The Minneapolis journal., 1906-01-12
SCORES " Ant TO
REWARD HEROISM.
CITIZENS PLAN MEMORIAL FOR
CAPTAIN BERWIN.
Urge The Journal to Start Fund to
Show Appreciation Of Sacrifice in
Firemen's Work-Wou Give Widow
Sum Showing Recognition and to Aid
Her in Support Of Family.

Citizens are clamoring today for the
opening of a. fund that will show. the
recognition of the city Of the valiant
work of Captain John Berwin Of the
at the West hotel fire to save Mrs. B.
D. Barlow. Numerous would-be con-
tributors have signified their desire that
The Journa1 ask the public to do,
nate fund that will be a memorial
and at the same time assist the widow
in providing for herself, four children I
and Captain Befwin IS mother, whose
provider met hero g death in the SER;
vice of humanity.
So earnest have BEEN the requests
that T b g j ournal foster. this fund,
that this paper will open it's columns to
the worthy purpose, and has opened the
memorial with contribution of 500.
This will provide a nucleus for the
fund be opened, and with the contri-
buttons that will be made, will be
turned over to the widow, with the com
pliments of citizens, who realize and
desire to show their appreciation Of the
devotion and sacrifice of firemen which
is out of all proportion to their salaries.
Tho Captain Berwin carried some in
surance and the Firemen IS Relief asso-
citation will assist with the pension
fund Of 500 monthly for the widow, the
aggregate is woefully inadequate. In
addition to herself and four children,
the oldest Of whom is only IL, the sup
port Of Captain Berwin s aged mother,
which has been provided from the
meager income of Captain Berwin, now
devolves upon the widow, a woman Of
bear the burden. She must also pay the
| balance of between 5000 and 500 due
| on their home, 304 Walnut street Sc,
and bear the funeral expenses. With a
long life before her and her young
children, whom she is determined must
enjoy the advantages Of a good educa-
tion, she cannot possibly exist on the
money now at hand, tho her pride rebels
against acceptance of aid.
Never before has woman faced as
dark an hour more bravely than the
pluckya wife of the man who gave his
| life to save woman and dared fate
| dozens of other times It will be diff
ficult to persuade. her to accept the con
| tributions that citizens are so anxious
te give, but her. friends, realizing the
hopelessness of her attempting to strug.
gle thru life without them, will force
her to accept.
Captain Berwin g act will stand per.
petually in the minds Of Minneapolis
as a most signal. example Of sacrifice
the bravery Of his wife and children
will be prominent in this connection
and the generosity and appreciation OF
the citizens probably will also reach s
record pitch. -:..< Ia,
Oscar, aged II years, is the only on on
tragedy. His little sister, Myrtle, aget
7, and the twins, Esther md Ethel, aget
5, prattle as usual. entirely oblivious. 0:
the desperate condition of their lovins
mother and ignorant Of the necessit,
that funds be provided for their fu
ture. They do, not realize the darttn''
: bravery of their father and the score
of other fremen, whose lives are poste'
for those of others, but who have en-
:, ioyed better fortune than their heroi
comrade. Hundreds of citizens, the
, know the condition Of the family an
the necessity Of additions to the fire
:, mems relief and the insurance. The.
, are opening their purses and alread
the following contributions have bee:
made. ..-