The Washington times., 1902-07-02
LII ESAFING MEDAL
TOR CAPTAIN JOHNSON
Grave Rescue in a Fierce
Gale on Lake Erie.
Took Of Crews From Sinking Barges
Under Circumstances of Great
Danger.

Fer gallant ccnduc: or Lake Erie in
the face of danger Capt Fredorcl;
Johrson CT Chicago was awarded by acts
Of Congress Z silver llfesaving medal,
which was transmitted to him yesterday
by Nj. Shaw, sccretary CT the Treas
ury.
The following are the circumstances
which entitled him to the distinction as
they appear il the official documents Of
the Treasury Department:
Details OF Good Work.
On the 18th of December, 1850, as
master of the steamer S. NJ. Fischer,
johnson was engaged en- Lake Eric in
towing barges Nos. ana !, OF the Lake
Michigan Car Ferry Line, and in the
morning . fierce storm overlook him,
raising heavy sea, which swept all
,hree vessels fore and ait, and caused
the deeply laden barges to leak freely
The wind soon reached velocity OF
more than seventy miles an hour. 2n1
by O'Clock both barges were in dan
gerous condition. About this time No.
hoisted a flag at talf-mast, simultan-
eoualy signaling johnson that her pu1nps
could not keep her free and that she
would rot long remain afloat There
upon Johnson resolved to save the tow
il possible by taking it to shelter Under
Long Point, Ontario-an excellent place
of refuge in such storms as that then
prevailing. Promptly Johnson laid his
course in that direction, but within
about half an hour the heavy steel tow
ing hawser. enc and one half inches in
diameter, gave way and both bargcs
quickly fell off into the trough of the
sea. rolling with great violence The |
p2-t OF their cargoes which was carried |
on deck was washed overheard. and |
there was every reason to believe that /
the harges would soon become water /
legged and go down with the fourteen (
men OF board. who would perish unless !
johnson could save them. The outcome |
depended upon him alone, and the re- |
sponsi6ility was very great, for while
he was morally bOund to render the i'm
periled men all possible assistance, he
@as also bound to have due regard for
the safety of his own ship and the lives
of those on board.
~ foSlL1On OF Danger.
AS long as Johnson could keep the
steamers head TO the sea he might feel
sure OF himself riding out
the storm, but the instant he should at
-empt to put about and so alongside the
'oilins hulks, even at considerable dis
-ance from them, his danger would be
Increased to 4 degree which could not
DC measured beforehand; an otherwise
rival accident, 2 slight mistake on his
'art. or the failure OF his ship to In any
way respond to his Will, might wreck
lin. Nevertheless. without hesitation,
lc quickly threw over his wheel and sent
he steamer with full power back TO the
escue
First he directed his efforts to barge
80. 4, which was most in distress. The
langer of losing his own vessel by COL {
isicn was so great that in the begin
ling he sought TO take of the men by
means Of lines which should be thrown
rom a reasonably safe distance. Sew
raj Intellectual attempts. however. dem
that he could not in that way
ucceed. If the men we're to be saved at
II. he must hazard everything by run
ing so close alongside that they could {
cap from one vessel to the other d.
gain Johnson's humanity and courage
roved equal to the test.
A Display of Skillful Seamanship.
Repeatedly he ran the Fischer down to
arge No. 4. and sheercd so close rs Z
lmost to Craze her broadsiGe, while the p
even men composing her crew. two or y,