The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-05-17
TRIBUTE is PAID TO
BLOCK ISLAND HEROES

your voyage OF life you VIII receive man
sions OF gold"
Capt Smith and the other seven mem
bers OF the Elsie's crew were asked after
they had received the medals TO face the
interior. and then at the instance OF SEN
ator Littleheld the church interior rang
with three mighty cheers.
Gen. Charles A. Wilson, United states
district attorney . was next calico upon ,
learned and instructive address said In
part:
"This day. in commemoration OF one
OF the most heartrending marine disas-
ters OF modern times. takes wider
range than simply the presentation OF
medas-richly deserved souvenirs-to a
II is the heroes of the sea that today we
have assembled TO honor and TO pay fulI
tribute 10 the splendid manhood OF this
day and OF this generation.
The Larchmont disaster anorded
striking example of devotion To duty by
the life savers of the Block Island sta
tions, and il has been of such character
as to attract especial attention or the
general government"
Gen. Wilson referred TO the manner in
which George w. Gardiner and Senator
George Peabody Wetmore had accom-
plished the recognition or the splendid
services rendered by the crews OF the
fishing vessels In rescuing the survivors
of the wreck of the Iarchmont. He said:
"These medals are artistic In design and
of solid silver: they are genuine like the
gratitude of the country to you volunteer
life savers who are today so .signally hon.
ored.
Wear these medals always They will
not make you rich in gold or silver, but
the knowledge that you honorably won
them in rescuing the survivors OF that
terrible disaster will give you conscious
pride OF duty we'll done.
George w Gardiner then presented the
silver medals awarded by the secretary
OF the treasury to the crew OF the Elsie,
and In addition to presenting the medals
he read the certificate signed by Secre-
tary George r. Cortelyou, which. proper
ly engrossed, was presented to each MEM
ber OF the Elsies crew. The text OF tho
certificate was as follows:
There is transmitted herewith a silver
medal OF honor. awarded to you by this
| department under acts of congress ap-
! proved June 20, 1874 and May a. 1882 for
gallant conduct I'm saving life upon the
/ occasion OF the disaster to the steamer
! Larchmont in Block Island sound. Feb.
! L. 1901. 1t affords me pleasure TO have this
| opportunity personally to commend the
services mentioned"
] Mr. Albert A. Walker of Providence
then rendered in capital style two bass
solos after which the exercises were con-
cluded with an able address by the Rev.
| Horace A. Roberts ID. d., pastor or the
First Baptist church, on behalf or the
people OF Block Island ana the seanen'
THE PARTY.
The party included Gov. James II. Hig-
gins Executive Secretary Joseph V. Brod-
erick, Secretary of State Charles +. Ben
nett General Treasurer Walter A. Read,
state Auditor Charles c. Gray, Collector
OF Customs George w. Gardiner United
States District Attorney Charles A. Will
son. Judge Henry A. Palmer. A A. Walk
er. John Ogden of North Providence, Rep
resentative Zenas w. Bliss of Cranston.
Representative Thomas p. Haven of
Providence, Pilot Commissioners Ellery
| Pomroy George Keene, representing the
| United States Volunteer Life-Savng
corps; John B. Mitchell, Senator Norbert
Decelles OF Woonsocket, Senator William
Erskine OF Lincoln, Representative Oscar
A. Bennett of Woonsocket, Representa-
J tive f. Y. L. Rattey of Central Falls.
! Representative James ]. Foy OF Central
! Falls, Col. Sylvanus Mason of Pawtucket,
| Judge Frank r.. Fitzsimmons OF Lincoln.
/ Representative w. r. Goodwin of Lincoln.
Representative John r. OConnell OF Prov
! idence Representative Alphonse Gauvin
| OF Woonsocket Edward NJ. Sullivan of
! Cranston. Senator Walter r. Stiness OF
/ Warwick. Col. r. F. Rodman OF Wexford,
| Representative George G. Cranston OF
North Kingstown, United states Deputy
Marshal Charles c. Newhall Capt. ID. NJ.
/ Knowles Of the Third Life-Saving district,
Representative Henry c. Anthony of
/ Portsmouth. Capt Albert Church, Lieut..
| r. p. Edmunds, assistant inspector or the
Third and Fourth Life~Saving districts
and representatives of The News-Demo.
crat, Journal and Tribune.
THE COMMITTEE
The joint committee of the general as
sembly on the award OF medals is COM
posed of the following: Senator j. Eu-
/ n IF NaU Shnrphnm Sem
| ator Norbert Decelles OF Woonsocket,
/ Representative Oscar A. Bennett of
! woonsocket. Representative William F.
! Goodwin OF Lincoln. Representative Ray
/ q. Lewis Of New Shoreham and John
/ ogden. clerk.
HOME AGAIN.
The official party reached the city this
afternoon at 1880 and all speak Of the sue
| cessof the trip, and of the genuine enjoy
! ment they took in the presentation of the
/ medals to the brave men.
!