The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-06-14
Miss Donahue Is One of Crew That
Daily Saves Persons From
East River. New York.
CAPTAIN DUNN ALWAYS READY.
Constantly on Watch, He Leaps
Into Water at Il Moments No
tice and Keeps No Score
of Those He RescueS.

New York, June l3.-On ugly looking
barge tied up at the foot of Ninety-trst
street in the East River to-day a man sat
smoking a pipe and gazing 1azily out to-
ward Hell Gate His only mission on earth
seemed to be to take II easy.
In appearance. however. he belonged 10
ANYTHING but an idle class. The muscles
on his bare sunburned arms were big and
knotted He had pair of small gray eyes
which shifted constantly. His wearing ap-
parel consisted of Il shirt and a pair OF
trousers.
While the man was in this attitude
shout suddenly went up from a crowd of
small boys who had been playing on the
pier.
Hey deere. git Cap'n Dunn walled one
of the youngsters 'Willlss gone over
board"
At these words the man sprang to his
feet. He reached the pier with one bound
He paused long enough to discover a small
dot of clothing rapidly moving out into the
river with the tide and then he sprang
overheard. When he rose to the surface
of the water he was within a few feet OF
the mass of clothing. which contained ii
drowning boy.
the tide and soon reached the float attached
TO the ugly looking barge. BY this time
several other men had come out of the
barge and they helped the rescuer and
his charge up on the hoat.
HE SOON RECEIVERS.
The boy was unconscious. Two of the
men placed one end of pank on top of
log. and the bow was laid face downward
II. While he was in this attitude his
arms and feet were worked vigorously. In
a few minutes he began showing signs or
returning consciousness. Within half an
hour he had been completely restored and
was sent home.
Then the man with the small gray eyes
and big muscles Went ont on the per long
enough TO swear vigorously at the other lads
congreeated there. after which he changed
his clothes and again assumed his lazy at
tituue.
This man was Captain Sam Dunn Of the
volunteer life-savinR crew at the Ninety
first street pier. He is one of the leaders
of the most unique group of heroes in the
world. More than a score OF fishermen ana
of Ninety-frst street and the Eas; River
belong to the volunteer crew. one OF the
members is woman.
Each of the volunteers has saved at least
one human life. Some have rescued from
ten TO twenty persons from drowning. Most
of them have medals that We're given To
The woman member has medal that was
given TO her by woman whom she saved
from death IN the East RIVER But sue atSp
has record for bravery that far outshines
the medal.
MISS DoNAHUE'S RECORD.
Her name is Miss Annie DOnahue She
is young. tall and willowy and beauty.
Last summer she saved boy and girl
from drowning near the Ninety-first street
nier. and she also Sprang from an excursion
boat white IL was passing through He'll
Gate and rescued a woman who had fallen
overheard: II was for this act that she
To a unique state of affairs existing
around the Ninety-first street pier this
strange band OF life savers owes its exist
ence On the north side of the pier is a
long stone wall that was built TO keep the
many swift currents from Hell Gate which
strike the shore al that point from gcbblns
up the shore line. The water Is forty feet
deep at the spo, where II strikes the wall
On the solth side of the pier the water is
compare lively shallow. but powerful under
currents flow around this point.
The working folk who live around Ninety.
first street and the East River have no end
of evidence TO refute the race suicide" cry.
This evidence likes To go down near the
pier and play on the ice wagons which back
UP un the edge of the big stone wall and
then 20 bathing on the shallow side OF the
pier.
Every day at least one youngster falls
overheard or is carried out Into the river by
the undercurrents The death rate among
children became so great from this source
that a cry was set up for hfe<saving
one. and so the parents got together and
organized one of their own.
Daniels Is the champion life-saver of the
persons from drowning and he has three
medals given 10 him by the Humane So
Ciety.
RESCUE AMID ICE
His most daring rescue was that of a
man named Callahan. who fell into the
river at Ninety-third street last November
Although 1t was a cold day and the river
was filled with ice. Daniels sprang into the
water with all his clothes on and swan
ashore with Callahan.
All the members of this crew have got
just one way of saving people that fall into
the river" said Daniels. ut ain't in ac-
cordance with what they, print in books,
but. experience has taught US that our
III tell you of the way / done with Cal
lshan.
He was walking along near the edge of
the water when he slipped and fell in
wasn't more than ten feet away from him
He went under when he struck the water
ana an ~ ddn ,,,m have tim, time to throw my coat
and when i come to the top / seen him
iionndering around within easy reach.
NOW NOW: these fellows that write books
you're rescuing a drowning man you ought
TO first smash him in the face so he'll quit
all wrong. Let the fellow struggle ali he
wants TO. It'll help you cut.
NERVE ONLY NEEDED.
But there's certain way of grabbing
them. You want TO get hold of them un-
der the armpits. swim with your feet and
keep kicking them in the back. SO that
,ms qB in shs water all the
ing is kicking and struggling with his
bands ssn ,i and feet AZ Of tia. business helps
nun nab an Sad ~ you're yn behind him SO he
of steering him. It's the easiest thing ON
earth and don't take very much muscle Ali
you need is a lot of nerve
uHnn,u CUR cRvc Dit