The morning news., 1894-09-02
MEDALS FOR LIVES SAVED.
The Governments Recognition Of DR..
Graham and His Faithful Servant.

Quarantine Station "A Deserved
Commendatton Of Bravery aud Hero
ism in One of the Most Perilous Res
cues of Human Life Ever Attempted
on the Coast.
Quarantine Officer Dr. j. B. Graham
and his faithful colored servant, Peter
Dodge, were presented the government
life saving medals recently awarded them
by the Secretary of the Treasury, at the
Quarantine station yesterday afternoon.
The medals were awarded for gallant and
heroic conduct in the rescue Of the ill
fated crew of the British bark Mary i.
Chapman, which went ashore on Stone
Horse reef last February.
The circumstances of the rescue have
been written in the MORNING NEWS. 1t
was only through the bravery and hero
ism Of DR.. Graham and of his servant
that the crew of the vessel was saved.
! ne government, recognizing the fact,
had a gold medal of the first class struck
for DR.. Graham and a silver medal for
Dodge.
The medals were received by Collector
OF Customs Beckwith a few days ago. and
yesterday the collector and Health Officer
to make the presentation. Under the
rigid quarantine laws it was impossible
for them TO visit the station. The tug
was anchored a short distance out in the
stream and DR.. Graham and Dodge came
out in small boat
THE PRESENTATIONS.
The presentation took place in the
cabin of the Theckla and was an impress
sive scene. After briefly stating the pur-
pose of their visit Collector BeckwiUh
made the presentation to DR.. Graham in
behalf of the government In doing so he
said:
Dr. Graham: II the cookies OF my heart
could only speak to-day, the many affectionate
sentiments OF high regard which are now
DubUlng there would chant sweet music in
your deserved praise.
Wen do recall the memorable feat of your
victorious eXRminatton-COmpeu for the
office which you now so cleverly fill You
stand TO day the only quarantine officer upon
the American continent who holds his ap-
Polntment by virtue Of national competitive
examination. AS memt er Of the sanitary
BOARD OF the city Of Savannah do bear the
most cheerful testimony of that honorable
oody that IN every particular, your work at
TINS quarantine station is giving thorough and
most gratifying satisfaction, and your name
ana ability are most highly respected by
every member of that board. We feel and
know that in YOU we have a guardian
intelligent and brave. and that the good
health Of dear old Savannah can never be
lmpertled by the lnsidious importation of the
yellow teVer germ or the cholera bacillus so
long as you are willing TO stand watch at her
portals. Sir. this is but a modest tribute to
your ability as practical physician and
quarantine officer. and. incidentally, to your
manhood. But | am not here to day to tell
you and the people of the community, who
nave adopted you as a son. OF the constant
and growing satisfaction which you, as man
ana an ot1cer, are giving the health depart
n FTT w hfFH al n hGarn
omcer OF the Tn ted States government, and
an envoy extraordinary, to convey to you
the highest congratulations of the American
people. expressed through the delegated
agency of the honorable. the Secretary OF our
National Treasury l refer ir to the Hon.
j. O. Carlisle-a citizen Of old Kentucky-a
state very dear to you in hallowed memories
beneYlng that man who would endanger
his life to save another's from the peIiis of
the unforPlvlng ocean, should have hitting
tribute paid him by the whole people, our rep
re 8 entatives in congress assembled have
deemed 1t but a nation gratitude that q
valuable medal should be struck, at the COM
mon expense, ind GatlVe of the heroic deed
Sir, upon winters afternoon, in the month
OF February Of this present year in company
with one Peter Dodge, a brave cJlore m m
you boarded a small boat from the tug
'Cinthia and ma le for the bark Mary Z.
Chapman, WhlCn W3s lying helpless on
"Stone Horse Shoal. The whip-cords of
nturlated ocean were fast lashing her o
death, and her pitiful crew were huddled in
u III, a
for brave mans response. To the voiceless
pleadings of that Delabored crew. you
hrst, and brave Peter next, vOlun-
teered to fight the seething Wa.ers
relentless grasp. Hardly had you gone 10
yards, when the men of the Cynthia. fearful
OF your lives, blew the tugs whistle and bade
you return or die,
AT this cris s you realized what the result
might be, ana knowing that you had no right
to command Peter to follow you, you called
upon him to say if he were willing to go on
and risk his life. Brave man that he was,
Qul, KY did he reply, Yes will follow you,
and Oy Gods help We will get there" sir,
had he negatived your wish you would have
gone alone. But he did not. Then for two
long. wearying, struggling hours you warred
with the mighty deep-wh1pped by the W Is
into mighty rage-Showing, in It's wrestling
fury pillows OF gnashing angry Jaws, and its
its grinding teeth. We, who live upon
the eastern borders of this state, and 'go
down IN ships to the sea'-we who have
witnessed her placid waters suddenly trans
formed from a love inviting Calm, to a death
inviting hell-well can we appreciate your
heroic daring, when you ventured in a 1rail
life-boat upon an almost fruitless errand.
But SIR You performed the deed-you and the
faithful Peter, saved three lives at the peril
both.
that OF the Secretary of tho Treasury, now in
the presence of these Witnesses, present you
with medal Of The purest gold.
Turning TO Dodge, who was near by
the collector read TO him Secretary Car
isles letter commencing him for his
gallant conduct, and in presenting him
the silver medal the collector took occa-
sion to refer to his noble example to his
race.
DIR. eRAHAM's RESPONSE.
DR.. Graham made modest yet feeling
response to the collectors words of praise,
both in his own behalf and in behalf OF
his servant who had aided him in the
perllous rescue Of the lives of the fated
crew. DR.. Graham is a Kentuckian and
a brother-in-law of Hon. Joseph Black
burn OF Kentucky and was deeply touched
by the illusions to his native state.
The character of the medals is in keep
ing with the high purpose for which they
are given. The gold medal contains over
SlOO OF gold. II is suspended fromthe beak
OF an American eagle. Above it is bar of
gold, from which the medal is suspended
by ribbon. The inscription on the face
recites the purpose Tor which it was
awarded. On the reverse the inscription
Is an epitome of the acts which the gov
ernment desired to reward.
After the presentations a collation. was
served, and both the collector as repre-
sentative of the government, and as a
member OF the sanitary board of the city,
ana Or. Bruuner congratulated the re-
clplents OF the medals upon the recogni-
tlon they had received