The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-11-18
SAVED MANY LIVES
BROOKLYN HERO SPEAKS TO
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS.
Michael F.. Barry Addresses Throng at
st. Mary's Church o. Life
Saving Exploits.

At the special services for knights Of
Columbus in st. Mary's Roman Cotholic
Church, at High and William streets. last
night was Michael F. Barry. of Brooklyn,
a famous unprofessional life-saver, who
has the record of rescuing forty-two per-
sons in the last ten years from death. He
is major of the First New York Uniform
Corps, K. of c., with which he came to
Newark last night to attend the services
at the church. He was the first man in
the United States to be presented by Con-
gress with a solid gold medal of honor for
saving lives. He has other medals that
were presented to him at various times.
Early In life Mr.. Barry became an ex-
pert swimmer. He worked on the Brook
lyn and New York docks and bathing
pavilions, and began ~rescuing people from
drowning. He Joined the volunteer life
saving corps and became famous at Coney
Island and Rockaway.
In 1894 Mr.. Berry made a daring rescue.
that made him a celebrity. On that occa-
sion he was convalescent from a long
period of severe illness. The first
| afternoon he was able to be out he went
to Rockaway Beach, Walking along the
ocean front with his wife he heard the
! cry of woman lost!'' Without thinking
| of personal risk he left Mrs, Barry, sprang
into the water and swan out to where a
young girl was floating on the waves. She
had lost consciousness and was drifting
rapidly to sea. He took her and by a des-
perate effort carried her back to the pier.
His last conscious effort was to grab one Of
the pillars.
The two were taken from the water I'M
conscious and were revived after much
work. He suffered a relapse and mar
rowly escaped death from the venture.
The deed brought him and his past deeds
into public notice, and a resolution intro
duced at a joint session of Congress, pro-
viding that he be rewarded with a medal
Of honor, was adopted unanimously. The
medal was made with a special die, and
bears the seal of the United States, be-
sides lettering to note the time and pur-
pose of bestowa1. 1t was conferred by
the Secretary of he Treasury who wrote
him a letter of bestowal engraved on
parchment. Few persons outside the
regular government life-saving corps, the
police. departments of cities or the army
and navy have been SO honored by the
government Of the United States. Mr.,
Barry is the only member of the knights
of Columbus who wears such a medal, and
he deservedly receives much honor.
II am very proud of all my medals"
said Mr.. Barry last night, particularly
# the one given me by Congress" He
then exhibited a half dozen others con-
ferred by various societies. He is unable
to wear all he has at one time.
What l have done" he continued, ANY
one could do. l never think of the per-
sonal risk when a life is in danger. My
first impulse is to go after them. The
main thing is to keep your head; don't
get excited when saving a drowning per-
son. Keep them away frcm you. Always
try and get them by the hair. This is
easy in the case of women. Hold them off
at arms length SO they can't get their
arms about you. If they do, strike them
in the face. Hit 'em hard. / never do
that when it can be helped. but 1 don't
hesitate when they begin to pull me under.
Then l give them a punch in the eye.
which makes them turn loose
"Who are the easiest to save, men or
women" he was asked.
"There isn't much difference" he replied.
women are more excitable, but are
weaker and easier to overcome. Their
first impulse is to get their arms around
your neck. This must be prevented"
Mr.. Barry is now superintendent at
pier 81 for the Pennsylvania Railroad. 1t
often falls to his lot to make heroic
rescues. He has practically all kinds of
medals except one from the Carnegie COM
mission. He has never applied for one of
these, or In fact for any kind. They all
came voluntarily. He lives at 312 Court
street, Brooklyn, and is 40 years old.