The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1893-12-21
MAT LONG.
His Heroic Rescue of Playmate from
the Devouring Flames.

Little Mat Long, referred tosbelow, is
son of Mat Long, formerly sheriff of
Adams county, and we'll known to our
citizens. The little fellow has the right
kind of grit, and richly merits the
honors he has won. Mr.. Long and
family are now residents of San Fran.
cisco. From the Examiner of that city,
we quote
81 congratulate you upon your brav-
cry, my little man." said President Hyde
yesterday to Master Jas. Madison Long.
And the 749 other pupils of the Glenn.
ent Grammar School, who were drawn
up in line in the yards to listen to the
speeches, looked almost enviously at
their fortunate schoolmate.
The President of the Board of Educa.
ton made some further remarks upon
bravery and what noble thing it is to
forget our own danger and succor the
friend whose life is imperiled, and he
praised Master Long till the little fellow
blushed red as rose.
On November 10th, in the middle of
the day, fire broke out in the Clement
Grammar School. The bell sounded,
work stopped in every room and the
classes filed out as though it were only
an ordinary fire drill.
On the top floor, where the fire was
discovered, was seventh grade class
taught by Miss Mcfarland. Smoke filled
the room, and in less order, but still not
exactly in panic, the children rose and
filed hurriedly to the door.
Master James Long was one of the
pupils, and, being boy perhaps more
self.possessed than his classmates, he
paused before leaving the room to see
who might be left behind In the cor.
ner, paralyzed with fright, was little
lame girl, named Birdie Martin, who had
wandered away from her own class and
somehow got into Miss McFarland's g
room. Seeing her peril, the lad broke
from his line, made his way to the girls
side, and, gathering her firmly into his
arms, carried her down three flights OF
stairs into the street.
For this act of bravery the Board OF
Directors of the Underwriters Fire Patrol
decided to present James Long with a
gold watch, chain and locket, and when
it was all ready and appropriately en-.
graved with the name and date and the
reason of its presentation, they notified
the Board of Education, who notified the
Principal of the school, Miss NJ E. Cal.
lahan, who assembled her 750 children
in the yard and then the presentation
exercises were begun.
On the roof of one of the sheds bench
es were placed, and the members of the
Underwriters, with Chief OF Fire Patrol
Comstock, Chief Sullivan, of the Fire
Department, sundry members of the
Board of Education and their President
Mr.. Hyde, were all assembled to show
how much they admired the courage O.
an inexperienced schoolboy.
When Mr.. Hyde had expressed hil
own sentiments and also the sentiments
of the other members of the board, anC
after cheers from the 749 throats every
time the name of James Long was men
toned, Mr.. Lawton, member of the
Board of Underwriters, and with few
words of graceful compliment, presented
the golden gift to the boy, together will
{ $40 piece contributed by Tiburcit
Parrott, an old resident OF the city, wht
had been touched by the story of th'
gallant rescue.
All the children had flags, and they
( waved back and forth in the sunshine
to the accompaniment of more cheer
and applause.
Some calesthenics ended the exercise
in the yard, and after that the classe
} went to their rooms, the fire. bell wa
sounded, and the school showed what i
could do. In exactly thirty seconds tn,
75O pupils stood upon the sidewalk.
Finally they asked James how he man
, aged to do it, anyhow, and without los
ing moment the athletic young rescue
took his position beside the little lam'
girl, dextrously lifted her in his arm
and prepared for speedy descent to tn
sidewalk upon the first intimation of
fire.