The Cairo bulletin., 1908-02-24
HEROIC ACTION
0E CLERGYMAN
ST. LOUIS PRIEST BRAvELY RES.
CUES AGED MAN FROM
TWO FooTPADs.
UsEOlIFIsTs CLEvfRlY


4 -@--~-----~~--
~ Louis, Feb. 23.-Rev. John r
tracy. 10 ye Yrs Old, pastor Of tn
Shurcn of Ou Lady Of Good Counse
at Eleventh \ ld Destrehan streets
aahed another ITO his list Of heroi,
oesds When ~ fought two highway
men with MS ~ w. forced them to flee
and rescued IA helpless old man
"hom they Wea trying to rob.
Az a brave mi this athletic pries,
long ago won Ii /, suprs. IN tg04
Wheh grand sta III collapsed at the
sa.iohai League ark In Philadelphia,
he saved the lives OF four persons nv
tearing away hea beams aud tim.
befs and dragging them to safety
~ 19oz' AT the Il X Of his own life,
nc dragged D little FirI from tanofo
o. live wires in Nd th ST Louis ana
he was severely i ocked and his
hands and arms weI burned bv tha
current. In 1905, vii h confronted by
two highwaymen, he lowered them
with a small derring !. pistol and
forced them to retrea
Expert in Boxing.
Untii year ago he was an active
member OF the Missouri Athletic chm
and II was there that he gained the
knowledge of boxing which enabled
MIN to cope with the two highwaymen
VINO attempted to rob Thomas Fergn-
son, 81 years old, near Broadway andl
Salisbury street, Thursday night.
Father Tracy went to Broadway
and Salisbury street to buy news. |
naper at ll:2o y. nl He stood on the |
corner taking to two policemen, mart
a block from the place where the snb- |
sequent attempt at highway robbery
occurred. After the policemen started |
en- their rounds he walked one block |
north on Broadway to Destrehan
street. On the northwest corner he
saw two men supporting a much
Older man. They seemed to be insist
ing that he permit them to go home
iwth him.
After parley which the priest L
watched from across the street the
Old man started west on Destfehan II
street and his companions walked
corth on Broadway and entered an
llley. The old man walked west and t,
Father Tracy followed on the oppo- ,
site side OF the street. AS the old /,
nan was passing tie alley two men !,
Jumped out. grabbed him and threw !,
lim down. One held him while the
'ther attempted to so through his :
pockets.
Priest to Rescue.
Father Tracy ran across the street
What are you trying to do?" he !"
sked.
For answer the shorter of the men. q
he one who had been holding the old o.
ian down. leaped to his feet and st
dvanced on the priest. tC
Father Tracy struck him I'm the face II
nd he turned and ran up the allev. b.
hen the priest swung on the other a
1bber's jaw. knocking him against N
he wall. He was advancing to give al
i'm second blow when the highway
en ran out of the alley TO Destrehan
rect and east to Broadway. The ii,
riest picked uD the aid man. who was +,
ized and was at first unable TO tlel as
here he lived. -,
After walking a few blocks he said A.
was Thomas Ferguson of 1919 Des. -,
chan street. Father Tracy took him :,
'me and put him TO bed and sat M ~ ~
ith him until HIS nerves became ="
eady. pe
Il thought | wasn't going To get oN
to the house. though" said the ar
lest There was a mean dog there
d | had to kick him to make him aD
me alone. For a nice. quiet clcrl- IL
J gentleman ! had quite an adven- The
rous night didn't have my little pro
ringer with me. either" the
lIao