Evening star., 1926-10-30
CARNEGIE MEDAL AWARDED
TO HERO KILLED AT CROSSING
Alexander +. Dunn Lost Life
in Futile Effort to Save
Boy Here.
Widow, III, Will Receive
Monthly Stipend of S55
for Life.

Alexander F. Dunn Of Gaithersburg.
Md. who gave his life last February
S in futile attempt to rescue Alex
ander Gregory, 9 years old, when the
boy was crossing the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad tracks at Takoma Park
on his way to school, was today given
a posthumous award Of the silver Car
negie medal for heroism. Mrs. Dunn.
who still lives in GaitherSburg, will
receive the benefits of $55 a month
that accompanies the award.
Alexander Gregory was the son Of
Mr.. and Mrs. w. f.. Gregory, IA
Cleveland Park avenue. Takoma Park.
Dunn saw the boy stop on the north
side Of the crossing while local No. 81
from Washington to Cumberla nd
pulled out, and there start across the
tracks around the end of the local
and directly in the path of the Capt.
tai Limited.
Tried to Pull BOY Back
He waved frantically for the youth
to remain where he was, but the boy.
evidently in A hurry to reach his
school, went on across the tracks
Dunn rushed to the lad and grasped
his coat tc pull him back. knowing
that if he missed he would meet in
stant death The train struck them
both at 60-miles an hour. hurling the
bodies 100 feet into ravine.
Bystanders declared that the boy
walked inadvertently into the path of
the train. and that Dunn voluntarily
gave up his life to try and save him.
Officials of the railroad paid tribute
to Dunns bravery and promised his
widow that he would be recognized
and that she would receive railroad
benefits.
Interviewed by Star reporter to-
day, Mrs. Dunn declared that she had
been in the hospital for the last six
weeks. and that when she went in
she had not expected to live through
an operation. She is recovering, how
ever. and says that she will soon be
we'll again.
Mrs. Dunn is a widow for the
second time. Her first husband. w.
r. Fischer. died about five years ago,
leaving her with four chidren-Ethel
May, now "a; Florence, 20: Lillian, Il,
anu William Russell, Is, all of whom
retained their fathers name.
Ethel May has lived with relatives
of her fathers since his death, but
the other children have been living
at home.
One Giri in High School.
Il am trying to give Lillian an edu
cation said Mrs. Dunn. she goes
to high school.
II cannot afford to educate them
all. Florence has had to work since
she was a baby. and got no further
than the fifth grade. Therefore, she
cannot get anything better than
housework. At the present time she
is not working, as she has had to
care for me for two months, Bill is
also out of job.
Bill is a house carpenters helper.
He has not had work for some time"
she said
Mrs. Dunn sat in the clean little
parlor of her tiny home, talking about
her misfortunes as though they were
those OF some one else. She has a
brave smile and kind, motherly ewes.
Her face is lined with signs of a long,
hard struggle against the heavy odds
Of a hard life
Received $500 From Road.
When asked what she received from
the railroad after the tragic death of
her husband, she replied that she had
received $4,000. More than 5000 Of
this amount she had spent for doctors
bills. Her husband, she said, had
worked for the railroad 81 years and
was entitled to pension, but would
not take it as he did not wish to re-
tire.
II asked for the pension" she said.
but could not afford to hire lawyers,
and therefore could not get it, / trust.
ed in the railroad to do the right
thing by me. They gave me- the mort.
gage on my house and property.
which is valued AT $4,000, and my
$500 claim"
W hat do YOU expect to do when
Your $500 is gone" she was asked.
II don't know" she smiled. but we
will manage somehow. That SIS
month from the Carnegie benefit will
come in mighty handy"