The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1911-11-13


OF the River Queen" who lives on
a lonely spot on the Savannah River.
a short distance from where that
stream enters into the ocean. and
who waves or signals every passing
steamer. They will. therefore. be
interested in the following taken
from q late issue Of the Savannah
Morning News.
Presenting Miss Florrie Martus.
the Waving Girl Of Elba Island
light station. and her brother, Geo.
W. Martus. the light keeper. with a
handsome loving cup for rescuing
sixteen Of its members who were cast
adrift in the Savannah river on the
night Of October Is when the engine
Of their gasoline launch went dead,
the Fun and Frolic Club Of Savannah
entertained Mr.. and Miss Martus at
the home Of J. A. Stegin, No. 400
East Liberty street. last night.
The rescue was made when the
party was returning to Savannah
from a day spent down the river.
There were sixteen in the party,
eight girls and eight boys. They
had gone to Tybee by train in the
morning and from there to Fort
Screven. where they secured gov
eminent naptha launch. From Fort
Screven they went to Fort Puaski,
and on theway home stopped at Elba
Island at about 5 o'clock for lunch.
The engine had given them trouble
between Fort Pulaski and Elba Is
land, but had been repaired.
Entertained by Waving Girl"
The party were entertained at
Elba Island by the Waving Girl"
and her brother and started back to
Savannah about dusk. They had
proceeded about three miles up the
river when the engine again went
dead, and the boat drifted down.
stream about half mile before 1t
could again be placed in operation.
The party had not proceeded more
than another half mile before the
engine went out of commission en-
tirely.
Stranded in the middle Of the
river they could do nothing to help
themselves. Several Of the girls be-
came hysterical and the men devoted
all their energies toward repairing
the engine. Finding their task
hopeless they were forced to remain
idle in mdstream.
Late at night the steamer Clivedon
passed down the river. and tieing
some rags soaked in gasoline around
a board and ignitingthem the party
managed to draw the attention of the
pilot of the Clivedon, who promised
to send them help.
Launch Catches Fire.
The housekeeping from the i'm
provised signal set the awning and
part Of the woodwork OF the launch
on fire. however, and the party was
confronted by a new dilemma. The
men by dashing water on the fire
managed to extinguish the flames.
however.
When the Clivedon passed abreast
of Elba Island by signalling it man.
aged to wake the Waving Girl" and
her brother and to advise them Of
the plight of the excursionists. I'M
mediately placing their launch into
commission the Waving Girl" and
Mr.. Martus went rapidly upstream
and picking up the Inflated pleasure
seekers in the darkness towed them
to Savannah. arriving in this city
in the wee sma' hours, with a number
of anxious parents staying up at
their various homes
In recognition of the service rem
dered by the Waving Girl and her
brother. the Fun and Frolic Club. by
popular subscriptions. purchased a
handsomely engraved loving cup set
ting forth the circumstances of the
rescue. which was presented to their
deliverers at an informal party last
night The cup, handsome trophy
is engraved as follows:
How Cup is Engraved.
From the Fun and Frolic Club Of
Savannah to Mr.. George and Miss
Florrie Martus in loving apprecia-
ton for their heroic services render
ed. October Is. 1911. Savannah.
Ga" Tho names of the sixteen ex-