Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-07-17
HUNDRED LIVES SAVED
~ BY ONE POLICEMAN
Brooklyn Eagle.

Joseph Langlois, a Lincoln Park, Chi
cago, policeman, has lie saving record
probably unequaled by any other man of
his age in the country, or in the world.
Although not yet quite 81 years of age,
he has saved. or assisted In saving, more
than one hundred persons. He is, furth-
ermore, a modest hero, who seems reluct-
ant to talk about his rescues, and when
questioned, refers to them in such q mat
ter of fact and unimaginative way as to
convey the impression that the deeds were
simply routine incidents. Possibly the fire.
quency of the risks he has taken and his
successes have made them look common
place to him.
Langlois is the son of French Canadian
parents, who were natives of little VII
lage near Montreal and who, about 40
years ago, immigrated to Two Rivers,
Wis, where Joseph was born. Even In
childhood he had a liking for the water
and can scarcely remember the time when
he could not swim and dive. Two Rivers
is a dangerous point in Lake Michigan,
and as he grew up ne saw many thrilling
accidents In connection with storms and
disabled vessels. There is life saving
station there. and at the age Of IS he join
ed the crew. Winter begins early at TWO
Rivers and 1t does not take very long to
crystalize the wind tossed waves into Ice
banks on the shore. In front OF the life
saving station these ice hills sometimes
rose TO LnG nGlBnL OF IIlGch lCCN VI hAOACs
and more than once Langlois and the crew
had to launch their lifeboat down this
ice hill at a signal of distress, with the
risk of the boat and themselves being sub
merged on reaching the water. While in
service there he was noted for his cool
ness and daring and was instrumental in
saving several shipwrecked crews and
many persons from drowning.
In 1890 Langois went to South Chicago
and became a member OF the life saving
crew at that point, where his reputation
had preceded HIM After year there he
Joined the notable crew, under Captain
st. Peters, stationed near the mouth of
the Chicago river, maintaining his repu-
tation for skill and daring as life saver,
but doing nothing, according to his own
ideas worthy Of special mention. To save
from drowning a man or woman who has
fallen into river or lake, or been upset
from a boat, is an occurrence around
which, to his mind, no dramatic web can
be woven.
When the Worlds Fair was opened in
Chicago in 1893 the directors deemed II
necessary to establish a life saving station
at the grounds on the shore of the lake,
and Langlois was one of those selected
to form the crew.
During his time there (the station hav-
ing been made a permanent one) he saved
several lives! one of the most notable res
was intent on suicide. About 10 o'clock
at night in the fall of 1896, when the wind
was blowing a gale and snow was falling,
he saw a man rush into the lake and wade
and swim out into the surges. Throwing
off his coat Langois dashed after him and
reached him when about five hundred feet
from the shore. The man struggled
against being saved, but Langois' skill and
strength were too much for him and he
was dragged to dry land in an uncon-
scious condition. He was hurried to the
life station, resuscitated and taken care
of for the night. The next morning he
was apparently well as ever and was al
lowed to depart. That afternoon in a
secluded part OF Jackson Park he shot
himself.
In speaking Of the matter Langois says:
Of course I only did my duty, but 1
came very near losing my own life saving
that Of a man who had determined to kill
himself anyway. BY the time had pull
ed, him to the shore was completely ex-
hausted myself. No, did not regret hav-
ing saved him, but 1t did make me little
sore to think that he should have gone
and shot himself so soon after. He was
stubborn fellow even in the water, and
l. took all my strength and efforts to
save him and keep him from drowning
me-"
Langlois has rescued from drowning sev-
eral women, and in some respects they are
more difficult to handle In the water than
men.
"Of course" he says. "they are not so
strong or violent as men, but then their
clothes are liable to bother one, and be-
sides you wouldn't like to give one a hard
kick or a stunning blow as you would a