The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-30
JULIA BOLTON, Who Saved the Life of Her Friend Stella BreIand.


 their residence in Mobile until recently, but are now living just outside of Hat tiesburg.
 The story of the rescue of Miss Breland by Miss Julia Bolton, which has led to the recommendation of the Carnegie hero medal upon the direct authorization of President Theodore Roosevelt, is like this:
 A few days ago Misses Adde and Julia Bolton aged IA and 12 years respectively Miss Stella Breland aged r, the daugh- ter of John Breland of this city, and Miss M. Extein, went swimming in Purvis creek, not far from the Bolton home. The Bolton girls are expert swimmers Miss Breland could swim only little. Miss Breland got Into deep water and sank twice, when Miss Extein, who was on the bank, called out: Stella is drowningl" When Miss Breland had sunk the third time Julia Bolton made a dive for her and succeeded in catching her by the left foot, and was soon pulling her to the bank, where the other girls helped to get her out of the water. Miss Breland was unconscious and Julia Bolton was thor oughly exhausted by her efforts. Both were resuscitated in a short time.
 The story of this exploit was published in the local press and friend of the Bolton family mailed copy of the news paper to President Roosevelt. A reply has been received as follows:
 The White House,
 Washington, August 21, 1908. My Dear Sir-Your letter of the 18th inst, with inclosed clipping, has been ceived. In reply I would suggest that you communicate with MT. F. M. Wilmot, secretary of the Carnegie hero fund, Pittsburg, setting forth the facts in the case to which you refer. Yours very truly, RUDOLPH FOSTER,
 Acting Secretary to the President.
 To MT. Lomax Hardy, Hattiesburg, Miss
 Since then the custodians of the Car negie hero fund have been communicated with.
 The story of tho heroic deed in which Miss Etta Bolton figures dates back to the year 1905, when the family were residents of Alabama. At that time Miss Etta was one of the few female rural mail delivery carriers in the United States. and perhaps the only one in the south. She had route No. 1 out of Mobile, and a special dis
 
 of her conduct. It reads thus: washington, D. C., March "A letter has been received by the acting fourth assistant postmaster general from Miss Etta D. Bolton, rural mail carrier, serv- ing route near Mobile in which the young woman casually reports that she had recovered some keys to mail boxes along her route. The story back of tho | recovery of those keys is one of a wom- m ctr Far | property with which she was intrusted | Miss Bolton had a frightful experience | in battling with the clements on a trip | covering her route last month, and barely | saved her life while clnging to the mail | of Uncle Sam. She was driving her mail | wagon across a swollen stream over a l rickety bridge, when, just as she reached | the middle, the structure gave way, and | suddenly deposited Miss Bolton, her horse wagon and contents into the turbulent waters. There was something doing right | then, for that young woman, with rare | presence of mind and exceptional pluck | managed to extrcate herself from the debris and the struggling horse and to | gain the shore.
 'The wagon, horse and contents of the vehicle were doing their best to make an end of all but Miss Bolton plunged again into the torrent and worked like a heroine of old to rescue her property. Nearly exhausted she finally gained the bank. having saved every sack and pouch of mail. But the wagon was a wreck and V'es left. She finally got back to the | postoffice and reported, and the keys were afterwar1 found by farmer who lived l near the scene of the accident" When the news of this intrepdity and heroism on the part of the fair and fear less rural mail carrier reached Washing