The Olneyville tribune. (Providence, R.I.) 1893-189?, 1894-02-03
SOME YOUNG HEROES.

Uncle Sam has, through Congress,
established a silver and n gold medal
to be awarded for heroic conduct in
saving life from the perils Of the sea
the gold medal in cases Of extra
ordinary heroism. Besides members
Of the Life Saving Service, n number
Of rescuers not connected with il have
received one or another OF these hand
some medals. Among these have
been several women, the most noted
OF them Ida Lewis, and quite n num-
Der Of boys and youths. In the latest
annual report Of Sumner /. Kimball,
superintendent of the United States
Life Saving Service, brief reference is
made to several awards Of life-saving
medals to youthful heroes. Details
secured by the writer show that in all
these instances the awards were fully
merlted.
Julien III. Thomson, sixteen years
old, OF Port Huron, Mich, rescued a
young woman at Gratiot Beach about
three and a half miles above Port
Huron. There was Il heavy sea at
the time, and the young woman had
hardly entered the surf when she was
caught in the undertow and carried
out beyond her depth. Her COM
panion's outcries for help were heard
by young Thomson, who was engaged
in repairing a boat in "A boathouse
near by.
Dashing to the shore and without
pausing to take off any OF his cloth
| -. L., .,,,l.,I .A.a yl. s,,rf An al 4, r,,,Ly
out for the drowning girl, who vas
then in water over twelve feet deep
and lust sinking for the third time.
| She had nearly lost consciousness
when he reached her. She clutched
at him in such a name that he
would have been carried down with
her had he not succeeded in breaking
her rasp. Selling her he bouyed
her up and began the struggle to
reach shore. With his heavy burden
and encountered by his water-soaked
clothes the chances were terribly
against him. But with dauntless de-
votion he persisted, and at last sue
ceeded in efecting the rescue, but
not without having heroically placed
his own life in imminent peril. For
this act Of g%allantry, remarkable
alike for its promptness and it's utter
disregard Of danger, the gold medal
Of the service was awarded TO him.
Thomas VI. Webb, OF Wilmington,
y. c., is another youth who has re-
ceived the gold medal for saving life
from the pcrils Of the sea, he having
rescued two l~adiessrom drowning at
Wrightsville, y. c., under most
heroic circumstances. There was
such "a high surf at the time that few
persons dared battle and even the
beach fishermen desisted from launch
ing their boats. Among the fool
hardy persons who entered the surf
were the two ladies. who were soon
carried out beyond their depth and in
deadly peril. Webb at once responded
TO their cries. and reaching ono Of
them succeeded through almost SUI
perhuman efforts in getting ashore
with her. Though nearly exhausted,
he again plunged into the breakers
20 the aid Of the other lady. who had
by this time been swept far seward
and was sinking for the third time
beneath the waves, only a portion Of
her dress being visible. Selling her
unconscious form he lifted her head
above the water and sustaining her
in this position swan with her until
help reached him from shore. Such
an exhibition Of manly qualities il
surely deserving Of all admiration
and meritcd the medal which is the
highest official recognition in this
country Of gallantry and devotion 10
humanity.
Edward +. Wiese, OF Milwaukee.
was only seventeen years old when az