The Lewiston teller. (Lewiston, Idaho) 1900-1905, 1901-11-14

w ferred upon him
the gold medal for
the same deed
= -! the saving Of three
- lives by rising his
WIN. ALLAN. own four times.
Allen was employed at a patent fuel
works at Sunderland. One night one
Of the large tar stills at the works be-
gan to leak. The next morning q
workman named Mcleod entered the
tar still to make the necessary repairs.
The tar had been drawn and the work
man removed the cap in order to allow
the fumes to escape. No one was pay
Ing any particular attention to Nc
Leod. for although It was generally
known that there was always more or
less danger attending any work in the
stills. repairs had been made 60 fire.
quently with no injurious results that
the men had long since ceased to expe-
rience any feeling Of anxiety when a
workman lowered himself into one Of
the stills.
A number Of the men had seen Nc
Leod disappear within the tank this
morning, however. and as the minutes
passed and no sound of his work
reached the men. Richard Lawson, an
other still man, became worried. He
FASTENED to the tar tank to see II any
thing was wrong with Mcleod. All
was as silent as the tomb when he
reached the still, and his shouts re-
ceived no answer. Fearing for the
safety Of his comrade, he quickly low
cred himself into the still. Once again
some time passed, and as nothing was
heard from either man another employe
OF the works, Weddle by name, at
tempted to make double rescue, for
by this time it was decided that the
men had been overpowered by the
fumes Of the still. Great excitement
prevailed when Weddle went down and
a great crowd Of workmen surrounded
the still and shouted down suggestions,
to which Weddle made reply from
time to time. Great was the consterna-
ton Of all when this brave fellow no
longer gave back shout for shout. It
was just when the excitement was at
Its height that Allen rushed on the
scene. He grasped the situation at a
glance, and, pushing the men to right
and left. he made dash for the still.
tying rope around his waist as he
went. and carrying another with him.
The men quieted down and silently
followed Aliens terse. decisive com.
mands. Allen was lowered into the
still. He carefully tied a rope around
one Of the victims. gave the rope BY
which he was suspended a sharp Jerk
and was Immediately pulled to the sur
face Of the pit. He held one end Of the
rope to which one of the PROSTATE men
was attached, and when he had gained
the fresh air again he pulled after him
Weddle.
Hardly waiting to gain his breath.
Allen made another downward trip and
came up with another victim. By this
time he himself was pretty well ex.
hausted. but his courage and deter.
to rescue the third man never
faltered.
Quickly he swung down again to the
bottom Of the still to release Mcleod.
but he discovered that the workmen's
feet were fast In some manner and
while endeavoring to extricate him AL.
len was almost overcome,
He came up empty handed and an
soon a. ne was sufiiciently recovered to
make the trip again he insisted upon
pelng lowered into the still. This time
ne succeeded IN releasing Mcleod and
him up with him, thus effect.
ing a triple rescue and making four
rips into the suffocating fumes OF the
still. Two Of the men recovered rand.
y. and Mcleod. the third man, who
was seriously burned, added his cheer
70 that Of the rest Of the workmen
Wnen Allen was presented with the
gold medal