The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1909-11-06
FIFTY HERO
MEDALS AWARDED
Carnegie Fund Commission Also
Grants $4,000.
PHILADELPHIA HERO

Lonsshorsman Who Fought His way
Through Fire and Smoke In Burn
Ino Steamers Hold and Rescued
Workmen GETS Silver Medal and
$1,000.
Pittsburg. Nov. with the regu-
lar fall meeting Of the Carnegie Hero
Fund Commission came the rewarding
CT fifty persons throughout this coun-
try and Canada for acts OF bravery and
illustrious conduct called to the atten-
tion of the commission during the past
three months With the exception OF
one award. made to citizen OF Can
ada. the entire list OF persons remem-
hered by the Carnegie commission are
residents of the United States. twenty
two being persons living in Ohio.
Approximately $4,000, twenty-three
silver and twentyscyen bronze medals
we're awarded by the action OF the
yleeting OF the commission. Or the
fifty heroic acts approved fourteen OF
the persons responsible for them met
their death. In these cases next OF
kin received the award.
A Philadelphia Hero.
In Philadelphia the commission
found William NJ. Edwards. a long
shoreman. twenty-five years OF age
who forgot race prejudice in his anx'
iety to beOf service to his fellow men.
While the Arcadia. a freight steam
er. plying between Hamburg and Phil
adelphla. was being unlOaded during
June. 1908, an explosion in the cargo
occurred. Most OF the stevedores
working below decks were knocked
down and bruised. some being burned.
Many OF the workers deserted the
ship. Smoke and flames came from
the matches. Cries and groans OF the
injured persons below decks came to
the party of men waiting on deck.
Edwards volunteered to attempt the
rescue Of the imprisoned men. Tying
a rope TO a block. Edwards slid into
the burning hold. but could find moth
ing. Hearing groans. he deserted his
guide rope, and. bending low, search
ed in the direction OF the cries OF
pain.
After a long search he located Lu'
clus Hubbard. colored, and, bearing
his unconscious and injured fellow
workman to the open hatch, had him
hoisted to the deck and safety. follow
ing himself when assured there was
no other person in the burning vessel.
A silver medal was given Edwards
and the sum OF $1,000 to be applied to
the purchase OF home or such other
worthy purpose as may be approved
by the commission.
Boy Gets Medal.
Another instance called TO the at
tention OF the commission was that OF
William F. Sayle. OF North Attleboro.
Mass. q ffteen-year-old boy. who, un-
assisted and heavily dressed, Jumped
into a hole in the ice broken by the
weight of a boy and a girl who had
been skating on the thin coating. and
buoyed the couple up until assistance
came. Young Sayle refused aid himself
until the couple had been taken from
the ice hole and were on their way to
safety.
In each of the fifty awards human
interest story of real heroism Is told.
One hundred and six applicants for
medals and monetary reward we're
considered by the commission at the
meeting, but only an even half hun
dred were successful
Among the persons recognized by
the commission are:
Theodore II. Homer. colored, Phila'
delphia
II. F. Kennard. Chester, Pa.
Albert Guildoo. Wampum, Pa.
w. G. Buley, Clifton Heights. Pa.
r. II. Reeder Bordentown. n. J.
w. NJ. Edwards. Philadelphia.