Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-07-05
BRAVE LAD CL|NGS
TO TIES OF BRIDGE,
UNDER TROLLEY CAR
Son of Samuel B. Medkef Saves
Himself Unscathed; Father and
Sister Are Knocked Off.
REAL MOVIE AT RED CLAY

Little Allen Mcdl1cff, son Of Samuel i.
Mcdkcff, a fish merchant nj $40 Madison
street and living ut 227 Monroe, IS only
ten wears old, but he has that rare com
hination of pluck and presence OF mnd
that go to make up the real thing IN
hcroism. Through it, he saved himself
YESTERDAY from what might have been
death. and at the best the sort Of injuries
which his father and sister are now suffer
ing. because they were hnockcd of .
bridge by trolley car.
What Allen did was TO fling himself
down on the bridge, worm his WAY TO the
outside edge of the Trestle, get under the
ties and hang on by the hands Ike a
human pendulum as the car passed over
head and until he was rescued from the
dangerous position he was In. Neither his
father nor sister could initiate his per
Torrance and were bumped overheard.
That they escaped death seems little short
Of marvellous II was all just like movie
Of the hair-raising type where Pauline
or some other lady OF heroic quality docs
slIper-circus stunts in peril OF life and
limb. only there was no camera man
there to "shoot' the picture. Here's how 1t
happened:
AiedkcfT took his two children Allen
and Mary, the latter Of whom Is fourteen,
out TO Brandywine Springs Park for an
afternoons fun. and the youngsters en-
loved themselves as only youngsters
can on the Fourth Of July st q pleasure
park with an indulgent father.
But when it came time 10 go home
things weren't so pleasant. The park was
damned with people and everybody
seemed TO want TO 90 cItyward at once,
with a much-embarrassed trolley service
I'd handle them.
Nedkeff tried half dozen times to get
himself and the children aboard car,
but failed. Finally, despairing Of getting
transportation he decided TO walk into
town a part OF the way at least, hoping that
he might be able 70 get aboard car
little further cItyward.
So he and Allen and Mary started out,
using the trolley right Of way as the best
obtainable road When they came 10 the
bridge across Red Clay Creek, not far
from the park they thought all was safe
for crossing just at the moment.
They began the journey, but in the
middle Of il 3 car suddenly hove IN sight
from the direction Of town, and making
fast time toward the park. Medkef and
his little ones were caught.
The father saw the danger, and might
have been able TO save himself by making
q quick scamper back. But handicapped
bv the presence Of the children, his flesh
and blood, this was not TO Oe thought OF
The little girl, naturally, was first to be
considered, being unable TO help herself
IN the way her father or her agile younger
brother might be expected to do.
The car was approaching at such q
rate of speed that AIedkef cav some
thing must be done quickly. The only
thing he could do was TO make frantlc
signals TO the motorInan to stop. This the
motor1nan tried TO do, realizing that the
three figures on the bridge ahead OF hum
stood in danger Of death under the wheels
of his car. or through being knocked of
the bridge into the creek.
And yet stop he couldn't Little Allen 6
mind had been working swiftly. de saw
one chance and took it. Flnglng himself
down on the narrow structure TO the edge
and worming over so that he could hold
on 10 the ties and hang down under the
bridge and the crossing car.
Meanwhile the car came on, struck hls
father and sister and knocked them of.
Ready hands In plenty went to their assls-
lance, while others dragged Allen unscath-
cd TO safety Afedkef and the little girl
were badly shaken up bruised and shock
ed by the bump and fall they received,
but no bones were broken. They were
gotten home and a doctor summoned.
Their injuries are painful but not danger
Gus.