The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1903-03-27

the name OF PatrOlmaD Mich.
aeI j. CoyDe. OF the Delaney
/ Street Station, and this added 20 one
or the oddest records on their books.
/ Coyne is at GOuveneur Hospital, md
the physicians say that he will proba-
bly, develop pneumonia. His condition
n the result Of a hard fight he had in
the East River 10 save a man who had
tumbled of the pier. The struggle
lasted half an hour and the pair were
picked up when they were nearly ex-
bausted. While the patrOlman is IL a
serious condition, the man he saved is
none the worse for his ducking
Coyne was at the foot OF COrlears
street at IL o'clock thinking hard over
the fines that had been imposed upon
him for all sorts Of breaches Of disci-
pline. Suddenly there came a cry for
help from the end Of the pier and the
policeman rushed over. He was in
full uniform, ana as IL was wet he
wore his big rubber boots and overcoat.
Through the darkness Coyne could see
man struggling in the swirl Of the
current, which at that point runs like
mill race. Without stopping for
moment, he threw away his hat and
his club and jumped in.
few strokes and the policeman was
up TO the drowning man and had him
by the collar. The man turned and
caught COyne around the neck with
death grip. Coync struck him on the
jaw and the hold was broken. Then
he twisted his arms behind his back
ana held him thus.
by this time the swing Of the tide
had carried both men a hundred yards
from the pier and over toward the
Cob Dock in the Brooklyn Navy Yard.
Coyne up TO that time had thought that
he was safe with his man, but as the
current bore him out he saw that he
was in grave danger and began to yell
himself. His cries were heard by two
policemen from his own station, VIII
lam III. Corker and John T. McQueeney.
The two ran 10 the foot of Jackson
street, where old Andy Coakley has his
life saving station.
The two policemen cut the painter
OF boat and jumped in. They had
nothing 10 guide them but the cries OF
the men that came through the dark
ness. Coyne was bucking against the
tide, and by this time was near the
Brooklyn side. The current swept the
boat away from him. and before Corker
and McQueeney knew IT they were not
far away from the Brooklyn shore.
Then they returned and after what
seemed an age, picked up Coyne and
his man. both Of whom were almost
senseless.
The two were dragged into the boat
and before the craft was started for
the Manhattan side first aid TO the in
jured was administered 10 Coyne and
the man be saved When they got
ashore an ambulance was summoned
from Gouverneur Hospital. There the
man said he was John Harkins. a la
borer. and that he lived wherever he
could hang up his hat. He had been
drinking, he said, and fell off the
stringpiece Of the pier while he slept.
few minutes after he was put to bed
in the hospital he was sleeping sound
ly. as though nothing had happened.
II was not so with Coyne. The po-
liccman had taken some water into his
lungs and seemed sure that he would
have bad case of pneumonia. When
told of the probable outcome of his
brave act he only said. well, let it
come After that he remarked that
IL the men on Roosevelt street ferry
boat and Pennsylvania Railroad tug
had only needed his cries he would
have been picked up sooner.
Coync has unique record. He has
been fined time and again FOR violations
of the rules. and has to his credit q list
OF rescues that has few equals. Devery
fined him fifteen days once and called
him bum and 'loafer." a few
days later Coyne, at the risk of his
life, saved woman and four children
from burning house on Hester street
He was up on charges again after that
and Devery, after looking him over
critically. said that he would "fergit
the breaking end Of the game" Men
who know him said that after his feat
OF last night Coyne was about due TO
get into trouble again.-Ncw York sun.