Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-01-15
I nrro,s p4reurER SIZE.
Tho Little wilcox Girl the orphane
child of Man Who Had Saved Man


child Of n Man Who Had Saved Many
Lives.
Harry Spoerl, young man Of about 70
wears. residing at No. 204 East Fourteenth
street was arrested by Sergeant Stetser on
Friday on charge of criminally assault.
ing Mary Wilcox, girl only u years OF
age, who lives OH East Twenty -seconu
street, over Eleventh street bridge. Inc
girl Was unable to be present at the hear
ing Friday morning. and at the request Of
CITY Solicitor Lyman, Spoerl was held
without bail by Deputy Judge Emmons OF
municipal court until last Tuesday morn
ing. Meanwhile Dir. Oglc, who is attend
ing the victim, investigated her icondi-
ton with view Of ascertaininS the nature
of the offence. Two other small girls clam
to have witnessed the assault. Spoerl IS =
car-buildcr in the employ of the T., W. "
b. Il. r.. Co., and is "a married man.
There was big crowd in the municipal
court room onTuesday morning.
Henry c. Turner, Esq, represented
Spoerl and asked for II continuance be-
cause of the pressing business he has on
hand. After some argument Judge pan
fixed Friday night at O'Clock as the time
for hearing the case, which will be in pri-
vate. City Solicitor Lyman will prosecute
at the preliminary hearing. Doctors short
lidge and 0gle were present on tuesday
they having examined the victim ana
found evidences of human conduct. Spoerl
is held without bail,
Little Mary Wilcox, the girl who was
outrageously assaulted by Harry Spoerl
a few days ago is u daughter of Dan
| Wilcox, the hero who rescued so many
people from drowning and who met his
death in daring leap After the mans
| death, two of his children, a son aged
nine and daughter aged seven, were
taken by John M.Mulrooney of this city
and with him have good home and arc
being carefully reared. The Cincinnati
Inquirer says of Wilcox:
"a man, still young and vigorous
who was famed the land over for his
skill and bravery in saving the lives o.
others, loses his own by wanton freak
in the river that he knew SO well! How
strange are the yagaries of human ex
istencel
"Dan Wilcox was we'll known al
along the river. Several years undel
40, slight of stature and spare of frame
he was an accomplished boatman, witt
muscles Of steel, and heart that feared
nothing. He knew every eddy, was
familiar with every cross-current in the
Ohio river, and many a man, woman
and child lives to bless his rescuinG
powers.
Ellis record as life-saver dates bach
many years, but was most conspieuou,
in our great food of 1883, when with
out urgcnce or consideration, he roamee
to and fro over the raging river in hit
little skiff, rescuing all that fell in his
way. He bore medal from our CRATE
full people commemorative of his noblt
work.
at is especially noticeable that hi
disposition to risk his own life in saving
those of others seems to have passeC
from his loins into the hearts and mind
of his babies. His little 9-years-old boy
has rescued two human beings from thu
drowning waters; and his little girl o
years, with marvellous presence O
mind, saved child from the wheels o
a street car.
"Wcll, this hero was much annoyed
at the foolish bridge-jumping that hai
lately been so prevalent in this locality
He spurned the idea that fame, or ever
notoriety, should attach to it. Anybody
can do it, said he Injudicious friend
urged him on, and he tried it yesterday
at the cost of his life.
"lIe selected the Newport bridge, anc
had his little boy with him. He did no
jump, but dove As he neared the waite
the body turned in the currents of air
lost its perpendicular, and struck tn,
river on chest and abdomen. Still, HI
gathered quickly, climbed into the skiff
walked up the hill and home.
"There, sitting in a chair, he died sud
denly, almost without gasp. TIT
heart had been fatally injured.
at is sad story-one of the stranges
in river experience. Men and womei
and children will weep for the Draw
man who saved so many lives and reck
lessly threw his own away"
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