The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1924-09-26
CONGRESSIONAL MEDALS
FOR FEARLESS SURFMEN
Big Officials Coming For Presentation on
October 8, To Be Held at This City


beach at Rodanthe. whose
brave work in the rescue OF
the crew of the burning British
ship Mirlo in 1918 won for
them three years ago gold
medals from the King of Eng
land, and praise for their work.
arc to be officially recognized
with the Congressional Medal
of Honor of the American
Government on Thursday, Oct
ober 9, at this city.
The men who are to he presented
with the gold medals arc John Allen
Midget. keeper of Chicamacomico
Coast Guard Station, and Surfmen
Zion Midget. Clarence Midget,
Leroy \. Midget, Arthur V. Midi
gctt, and TrOchOrus l.. O'Ncal who
were members If the crew of Cap.
tain Midgett's station when the res
cue wns made.
The presentation of these medals
Is to he hig event at rhp fair. ana
will bc held In front of the grand
stand. Hundreds Of people from the
Seventh District including Coast,
Guards and their relatives will he
present, Life saving apparatus will
be brought here and placed on OK.
hibition. Hon. IIallet s. WOrd.
congressman from the First Distritc
will be here to present the men. the
story of the rescue will be recount
cd by Oliver y. MuXam. chief Of the
Division Of Operations Of the L. \.
Coast Guard, and rear Admiral
Fred. e. Billiard himself. Command
ant Of the Coast Guard will present
The medals. At least that is the
program now arranged. according
to X. G.. Job. secretary of the Cham
her of Commerce who returned this
week from Washington where he
talked II over with officials there.
II was thru the efforts Of Mr.. Job
that the matter was brought before
Congressman Ward who succeeded
In getting the medals. Mr.. Job has
been urging the mattsI tor several
months.
4 Thrilling Story.
IL was In 1920 that the ,iX coast
guards were presented with medals
by the British BOARD of Trade upon
The rrcommcntIa tion of the King of
England. who stated that, "rhr
danger from the burning oil. the dii.
ficulties arising from The nrnvr
seas. the cool, efficient way in viii ii
the operation was carried out, rcn.
drrrd services which ARE most
praiscworthy." Captain Midget r..
crived in addition u handsome silver
plate in recognition of his able
leadership"
II WAS on August ~. 1918. that
the G,i19.tOn English tank steam.
ship Mirlo. bound from New or.
leans tp Norfolk, loaded with a car
gOc Of oil. seven miles southeast
of III" llodanthc station was tor
pcdocd 10y u German submarine.
Capinin Midget and his men fought
their way tO the scene against II
strong srn. Covered with burning
oil, the ocean was - sprthing mass
of flame and smoke. but ut the
risk Of their own lives they ran
their life boat In th" raging inferno
and rescued members of ia" cltw
who narrowly missed being burned
to death. six of the crew were
lost before the coast guards reached
The scene. Int Capt. Mi,Ig"ti's crew
rrScucd 10 Of the - men i'm the
crew and brought thcr safely
ashore. Here j. the authentic ar.
count If tho rescue rs written Icy
Capt. Midget. on that lay. ami
now on file in the headquarters If
he seventh District In ill' riiy.
At ! 80 y. m. August III. 1918.
the lookout reported seeing u great
mass Of wafer shoot up in The air.
which seemed to cover the after
portion of u steamer about S"yen
miles East by South from this sta-
tion and heading in II North"rly
direction. A great quantity Of
smoke rising from the after part Of
the steamer was noticed. but she
continued her course for u few
minutes, when she swun- around
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