The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-07-08
B. F. McFadden, Wakarusa Her.
nit, Proves Himself a Hero.
Rescues Young Erantz and Mos
cOvitz From Drowning.
BOTH UNCONSCIOUS.
Required Half Hours Work to
Restore Them.
An Exciting Feature Of Merry
Picnic Party.

B. F. McFadden,, a hermit living
near Wakarusa creek. rescued two
drowning men Sunday afternoon at 8
O'Clock at the imminent danger of los
ing his own life Carnegie medals have
been awarded for deeds of lesser hero
ism.
The two men were Harold Frantz. a
IL year old boy, employed in the tele-
graph department at the Santa Fe
general offices and Daniel Moscovitz,
aged 26. of Galvestons telegraph op-
orator for the Santa Fe at that place.
Several of the members OF the party
were enjoying a swim. in a famous
swimming hole, which is said to be
twenty feet deep. Daniel Moscoyitz
was among this mum bers and took de-
light in swinging out on a rope and
diving. He made one of these dives
when he was seized with a cramp and
started to sink. No particular atten-
ton was paid to his condition by 9TH
ers in the party who believed when
they saw him start to sink a second
time that he was simply pretending
Harold Frantz, however, believed dif-
ferently and swimming towards the
sinking man, attempted to rescue him.
Moscovitz is large and his dead weight
was more than Frantz could bear, the
drowning man taking his rescuer
down with him. The pienickers were
panic stricken by this time. They
called and shouted in their alarm Nc
Fadden came running up and though
completely clothei,s dived into the
stream without moments HESITATE H.
Both of the drowning men were going
down exhausted when McFadden
caught them He succeeded in sup
porting the two bodies on the surface
after superhuman efforts and finally
towed them to the bank where the
friends of the two men aided McFad-
den in removing them to a place of
safety.
Both Frantz and Moscovitz were un-
conscious, Frantz having both hands
tightly clasped about the neck of Mos
covitz.
Full half an hour was consumed in
applying the usual methods to revive
Moscovitz and. Frautz. before they gave
any evidences OF returning life.
Both of the men, though very weak
recovered sufficiently to return to Tope-
ka on the evening train. Moscovitz is
q skilled swimmer but he has been ac-
Gulf andsno the cold water of this part
of the country. ''I knew that 1 was
drowning just as soon as I struck the
water in diving. 1 could feel it, said
Mr.. Moscovitz.
The swimming hole in which the acct
dent occurred has already claimed four
victims this year, it is said, and swim
mers are beginning to avoid it.
A small purse was raised among the
members of the party and presented to
Mr.. McFadden as token of their graf
itude. He deprecated his work of res
cue as something that didn't amount
to much"
The cabin of Mr.. McFadden is a IA
miliar sight to those who have frequent
ed the Wakarusa. He lives alone and
tills little piece of ground close to the
cabin.
The members composing the picnic
party were Mrs Blakely, Miss Mildred
Phillips, Miss Katherine Wilson Miss
Aida Bell Miss Minerva Lindsay, Miss
Waldron and Mr.. BIakely. Mr.. B. F. Nc
Craner, Mr.. Daniel Moscovitz and Mr..
Harold Frantz-