Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1917-07-05

and the killing heat. Penn dashed into the room
and. lifting the coal passer, staggered To saleV
with him. the scalding water above his ankles
ignoring the frightful pain of his sca!deh, swol'
len feet, this seconl-elass fireman dashed back
into the hell from which he had just dragged one
victim and saved another life.
Keefer meanwhile was busy saving the ship
from destruction. or at least from the effects OF
d terrific explosion, for the water escaping from
the boiler would soon leave so little there that IL
would be entirely converted into steam and the
pressure would wreck 1t.
Dashing through the binding. tortur!ns steam
Keefer, the coppers,nitl. hauled the fires from
under the two inbonrd furnaces. Meanwhile
Penn, having gotten every one ont OF the he
room, had turned on the extra feed pump In the
utter fire hold to keep water in the boilers ana
built Il bridge to the furnaces out of planks ialn
on top of ash buckets. While Passed Assistant
Engineer Stockney held the plank in place Penn
hauled the two remaining fires before he was car
rled to the sick bay where his terribly scaiuea
feet We're treated.
Both Penn and Kcefer received the Medal or
Honor for their acts. That il is only eNtraor-
binary bravery which merits the medal accounts
for the fact that Fireman Smith did not win the
bronze for the same days work. In helping
Keefer he had both legs badly burned, but the
opportunity did not offer itself to display the
same SuHeEIoNluSt "hN NSA'A MAN
hibited.
Some of the most stirring medal stories are
those of the Indian campaigns. For instance,
there was Corporal Paul II. Weinert. who expect
ed to be ourt-martialed for what he did ut the
battle OF Wounded Knee, but instead had the
Medal of Honor pinned to his breast.
Another Indian fighter to win the coveted
bronze was Sergt. Bernard Taylor of the Fifth
cavalry. engaged in fighting the Apaches in Arl'
IONA In 1874.
Some of the most distinguished men in the
army have worn the medal. Lieut.. Gen. Nelson
A.. Miles won 1t for continually exposing hlmseii
TO the fire of the enemy as colonel OF the SlXty-
first New York volunteers in the Civil war Tor
no other purpose than to encourage his men by
the example.
At Fair Oaks Gen. william r. Shafter was
wounded, but when n surgeon was seen approach
ing he climbed n tree III order not to be sent 10
the rear. After the surgeon passed Smarter came
down and continued to fight until he fell uncon'
scious from loss Of blood.
Those who remember General Shafter only as
he was In the Cuban campaign will wonder now
he got into the tree. but n man can put on a lot
Of weight in %thirty-odd years.
Gen. Francis n. Baldwin won the medal while
first lieutenant In the Fifth infantry. Win two
companies under him ne rescued two white girls
from Indians at MctIlennan's Creek, Tex, In n"
vember, 1874.
AInDuk uN 81 80 Wv 'NN"
Cross. the Iron Cross or the Medaille Militaire
, the Congressional Medal of Honor Is much NOR
4 difficult to attain. 1t Is distributed to very rev
persons and then only after a sweeping investiga
I ton of the circumstances surrounding the act TO
which 1t Is recommended.
:. The Medal Of Honor was authorized by con
. gress by an act Of July IL, 1862. The striking o
:. 1000 medals was ordered, to he conferred upo
il priyates and non-cOmmissiOned officers for acts o
bravery SURPRISING those usually demanded q
q soldiers. One thousand OF these medals wer
4 voted to a single organization, the survivors OF
y Maine regiment which volunteered to remain l
4 service on the eve Of the Battle OF Gettysbur
although their terms had expired. This Is tn
=, only case Of a wholesale distribution OF IN
:" medal and has been severely criticized.
~ There are slight variations In the medals .
!" designed for the army. the navy and the marine
~ The army's medal, us modified In 1905, Is a nv
u pointed star with the trefoils on the tips. TT
star Is superimposed on a wreath. In the cent?
VI Of the star is the head Of Minerva. surrounded
)" the words UNITED States Of America." II
:" medal IL suspended from a trophy representa-
nm enple on q bar with the word "valOr.' II
whole Is suspended from q ribbon.
ne The original medal bore In the center OF q
star q figure Of America clad rs Minerva. H
ed left hand rested upon the fasces and with a SHE
ed In her right she repealed Discord. A band Of sta
circled the figures. The trophy was an eat
,rt perched on two crossed cnnnons md a number
a cannon bnlls suspended from n red, white q
co. blue ribbon.
Ire The medal rs presented to the marines today
Aprncticailv like the original medal, except that
led ia Joined to the ribbon by m anchor and the r
Id. bon IL worn around the neck.
aid The navy receives a medal similar to q
.dy awarded tn marines but worn pinned to the bre
I'd. suspended from d metal bar BY \ short ribbon
The medal IL worn only on special parade
nj ceremonies with the dress uniform.--New Y
ON Herald.