The Washington herald., 1914-03-29
|GALLANT Grew
PRAISED AGAIN
Life-sayers Stationed at Louis
vile Rescued 2l5 from
Doomed Steamer.
ACTIVE DURING FLOODS
Kentucky Legislature and Secretary
McAdoo Have Commended the
E;;y. Men for Brayery.
ACTIVE DURING FLOODS
By oRyILLE III. STEWART.

The gallant little United States life
saving crew OF five men. stationed al
Louisville, KY. who are officially cred
tied with saving 800 lives on the Ohio
River and at Dayton. Ohio, during the
floods o. last spring, again have won
laurels for gallantry and heroic conduct
by saving 215 passengers and members
of the crew Of the steamer Queen City,
as IL hung, in the darkness OF night over
the brink Of the Ohio Falls.
It was on the night OF February II last.
when the Queen City. the largest
steamer on the Ohio. was going down
the river with a party OF passengers from
Pittsburgh, for the Mardi Gras at New
Orleans The life-savers stationed at the
falls, were OF in o boat almost as soon
as the steamer struck and by remarkable
work managed to take on every person
on the steamer.
Commended by State.
In recognition Of the crews work the
State legislature OF Kentucky has just
passed resolutions of commendation,
which, along with scores of letters from
grateful passengers and the steamship
owners have reached Secretary of the
Treasury McAdoo. These testimonials
led the Secretary TO call for a special in
syestigation and report on the incident,
which, made by Capt. J. Z. Abraham,
acting supervisor OF steam vessels on
the Ohio so impressed the Secretary that
he addressed a letter of commentator
to Capt. John F. Gillooly. keeper OF the
Louisville station. and his crew. Sec
retary McAdoo. in his letter, says:
1t appears the steamer Queen City
was rendered unmanageable while try
ing to make the wharf at your city.
and swept to the head of the falls of the
Ohio. where she struck a rock and sank.
Although the hour was 1:30 a. m. and
the scene OF the accident an eighth OF a
mile distant from your station. you ana
your crew were alongside in two boats
three minutes after II was discovered the
steamer was in danger. 1t is shown that.
besides removing all hands safely
ashore. you transferred to land baggage.
to the value of so. 900. this rescue and
salvage work being conducted in a strong
and dangerous current and in weather so
cold that ice formed on the oars and
boats, interfering seriously with your
movements. Furthermore, II appears that
you stood by the steamer for a matter
of two weeks during the progress of ef-
forts made to float her. and that your
assistance contributed materially to the
success of said efforts.
From beginning to end the perform
ance was a fine example OF hdelity 10
duty. involving. as it did, no little per-
sonal risk and hardship to all concerned,
and calling for the exercise of sound tudg-
ment In this case you and your men
have maintained tie splendid traditions
Of the Louisville life-savers, and / take
great pleasure in extending to you, one
and all, my hearty congratulations"
Women on First.
1t was task that tried the fortitude
of the life-savers to the utmost. Despite
the fact that the bow of the steamer was
hanging over the falls. the current was
strong on all sides and the temperature
registered at 10 degrees above zero, the
work of removing the passengers was ac-
comrlished in a little over three hours.
There were many women and children in
the party. but they were taken OF first