The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-04
A MEDAL FOR DIR. WILSON.
In Recognition of HIS Heroic Act at
Old Point Comfort.

Old Point Comfort.
DR.. f. c. Wilson has been presented a
gold medal by the Southern Dental As
ISOLATION in recognition of his bravery in
saving the life of DR.. Jules J. Sarrazin of
New Orleans while bathing at Old Point
Comfort last August.
The presentation was made informally
Yesterday by Col. ]. H. Estin in behalf of
the dental association. The medal was
forwarded some time ago and it was the
intention to make formal presentation of
IL on Christmas day. DR.. Wilson left the
city for Florida, however, before the medal
arrived and has just returned.
The American Dental Association met at
Old Point Comfort last August. DIR. VIII
son was in attendance with number of
othet southern members, among them Or.
Sarrazin of New Orleans, who was bath
ing with party off the pier in front of
Hygeia hotel. He was a good swimmer,
ana was out a considerable distance from
the shore when he was seized with cramps.
None Of the others in the party were
swimmers, and the drowning man was
about to sink for the last time, when DR..
Wilson, who was on the piazza of the no.
tel, was attracted by the cries for help.
lie ran down the pier, pulling off what
clothes he could on the way, and jumped
INTO the water with his shoes on. he
reached Dr. Sarrazin easily, but it was
with great difficulty that he got him to
the shore. Soon after he caught hold or
the drowning man and started shoreWardS
with him, the latter became unconscious
from loss of strength aud from having
taken in so much water. By the most
heroic efforts DR.. Wilson succeeded in
bringing the apparently lifeless body to
the shore, where vigorous work shortly
afterward restored DIR. Sarrazin to con-
sciousness.
The American Dental Association the
same day presented DR.. Wilson a set of
resolutions commencing his bravery and
urging the President to direct a govern
ment life saving medal to be struck in
recognition of the heroic act. The Southern
Dental Association at once decided to
present DR.. Wilson d medal. It was made
and forwarded to Col. Estill, to be pre-
scented. Accompanying the medal were the
following letters:
Dec. IS, 1S97.-Dr. Frank H. Wilson, Sa-
vannah, Ga: My Dear Doctor-It is with
great pleasure that I transmit to you.
through Mr.. J. H. Estill, the medal award
ed you by the Southern Dental Associa>
ton, for your act of bravery on Aug. 4
last; and 1 feel It an honor TO have as
sisted in the commemoration of the deed
by being selected to design and execute
their commission.
1 sincerely trust that you win not again
be called upon to risk your life in behalf
of another, knowing full well that should
such an occurrence arise you would not
hesitate for an instant in responding.
Hoping the coming years will prove
fruitful of prosperity and happiness. Be
lieve me, yours sincerely,
c.. Edmund Kels, Jr.
Southern Dental Association, Office of
President, Knoxville, Tenn.-Dr. Frank
Wilson: Dear Doctor-It is with pleasure
I think of you and the manly, generous
act at Old Point Comfort which pro-
longed the life of your fellow man, for, i,
is to be hoped, some mission of like i'm
portance, maybe, to some of our Maker 8
fold. 1t was my honor to be president
land presiding over the Southern Dental
Associa ton, which, by the way, ended it's
career at Old Point. To me, by resolu-
ton of the association, was left the privi-
Iege of appointing a suitable person to
carry out it's wishes. In appointing DR..
c.. +. Kells. whose motion led to the
adoption of the resolutions, 1 voiced the
unexpressed sentiment of all his con-
feres. / write upon letter head of the
old association, which contains its off,
GERS that it may carry with it when tims
shall dull our memory, some assistance
toward recalling some who were connected
with the preparing for you the medal
which l send to you to-day.
You will pardon the following few crude
lines, which l have linked together, i'm
perfectly, as they fall from the pen Of one
who writes them for no critic, but for the
touch which makes us kin.
With best wishes, Merry Christmas ana
Happy New Year, yours cordially,
William H. Richards.
Dec. %. 1897
A premonition, born from above,
Held thee to duty, bound by love,
To stay the cruel wave, whose sigh
And rustling rush would hush his cry.
BY nature 'quipped with Cody heart
To act for man Savior's part;
To save another's life, o! impulse divine I,
Needless of self in strife, all honor is
thine.
When the tide of Time shall find thee
Drifting, longing, hoping to be free,
Helpless upon its deadly wave,
Trust not til then for one TO save.
w. H. r.
The medal is of gold, nearly the size of
a government first-class lfe-savlng medal,
and Is richly ornamented. On its face is
the inscription:
Presented to Frank c. Wilson, D. d. s.,
by the Southern Dental Association.
On the reverse side is this inscription
For the saving Of life at the peril of
his own" Old Point Comfort, Va, Aug.
4, 1897.
In presenting the medal Col Estill re-
ferred briefly 10 the heroic act it commem-
crates.