The Washington herald., 1909-03-19

On an afternoon IN June, 1904, a little
girl. out Of bed but three or four days
from a spell Of scarlet fever. plunged into
the waters of North Brother Island. n.
Y, and saved nine children from drown
ing just after the excursion boat General
Slocum went down with its hundreds Of
lives.
Yesterday IN the room Of Speaker Can
non. the House OF Representatives, this
same little girl, now a beautiful young
woman OF eighteen. ready 10 graduate
from the Florence Crittenton Training
School Of Washington. was presented a
silver life-saving medal by the United
States government. and surrounding her
were the venerable Speaker OF the House.
who made the presentation speech. and
moro than a dozen other men. mostly
members OF Congress. who had come to
pay their respects to the heroine.
Sherman Was Expected.
And, too, there was a letter from Vice
President Sherman. who long has taken
an interest in the heroic deed. which was
not heralded throughout the world like
other smaller acts of heroism have been
because OF the enormity Of the disaster.
Mr., Sherman had intended being present
TO pay his respects in person. but was
called out OF the city. and could not re-
turn in time for the ceremonies.
The heroine is Miss Mary Mccain. OF
New York, and he'd daring rescue Of the
Slocum passengers will long have its
place among the most dramatic incidents
Of the nations history
Miss Mccain. scarcely able TO run
about and play with the other children.
who had recently been discharged from
the city hospital on North Brother Island.
was near the beach at the time Of the
sinking OF the Inflated boat She saw the
shrieking children as they foated OF were
washed toward her. and with almost su-
perhuman nerve she rushed into the
water and rescued them, one by one. IN
Ill nine had been saved. Then she was
overcome and taken back 20 the hospital
where. after q lingering illness, she was
restored TO health.
Amid the hundreds OF horror. accom-
panying the catastrophe, little Miss Nc
Cams deed was given its place among
others Of the past. and she finally was
lost from sight. About year ago. Rep
resentative Goulden. OF New York. who
was well acquainted with what the little
girl had done. and who had often said
she should be rewarded. heard that the
little heroine was a student at the Crit
tenton institution, where she was pre-
pairing TO be a trained nurse. He at once
told his colleagues in Congress OF her,
and soon a movement was well on foot
10 have the government give her a medal
OF distinction Just before the close Of
the Sixtieth Congress the resolution max
ing the award was passed. and yesterday
set for the presentation.
Speaker Cannon. who became much in
terested in Miss Mccain after hearing
the stories about her, used all his infu-
ence in getting the resolution passed by
the House, and, following his interest, II
was decided he should make the presenta-
ton.
AS he handed Miss Mccain the medal.
the Speaker kissed her. and in the fol-
lowing speech expressed the appreciation
OF the country for deeds of heroism:
Miss Mccain, I have listened with
very great interest TO the story of the
rescue by you as told by Representative
Goulden. When you performed that
splendid work there was no idea I'm your
mind of a medal coming 10 you. True
courage IN man or woman is not inspired
by hope Of reward or recognition. but Il
is well that provision has been made by
act OF Congress for recognizing such con-
spicuous acts Of bravery as the one you
have performed.
Strikes mt PeSsimists.
There are people in the world happy
because they conceive We are going 70
destruction at breakneck speed. They
growl and grumble. and some Of them at
times. clothing themselves in hypocrisy.
are not regardful OF the truth. but mis-
inform others. II has always been 50.
but America is all right; the world is
all right The heroism Of men and women
Ike unto you emphasize that fact"
Representative Goulden then pinned the
medal on Miss McCann's waist. and as
she left the room OF the Speaker To re-
turn 10 her studies some suggested that
never had a happier heart passed out OF
that historic door.
nElTCTTc