The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-05-13
COULON'S HOBBY
IS SAVING LIVES
Johnny Has Saved No
Less Than % From
Drowning, He Says
WON MEDAL FROM U. S.
When a Boy Just Is He Saved
PLAYMATE, Winning Con-
gressional Medal

yoNrrv Coulon. known through
ouf the realm of sports az former
barfa~.vcight boxing champion. is
now engaged in making himself
Known .n vaudeville as The map
wba .arl0t be lifted and Is at the
Cr,bum theater this week. but
,here arc few fistic fans of theater-
COO. who know that this same lit
lie miracle man of the squared
aroma has saved 2S people from
droyufrg and that he is the proud
nosseseor Of congressional medal
for rcseulng small boy from the
perlls OF the sea.
The act Of herolsm for which
C0rlon received the congressional
medal was performed July s, 1905,
at a point near one of the East
rIvor docks In New York City.
Cou'1u's family had moved to
New York from Chicago just "a few
days before.
Johnny who was then about Is
Years old. accompanied his cousin
and another hoy on a visit to the
East river docks. As they APP
proaohcd the Thirty-sixth street pier
they were attracted by screams for
help and saw several small boys
running Wildly about the dock.
Plunged orr Pier.
They ran up TO learn the cause OF
the cOmmotion and discovered that a
small boy had fallen off tho pier.
Coul0n quickly peeled off his coat
and shoes plunged into the river and
swan out TO the youngsters as
sstance, After swimming back to
the dock with the half-drowned boy.
he hA1 t,I,
had been lowered by the other boys.
but they were unable to pull the
pair up 70 the floor of the pier.
After they were hauled about half
way up from the surface of the
river the lads hoisting them were
unable 10 bear the physical strain
any longer and they had TO let go
OF the rope to avoid being pulled
overheard. Coulon and the boy he
was attempting TO rescue dropped
back into the water, but johnny re-
tained enough presence OF mind TO
hold onto the rope until men who
were az work on an ice barge nearby
came TO his assistance.
Rcscucs at Summer Resort.
Edward Kane. VINO has since be-
come successful business man in
New York, was the youth Coulon
rescued, In his travels about the
world since that time Coulon has
spent quite lot OF time at various
scashores and inland summer re-
sorts. At these places he has fire.
Quently gone to the rescue OF drown
mig persons. Johnny modestly ad-
mits that he has pulled no less than
9S people out of tho water.
The Congressional medal, which
he received for rsscuing young Kane
was accompanied by a letter of rec
ommendatfoh from Leslie NJ. Shaw.
then secretary of the treasury. A
copy Of the letter follows:
Treasury department, Washing
ton, March &, 1905.
Mr.. John Coulon,
Chicago, Ill.
Sir:
There is forwarded herewith a
silver medal of honor awarded you
under acts of congress approved
June 20, 1874, and May 4, 1882. in
recognition OF your services in saw
Ing a boy from drowning in the
waters Of East river, New York,
July 6, 1905.
1t Is shown from evidence filed
In this department that on the after
noon of the day mentioned, while a
party OF boys were playing on the
cock at the foot of East 36th street,
New York City. one of their num-
per Edward Kane. six years of age,
iell into the water.
II appears that you were nearby
When the accident occurred and
mat attracted by the cries of the
companions of the Unfortunate lad,
you ran TO the dock and plunged in
10 the rescue. You reached the boy
as ne was in the act OF sinking. laid
uolu OF MIN, and swan with him to
tne end OF the dock--a distance of
" feet-where his playmates let
Gown rope which they had in the
meantime secured. They succeeded
~ hauling you about half way up
On the dock, but their com bined
strength was not sufficient to ac-
eompllsh their purpose. and they