Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-02-22
GEORGE H. DANA, JR.,
TECH BOY, GIVEN HERO
MEDAL BY CONGRESS
George H, Dana, Jru Savah,
nahl Receives Award for He
roiC Rescue of AviatorS From
Drowning Off Tybee

For bravely rescuing two men from
drowning while storm ragged over Ty-
bee island, George H. Dana, Jr., of Sa-
vannah nineteen years old, a freshman
at the Georgia Tech, Sunday received
medal from congress.
The rescue was one of the most dar-
ing ever recorded, and the United States
congress, in recognition of the deed,
presented young Dana with large sill
yer medal, inscribed ITO George H. Da-
ma, Jr.. for bravely rescuing two men.
June 20, 1915" and ain testimony or
heroic deeds in saving lives from the
perils of the sea-"
The two men were A. c. Beach, an
aviator, and Edgar F. Davis, photoS-
raphers- They were flying in Beacn
aeroplane over the ocean near Iyoee
island June 90, during a big festival that
Savannah was holding. Five tnousaiio
people were on the island, enjoying the
surf and dancing on the pavilions.
Young Dana and Furman King an
other Savannah boy, were sailing In
f6-foot canoe outside of the breakers,
A storm of great fury came up sud
denly. while the aeroplane was Tar ou'
over the ocean. Rain fell in torrents
and the wind reached high velocity
IA gust of wind snapped one OF the
'plane's wings, and the machine Ieh ih'O
the ocean, two miles from snofe.
wares. a. man named Schultz. out pc
vond his depth. sank and drowned. Inc
| life savers of the Hotel Tybee went ar
tar him Then the horrifled croWus
saw the aeroplane plunge from ol@-
w height into the water
SET OUT TO RESCUE.
Young Dana and his companions san
| ing beyond the breakers, mace LOT e"e
! shore when the storm struck DuI W. nc
they saw the aeroplane go INTO tnT %"
thew furled the sail that would haVt
| oans;zad the canoe. and, with paooles
uyorking f,eriously, set out to the rescue
| Others ON shore launched canoes anC
| heats. all of these we're driven oacA W
| the fury of the gale except the cailOe -
which Henry Buckley, S. Kiminsky aho
| u,duard Waters, three other Savannah
i hovs This canoe reached the silhlns
aviators, but not until after Dana AM
King had reached them ana hao res'ue'
them. g. I,t+l.
| coroA IN go in a gale over rough, vino
| swent sea, but the boys, stuck to IT. Il
took them fully half an hour to get u
\ the aeroplane. One OF the pontoohs "
the 'nlane had been shattered and was
useless but the other, though leaKlns
badly. held the wreckage on the surIac'
until the boys arrived.
Il ssBeach didn't know anything aoou
canoes" said young. Dana, and ne trie'
| TO stand up. This nearly turned u
over But we pulled him down ana man
aged to get back to shore
THOUSANDS SEE RESCUE
Thousands of people had gathered OF
the beach while the daring rescue was
taking place, and the ywelcomed the an
coming canoes with shouts and CHEERS
Willing arms pulled the nearly exhaust
cd bows and the men whom they res
cued out of the little boats anu carried
them into the hotel.
/ Shortly afterwards, congress- votee
medals for all five of the boys-Dana
King. Buckley, Kiminsky and Waters.
| Dana's medal was delivered in Savan
nah Saturday; his father, G. II. Dana
2212 Barnard street, gave it to Miss
Eleanor Cosens, of Savannah, to bring
up' to him. Miss Cosens arrived in At
I lanta Sunday to visit Miss Della John
! ston, 81 Peachtree place, and, wheI
Dana called that afternoon, he received
the medal.