The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1902-06-27


driving sea on the shore OF
Lake Erie and his successful
rescue of a man given up for lost,
deed that won him gold medal, stands
first In the records Of the United States
I.ife-Saving Service Os brave deeds
done last year
Tale after tale of courage and hard
ship, as dramatic as anything in fiction
are told in this report, but Glesser's
splendid achievement stands ms the
greatest.
The hero is the keeper Of the Buffalo
station. A gale was sweeping across
the harbor OF Buffalo oae afternoon.
Two large scows with several men
aboard broke from their moOrings un-
der the tremendous strain OF lashIng
seas and were drifting steadily toward
the breakers.
A lIfe-boat was launched with Giles
ser in command. Nearing the point or
danger, the boat was driven before the
wind just outside the line OF surf.
Anchor was dropped and 1t was In
tended to slack away till the scows,
he given assistance. But the anchor
dragged, big wave snapped The haw-
ser and another upset the boat. All the
occupants were thrown out and had a
hard swim In the pounding seas for a
quarter of mile 10 reach the land.
There they heard that man who
had been on one Of the scows was In a
perilous position among some old piles
standing nearly u third Of a mile from
which Glesser then was.
Mounting his engine Glesser. with his
crew, rode to a spot opposite. The
haif-drowned man was cllnging TO the
slippery piles 400 or 500 feet from
shore, the seas constantly breaking
over him.
The use OF the boat was impractical
Bile, and the situation of the unfortu-
nate man was such that he must perish
unless aid should reach him. There
was little time for dellbcration. and
Glesser, In spite Of all protests, quickly
resolved to try to swim out with a
line. He called upon Surfman Green
land to accompany him. They were
warned by experienced men that they
could not live to accomplish H. but
with solemn resolve Glesscr replied:
wait until we try; the man cannot
come TO us; we will try to get to him"
Then, making one end of the line
fast about his arm, he dashed into the
surgng waters, accompanied by Green
land. The two had not proceeded far
when they were thrown back upon the
beach. Again they set out but when
about fifty yards on the way particu-
larly heavy sea hurled Greenland
against an old pile and then swept him
back to land, considerably injured, so
that he had to give up the attempt.
But Glesser was undaunted by the
loss Of his companion and bravcly per
sisted. He was repeatedly driven
ashore, but gradually gained ground
until he reached n pile standing about
sixty yards from shore.
There he rested for n few moments.
This was the only pause he made dur
Ing the entire operation OF rescue,
which consumed three-quarters OF an
hour
After recovering his breath Glesser
renewed the battle. and although Sc
yerely buffeted about and driven back
sometimes 100 feet or more. he kept up
a stout heart, diving under the worst
breakers.
AT length. getting sufficiently near,
Glesser threw 10 the man the end of
the line instructing him to make It fast
about his body and then to let go his
hold of the pillng and drop into the
water. He had only sufficient strength,
however. to secure the line about his
wrist, and before he could leap the
waves and fouled the blight Of the line
among the plling.
Glesser was thrown nearly 100 feet
away. To the people on the shore 1t
seemed as though both must certainly
perish. Glesser still persisted, regain.
ing his lost ground, and at the end of
fifteen minutes of dangerous work
cleared the snarl. Then upon his sig
nal the man let go Of the piles. while
scores of persons at the other end OF
the line pulled him with n rush To the
beach, where he was picked up uncon-
scious.
Then Glesser struck out for the land.
which he reached without aid, but so
exhausted that he could not stand Not
TIL then was it found that he was con-
sderably injured by a floating tele.
graph pole, which had passed over
him two or three times, inHict!ng heavy
blows upon his back. - New York
World