St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-12-19
PIG-IRON MILLER.
Sketch Of a Man " ho saved thirty
eight People From Drowning.

That some helpless human Delng might De
spared from a hapless fate and returned to
family, home and friends. Such hero.
says the Cleveland Leader. has just finished
his long life of usefulness. for with all his
faults John Miller, or ''Pig-Iron" Miller.
as he was known, was a hero still. 1t
seemed to be the aim of his life to do good.
without & thought of pecuniary profit. F"
said Mayor Gardner yesterday. The mayor
was once a SchuOlmate of the celebrated
diver. Old residents of the city tell many
interesting incidents in connection with
Miller's long career in the city. He made
diving his life occupation, earning a few
dollars now and then recover ny lost arti-
cleS from the bottom of the river or the lake,
and always volunteering his services when a
human life was in danger During his life
Miller has rescued thirty-eight people from
drowning and has recovered the bodies of
over five hundred persons who have met
their fate by drowning. Up to within two
years of his death it was Miller'S boast that
he had never experienced a sick day in his
Life. For the past eighteen months or two
years Miller SubSisted to large degree
upon charity. An old river man said yes
terday that Mayor Gardner had almost
supported the old diver for year or more.
A plunge into the icy waters of the river
nearly two years ago gave Miller chill
from the effects of which he never fully re-
covered. Before that time Miller was as
rugged as bear. He was man possess
ing a magnificent physique, and was once
employed as a model in the art school.
His mother taught him the art of swimming
in Onondaga lake, in New York state. He
showed natural inclination for the water,
and became what sailors would term sea-
dog. His powers of endurance were Won
derful. He has been known to remain I'M
der water for a period of two minutes and
twenty seconds. On one occasion he dived
from tug, which was anchored at the
water-wOrks crib. to the bottom of the
lake, depth of ffty-siX feet and four
inches, for wager Of $40. made with an
incredulous friend.
The greatest experience of Miller's life
occurred on the 10th of June. 1858. when
the steamer c p. Griffith. with $50 pas
sengerS on board, burned to the water
edge in Lake Erie off WillOughby. Nearly
every soul on GARD was lost by drowning.
The Griffith was a regular passenger
steamer, plying between Buffalo, Cleveland
and Detroit. A few days before the steamer
was lost she had been laid up for repairs,
and every portion of her had been freshly
painted. On the fatal night she was COM
ing up from Buffalo, heavily laden. When
off the Chagrin river a fire was discovered
in her hold. Her captain ordered her
headed toward shore. She struck the bar
about half a mile out, and slowly burned
away. The passengers plunged into the lake,
and were drowned by hundreds. Miller was
taken to the spot in tug from this city.
He dived almost continually for three days
and recovered nearly three hundred bodies.
Miller could only be induced to relate this
incident occasionally. He often SAID that
visions of the almost numberleSS dead lifted
from the waters would sometimes come
before his eyes and make his life miserable.
On the 9th of August, 1881 the Cleveland
board of trade presented Miller with val
liable gold medal in recognition of
his valor. Mayor Gardner offered
the resolution. which was adopted
unanimously. Miller was much over
come by this act of courtesy, and wore the
medal on the lapel of his coat ever after
ward. The day before the presentation
Miller rescued a man who was capsiZed in
a boat near Vermillion. Miller was near
by when the boat went over. He plunged
into the water and made straight for the
victim, who could not swim a stroke.
The terrified man seized Miller by
the arm with a death-like grip.
Both were still under water and both
seemed likely to drown. The old
diver gave the man a terrific blow in the
stomach which caused him to relax his
hold. He then seized him by the hair and
swan ashore. Five or six years ago Paul
Boynton came to Cleveland to give an eX-
hibition OF his ability to disport himself in
the water Miller asked permission to ac-
company the party that was to go out in
the boat with BOyntOn. and he was allowed
to go. A heavy sea was OIL.
and Boyntons experiments were only par
TALLY successful. Miller. however, gave a
startling exhibition. He dived from the
wheel-houSe of the steamer and came up
calm and collected on the other side of the
ship. He sprang into the white caps, lay
on his back on the water, remained under
water until almost every one thought him
dead, and did many other almost i'm
possible featS. to the great de-
light of everybody. In November,
1875, a little girl fell into the river from
Central Way bridge. Miller was sent for.
but did not reach the spot for over four
minutes. The little one had gone down
for the third time, but Miller rescued her
and restored her to consciousness. On one
occasion, when the old diver was at Putin
Bay, a lady let cluster diamond
pin, worth $500, fall into the lake
where the water was about eighteen
feet deep. Miller went to the bot
tom half-dozen times, but finally recov-
cred the treasure. and was rewarded with
a new hundred dollar bill. On July Is,
1885, the scow Louise, of Detroit, went
aground and capsized in fierce gale, just
outside the harbOr. All of the crew came
ashore save woman named Jane Brown,
who was left clutching the ropes. The
lake was frightfully rough. but Miller went
out 10 the ship in tug, got line to the
scow, and tOwed her into deep water.
Then he swan to the scOw and rescued the
woman. Two or three years ago, when
several disasters occurred at Put-in-Bay,
Miller asked the local authorities if it would
not be well for him to 90 to that island dur
ing the excursion season and do what good
he could. He was persuaded not to 90. but
the voluntary proposition illustrates his
kindness of heart and his generous nature.
For forty years he lived close by the
river and lake, where his services could be
procured on very short notice. Of the
thirty-eight persons he has saved from
drowning nearly all have been residents of
Cleveland. Many fathers and mothers and
many husbands and wives have gladly
acknowledged that the debt of gratitude
due the old diver was greater than could
ever be paid.