Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1907-09-17
HERO AT HOP YARD.
May Receive Carnegie Medal
A Splendid Act of Daring.

The stories one reads OF
heroic deeds are outdone in every
dav life many, many times if
only the facts were ! now l, and
many plain, seemir gly COM
mon place person has W thin
them power and depth Of cha ac-
ter undreamed of by even their
best friends. A case of this kind
is related in an Oregouian d S.
patch from the Krebs hop yard
at Independence, Fridav. when
slender, pale faced boy of II
performed deed of heroism for
which he shou d and perhaps
will receive a Carnegie medal.
The story is as follows:
A splendid feat OF strength and
courage was performed here by
Michel Haney, a boy II years
Iold. He saved, under the most
trying conditions, drowning
rnan who was fighting for life in
one of the rapids of heupper Will
lamette.
Harry Howard, a young mao
from Portland, who is employed
in Krebs Brothers big hop yard,
had waded across shallow water
of the lagoon Immediately above
the rapids. He had not intended
to bathe and was fully dressed.
In this condition the young ex-
plorer tried to cross the river on
the rocks, a trick done sometimes
in lower water. A slip of the
foot,a great cry for help, and
Howard was struggling in a
whirlpool 20 feet deep. Imped-
ed by big heavy shoes and drag
ged down by clinging garments,
he was powerless to fight against
the strength of the sucking water.
The current at this point of
the river bears heavily against
the western bank. Howard sue
ceeded in swimming there but
the steepness of the bank and
the swiftness of the stream kept
him from gaining a foothold. In
the meantime Michael Haney
had rushed to the bank, holding
out his hand for Howard to grasp.
The big man took hold, but the
strain was too much for the
young strength of the boy. He
was dragged into the whirlpool.
Both men were sucked to the
bottom. 'Howard's vitality wa:
gone and he gripped the boy
around the body. Haney strug
lgled 6ercely against the curren
and the drowning mans clutch
Iuch by inch he swan to the sur
ace and by superhuman st,engtt
pulled Howard with him. The,
began the battle with death, il
which the slim youngster Tough
sipgle-handed until he reaches
the shore O hers had gathered
there and lifted the helpless maj
from the water.
Howard was unconscious, bu
an hours work restor> d him t
life. Haney was exhausted by hi
rfforts. which eve witnesses sa
were Beyond all belief. Hi
strength was miraculous for How
ard weighs nearly twice as>muc
as the boy.
haney has been picking hop
at Krebs'. He is slight, pale
little figure with thin lips. Th
muscles of his body are small an
his sholders are stopped. I
looks he is mere child. Tn
great feat can be explained onl
" will power and this is tn
: main characteristic of the boy
gray eyes. He is working hi
\ way through the world. No on
seems looking out for the lirtl
fellow. He los. every cent b
carried in the water, togethe
with the package of hop check
hat represented his two week
| labor. A subscription has bee
1 started for him among the me
of the hopyards by the Y. w. {
la. That association is also tax
ing steps to have him recommend
ed for the Carnegie medel fc
bravery.