New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-10-17
MEDALS GIVEN ANNUALLY SINCE 1876

Net a year has passed since 1876 that the govern
ment has not recognized heroic. service by the
award of silver or gold medals Gold medals are
given to those persons who by extreme or heroic
daring have endangered their lives in saving. or
endeavoring to save. lives from the perils Of the
In the waters which the United States
has jurisdiction upon American vessel. In
instances less distinguished silver medals are
awarded. The saving of life the giving of
succor does not in itself entitle person a medal
Medals are given only in those instances in which
exceptional bravery is displayed in which I'M
usual effort or some great personal sacrifice has
been made.
The saving of persons from drowning in waters
wholly within a state. and not forming a part of
the navigable waters of the United States does not
entitle the rescuers to medals. Satisfactory evil
dence of the services performed must be filed in
each case The opinion of eyewitnesses that the
person for whom the award is sought imperilIed
his life or made signal exertions is not sufficient
Afdavits are required setting forth in detail all
the facts and occurrences tending to show clearly
in what manner and to what extent life was risked
or signal exertions made. that the hoard Of
awards may judge for itself as to the gree
merit involved This board consists of the SolicItC
of the Treasury Department. the chief of the Reeve
nue. Cutter Service and the superintendent of the
Lifesavng Service. Every application for life
saving medal has been personally considered by
Sumner 1. KimbaH who for forty years has been
superintendent Of the TAfesavirg Service.
Awards of medals not confined 10 American
citizens nor does the board take into account the
station in life of tho person for whom medal
is sought The fact that Mr. Dickinson is Secre-
tary of War was not considered by the Board OF
Awards in passing upon the evidence in his case
The evidence showed that Mr. Dickinson, on a
dark night jumped into twenty feet of water and
rescued from drowning James +. Joy. the Oldest
member of the Detroit bar. There were many
Jagged, broken piles. some of them hidden. AT the
point where Mr.. Dickinson jumped. and as there
of -
the board decided that his act was one of heroic
daring.
Among those to whom the United States has
awarded gold medals is Fugi Hachitdro, formerly
cabin steward of the United states steamer Tren-
ton During the great hurricane of 1883 this young
Japanese rescued from drowning, at great per
sOnaI risk. in Apia HarbOr, Samoan Islands Lieu
tenant John c. Wilson, navigating officer of the
United States steamer Nandalia- In 1883 medal
was awarded to Jonas Johns, Indian of the
Ouiniault agency. Washington. He rescued the
entire crew. fourteen men, of schooner wrecked
near Gray's Harbor in 1881 About year later
he rescued three Of the crew of a British ship
wrecked not far from the same place. Two years
ago Friedrich Won AbendrOIh. first lieutenant
OF the imperial German navy. received a silver
medal. He leaped from the German schoolship
Stein in the harbor of New Orleans and swan
to the rescue of apprentice seaman who had
fallen overheard.
The fourth award of medals made in lSl1.
when twenty-seyen gold medals were presented 10
the crew of the nfebOat Of the Royal National In
stitution and the twelve survivors Of the crew
Of the Mersey docks and harbOr IfebOat in recOg-
milton of their efforts 20 rescue the persons on
board the American ship Ellen Southland. wrecked
at the mouth of the River Mersey. near Liver
pool England. in 1875. efforts which cost three
Of the bOatInan their lives. The presentation took
place at the Town Hall. in Liverpool The Deputy
Mayor of Liverpool presided and the affair
sumed the character of an ovation TO the brave
reciDients of the medals. General Lucius Fair
child the American Consul at Liverpool. repre-
scented the United States at the presentation.
The government has awarded medals TO twenty
four members OF the metropolitan police force OF
New York Some of the rescues made by these
New York policemen were daring in the extreme.
on November 10. 1905. the hour of midnight
Michael j. McCirath. OF the New York police
force. jumped from the Lenox avenue bridge alto
the Harlem Rivera sheer drop OF fifty feet-and
rescued John HaTtigan. who had fallen into the