New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-25
ctr succeeded in struggling


As soon a. they had touched land Fink broke into
torrent of curses, and. turning upon the man VINO '
saved his life used vile epithet apu Vi IN 80
you dubbed his head off," said the rcpor'0' ING
nature OF the shown In the reply sumo VI
the boys were for lynchIng the man." SAID uor"An'
but got In front OF him and forbade them TO lay
finger on him."
The first recognition that German received OK 'neS
two acts Of herolsm came In the shape OF sh'ei
medal and s25 from the Life saving Benevolent ~
ISOLATION OF New.York. But the time had come when
his sacrifice of self meet its due need OF ap-
probation from higher quarter Congressman CoAs
nature had been stirred by the deeds OF inc
brave policeman ard he brought the case under inc
notice Of the Government at Washington, with such
effect that May 30 1878. German received the fol-
lowing letter, accompanying silver medal, from
Secretary sherman:
Sir: the honor to transmit herewith lifessvns
medal class, which awarded TO
authority of the Act Of Congress approved June 20
1874 recognition OF your services in saving the lives
william Smith and george Fink November Is, 1876
and September I, 1877, respectively.
In these 1t has been proved by the EVIL
dence presented the Department that sprang into
the East River in your uniform as policeman, In one
night, the other at carly morning. and that
YOU stoutly encountered peril struggled exhaustion
In tic determined and successful efforts to save these
drowning Such conduct amply deserves the medal
which the and which 1t gives me the truess
pleasure TO forward, with this brief expression OF my
OF your herosm.
But patrOlman German had not yet fought his last
battle with the river Just fourteen months after his
experience with Fink. Fanny starkley, coorcd
| woman, quarreed with her lover. who promptly de-
| serted her. Then she made up her mind 70 die. TWO
hours after midnight she went to the river at Rving-
ST., and when she had, she thought, made sure
that within call, threw herself Into the
river. As the waters closed head she screamed
and the scream heard by Patrolman German,
who duty in Delanceyst. Long experience
told him what had happened, and as he reached the
pier he saw the outline Of womans form swept
under the wharf. He leapcd into the water. chilled
| with the bleak winds of acknowledgements helmet
and alland dlvcd under the wharf selling the woman
as she sank for the second time. She struggled and
bit and tore him with her fingers but he did not relax
his hold and after a moment she lay, a dead insen
sible weight his arm. The tide, which was running
strongly swept them under a canal boat; ana Cor
man. with nothing bur smooth piles 10 cling TO- helc
hi, companion by main strength unul the men Oh "'o
| boat drew them into safety.
| If those fellows had been minute longer We
should both have gone down. said Gorman The
woman. having been revived was taken I.o 10 beieVue
But German at last 10 pay the penalty OF nus
ntepdty. The repeated strain on rs frame 10 "
say nothing Of the poisonous gases he had inhaed ana
the foul water he had swallowed In his dive AFTER
Fanny starkey, had at last broken his iron cons I
| tuton For many weeks he lay in a critical conai-
ion and when he at length arose from his bed he
had sown the seeds Of the disease when sapped MS
add few more to the list Of lives preserved by hi;
cooness and courage in the face OF dean ,rv I've on ,
sunday evening In January, lo'y As lie was ia s
for the point at which he would be eeEen Iroa'
loud cries OF Fire. When he reached the street
The Ri 'T Windows Of the first aoor ALREADY sending
! forth volumes Of fame and smoke BIOS, Oh , tns
tenants had reached the street IN safety bul on .e
| Woods and three children. No one had seen thenii
| 80 nd dashed until he rearnen tns
fourth floor where erouchng in e corner OF , Wh her
| Children clincing around her German rushed over
10 her took Of the children IN his arms. ana VIII
the stairs and brought the whole family safely INTO
rbe story 0. his gallant rescue OF Fanny starkiey
had been carried 10 the Treasury Department, aud
oary in the following March German received an ihvl
tation public meeting in the large nan e on .s
of ronchng eoquence. handed him the goa iiie ~
medal Of the fret class awarded Dy u modest
"The only sensation ] fer when got on una. p.sT
form and stood there before me er iI was Triimne
At occasional intervals lie fsned out Of the river
small boys who had fallen in or got beyond their
depth but these items he dismissed as triviaities not
At last the effects of Brshts disease, which had
f SaTHSI lie I.' was vas often absent from duy
sick eayefrc o for he'd w asS did IA not
a %s h E"r rpSm re for 's seven md os' %sn
he made hi, reappeaance a, the Union MARKET ,s, s,a
change that sickness had worked In MN.
II semen a. if the mere shadow of ne
man they had known stood before them. lie han
cf; the station weak and ang bur still In . APP
pearance Young and with the prospect o. many Yeas
~ uSefu and active work before him. When he came
back his hair had turned grag, his cheeks had 1aen
in. his figure bent. lie was only thrty Two NO
Years old yet he bore the appearance OF man IN the
decline OF life - !.
When | came ont Of nv illness was weary ana
hrolcnr he said with little temOr IN MS voice.
suppose there a time when. Ike al other Young
officers I had ambition and dreamed OF wearing ue
golden Shield and the velvet collar But All nc youtn
ard hope and life now seemed to be crushed out u
me- - =. ,o,so ar,r
Mace he retained until 1@-t when he was trarsieru
10 the Steamboat Squad. Under Captain tasIhn ne
did patrol duty until few weeks ago. wneh sptsi,,
schunittberger assumed command. The new captalm,s
Quick eve AZ once saw that German was phy s,caIiy
unfit for street work. ana ne f9llowns h hi Hm,v
hearted example Of captain Cnchy, gave nm du'y
in the station. -. ,,,. o.,, o,,siA.
~ his fire and water adventures, and secured many
convictions.