New-York tribune., 1907-06-02
FIRST so HONORED.
Hiss Guinan, of MiddletO7on, n. T.,
Is Modest Withal.

Middletown. n. Y, June 1 (SpeciaD.-Although
she is the first woman in the United States to
receive medal from the government for brav-
cry in risking her own life TO save another. Miss
Mary Guinan, of this city. was apparently not
in the least perturbed when the news came to
her to-day. She has been employed in the Men
& Aikenhead shirt factory here for the last
eighteen years. She is about forty years old.
and with a sister is the sole support of an
aged and infirm mother and little nephew and
niece.
On December 10 last when Miss Gunan was
returning from her work at the shirt factory,
she saw John c. Runyon. an aged grocery mer-
chant of this city, standing on the Erie Rail-
road tracks. at Montgomery street, waiting for
a train to pass. The train was going west, and
Mr. Runyon did not see an eastbound train ap-
preaching. Miss Guinan saw the old mans dan
ger, and STOPPING under the gates pushed the
aged merchant off the eastbound track as the
train rushed past The two were then in a'space
of less than three feet. with a train rushing
past at high speed on each side. Miss Guinan
held the old man firmly until one Of the trains
passed. and then assisted him to the sidewalk.
Miss Guinan went home without giving her
name, and told no one about the incident One
of the spectators of the incident followed her
and on inquiry learned that Mrs. Mary Cor
man lived in the house Miss Guinan was seen
to enter. Owing TO the similarity of names. Mrs.
German received all the credit for the daring
act and though Miss Gunan requested her to
say nothing about it, she finally made the fact
public that Miss Guinan was the rescuer of Mr..
Runyon.
The story was published in the New York
rapers. and copied in the Washington papers.
Secretary E A Moseley. of the Interstate Com
merce Commission. saw the account of the in
cident, and communicated with Miss Guinan.
This was followed by visit to the woman from
A. F. Duffy and B. c. Craig, representing the
Interstate Commerce Commission. These men
secured the testimony of nine witnesses to the
incident, and submitted it to the commission.
This was followed by the awarding of the
bronze medal to Miss Guinan on Friday. which
was accompanied by letter signed by Presi-
dent Roosevelt which appeared in to-day's
Tribune.
Miss Guinan was seen by the correspondent
of The Tribune this afternoon at the Millen &
ceived the letter nor medal from President
Roosevelt, and was greatly pleased when in
formed that medal had been awarded.
Il did not think would get it," she said "for
l had not heard anything about it for long
time
When asked how she came to risk her life TO
save Mr.. Runyon she replied:
L did not think anything about it, I saw him
standing on the track and that he was going to
be struck, and 1 knew that I could not reach
him in time TO pul him back I thought I
would push him in between the two trains and
hold him until one of them went by
Miss Guinan said that while between the two
trains she was much frightened. but held the
old man tightly TO her expecting every moment
that they would be struck by the cars As soon
as the train went by she hurried the old man.
across the track and then went home and for
got all about the incident.
Friends of the woman anxious that
the incident shall be brought to the attention OF
the Carnegie Hero Fund Commissioners in the
hope that they will investigate the matter and
make her money award, which would help her
IN the support of her mother and nephew and
niece.
Miss Guinan is so modest that she has so
far refused 10 allow her picture to be taken.
refusing point blank when asked to do so TODAY
Though hundreds of cases of alleged bravery
have been investigated by the Interstate Com
merCe Commission since the law went into effect
only five of these medals have so far been
awarded. Miss Guinan being the first woman to
receive one