The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-09-07
TRUTH ABOUT MURDOCH.
Woman Who Was Saved Tells How He
Didn't Do 1t.

People out in San Francisco seem to
be getting very much excited about the
story which was printed some time ago
concerning the part taken by Congress-
man Victor Murdoch in saving the life
of a woman bather at Ocean Park.
They are afraid that Murdoch is trying
to beat somebody else out of a Carne-
gle hero medal. This is what the Los
Angeles Examiner says about it:
Politics! clever politics, but not
destined to succeedw
That is the way Rufus L. Horton,
husband of the woman who rescued
sums up the effort being made to land
Carnegie hero medal to adorn
the manly breast Of Congressman MUIR
dock.
THE Harringtons have promised me
andavits regarding the true facts of
the rescue" says Mr.. Horton. Those
| facts Will prevent any hero medal from
becoming the property of Congressman
| Murdoch
Mr.. Horton goes further. He explains
| his theory that the whole campaign for
the hero medal is an effort on the part
OF Congressman Murdoch by his politi-
cal friends to popularize him so that he
| VIII slide again into his congressional
seat without fear of successful opposi-
/ ton.
why, they've conducted a regular
| publicity campaign back there in Kan
Sas, using this incident as ammunition"
is the way Mr.. Horton expresses it, and
this man, who barely got his feet wet,
| is being touted as HERO
The rescue of Mrs. Harrington by Mrs.
Horton occurred May II. Before May
rs application had been made to the
Carnegie Hero commission for a medal
for Congressman Murdoch. This is
proved by letter from Manager F.
ID. Wilmott, of the Carnegie commits
Lott nit = n H.,
is the head and shoulders of the effort
to land the decoration for Mr. Murdoch.
| This letter refers to a communication
received from Woolard, under date of
| May rs. 1t is presumed it was in this
communication Woodland first asked for
the medal for the congressman.
| Its politics, pure and simple" said
| Mr.. Horton, after having held a con-
ference with Mr.. Harrington yesterday
| afternoon. Either Murdoch or his DO
litical allies have worked the alleged
rescue by him to the limit in Kansas.
In the telegram which he sent the Ex-
aminer, and which was published Sun
day morning, Murdoch admits the first
reports were colored. But there has
| been no effort to correct those reports.
| He does not deserve a medal, and l
| intend to see he doesn't get one. Car
negie medals are not given on newspa-
| per reports written by friends of would
| be heroes. Affidavits are required. Now,
I intend to get those affidavits and send
them to the Carnegie hero commission
at Philadelphia. And they won't give
Murdoch medal. Not much.
tits clever political game. But it
| won't work.
| Mrs. Neil j. Harrington, the woman
who was saved, says:
! mo, Congressman Murdoch did not
rescue me from death by drowning at
Ocean Park! He didn't do anything
worthy of a Carnegie medal! But
honestly think he did the best he could.
He shouted to us that he could not
swim but he wadeH out into the water
and held out his cane to US. think he
had the will to aid US, and for that 1
am grateful.
But the credit for my rescue belongs
entirely to Mrs. Rufus L. Horton, who
swan to my assistance when I called
for help and who towed me ashore.
81 think Mrs. Horton fully deserving
of a medal for her brave act, and if
my husband and I can get it for her,
she shall have it.
1.-THE waves had gouged out a hole, -
Mrs. Harrington said, when telling of
her experience, land I got into it.
when I found could no longer touch
bottom, I was scared. Who wouldn't be
I swallowed some salt water and then
shouted for help. Mrs. Horton was
swimming nearby. She heard me and
came to my aid. All the rest of 1t has
been reDeated several timeS.'A