The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-08-21

BALTIMORE, Aug 21.-Secretary Gage
has approved the recommendation of the
Board of Medal Awards composed of So
Iieitor OF the Treasury O'Connell, Chief
of the Reynue Marine Shoemaker, and
Superintendent of Life Saving Service
Kimbau. awarding a gold medal to Hunt
r. Mayo Thorn of Baltimore, for the res
cue of a blind negro woman OFF the wharf
at Urbanna. Va. Superintendent Kimbal
sent notice to Mr.. Thorn Of the award
ard stated the medal would be sent as
soon as possible. but that several days
would be necessary fer its proper inscrip-
tica. When the medal is forwarded to
M. Thorn Secretary Gage will write a
letter to him commencing his bravery.
The report of the committee to Secretary
Gage was as follows:
Respectfully referred to the Secretary
of the Treasury. with the report that the
undersigned have carefully examined and
considered the application and accom-
panying evidence in behalf CT H. R. NJ
Thorn. and are Of the opinion that he is
entitled to a gold medal. and would re-
specially recommend that award be made
accordingly.
The medal is very handsome. On the
diverse is shown a lifeboat with surfmen
making a rescue. The picture is sur
rounded with the inscription, u. S. of
Ar2erica-Act of Congress June 20, 1874
The reverse shows tablet surmounted
by an eagle with outstretched wings; to
the left Of the tablet stands a woman
bearing a wreath, and TO the right are
anchor, sails. and ropes This is sur
rounded by In testimony of heroic deeds
in saving life from the perils of the sea"
The medal suspended from a red rib
non by the golden head CT an eagle, and
the ribbon is supported by golG bar.
The tablet on the reverse side viii bear
the inscription. il fine letters, ITO H. R.
Mayo Thorn for heroic daring in rescuing
| woman from drowning. June u, 1900
It is seldom that gold medal is award
ed, as prior to july / 1899. only 1T such
| medals had been awarded in the twenty
| five years in which the act has been in
| fierce and Of these twenty-seyen went at
| one time TO EDglishmen. so that only I50
| had been awarded to Americans, or an
| average of about six a year. Cases in
which the medal has been awarded for
! individual bravery have beeen even more
/ rars. as by far the majority of the medals
! have been conferred lfe-saving crews
| where the rescues were effected jointly.
| Eighteen such medals were given at one
| time 10 q life-saving crew in connection
! with the wreck OF the schooner George
| Fariane. eff the coast of New Jersey,
/ February 8 1885,
/ The twsaty-seven medals referred 10
| were given to members OF a life-savinG
! crew which rescued the crew OF the Ellen
| Southland at the mouth OF the Merzey River
| September IS and e, 1875. After the crew
/ had been safely taken into one of the life
! heats It was CapsiZed and another lifeboat
! went to the rescue. Eight of the sailors
and three of the crew OF the first Iifsboat
| were drowned.
| The roll Of homer bears several distin-
| guizhed names, although they are said to
| be others than those most prominently
| known by these same names For ms 2nce
| Marcus a. Hanna received a medal. but be
| is the keeper CT the Cape Elizabeth Light
| Station. Main. and not United States Sen
| ator from Ohio. s. S. Cox is also or the
| roll. but it is rot Sunset Cox. but mem
Der Of the New York police force. not re-
/ lated 10 Sunset although ne bears the
same name. Samuel Sullivan Cox
! Several women have received the gold
medal and several the silver medal
! III most prominent Of these is Ida Lewis
! Wilson. keeper Of the Lime Rock Light
| house. who received god medal for the
/ rescue OF thirteen persons at different
| has a silver medal; Edith Clarke. Of OAK
| land, Cal. and Mrs. Edward White, Of
Copalis. Wash. both p gold medal; Mabe1
| Mason. Mamaiuda Lighthouse, a 81 vsI
medal; Marie D. Parsons, Fireplace Point
| L /, another. and, Mary Whitley and
Maud King, both OF Charleston, S. C.
The most unique rescue where the res
| cuer was awarded a gold medal was be-
| yoUnd doubt that Of a woman who fell into
/ the geyseT in Yellowstone Park known as
/ "Old Faithful" and was pulled out by
John Coyle, private, Company B. Twenty
second Uaited States Infantry. Jonas Johns
| an Indian Of the Quiniault agency. Wash
/ ington, earned MS medal, as he rescued
fourteen men in 1887 and three in 1888. Hs
| IS the only Indian so rewarded.
The Only BaltimoTean On the list at pres
ent is Ross ingalls,. who assisted in the res
| cue of the crew of the schooner jana, Fzb-
ruaTy %, 1854 W B Miller is the OIL!
| other MaTylander so rewarded He re.
| ceiyed his medal for the rescue OF a lac
from drcSning in the Big Elk Creek, J.5ns
! %, 1S8S
M'ARTHUR'S MORTALITY LIST.