Omaha daily bee., 1889-10-19
HEROES.

How happy, could but IN any measure, in
such times as these, make manifest TO you
the meaning OF heroism. Carlyle,
Residing within the shadow of Bun
ker hill there is young lady who for
| pluck and heroism ranks well with many
whose deeds of daring have been loudly
praised and whose services have been
recognized by the national government.
Her name is Nellie Louisa Mcllen, and
she is but sixteen years old,
a most daring rescue was effected by
| her little more than n year ago, Nellie
| was standing upon the outer platform of
| the public bath house with companion,
when she was suddenly startled by II
| sharp cry of terror and the noise of
! splashing water. Running toward the
| sea-wall OF the new wharves. u few rods
distant, she saw u little girl splashing
about in the river. Without hesitating
| in she plunged to the rescue, and, al
| though the river mt this point is at least
| fifteen feet deep, sho reached the sink
! ing girl, and, grasping her by the hair,
| started To tow her to the bath h-house.
| The task was not an easy one, for the
drowning girl took n firm grasp on
Nellie's shoulders. With u clinging
| weight of clothing she could do nothing
and was Obliged to sink,
Her charge then relaxed her grasp,
bring her ashore. Again she was
clutched in n death clasp and struggled
TO free herself. When almost eX-
| hausted she trlumphed in her endeav-
ors, for the other girl had become un-
| conscious.
She swan to the light house landing,
and with the aid of four men---who, by
the way. had looked quietly on up to
| this point without Offering any assist
Il ,s,,' al
| was saved. 1t required Il half hours
work to recuscitate ner. Miss Nellie
was pretty thoroughly exhausted, but
| soon rallied and, entering the woman's
| bath house, she dried her clothing, took
n quiet swim and then went home to
| supper. Her parents were greatly SUR
prised upon reading in the paper the
next day full account OF their little
| daughters heroism. Miss Nellie is II
comely girl of light complexion and
we'll proportioned figure. She has
| large bright eyes, and there is IA modest
| determination and fearlessness eX-
pressed in her features. She has been
n very good swimmer since her ninth
| year, and modestly expresses willing
ness to plunge in to the rescue of an
other if necessity should arise.
Here is story of an exploit of II
| ICHCl NDuIl III lllC btJlliC vi
! About the middle of the engagement,
when defeat started the French in the
| face, the French commander signitied
| that utter rout could be prevented only
| by the conveyance of certain written
| instructions TO the vessel which had
| been tho bulwark of the French on that
| day. The announcement was received
with generality of starting eyes and
| blanched checks, when up stepped
proudly and smilingly lad named
| Rocque. The commander understood
that look. will you think of the dan
ger, my brave lad?" Il have thought
OF it. sir; am ready" The message
was Immediately placed in tight box,
| which was forthwith securely fastened
/ around the neck of the tirebreathing
| ROGUE.
The British saw the heroic lad plunge
| into the water, and quickly surmised
the meaning. When he reappcared at
about twenty yards from the vessel
| whence he leaped, the British guns
were turned on him without delay. But
the wary Lad dropped below the surface
and rose at a further distance onward
for II fresh inhalation. This was done
regularly and at brief intervals. The
British, however, could not trace his
movement, which was studiously lrreg
ular, and fired at random toward the
spot where they supposed he might
come up. The Kissing balls plowed the
waters deep and wide, but without
avail. For after an eXhausting struggle
of ten minutes the young hero suddenly
emerged at the side OF the vessel to
which he stecred, and was hastily
drawn aboard by ready hands. A shout
of exultation went up from the French
and the British at the success of this
| heroic act
The sailors of the ship which re-
ceived him rushed forward to over
whelm him with mad congratulations,
but the noble lad was no more. He had
sunk upon the deck and expired from
| sheer exhaustion.
The message was important. The re-
mains Of the vanQuished were safely
conducted from the scene of conhict
and with Mountaineering in the bosoms
of many-went the fearful memory of
the herOism of Rocque
Queen Victoria recently conferred
the decoration of the Albert medal of
the second class upon William Carter,
A. b., of the bark Gettysburg of Aber-