The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1913-06-17

all right so long as 1t bases Its peti.
tions on accurate information When
ever there is what is called moral
issue at stake tho letter-writing lobby
is always In evidence, and it 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 OF
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 it was
the letter-writing lobby. Unquestion-
ably the pure food bill was passed be-
cause of the influence of the letter
writer's. 1t 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 writer's 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
ais 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
eminent 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.
who tried to struggle through the surf
to the child's rescue. but they were
unable to make Roadway. 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 off
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 gold medal
in 1912 for personal gallantrY at San
Fabian, Philippine Islands. A quar-.
termaster's launch which had become
disabled ran upon 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
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
by the fire, succeeded in reaching the
shore in safety.
Rescued Five Women.
A reminder of the cyclone in the
harbor of Charleston, S. c., in 1895.
is found in the silver medal just
awarded to Edward T. Burdell of that
city. The wind caused small tidal
wave which inundated part of Sulli-
vans Island, upon which Burdell re-
sided. During the storm Burden dis
covered house in which five women
had taken refuge, which the waves
threatened to sweep from its founda-
lions and take out to sea. Four times
Burde1l waded and swan the hundred
yards between the house and dry land,
and on each of the first three trips he
brought in 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.
TIL