New-York tribune., 1902-05-25
BRAVE FIREMEN REWARDED.
MAYOR Low PINS MEDALS ON BREASTS OF
HEROES OF THRILLING REscUEs

me annual presentation of honor medals TO fire.
men for heroic deeds took place yesterday in the
idIge drill yard in the rear of Fire HEADQUARTERS
al East sixty-seYenth-st Mayor Low. who pre-
sehteo the medals, several ex-fre commissioners
ana eight hundred persons were present
The drill yard had been prettiIy decorated with
american flags and chairs had been arranged in
dInphltheatre style. In the centre a platform had
oeen erected and on this were seated Fire Commits
sioner sturgis. who presided; Mayor Low. Captain
smith. Fire Chaplain Wakley. and ex-Fire Com
missioners Purroy and Sheffield.
Mayor Low held a typewriter record Of the men
VINO were to receive the medals, and facing them
ne read the record. pinning the mans breast
the medal he won
He said the men:
want to say TO you that this is one of the
praise YOU neneTs f nave ave ever had want to
Of the cf come from companies in various parts
OF the hremen of this city.
Following the presentation of the medals there
was an exhibition by the life saving branch of the
service, under the direction of Captain McAdam,
the instructor OF the school
The following were the medals awarded:
The Bennett medal awarded TO First Grade Fire
man Thomas J. Macarthur. Engine Company No
II, for the rescue of Fireman Michael F. Merron
at the Tarrant fire. Macarthur. despite the danger
or an explosion, turned back. and finding his pros
trate comrade lying in doorway, half dragged.
half carried him toward Westinghouse He had
not gone hundred feet with his unconscious
burden when a third explosion brought down the
building and the surrounding structures with a
rihc crash hurying the spot where Merron had
been lying under a thousand tons of brick and
stone. The shock threw Macarthur down. and for
a few minutes he lay stunned. This acknowl-
edged the best of life, with personal risk,
in the year 1900.
The Bonner medal was awarded TO First Grade
Fireman jeremiah EIaggerty. of Engine Company
No l. who assisted in the rescue of five persons
at a fire at the Mallory Line pier. Haggerty, In
the face of sitting heat and flames, crept from the
bulkhead to 4 barge, and going down into the
smoke-enveloped cabin. dragged Captain Plumb
them one by one across a shaking improVised
bridge to safety. He returned TO the barge. and,
jumping to another. he dragged Captain Wood TO
safety He had hardly done this when the barges
collapsed
The Trevor and Warren medal awarded to
Company. No. l63. in reward for his bravery and
GOODNESS in assisting at the rescue OF thlrtyslH per
sons from a burning building at No. I54 Flrst-aVe
He ascended a thrty-fVe foot ladder to the fourth
floor Wrapping his legs around the top rungs
OF the ladder he reached and lowered TO his com
then by means of a scaling ladder assembled TO the
fifth floor and rescued Nellie and Katie Lane.
twelve and eight years old The ladder was almost
burned from under him.
The Strong medal was awarded TO First Grade
Fireman Thomas Malavey, Engine Company, No.
81. for his rescue OF Miss Helen Niles at NO -lo
West Fifty-seventh-St
The Stephenson medal. for general efficiency as
A commanding officer. was awarded 70 captain
John F Devanny Engine Company. No; g Tor
maintaining the ost efficient and best drilled COM
pany during the year.