobler purpose. 1t
is to be accepted by you as memo
rial Of an act Of individual heroism,
alike creditable to you, to the Chris
tian age in which We live, and to the
association of brave men of which
you are a part, and upon whose
name your deeds have cast an un-
dying lustre.
The true manhood and Christian
chivalry of to-day seek to save life.
not to destroy it; to heal wounds, not
to inf1ict them; to relieve distress, not
to create it. 1t is not on the ensan.
guined battle field, where, amid the
blarc of trumpets and the thunders o.
conflict, men are inspired to deeds O.
, desperate valor that the grandest acts
of heroism are displayed. No. 1t il
rather in the peaceful walks of life
!. where men, appreciating the danger
to save the life of fellow being
boldly take death by the hand, ant
through fire and smoke, through tn
poisonous gases and heated hell of tn
lower levels, or wherever else DANCE
. directs, walk with the merciless mon
: ster to the very verge of the grave
keeping even step with him nor quail
!. ing at his gaze. This is true courag
the courage you displayed-th
courage which your fellow-citizen
Is are here tonight to compliment an
: applaud-the courage which has wo
for you this beautiful token. TAX
it, sir, and wear it with as much prid
: and modest ostentation as brav
man may, for on it is inscribed ls
gend more honorable to the weart
!. than would be the record of thou:
and victories in arms in the estim;
. ton of the good of earth and in tt
eye of that all-merciful, that
n Almighty Father from whose hand
The centuries run like grains of sand.
Take it and guard it. 1t is right
yours, for you have nobly won it, an
y. your title to it bears the broad seal I
: public opinion. Certainly | know
no one upon whose breast it cou
find more fitting lodgment than upe
that of the brave, unsclfish and mode
D. hero into whose hands now give
formal possession, with sentiments
. my personal admiration and esteem
And now peace to the souls of Il
brave men whose spirits mounted
their eternal rest from the boiliI
n flood through which YOU follow,