Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1904-03-04
MEDALS IN PAVE.

This soldier pawned his yalor
for five cents.
In window of Il Philadelphia
pavnshop hangs the bronze oc-
tagonal medal for which Il young
oder faced death, says the
Press.
Driven to despair by lungerand
want, this priceless treasure went
for trife. Nor did il come TO the
pawnshop alone, for by itself it
would bring scarcely enough to
buy loaf Of bread.
The medal in chief hangs sus'
pended 10y two chains of four or
five small links from Il cross-bar,
bearing the word "vaI0r." a
raised figure Of soldier in cam
paign uniform stands at parade
rest. Beneath him are the words;
"July-August, 1888
Over the head are the words:
"Prcspntcd to-" and directly un-
der them is a blank space for the
name of tie recipient of the award
for services in the war with Spain.
"Oh, yes" said the money-lend-
or. in mattcr-of-f way. Il have
had number of them. They ain't
worth anything, though. ] only
take them along with Il lot OF
other stuff. No, they are seldom
redeemed.
after the time runs out on
them. | hang them up in the win
dow and some well-dressed chap
comes in and buys one. The only
kind Of service he's seen was be-
hind counter, but when he goes
out Of town where nobody knows
him he'll pose as a hero
The badge isn't worth any
thing. You see this kind of badge
is out of style now. The grand
army veterans mostly wear
bronze buttons in their button
holes. Years ago a soldier would
think it Il disgrace TO see this in
the window Of a pawnshop, and he
would hasten to buy it.
Il guess I'll keep it for luck"
presented by citizens of Phil
adclphia to - but permission
to inspect and to hear the story OF
a beautiful medal. or rather two
of them. which stand out conspic
uOuSly against mass of rings, re
volvcrs, boxing gloves, knives
opera glasses, etc, in the window
of pawnshop on Front street was
| given only on the promise thaI
the name would not be mentioned
These medals are companions
| On one is engraved the above quo
ltation. On the other is; For Hu
imanity and Heioism Displayed ir
| Rescuing the. Passengers AM
Crew of the Steamship Denmark
in Midocpan, 1899. From Citizens
of Philadelphia to Officers and
Crew of Steamship Missouri "
The medal is extremely beautj
| full. The crossbar is fully two
inches long and represents q
heavy timber of a wrecked ship
In the center of the crossbar is
a life preserver. Coiled around
either end of the bar and extend
ing diagOnally downward are tive
cables, studded with miniature
pulleys. They support the media
proper.
The figure of a ministering an
gel ON pendant wing graces one
side of the disk. In one hand she
offers Il wreath of laurel to Z
kneeling figure. With the other
the sign of blessing is given.
This one is made of silver. The
other, in gold, represents the
American eagle soaring alOft witt
crOssbar Of wreckage tight!
gripped in it's powerful talOns
Hanging from the eagles prize are
two chains which carry the story
of the rescue.
This is the story of their pawn
ing:
Fully eight years ago a mar
somewhat past the prime of life
came into my shop and drew this
case from his pocket with trem
bling hand" said the pawnbroker
,aNtr thaf no Htra mn N 81