Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-06-25
John johnson, Fireman Of US. Nine
Planter, Rescues Willie Curry
al c. 8 0. Coal Pier.
FINE EXHIBITION OF BRAVERY
Pushing Through Crowd Of Negroes,
Who Calmly Watched tsd's Pitifui
Struggle, Seaman Plunses Into For
~ Feet Of Water Without Waiting
to Remove Even His Hat.

BY a thrilling exhibition of brav-
cry and reckless daring. John
Johnson, a fireman of the crew of the
United States mine-planter Mills,
saved Willie Curry, a tlye-year-old boy.
from a watery grave yesterday about
noon at Chesapeake 4 Ohio coal dock.
No. 9. johnson was on board the
Mills when he heard the cry OF boy
overheard and, dashing across the
coal pier, he pushed through crowd
OF negroes, who were watching the
little fellow struggling In the water,
and plunged headlong into the river
without waiting to remove even SO
much as his hat. With rev power
full strokes. Johnson was beside the
lad and. grabbing him In one arm, ne
swan back to the pier.
After the boy was safely landed.
johnson cody climbed TO the top OF
the dock and walked back to the Mills
TO change his clothing. The fireman
was very modest about the affair and
apparently did not think that he had
done anything out of the ordinary IN
leaping overheard fully dressed and
bringing the boy to safety.
In Forty Feet of Water.
Together with two small companions,
boy and a girl, the little Curry boy
was sitting On the edge of coal dock NO.
3 fishing and his line became tangled.
In leaning over to adjust the line. the
ycungstcr lost his balance and pluns-
ed into the water, which Is about 40
feet deep at that point. The little
girl Immediately screamed and soon
crowd Of negro coal trimmers and
others employed around the docks,
gathered on the scene. The boy
could not swim and he was faring very
badly In the deep water. Several OF
the railroad officials, who were on top
Of the trestle On coal pier No. 3. yell
ed to the negroes to leap into the
water and save the boy. but none OF
them stirred. In the meantime, the
boy had sunk once and was getting
weaker and weaker from his efforts to
keep on the surface of the water.
Throws Negroes Right and Left.
When he heard the cry for help.
Johnson was On board the Mills, which
was tied up at the bulkhead between
the passenger pier and coal dock, No.
2. The fireman leaped to the bulk
head and ran across the pier. There
he encountered crowd OF negroes,
VINO were lining the edge OF the dock.
iRtcnt,y engaged in watching the pitt
full struggling of the little boy in the
water Brushing negroes to the right
r,F4 r<k 10. tr 20 h,
edge OF the dock and instantly leaped
overheard and swan to the rescue or
the boy He seized the little fellow
just as he was going down the sec
ond time
When Johnson swan back to the
pier with the boy. some OF the men on
the dock had presence Of mind enough
to lower a rope and the sailor made
II fast under the lads arm Then
those on the pier hauled the boy to
the deck OF the dock. Johnson then
climbed up On the pier and. after see
ing that the boy was none the worse
for his ducking, he returned to the
Mills.
"where's Ny Hat"
The little boy was very much fright
eDed by his ducking and il was some
time after he was hauled upon the
dock that he recovered his composurc.
His FIRST words were: Where's my
hat Hatiess and his clothing drip
ping with water. the boy, In company
with mis- two companions, started for
his home.
Superintendent OF Terminals r. |.
Ford and other OF the officials OF the
railway. who were on the top of the
trestle on pier. No. when the scci-
dent occurred. say that the feat OF
the fireman was a brave and daring
one. The man did not hesitate an in
slant after hearing the cry for help
and plunged overheard with all his
heavy clothing and shoes or.