Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-03-09

When on bleak windy day in Novem-
Der 1911, Floyd K. Morgan of Bryants
Pond, by an act of bravery rescued
Charles A. Jacobs of that place from
drowning, ii was with no thought OF re-
ward, but an act performed on the nat
ural impulse 10 save human life. Dur
ing the gale that was blowing at the
time, boat belonging TO Mr.. Jacobs
had cast loose and drifted out into the
pond; in pursuit of this boat Mr.. Jacobs,
who was unfamiliar with the manage
ment OF a canoe, had taken small canoe
and started out; when near the middle
of the pond the canoe tipped over,
throwing him into the water, where,
owing to the heavy clothing he was
wearing at the time he was unable to
swim and could only hang to the over
turned canoe to keep afoat.
Floyd Morgan, who was watching ia
cobs from the shore, fearing such an &C
cident might happen, immediately look
ed about for means to rescue Jacobs.
The boat house near by was locked, 50
he pushed into the water an old leaky
boat that was turned over on shore. 1t
had no oars, but Mr.. Morgan picked up
a small piece of board and padded out
with il, telling Jacobs to hang on until
he got to him. Cau,iouing him not to
attempt to climb into the boat, which
was leaking badly, he reached Jacobs
and had him take hold the back end
and thus ''towed' him ashore. Mr.. ia
cobs' condition from remaining in the
cold water so long was such that he
could not have held on TO the canoe
much longer except that he saw chance
for bis life in the rescue boat coming to
his aid. After the rescue some one sug'
gested to a member Of Mr.. Morgan's
family that the case be reported to the
Carnegie Hero Fund Commission with
the hope of securing for Mr.. Morgan a
hero medal. This was done and moth
ing was heard from it for more than a
wear. Then a man representing the
Commission came from Pittsburgh, Pa,
to Bryant's Pond and made a personal
Investigation of the case. Nothing more
was heard until the last part Of January
of this year when Mr.. Morgan was sur
prised and pleased to receive the follow
Ing letter:
PITTSBURGH, PA Jan. 20, 1915.
Mr.. Floyd Z. Morgan,
bryants roma, NE.
NY dear Sir:
The attention of the Carne-
gle Hero Fund Commission has been
called to an act performed by you, by
which, on November Is. 1911, you saved
Charles A. Jacobs from death by drown
ing in Bryant's Pond, at Bryants Pond,
Maine Your case. after thorough in
vestigatiou, was considered AZ meeting
of the Commission held this afternoon;
and have much pleasure in informing
YOU that in recognition OF your heroiSm
on that occasion the Commission award.
ed you a bronze medal, and the sum of
81 900 for worthy purpose to be APP
proved by the Executive Committee.
/ shall be obliged If you will kindly
advise me without delay by letter bear
Ing your own signature, whether or not
YOU wish to accept the Com missions
awards. IL your reply is affirmative, the
medal will be ordered and delivered to
YOU as soon as IL has been received from
the manufacturers; and the money will
be held for you until it is needed for the
purpose which will later be decided by
the Executive Committee.
Yours very truly,
I'm. Wilmot, Manager.
Needless to say, Mr.. Morgan accepted
the awards. The Executive Committee
afterwards decided to use the money to
complete payment for and improve Mr..
Morgan's home at Bryant's Poud, and
last week the money was received and
applied to that purpose. Mr.. Morgan's
friends, and he has many, are as pleased
as he and his family with the outcome Of
his act, which was true act Of bravery
when it is considered that Mr.. Morgan
himself is unable to swim and that owing
to the condition Of the weather and that
Of the boat, Mr.. Morgan took great
risk of his own life in making this res
cue. The Democrat unites with Mr.
Morgan's friends in extending congratu-