The Forrest City times., 1913-06-20
all right so long as 1t bases its peti. 1

ever there is what is called a moral issue at stake the letter-writing lobby is always in evidence, and 1t Is known in Washington that congress has been swayed on several occasions to change its first opinions in cases by sheer force of hearing from the country" through the United States mails.
 There is wide difference of opin. ion in the country as to whether or not light wines and beers should be sold to the soldiers at army posts. The canteen as the place where the mildly alcoholic drinks at one time were sold, was abolished some years ago. The force that abolished 1t was the letter-writing lobby. Unquestion- ably the pure food bill was passed be- cause of the influence of the letter writers. It is held by many people that this Is the best legislation now on the statute books of the United States, but for years congress refused to give 1t consideration. Then the letter writers got busy and congress acted
 Heroic Deeds Recognized.
 The records of the life saving serv- ice of the United States show hun dreds of heroic deeds done. Dur ing the year 1912 twenty-six med als were awarded to men who saved the lives of fellow creatures at the imminent danger of losing their own. 1t is known from reading the last report of the life saving service that the giving of medals for extra ordinary service does not in itself tell more than the beginning Of the stories of heroic acts which are done week in and week out by men in the gov ernment service merely as matter of the duty of routine"
 During the last year the youngest person to receive a medal from the United States government for life saving was Samuel s, Smith. Jr., of Savannah, Ga. IA years old. Uncle Sam recognized his daring and spirit of self-sacrifice by presenting him with an honor medal. This boy rescued from drowning a little girl named Mary Morrison who was swept to sea while bathing at Tybee Island, Geor gia
 There were many adults present who tried to struggle through the surf to the child's rescue, but they were unable to make headway The boy, however. succeeded where his elders had failed, and he made his way to the struggling child and succeeded in bringing her to shore.
 Medals for Brave Soldiers.
 Two troopers of the Tenth United States cavalry, Levi Anderson and John R. Lyons, were given silver medals for heroism These troopers had gone with another named John R. Moody to swim their horses in Nal let's Bay. Moody was thrown of his horse In water fifteen feet deep and he was unable to swim. Ander- son and Lyon dropped from their horses and swan to their comrades assistance, but before they reached him he had sunk They dove and brought Moody to the surface. when he revived and struggled fiercely as only man in danger of drowning can struggle All three men went to the bottom twice before Anderson and Lyon finally prevailed and accom- plished the rescue.
 Capt Charles R. Rowland of the United States army won a gold medal in 1912 for personal gallantry at San Fabian, Philippine Islands. A quar- termaster's launch which had become disabled ran upon a sand bar in the height of typhoon Men under the command of Captain Rowland went to the beach near the wreck and started a signal fire to let the crew know of their presence. At midnight while the sea was raging Captain Rowland swan half a mile through the surf
 to the launch to inform those on
 board of the purpose of the fire and | to tell them that 1t would be kept going as a beacon light to guide them | in their swimming if the vessel should | break up during the night Captain | Rowland then swan back to the shore l to his men. who had not expected to | see him alive again. The launch broke | up during the night, but as the storm | had abated the men on board guided 1 by the fire. succeeded in reaching the | shore in safety.
 Rescued Five Women. reminder of the cyclone in the l harbor of Charleston, g. C., in 1895 | Is found in the silver medal just awarded to Edward T. Burdell of that city. The wind caused a small tidal wave which inundated part of Sulli vans Island upon which Burdell re- sided. During the storm Burdell dis covered a house in which five women had taken refuge, which the waves threatened to sweep from its founda- tions and take out 10 sea. Four times Burdell waded and swan the hundred yards between the house and dry land, and on each of the first three trips he brought in a woman. The last trip he found the house had been washed away, and succeeded in rescuing both the remaining women. struggling in the water. and brought them to shore. The rescued then had to turn their attention tO their reScuer who was