Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1917-07-13

and the killing heat. Penn dashed into the room
and. lifting the coal passeF. staggered 70 safety
with him. the scalding water above his ankles
Ignoring the frightfui pain Of his scaIded, swol-
len feet this seeond-class fireman dashed back
into the he'll from which he had Just dragged enc
victim and saved another life
Keefer meanwhile was busy saving the ship
from destruction. al least from the effects OF
a terrific explosion, FOR the water escaping from
the boiler would soon leave little there that Il
would be entirely converted into steam and the
pressure would wreck IL
Dashing through the binding. torturing steam.
Keefer, the coppersnith hauled the fires from
under the two inboard furnaces Meanwhile,
Penn having gotten every one out OF the IRE
ROOM had turned the extra feed pump In the
after fire hold 10 keep water in the boilers and
built a bridge 10 the furnaces out OF planks laid
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
ried 10 the sick bay where his terribly sealded
feet we're treated
Both Penn and Keefer received the Medal OF
Honor for their acts That It IS only extraor-
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 70 display the
same supercourage which Keefer and Penn ex
hibited
Some OF the most stirring medal stories are
those of the Indian campaigns For instance
there was Corporal Paul H Weinert, who expect
ed to be court1nartiaIed for what he did at 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 APaehes IN Arr
zona in 1874
Some OF the most distinguished men In the
al Mason
A Miles won # for continually exposing himself
10 the fire OF the enemy colonel OF the Sixty
first New York volunteers in the Civil war. for
no other purpose than TO encourage his men 81
the example.
At Fair Oaks Gen william R Shafrer was
wounded. but when surgeon seen approach
ing he climbed g tree in order not 70 be sent TO
the rear. After the surgeon passed Shatter came
down and continued 10 fight until he fell uncon-
scious from loss OF blood
Those who remember General Shafter only as
be was in the Cuban campaign viii wonder how
OF weight in thirty-0dd years
Gen. Francis D. Baldwin won the medal while
first lieutenant in the Fifth infantry. With two
companies under him he rescued two white girls
from Indians ar McClennan's Greek. Tex. In No
vemher. 1874.
Although not weIl-known the Victoria
Cross. the Iron Cross the Medallle Militsire.
=
difficult TO attain It Is distributed 70 very few
persons and then only after sweeping investizs-
ton OF the circumstances surrounding the act for
which IL Is recommended
The Medal OF Honor was authorized By con
gress by an act OF July u. 1852 The striking OF
1000 medals ordered. 10 be conferred upon
privstes and nOn-comrfssfoned officers for acts OF
bravery surprising those usually demanded OF
soldiers. One thousand Of these medals were
voted 70 a single organization. the survivors OF
Maine regiment which volunteered 10 rezaaln IN
service on the eve OF the Battle OF Gettysburg
although their terms had expired This IS the
only case OF a wholesale distribution Of the
medal and has been severely criticized
There are slight variations in the medals as
designed for the army. the navy and the marines
The arrnys medal rs modified in 1905. IS a Eve
pointed star with the trefoils on the tips. The
star is superimposed on wreath In the center
Of the star Is the head OF Minerva. surrounded by
the words United States Of America The
medal Is suspended from trophy representing
IN eagle on bar with the word "valor-- The
whole is suspended from a ribbon
The original medal bore in the center Of the
star a figure Of America clad as Mnervs. Her
left hand rested upon the fasces and with a shield
in her right she repelied DfScord A band OF stars
circled the figures The trophy was an eagle
perched on TWO crossed cannons and number OF
cannon balls suspended from red white aud
blue ribbon.
The medal as presented 10 the marines today Is
practically like the original medssl EXCEPT that It
IS joined 10 the ribbon BY an anchor sud the rib
bon is worn around the neck.
The navy receives a medal similar % thst
awarded 20 marines bur worn pinned 10 the breaSt
suspended from metal bar hy short ribbon.
The medal - only on special parade or
at ceremonies with the dress uniforn-New Yors
Herald.