Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1883-08-30

Something more than ten years ago
a man umped from Cunard steamer
in mid ocean during heavy storm. in
tie attempt to save a sailor who had
fallen overheard. Thesailor went down
before the would-be rescuer could reach
him; but the latter swan about for an
hour until he was picked up by the
steamers crew. He showed no signs
of exhaustion, and that was the beg n
ming of his career as long-distance
swimmer, whose name was to be .Ome
known the world over for endurance in
the water. For the daring attempt to
save fellow-creature's life he received
from the Duke of Edinburgh the first
gold medal ever given by the Royal HUI
name Society. That act was bravery.
The mans name was Matthew Webb.
Last week man umped from small
boat into the ranids of the Niagara
River below the Falls. His purpose was
to swim the rapids, which no human
being has passed through in that way
and come out alive. This was the
reason for his trying ito do what no.
body had ever done before him. The
warn ngs of the MANY victims of the
whirlpool rapids and of friends We're OF
no avail. Within twenty minutes from
the time the man dove into the water he
had been carried more than 2 mile down
the stream; had thrown up one arm SIS
in despair, and had disappeared in the
whirlpool to be seen alive no more.
This act was foolhardiness. The man
was the same Matthew Webb.
1t is important to draw the line be-
tween the foolhardy and the brave. IL
the minds of many the line seems to be
very ind stinct. A good deal of fool
hardness parades under the banner OF
bravery, an gets the applause due to
bravery alone. The readers of the daily
newspapers have been informed that
the spectators on the bar ks of the river
cheered the ''brave' man as he dis
robed for his fatal effort He was q
brave man when he faced death to save
another He was foolhardy MAJ
when he faced death simply to show
what he could not do. 1t was brave
thing the other day at Atlantic City
when man jumped from pier into
the surf to try a ID rescue two young
girls who We're struggling for lie there.
1t was a f olhardy thing when two edi-
tors down in Virginia stood up to let
each shoot at the other. Ii was 4 brave
act when Engineer SEEDS dashed into
the flames that enveloped his engine
cab and stopped the engine, at the cost
of his own life, but to the saving of tie
! YES of many others. 1t was n fool.
hardy act that was purposed by the
man who wanted to Jump from the
Brooklyn br dge into the East River. &c
prove that he could do it without kill.
inc himself.
The line is a very plain one. Wher
l;fe is risked in behalf OF other lives.
that is brave, noble, heroic, and rise, tc
the greatest height of VIII ch human na-
ture is capable. When life is risaed at
the post of duy, that is bravery. Lv-
irgstonc, in his efforts to open w q dark
continen to civilization and Christiani,
ty, wa, a brave man. To stand firm
again-t persecution and sneers and
wick" dness requires bravery in a Christ
ian m n and woman. To be good and
true in any sphere re tuires bravery.
But to risk life merely to make an ex-
III IL iO.l vi DIdNtll, }.iii vi IioloV
benefit or rescue. that is foolhard ness.
Captain Webb possessed bravery, there
is no question as to that: but when he
was not contented 10 use his endurance
and skill for the good of others or use.
full EMS, but must be ever reaching out
toward more and more difficult feat.
which IMPLY served to show off a!
he cou d do. he passed over from brav.
erv into foolhard ness. Ii we pity him.
it is that man who might have been
SO useful and put his courage to good
account, should have proved so foolish
and thrown his life away for worse than
nothing.
Bravery is one of the noble traits.
Foolhardiness is as ignoble as coward.
ice, and is wicked. The world needs
bravery; it is always overstocked witI
foolhardiness. N. Y Examiner.