Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-01-22
ATLANTA HERO IS
GIVEN A MEDAL
JAMES A. FORSYTH WHO Is CIV
EN- CARNEGIE MEDAL AND ST.
500 FOR SAVING JOHN @.
REEDS LIFE.

For heroism in saving the life of Colonel
John c. Reed, prominent attorney,
whom he snatched from in front of a
speeding freight train, whirling him to
safety just as the train whisked by, the
pilot brushing his coat, James A. Forsyth,
of Ill West Cain street. has been awarded
bronze medal by the Carnegie hero
commission and given $500.
The award of the medal and money was
made by the commission Wednesday
night, and news of the fact was received
in Atlanta by wire shortly after the COM
mission had acted. Information of its ac-
ton was given to Mr.. Forsyth over the
telephone.
Il was two years ago. February 10, 1907,
that the act of bravery which has receiv-
ed such high recognition was done. Mr..
Forsyth was at the North avenue cross
ing about 1880 o'clock. There are five
tracks at the point where he was stand
ing. He was within a few feet OF the
track of the Southern road. Standing In
the middle of the track was Colonel Reed
Next to the track of the Southern road
was a side track and beyond that another
track down which was putting train
OF the L. g. N. road. Colonel Reed was
so intent on this train that he was shut
in from his other surroundings.
A Narrow Escape
The L. & N. train was going from At
lanta. Down the track OF the Southern
road. on which Colonel Reed was stand
ing, came another train approaching At
lanta Colonel Reed was unaware of its
approach, but Mr.. Forsyth saw the speed
ing danger. He gave a call of warning,
but Colonel Reed failed to hear him. The
train was approaching at rate of thirty
miles an hour and was almost on the man
standing between the rails. Mr.. Forsyth
called again. sprang forward and, eaten
ing Colonel Reed by the shoulders, whlrl-
ed him from the track. AS the train
dashed by the pilot of it brushed the tail
of his coat.
He said Thursday morning:
Had Colonel Reed struggled the least
bit, both of us would have been kill
ed"
AS he snatched Colonel Reed from the
track. he could see the engineer bend
ing over frantically trying to apply the
emergency brakes. The engineer later
said
81 was certain both of you had been
killed.
Mr.. Forsyth has charge of the boiler
department of the Southern Iron and
Equipment company, on Hemphill avenue
and the Southern road. He is so years
of age.
Colonel Reed was formerly councilman
from the fifth ward, and was one Of the
best known attorneys in Atlanta. He has
since moved to Montgomery. He was Il
years of age at the time his life was
saved.
1t was through Colonel Reed that the
hero commission was notified of Mr.. Fol-
syth's heroism. He is the third Georgian
to be given a medal by the commission.
&c Medals Awarded
TIE commission awarded twenty-six
medals in all Wednesda. night, s14,750
in cash, and pensions amounting to S565
a month.
For secuing father and son, Carl V.
Chalk, aged Is years, and Walter ".
Chalk, aged 9S years. from drowning.
James H. Archibald, aged "a years, OF
Gates, Tenn, was awarded a bronze
medal and $1,000.
James B. Goodman, Of Cambridge, S.
c.. was awarded a silver medal and S1,000
for saving the life Of a negro section
hand.
Rosa N. Dinner, the widow of Frank
Dinner, who lost his life rescuing a ne
gro, Frank Bevin, was awarded a silver
medal and $50 a month, with s. added for
each dependent child unoer 16 years OF
age.