The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-07-03
HONORS TO A BRAVE WOMAN.
The Governments ssoid Medal 10 Mrs. Mar
thu White Far Heroic LILO Saving.

WASHINGTON. July Ex-senator Allen OF
| Washington State has had tho pleasure OF
| sending a gold medal granted by the United
| States Government to Mrs. Martha White Of
Copalis. Chehalis county. on tho Pacific coast.
The medal bears the inscription. :" In testi-
mony Of heroic deeds In rescuing three men
from drowning"
The granting OF medals to citizens for deeds
OF bravery is authorized under the laws OF
| 1874 and 1873. They are known as life
savinR medals OF the first and second class.
the one OF gold and the other OF silver. The
medal of the first class is given to per-
| sons who perform lifc-savinG acts Of cx-
| trcme and heroic daring. and tho silver IN ednl
| to those whose deeds are not sufficiently dis
| tinguished to deserve the medal OF tho first
class. During the eighteen years Of the oper-
at,on OF the law $40 persons have received
medals. tho latest being Mrs. White. In her
| case. rs in all tho Others the record OF her
horoism is spread at length on tho files OF tho
| Treasury Department and forms tho evidence
upon which her title to recognition is based
The official letter to Mrs. White tells tho
| story of her herosm rs follows:
| MADAM: l have tho honor to transmit tho
| gold life saving medal awarded you under tho
provisions OF acts Of Congress approved Juno
| 20 1874. and June il. 1879. in testimony Of
| heroic deeds in saving life from perils OF tho
sen on the Hrc"son Of tie Mr.sk Of the british
1T appears from the evidence on NO in this do
partment tiMtthe f.rndals stranded ah"ut3t.
:35o jC yari- oil North Drnai. SOM hftcem niles
north Of the rntrnnc" OF Gray's liarbor Wash
ington The wenther Vas very thIrk nnd there
aroused your husband with tho dread message
| that thcre WAS u ship In the hrenkers:' Hast.
t qt'5snf sHe about osoF
I pioco 81 Wiki" cloth for signal Tic orca Of
the gale was such ihnt tie ne rlng Of the mnskot
not S De d heHrs By ny soG %
| tie rigging and there was so much fog that
| they evidently could not see your, signals.
for persons whom the current might have
drfted ashore in that DIRECTION. while yon ro-
| patrolihg the beach. and occasionally disclar.-
ing the irearm and waving your signal,
cred a man in tie breakers. and. rushing into
| tho surf. drew. him to the shore, Having aided
him n reaching your dwel ~ . which i was
another sailor in tho water. unconscious and
helpless. Again fearleSsly plunging into the
ceeded in getting him to tho house, Nctirn-
breakers n long way out. TO attsmnt to retsch
him was |, desperate nnlhr r ~, your
as your strength would last. You hivor,r1
| yourself OF Il portion Of your cumbersome
| clothing and again ut the peril OF Your life
| plunged into the fosmng surf You were
| overthlown by hug, breaker. but rrganci
| your lootins. SriHed the man. skilfully Nontcd
| him ashore and thon dragged linn beyond The
| line OF danger.
| "Ivur brave work WAS done and you fell en-
| hausted upon the sands. where yoii lay until
| your husband and others reached You. when
| they gnNe You aid ana carried tho hcipless
| castaway to the house. wher" he was ultimate
Is restored to consciousness rho rescued
| men make oath that twJ Of thcm .musl Ger:
| tainly have persisted hut Tor Your timely and
courageous assistance: probably all three
| would have lost their lives,
| Such achievements rs these are usually
wrought only by strong men. ana arc thcn
| Justly considered worthy Of great praise Ac-
complished w a woman. they attain The high,
command extraordinary admiratio lon. Il is said
that you have been accustomed to frequent
| tho beach during dangerous weather in quest
| Of such pyramids Of mercy as tho mi sio'tunrs II
tho sea might lay ia your power A. signal
| evidence OF those high moral qualities. unfal-
| inE courage, and u spirit OF generous self-
| surrlRcc without which M person. man or
woman. coul.i have anhieyed your heroic work.
| II Affords IN. great pleasure" T. Ice the medium
| Of tn" award II the accompanying medal In
| testimony of your hrroisln.
| Respectfully yours,