The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1892-12-07
HERO OF ST. cERvAIsE.
He Risks His Life and Sacrifices His
Property.

The hero of the hour, the man uho
is the subject of conversation all
through France and Switzerland lust
now, and the theme of long articles by
brilliant journalists in both countries
is a A. Emile Denzler. Beautiful
poems and idyllic romances to the per-
petuation of his memory are appear
ing by scores; his name is on every
tongue, and, if he was not gifted with
wonderful self-possession and the truly
brave and noble spirit he has so pow
erfully manifested, there would al
most seem to be danger of his being
spoiled by the tremendous overflow of
adulation that is being accorded him,
says the New York Tribune.
"But why all this? His name is
unknown to US as either scholar,
statesman, or warrier," the great
majority will say. True, as these are
all too generally understood, he is
nothing, for he was only barber at a
great sanitarium; but if to think clear
ly and quickly, to act decisively at a
terribly critical moment, to battle
fearlessly with the mighty forces of
nature for the salvation of many, be-
tokens the scholar, the statesman, and
the warrior, why then he is all three,
this brave young coiffear of st. Ger
vaise; for it was at that fated health
resort that he was kept busily en-
ployed, both by reason of his skill
and the pleasant courtesy of his man
ner.
Born of French mother and hardy
and brave Swiss father, the moment
the first ominous sounds of the fright
full giving away at St. Gervaise were
heard, young Denzler, fired with the
desire to save the screaming, paralyzed
throng about him, forgot himself and
flew to the rescue. Almost in mo-
ment the buildings about him tottered,
groaned, and fell; there was but one
way of escape, and that was on the
other side of the foaming torrent that
gathered more and more of force every
moment while rocks, trees, and dwell
ings were being added to the chaos all
about.
Quick as thought the young barber
pulled from the house, with almost su-
perhuman strength, trunks, boxes fur
niture, everything that could be util-
lied in the making of a temporary
bridge, and with wonderful presence
of mind kept the terrified men, women
and children back, until two doors
torn from the hotel by the two cooks,
were added and the torrent was
bridged, and the people, still under
his magnetic control, crossed safely to
the other side. As his own goods were
freely added to the hfe-saying bridge
so he himself was the last one to cross,
and the bravest and 1oudest in cheer
ing the fleeing people on, even after
the bridge was crossed.
1t was altogether his own thought,
this plan of salvation, and he had been
like a god until its object was fully ac-
complished. 1t was not, indeed, un-
til nightfall that both physical and
mental strength deserted him by rea-
son of the terrible strain they had un-
dergone, and the dauntless young
savior of many human lives retired to
rest, beseeching not to be left alone.
1t was gallant deed, and one that
entitled its doer to almost any reward
that is won by heroism. And yet it
has not been thought fitting occa-
sion for the bestowal of the Legion
d'Honneur.
That is why the people of both coun-
tries-as l have said-are so loud in
their expressions regarding the act of
the public functionaries. "If a man,
who, at the imminent risk of his own
life and with the loss of his own prop
erty-in a moment of the most inn
minent terror that could come to hui
manity-sayed scores of human lives,
is not fitting subject for the bestowal
of the cross of the Legion d'Honneur,
who is ftp" they say.