The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-07-12
tIEE.SAVINC HEROES.
Men, Women and Children Have Won
Medals by Bravery.


The "Heroes of Peace," celebrated
by Mr.. Gustav Kobbe in the Century,
are the volunteer life-savers. Many
deeds are recorded that equal the
bravest exploits of the battlefield.
For many years before the United
States Life-Saving Service was estab-
lished, the Massachusetts, Humane
Society maintained, along the coast of
that State, houses Of refuge for ship.
wrecked sailors, and stations equipped
with life-saving apparatus, in charge
of keepers, who, when the emergency
arose, summoned volunteer crews.
This volunteer life-saving service is
still kept up, and is able not only often
to render effective assistance to the
regular Government crews, but occa.
sionally, also, to save life when the
nearest United States Life-Saving StCe
tion is too far from the scene of dlsas.
ter for its crew to arrive in time. The
rivalry between these two corps has
been most generous. There have been
no chickering's, no attempts of one to
outwit the other, but o singleness of
impulse to serve in the cause of hu.
manity. Naturally the gold and silver
medals awarded by the United States
Government for heroism, displayed in
saving life have been more frequently
bestowed upon members of the regu-
lar service, as this extends along our
entire seaboard and lake coast, but the
volunteer corps has had its share of
honor.
But by far the greater number OF
medals for heroism displayed in SOW
ing life from drowning have been
awarded to individuals-people from
the most varied walks of life; men of
high social position, Western Indians,
a Southern negro, pleasure-seekers
along she coast, a japanese cabin
steward, steamboat men, and officers
and men of the United States army,
navy and revenue-cutter service.
Every section of the country seems to
have contributed its hero or heroes to
the roll of honor. There are also
heroines on that roll. A number of
women hold silver medals, and two
women the gold medal. Silver medals
have also been awarded to mere boys
and girls for displays in daring far
beyond their years. Frederick Ker.
nochan was lad when he received O
silver medal for saving woman from
drowning in the Navesink River, near
Highlands, New Jersey; and Marie D.
Parsons, girl of only ten years when
she rescued child at Fireplace, Long
Island. Nor was Edith Morgan, of
Hamlin, Michigan, much beyond girl
hood when she tried, with her father
and brother, to row to vessel cap
sized three miles out. Beaten back
by the heavy waves she aided in clear
ing away thedogs and driftwood from
the beach SOFAS to make a track for the
surf-boat. At previous rescue she
had stood for six hours in the snow,
hauling at the lifeline, in landing sail
ors from wreck.
Would I could add to this record
those unknown heroes-'greater than
those who are known"-whose heroism
lacks a human reward because they
not only risked but lost their lives in
the endeavor to save others. Would
there was q roll of the unhonored and
unsung! The medal list is long one,
but the roll of the perished longer.
Occasionally q memorial like the Bro
kaw Field at Princeton, which COM
memorates the heroism of Frederick
Brokaw. the Princeton student who
gave his life to save two servants from
drowning, reminds us of one or an
other of these sacrifices. But far more
frequently grave in an unfrequented
churchyard, or proud pang IN
woman's heart, is the only memorial
of the unknown hero"