The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-12-10
A RIDE FOR A LIFE.
A BlcYLlST'S SPEED SAVES A FOUR
TEEN-YEAR-OLD GIRL.

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Prescription In Eleven Minutes-Inter-
esting Incident OF Thanksgiving Day.
A ride for life is an expression fire.
quently heard, but seldom are the incl
dents more interesting than in the story
of Bob McCurdy's wonderful ride from
Thirteenth and Tasker streets to Broad
and Chestnut streets, Philadelphia,
which was made in just IL minutes and
which was instrumental in saving the
life of little girl and bringing JOY and
gladness to the hearts of grief strick-
en- family.
About a month ago 14-year-old Grace
McHenry who lives with her parents at
1908 South Thirteenth street, was strick-
en- with typhoid fever. AT first the at.
tack was considered slight one, and
the family had little anxiety. But about
two weeks ago the disease took turn
for the worse, and as clay by day the
child sank lower the home was filled
with sadness Thanksgiving morning
found the McIienry household filed
with anxious fear, for the attending
physician had pronounced the case al
most hopeless. IN the afternoon con-
sultation was held, and three doctors de-
clared that the child could not live over
night.
Robert McCurdy, better known among
bicycle racing men AS Bob McCurey,
boards at the McHenry residence. On
| Thanksgiving day, when all the rest had
] d. Lo Ln1,o
child could yet be saved and thought he
knew the man that could save her. Aft
er supper he put on his hat and called
in to see a physician friend of his. He
| told the physician that a consultation
had been held in the afternoon and that
the child was expected to die that night,
but he desired him to come around and
prescribe for the case as last resort
The doctor walked quickly around to
the house, examined the sick child then
turning to McCurdy he said: bob, I
think we can save Grace if this pre-
scription is filled and brought back in
side of 20 minutes 1t must be put up
at either of these two stores" and the
doctor handed him the prescription and
the names of two druggists in the vicin-
ity of Broad and Chestnut streets
Without stopping to make answer
McCurdy ran down stairs three steps at
time, jumped on his wheel, which
was standing outside, and sped away.
1t was Just ID minutes to 8 by watch
held in the hand of the sick child s
brother when Bob McCurdy jumped on
his wheel. Up Thirteenth street he flew,
out Dickinson and up Broad to Chestnut.
CHANGING into the drug store window,
he saw that there were several custom
ers waiting, and, realizing that every
second was gold, he sprang on his wheel
and rode to the other store, couple o!
blocks down Broad street.
Reaching the store, he ran in, threw
down the prescription and handful OF
coins and asked that the potion be put
up at once at any cost. Three clerks
dropped the work they were engaged IL
and turned in to fill the prescription
which, if taken in time, was to save Q
life In almost less time than it takes
to tell it the precious prescription wa:
handed to McCurdy, with no extra charge
for the haste, and the rider was scorch'
ing down Broad street.
AT South street a special officer. who
was leisurely riding his wheel, saw the
scorcher and started after him. But he
didn't know his man, for before the Of
ficer had gone a square Bob was three
squares in the lead. 1t was just three
minutes after when McCurdy reached
tho steps of the McHenry residence.
Grave old man, Bobl" said the sick
child's brother, who was standing at the
door, watch in hand. "You have COW
cred the distance in II minutes and,
hope, saved our darling's life" And
the hope was realized, for the potion
which Bob had brought broke the fever
the child rallied, and last night the ply
stefan said, 81 have full confidence that
our Grace will live and soon be well
and strong"
A touching incident connected with
the child's sickness was the thoughtful
ness of number of her little CIR
friends. They were to have party
Thanksgiving evening, but late Thurs
day afternoon, hearing that their friend
was going to die that night, they decid
ed to use the money which they had col
lected for refreshments in buying flow
ers for Grace's funeral. But the brave
rider and the physician told them at
O'Clock that their little friend woult
live, so they got their sweets and spen
real Thanksgiving evening
Bob McCurdy is one of the best known
wheelmen OH the track. His team mate
is Charlie Church, and these two have
won many hot race in their time. Lit
tie Grace McHenry owes her life to Bob
who is now the lion Of the house ant
neighborhood. -Philadelphia Press.