Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-04-26
"PAYMASTER'S OFFICE,


"PAYMASTER'S OFFICE,
"WASHINGTON, D. c., April %, 1898
Sir: 1 have the honor to inform the
department Of the rescue from drowning Of
two persons, a man and a woman along
side the wharf at Old Point Comfort, Va,
yesterday, the oath instant at about 1929
m, by Lieut.. Fidelio S. Carter, U.S.N
while the passengers for the steamer
Washington Of the Norfolk and Washington
line were passing on board a man and
woman fell overheard from the gang plank.
Lieut.. Carter, who was9a passenger, and
on the saloon deck, Immediately leaped
overheard between the vessel and the
wharf, between which there was only
few feet of intervening space, and after
most heroic struggle under the water he
brought the woman, who was drowning
her compa nion. to the surface. the man
clutching Garter as he struggled for his
life, as also the woman. who chung tightly
to him. Fighting the man away from him
as best he could he held the woman until
other parties could draw her from the
water. afterward assisting the man from
the water also. thus adding another laurel
to the wreath to which his gallant conduct
has entitled him.
Il am glad to add my appreciation of this
heroic action to that of all the other pas
sengers who witnessed it
The letter was an official statement,
signed by Major Green G. Goodloe of the
Marine Corps, of the deed, as witnessed by
him.
A Modest Hero.
AS matter of fact, the report was but
bare outline of an act Of life saving
which has seldom been equaled. The man
who performed the gallant action is at
present stopping at the Hotel Raleigh,
where he was seen by Star reporter this
morning. He was at first disinclined to
talk Of the occurrence. but when he was
told that a notification had been sent to
the Secretary and that it would be made
public anyway he modestly told of the part
he had taken in the affair.
The rescue was witnessed by probably a
thousand persons among whom were a
number from Washington prominent in OFF,
cial and social circles. Senator Hanna was
passenger on the boat, and Senator For
akers son was talking to Lieutenant Car
ter when he sprang overheard. The lieu
tenant told the story as follows:
Il was standing on the upper deck with
young Foraker watching the crowd rush
ing on the gang plank to the boat All the
rooms had been taken, myself not having
been able to get one and the persons were
evidently in a hurry so that they could
manage to secure some, not knowing that
they were already too late. My companion
and were looking down at the crowd. A
the gang plank. which had no ratings on
the side. 1t seemed that the lady was to
be left behind, and the gentleman only was
| to board the boat. He turned, hat in hand,
| to tell the lady goodbye. when he stepped
| off the side and Ora eyed the lady down with
him. There was but a few feet of space in
teryening between the boat and the dock
had my hat box with me and overcoat The
only thought that possessed me was to try
and save the two if possible. l did not
realize that 1t was a dangerous undertake
| Ing / Sprang from the deck into the water
distance of probably twenty-five feet
hASax .etrn .nx,l 10
| Der seeing my hat blk floating up stream.
1t was dark at the time. but could see the
woman's hand sticking out of the water
and clutching patheticaily- 1 Owed and
caught her and the man. The tide swept
us under the guards and had to push my
feet against the bottom to get clear
Narrow Escape.
when we came up near the dock had
them both. but the man nearly drowned
me. / went under twice, and swallowed
some water. l did not lose my head
throughout the occurrence. With the two
hanging to me like lead, both unconscious
1 finally found myself at the foot of thu
deck, with the crowd probably twelve feet
above me. tried to clutch hold Of the
slippery piles, but that did not assist me-
Il yelled for some one to throw me a
bowline, SO that might put it around this
arms Of the two drowning persons and let
them be pulled out Of the water. No one
in the crowd appeared to have sufficient
presence of mind to do what I asked, but
some ons threw a bare rope over, about
the thickness Of a cigar. grasped this,
but 1t did little good, with the man weigh
ing about 160 pounds, on one side OF me.
and the woman. about $50. on the other.
Lower a boat, lower me boat cried
That Is the only way We can be rescued
During this time tried to hold one of the
piles with my left arm, trying to cling to
q pile. 1t was terribly cut on some rough
places.
Fortunately q boat with sailors from
the Panther happened to be passing L
hailed them, told them was an officer and