Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1899-06-13
LIFE-SAVING HEROES.
Thrilling Rescues by Volunteers
Men, Women and Children Who
Have Won Medals by Bravery

The Heroes Of Peace" celebrated by
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 So
ciety maintained, along the coast of that
state, houses Of refuge for shipwrecked
sailors, and stations equipped with life
saving apparatus, in charge Qf~ keepers,
who, when the emergency arose, sum-
moned volunteer crews. This volunteer
Hfe-SaYIng service is still kept up, and Is
able not only often to render effective as
SlStance to the regular government
crews, but occasionally, also, to save life
when the nearest United States life-say-
ing station is too far from the scene Of
disaster 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 out
wit the other, but a singleness of impulse
to serve IN the cause of humanity Nat
urally the gold and silver medals award
ed by the United States government for
herolsm, displayed in saving life have
| been more frequently bestowed upon
members Of the regular service as this
extends along our entire SeabOard and
lake coast, bat the volunteer corps has
had its share of honor.
But by far the greater number of med
ais for heroism displayed in saving life
from drowning have been awarded to, in
dlvlduals-people from the most varied
walks of life; men of high social position,
Western Indians, a Southern negro,
pleasure-seekers along the coast, q Jap
aneSe 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
nave contributed its hero or heroes to the
roll of honor. There are also heroineS on
that roll. number of women hold sill.
Yer medals, and two women the gold
medal. Silver medals have also been
awarded to mere boys and girls for dis
plays of daring far beyond their years.
Frederic kernochan was lad when he
received a silver medal for saving a
woman from drowning in the Navesink
river, near Highlands, \. J.. and Marie
-. Parsons, q girl of only 10 years when
she rescued a child at Fireplace, l.. l.
Nor, was Edith Morgan of Hamlin,
Mich, much beyond girlhOod when she
tried. with her father and brother, to
row to a vessel capszed three miles out.
Beaten back by the heavy waves, she
aided III clearing away the logs and drift
wood from the beach SO as to make a
track for the surf boat At previous
rescue she had stood for six hours in the
| snow, hauling at the life line, in landing
sailors from q wreck.
Would | could add to this record those
unknown heroes-"greater than those
who are known'-whose heroism lacks
human reward because they not only
| risked but lost their lives in the endeavor
to save others. Would there were roll
Of the unhonored and unsung. The
medal list IS a long one, but the roll of
the persisted longer. Occasionally a me-
mortal like the Brokaw Field at Prince
ton. which commentaries the heroism of
Frederick Brokaw, the Princeton stu
dent who gave his life to save two serv-
ants from drowning, reminds us of one
or another of these sacrifices. But far
more frequently a grave in an unfre-
quented churchyard, or q proud pang in
a woman's heart, is the only memorial OF
the .'nnEnnMn hero ,,