Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-05-21
A FEARLESS FERRYMAN.
n unerOus Brave Acts Performed by
COrneIies Roach.
Boston Globe.

SOrneueS ROACH
Boston Globe
Secretary Manning has awarded
gold medal to Cornelius Roach, boat
cleaner on the East Boston south ferry,
for bravery IN rescuing persons from
drowning. Mr. Roach was seen yes
terday, and consented to give q brief
account Of somG of his Efe-saving ex-
ploits.
"At about 1O:30 o'clock one even
ing," he said, II went over on the
Boston side, for man named James
r Dbinson. That was in the winter of
1875, when Capt. Gray ran the boat
and Charles Deering was gateman.
Deering gave me lite-preserver; MIR.
Robinson wouldn't let go of me so
that could put it under his armpits.
I them told Deering to give me the
boat-hook, and when he handed it to
me altched it to the collar of Robins
sons coat. Then l Slated him in the
face with both legs and he let 60 of
me, the gateman keeping hold of him
with the boat-hook and landing him
all right. [ was caked all over with
ice when they pulled me aboard. Mr..
Robinson had fallen in by jumping
for the boat. He said he was an Eng
lishman, and would make it all right
with me, but I've never heard any
thing from him since.
son the 18th of June, think it was
some time in the afternoon, man
came aboard the ferry-boat named
Thomas Gillstt. He had escaped
from the Washington home, and
when we were between Boston and
East Boston ne left the gates at the
bow and jumped overheard, I was
near the stern at the time, and, hear
ing the cry, "Man overheard |" rushed
aft and jumped in, just as was. There
happened to be boy near by in a
dory, and I called to him for assist
ance, buthe said he was afraid I would
capsIze the boat, said: No; slew the
dory till | get hold of the stern of her.
At this moment the ferry>boat came
up and one of the passengers jumped
into the dory, and, with the assistance
of the boy, dragged the drowning
man into il. There wasn't room in it
for me, and had to take care of my
self until the tow~boat Vim came out
from Lewis warf and picked me up.
For that received medal and SO
from the humane society, and $40 from
Mr.. Gillett's wife"
''Do you recall any other rescues2"
81 will tell you one more. On the
31st of July we left Boston at 9 is.
think, and, as we entered the slip on
the East Boston side, we got foul of a
small yawi-boat with two men ia her.
The men were SO badly frightened that
they jumped into the water. When
[ reached the bow Of the ferry boat,
one of the men was out of sight,
and a deck-hand named Hussey
told me he had sunk before.
] said to Hdssey: That poor fell
low amt coming up any more. | had
no sooner said it than up came the
mans head above water. jumped
for him, and before he had time to
sink again had clapped the life pre-
server over his head. The other one
was taking care of himself, but so
badly frightened that wbsn [ went
! to him he tried to catch me three
times. I would not let him touch me,
of course, and run him against the
middle pier, and told him to cling TO
the spiles Then [ tried to get into
the yaWl-DOat, but could not get over
the side, having burst vein in the
muscle Of my arm, some time before,
which made it nearly powerless when
The excitement was over. [ showed
the boat from underneath the guard
Of the ferry boat, and deck hand
and passenger jumped into it, and
pulled NE out of the water. We then
went round and got the two men, the
one secured to the spiles having in
the meantime been thrown a life
preserver By the watchman on the
boat. The one that couldn't swim
was much braver than the other.
Their names were Hugh Casey and
Daniel Kennedy. I didn't get any
thing from them, but received $25 and
a silver medal from the humane so~
ciety. Born in Boston? Yes, sir, l
was, and learned to swim at Fosters
wharf. I'm on the ferry tea years
this month"