Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1885-05-15
4 FEARLESS FERRYMAN.
numerous Brave Acts PerforHe ed by
Cornelies Roach.

Secretary Manning has awarded a
gold medal to Cornelius Roach, boat
cleaner on the East Boston south ferry.
for bravery IN rescuins persons from
drowning. Mr.. Roach was seen yes
terday, and consented to give a brief
account of some of his Gfe-saving ex,
ploits.
"At about 1880 o'clock one even
ing" he said, Il went over on the
Boston side, for man named James
Robinson. 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.
| them told Deering to give rse the
boat-hook, and when he handed it to
me | hitched it to the collar of Robins
sons coats Then l Slated him in the
face with both legs ana he let go 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
hshman, and would make it all right
with me, but I've never heard any
thing from him since.
"On the 18th OF Juae, l think it vas
some time in the afternoon, a man
came aboard the ferry-boat named
Thomas Gillett. He had escaped
from the Washington home, anu
when we were between Boston and
East Boston he left the gates at the
bow and jumped overheard, l was
near the stern at the time, and, hear
ing the cry, Man overheard |" rushed
aft and jumped in, just as i was. There
happened to be boy near by in a
dory, and called to him for assist
ance, but he said he was afraid | would
capslZe the boat, | said: No; slew the
dory till 1 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 it. There wasn't room in 1t
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 $40
from the humane society, and $40 from
Mr.. Gillett's wife"
'Do you recall any other rescuesf"
II will tell you one more. On the
31st of July we left Boston at 9:15. l
think, and, as we entered the slip on
the East Boston side, we got foul of a
small yawl-boat with two men in 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 lad sunk before.
said to Hussey: That poor fel-
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 cl2pped the life pre-
server over his head. The other one
was taking care of himself, but so
badly frightened that when l went
to hlm he tried to catch me three
times. / would not let him touch me,
of course, and run him against the
middle pier, and told him to cling TO
the spiles. Then l tried to get into
the yawl-boat, 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 a deck hand
and passenger jumped into it, and
pulled me 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 we're Hugh Casey and
Daniel Kennedy. / didn't get any
thing from them, but received $25 and
silver medal from the humane So
ciety. Born in Boston9 Yes, sir,
was, and learned to swim at F.ster's
wharf. I'm on the ferry ten years
this month"