The Washington times., 1928-12-24
PUBLISHER
! To AWARD
NE DALS s
To TWO

~ IWO
Two heroes wearing the blue uni.
forms of the Police and Fire depart
merts win receive on Saturday the
highest tribute Washington pays to
its valiant protectors-The Washing
ton Times medal for heroism.
Policeman Roy S. Bridges, OF the
Traffic Bureau, and Sergt. Thomas
d. Lyon, of the Fire Department,
are the heroes.
John r. Gushing, publisher of The
Washington Times, viii pin the
coveted gold decorations on the
breasts of the men in the board
room of the District Building at IL.
o'clock. The District Commission.
ers, heads of the Fire and Police de-
partments, and the general public
will witness the ceremony.
Believing that the people of Wash.
ington desired to express their ap-
probation for the acts Of bravery
performed every day by policemen
and firemen, The Times, several
years ago, decided to award gold
medals to the fireman and the po.
hceman who performed the most
conspicuous act of bravery during
line of duty"
Ribbon Decorations
The Times realised that it would
be most difficult to overlook acts
of heroism performed by other men
besides the medal winners So this
year, as in past years, ribbon deco
rations will be presented to the
firemen and policemen who arc
runners-up in the selection of the
medal winners.
Firemen George w. Rock and
William W Brown, and Policeman
jeff Van will receive the ribbon
decoration.
The deeds of heroism executed
by these five guardians of lives
and property in the District read
like fiction.
Policeman BRIGGS was directing
traffic at Ninth and G SITS. N. W..
one cold day last winter when he
heard a pistol shot and cries for
help and saw a crowd gathering
in front of Ninth Street jewelry
store.
Man FIees
AS Bridges made his way toward
the scene of the excitement,
man forced his way through the
crowd and leaped on the running
board of passing machine. Bridges
hailed another car and started in
pursuit.
The chase wound its way through
several blocks of the crowded down
town streets. At times the pursuit
was on foot and at other times
both men commandeered auto.
mobiles.
Bridges finally closed in on the
man and, as he started toward
him, the robber drew a pistol.
leveled it at the policeman's face,
and pulled the trigger. The gun
missed fire. Bridges had his own
revolver in his hand but was afraid
to shoot for fear the bullet might
strike some innocent person. With
out flinching he continued to ad.
vance toward the robber who
again pressed the trigger.
The gun again missed fire.
Takes Gun Away.
Bridges then twisted the gun from
from the bandits hand and placed
him under arrest. He recovered
a quantity of jewelry the man had
taken from the jewelry store.
The robber. Robert Evans, was
pronounced insane and committed
to st. Elizabeth's Hospital.
Sergeant Lyon placed his own
life in jeopardy to save the lives
OF three persons trapped on a mar
row porch on the second story of
their burning home. Lyon made
his way through binding smoke to
q position opposite the porch.
Without hesitation, the fireman
ordered his comrades to hold his
feet. Swing himself across a drop
OF more than 20 feet, he was able
to reach the hands of the persons
on the porch. There was no time to
stretch a ladder, so he took the
frantic people in his arms, one at
time. and swung back across space
with them to safety.
1t was all in the days work,
That's what get paid for" he told
his superior officers.
Rescued COmrade
Rock and Brown were battling a
stubborn fire on the waterfront
when they performed the act for
which they will receive the ribbon
decoration.
One OF their comrades, Fireman
II. j. Bicksler, was struck by
powerful stream of water from the
fireboat. He was hurled 30 feet our
into the river. Dszed by the force
of the blow and handicapped by his
heavy boots and thick clothing
Bicksier was struggling in 40 feet
OF water when Rock and Brown
made their way over a pile of burn.
tnging lumber to plunge into the
river and swim to his side.
After reaching the wharf the
three men again began to fight the
fire. Citizens vino watched the
rescue talked about it, Fire Chief
George S. Watson heard of il,
investigated and placed their names
on the file of heroes.
Policeman Van was patroling his
beat when he heard screams and
saw a woman franticalIy trying TO
extinguish the burning clothing of
11.year-old Caroline Queen in the
rear of their home at 1853 East
Capitol st. Van ran to the scene.
tore off the burning clothing, ad.
ministered first aid to the burned
nttle body, summoned ambulances
and within a very few minutes the
child was in the hospital
Van made a routine report of the
affair snd went back TO patrol his
beat. When he was off duty ne
stopped at the hospital to see the