The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-02-04
TWO BRAVE MEN.

1 L Is ALWAYS a pleasure 10 COIn-
L mend bravery wherever it is found,
but when through acts of bravery men
perform distinguished public service
their work makes them specially
worthy of commentator. Salt Lake
rang yesterday with the exploits OF
John c. Morrison and Patrolman Hor-
ace Heath. With a unanimity of
opinion as happy as it was deserved,
Salt Lakers voiced unqualified approval
and admiration of Morrison and Heath.
BY their unhinching courage they
have in all probability ridden Salt Lake
of as desperate a gang Of outlaws as
ever terrorized a community. One Of
the gang lies dead in an undertaking
esta blishment, thanks to the steady
nerve and the unerring aim of Patrol
man Heath. Another is somewhere,
sorely wounded. and two more have
esca ped, for the present at least.
John G. Morrison was the man who
made all this possible. Three men
entered Mr.. Morrison's store early
Monday evening to rob him. They had
not reckoned on the clean strain of
gameness that enters into the compo-
sition of this man. Instead of throw
ing up his hands at the word Of COM
mand, Morrison ran for a weapon.
His shotgun was the nearest, but it
wouldn't work. Desperately he tried to
discharge its cartridges. the highway
men meanwhile pouring a steady
stream of bullets from three revolvers
at him.
With rare GOODNESS Morrison threw
aside his shotgun and secured a re-
rTrt, 5o1 he 70
turned to the battle and before it was
over he had driven the outlaws from
his store, one of them shot through
the body and with blood streaming
from the wound. This states but
plainly the actions of Morrison. Com
ment on them seems unnecessary.
They speak for themselves.
Ninety-nine men out of 100 per
haps 500 out of 1000. would have sub
mitted quietly to the wishes of the in
truders. There was not more than
Dne chance in a hundred that Morri-
son would escape with his life, but he
took that chance and he won, as he de-
serves to win. His reward is the I'M
stinted appreciation Of every citizen Of
Salt Lake. In the opinion of all of us,
nothing is too good today for John G.
Morrison.
The Heath case is somewhat differ
snt Heath is a patrolman, whose duty
IT is to safeguard the lives and the
property of the people. He heard of
the affair at the Morrison store and
promptly started in pursuit. Presently
he overlook three men who, as sub
sequent developments showed, were
members of the gang. Heath called
upon them to surrender. Their answer
was a shower of bullets.
The patroIman never faltered for a
moment There was no crowd to cheer
him on. He had not, as was the case
with Morrison, his family near at
hand. SingIe-handed and alone he
grappled with death in the darkness.
A heavy bullet crashed through his
foot. but it stayed him not. Other
bullets whistled around him and he
answered them in kind. At last he
downed his nearest opponent. and IS
the fellow raised himself to shoot again
at Heath, the officer sent a ball into
the highwayman's brain.
Then. wounded and bleeding, his re-
volver empty, Heath perforcc aban-
doned the pursuit. Mortal man could
not have done more than this plucky
officer. His duty was clear before him
and he rose grandly TO it, Heath does
not consider himself hero, but he is
hero in the truest sense of the word.
His reward should be sure and imme
date, for his conduct cannot fail to
prove a source of inspiration to his
fellow officers and to all men.
The city viii, of course, pay the eX-
penses of taking care Of Heath while
he is incapacitated for duty and his
salary for the time he is off the force.
That is something. but it is not enough.
He must be signany rewarded. Pro-
motion is the most natural method Of
bringing this about. 1t is said that
there is no vacancy among the police
sergeants nor any in immediate pros
Dect.
We'll. then. the mayor and Chief Paul
should create a vacancy at once and
fill it with Patrolman Horace Heath.
II this cannot be done the council
should create another sergeantcy for
Heath's especial benefit. Give this
brave and faithful public servant such
a reward as viii encourage him and
others TO do with their might the work
that falls under their hands.