Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-06-25
GOLD MEDAL.
[Reverse.l

medals, given III most cases IN recOgn1ClOn
of efforts but little less heroic than those
which won the medals of the first class.
To tell how each of these trophies was
earned would be to write a book on deeds
of daring.
In 1883 and 1884 Cornelius Roach was a
deckhand on a Boston ferryboat, but not
withstanding his humble station, proved
himself true hero. One night two men
in small rowboat became panic stricken
at the approach of the ferryboat and
jumped into the water. They were unable
to swim, and would have drowned had not
Roach leaped to the rescue He reached
one just as he was sinking, and slipped a
life preserver over his shoulders, and then
seized the other and swan with him to
the pier. 1t was gallant rescue. Roach
effected many other rescues, and finally
lost one of his legs while trying to save a
man who had fallen into the ferry slip just
as the boat approached He was awarded
gold medal
If there ever was a hero in this world
John P F. Hagen, of Philadelphia, is one.
In February, 1884, when only twenty years
old, he was amusing a large number of
small boys by drawing them to and fro on
sled upon the ice of the Schuylkill, oppo-
site Paramount park. Suddenly the ice
gave way, and precipitated the entire party
into the river Without thought of him
self Hagen instantly proceeded to rescue
his companions. Though borne down by
one of the youngsters, who grasped him
around the neck as they plunged into the
icy water, he struggled to the surface and
lifted boy after boy within reach of man
named Elele. who carried them safely to
the bank. The hole in the ice was twenty
five or thirty feet across, and the intrepid
ity and strength of the young man are evil
denced by the fact that he rescued from
this great danger no fewer than thir-
teen lads. When all who were in sight
| had been helped out, Hagen coolly swan
around the edge of the ice and among
the floating cakes, exploring with
| his hands and feet as far as he could
reach, to be sure that none were left.
Then, and not until then, did he think of
| his own safety. His gallantry was recog-
nized by the citizens of Philadelphia, who
made up a handsome purse, and placed it
in the hands of trustees for his education
and advancement. The service gave him
a gold medal.
A number of boys and girls have earned
medals. The youngest of them was little
| Marie Parsons, ten years old, who with
great presence of mind and bravery res
cued man and child from drowning in
Gardeners bay, Long Island. The boom
of a sailboat, manned by a Mr.. Irvine,
swept overheard a little girl of seven. IT.
vine promptly jumped to her assistance,
| but the frightened child chung to him with
such persistence that he was soon almost
helpless. Marie Parsons, happening to see
| the accident from the shore, launched a
| skiff and rowed to the rescue.
Frederick kernochan a lad of ten years,
earned silver medal by rescuing a nurse
who fell off ii fiatboat in deep water The
! boy sprang after her, and as she could not
swim she quickly dragged him down.
They sank twice. but finally he managed
to pull her into shallow water.
A silver medal was awarded Edith Clark,
sixteen years old, for saving a companion
from drowning in 1886. The pupils of the
| Convent OF Our Lady of the Sacred Heart,
at Oakland, Cal, were enjoying a holiday
at Lake Chabot. Three of the young la
dies were wading along the shore, when
one of them, Miss Donnelly, stepped off a
submerged bank into sixty feet of water.
| Miss Clark heard the cries, and ran down
from the top of the hill and plunged in to
the rescue. She was q good swimmer, but
to swim and tread" water with only one
uduu ITet, ny AcE OiGHCueu ShIGS
and supporting her unconscious classmate,
was no easy task. Yet she pluckily kept
up the struggle for ten or fifteen minutes,
when help arrived.
Captain Charles Gnewuch, tug master
at ManiStee, Mich, wears a gold medal
Between 1874 and 1881 he saved the lives of
eighty-two persons. First he rescued two
fishermen whose boat had capsized in a
storm. A year later the dawn of light one
wild October morning showed schooner
! out in Lake Michigan, beam up, and six
men cinoinp to the rigging. CAPTAIN
Gnewuch organized a crew, put out in a
fishing boat, and was barely able to get
through the terrible breakers. On ap-
preaching the schooner it was found neces-
sary to run between her main and mizzen
masts, as she lay on her side, while the
spars were thrashing and rolling around
dangerously. Into this perilous trap the
brave captain pushed his little craft. The
men were rescued, and half an hour later
the schooner went to pieces.
A most pathetic story is that of Captain
Charles P. Smith, of the steamer Seawan-
haka. The afternoon of June %, 1880, this
vessel left her pier, East river, New York,
with 800 passengers Opposite Hallett's
Point a torrent of fame burst through the
matches near the engine room. OF course
a fearful panic ensueo, but it was noticed
by those on shore that though the flames
leaDed and writhed and the n@engers