The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-12-14
SAVED 200 LIVES
Boy Of Eighteen Awarded
Life Saving Corps
Gold Medal.
HEROISM AT BREMEN FIRE
Frank Radermacher and His
Small Row Boat Went
to Aid Many.

| Eighteen year old Frank Radermacfer
| OF Hoboken was presented last night with
| the United States Life Saving Corps gold
medal OF 1900 for heroism displayed at the
| Bremen pier fire in rescuing 120 persons
| from death by drowning and burning.
| The youths feat was described by Colonel
| Wesley P. Jones, President of the asso-
citation, as zone of the most extraordinary
OF its kind ever performed
I'm the excitement attendant upon the
big disaster it was nearly lost sight of IN
this country" said Colonel Jones, but
in Germany where most of the people
saved by this brave boy came from the
press teemed with his praise. Our asso-
citation has knowledge of no greater act of
heroism than his, and in presenting him
with the gold medal of 1900 we feel that it
is one of the most gratifying awards we
have ever made.
The presentation took place in the Val
encia Boathouse II Hudson Square basin.
A large number of city officials and other
prominent Hobokenites graced the occa-
sion with their presence.
Colonel Jones was attended by two MEM
bers of his staff, Captain R. Confield and
Vice-Commander w. Wilson. In a
lengthy address he recounted young
Rodermacher's conduct at the fire. The
boy was fishing near by when the flames
broke out on the wharves. With cool
ness remarkable for one of his years he
Immediately pulled out to midstream in
his rowboat Terror and shouted to the
people enveloped in flames on Pier to
jump overheard and be picked up. Fifteen
needed his warning and were rowed in
safety to the float of the Valencia. When
he was about to start for second boat
load Radermacher observed five men cry
ing for help near the float. He plunged
into the water and brought these to the
float singly. Then he rowed to the basin
of Pier again and brought twenty more
people to the shore. In all he made about
| dozen of these trips. Once twenty per-
sons got aboard his little boat and over
turned it. The boat was righted how
ever, and all were rowed to shore in
safety.
Most of the rescued were sailors from
the destroyed steamship Bremen, and it
was these who had taken news of the
boys heroism to Germany, Colonel Jones
said.
In his last six trips to the burning ves-
sci Radermacher was assisted materially
by Philip Heckel, a Hoboken man, who
rowed another boat. The two rescued
over 200 people. Heckel was presented
with the associations silver medal for his
services
The following letter bearing the gold
seal of the association, was read by Cap
| tain Confield and presented to RAIDER
| macher after Colonel Jones had concluded
his address,
Mr. Frank Radermacher:-
Dear Sir-On receipt of evidence of
your heroic conduct in saving 120 lives
great fire of Hoboken, June 80, 1900, and
| on further evidence furnished by Off
| GERS of the Nlencia Boat Club of Ho-
boken, and up>> their unanimous rec
ommendation, our board has awarded
/ you the gold medal >e honor which we
| grant every year to the one who has
| saved the greatest number of lives
from drowning.
1t affords me great pleasure as the
| presiding officer of the association to
| present you with the medal in presence
of the distinguished officers of the Val
! encia Boat Club with the thanks of our
I own association and the thanks of all
humane citizens of this country and of
| Germany, where your action has been
| particularly noticed in the public press.
| We trust you will long live to wear it
/ with honor and pride as memento of
| great act of heroism nobly perform
ed, the opportunity of which rarely
comes to any man.
For the association, very truly yours,
| (Signeo) WESLEY p. JONES.
A similar testimonial was read and pre-.
sented to Heckel. Vice Commodore vii.
son pinned the medals on the breasts OF
the recipients, who were then presented
with sets of engrossed resolutions from
the Valencia Boat Club by President Leh-
mann.
The gold medal received by Radermachel
is the second one of its kind awarded by
the association. The other was present
ed to Mayor Van Wyck of New York fol
heroism displayed in rescuing four young
girls from drowning at Freeport, L. l., {
year ago.
Elephant Eide Roots.
Boots of elephant hide are worn only
by the Wealthest of men; but the com
A fort auf7 dIlrahili. v nj Sfleh f00t1paF are