Evening star., 1948-04-04
Daring Acts Bring Gold Medals to Two
I'm 7o46-47 Awards to Police, Firemen
Continued From First Page,

a hazardous rescue, and four honor
able mention certificates for other
firemen.
There were no police awards for
the year. The committee explained
1t considered the incidents offered
for consideration to be more ex-
pressive Of uniformly high-quality
police work than Of individual ac-
complishment ="
Pvt. Barnett was with No. 2 En-
gine Co. when a fire broke out in
the Roger Smith Hotel November 8.
1s46. On arriving there, the COM
pany learned a man and woman
were trapped in rooms at the end
Of a 10th-f1oor corridor, flames hav-
ing blocked their way to stair
case.
Knowing the aerial ladder then
being raised could not reach above
the eighth floor, the firemen went
to the roof of the hotel, where Pvt.
Barnett volunteered to be lowered
by lifeline. Entering 10th floor
window, the fireman told the man
to await his turn, then picked up
the woman and with her In his arms,
was lowered to the end Of the 100
foot aerial ladder.
There, he handed the woman to
another fireman and signaled his
partners on the roof to hoist him
back to the 10th floor for the man.
The latter, however, had been led
to safety by other firemen who had
subdued the flames In the hallway.
Pvt. Barnett, fireman four years,
has been married year and lives
at 4754 Homer avenue Sc. A BROTH
er, 1t. John Barnett, is attached
to No. IL Engine Company.
Expresses Pleasure.
Notified Of the award yesterday,
Pvt. Barnett expressed pleasure 1t.
Wallace also had been honored.
The committee noted the extreme
personal risk" of the rescue.
1t. Rouse and Pvt. Hamilton, on
plainclothes duty, spotted . stolen
car parked in the first block Of @
street NV. early November l, 1916.
1t was occupied by two persons.
The two policemen left their cruis-
er and approached the stolen car, in
tending to arrest the occupants. 1t.
Rouse recognized the driver as
man wanted by headquarters. The
car began to move Pvt. Hamilton
clung to the drivers side without
footholds and 1t. Rouse succeeded
in opening the door on the other
side, but was unable to get COM
pletely inside to overcome the
driver because Of the resistance Of
a woman passenger.
The car finally crashed into a
trailer truck at New York and Flor
ida avenues NE. and was demol-
ished. Pvt. Hamilton died of his
injuries later the same day.
The driver and companion were
apprehended, and the former,
Charles w. Scott, "a, colored, who
also was injured, died in the Dis
trict Jail Infirmary.
1t. Rouse Injured.
1t. Rouse suffered seven fractures
of the same leg and other injuries.
Physicians warned him repeatedly
he would have to have an amputa-
ton. He pleaded to retain the leg
through months of treatment.
Maj. Barrett, then chief of de-
tectives, already had crossed off the
detective as forever lost to the de-
spartnient" in recommending him
| for an award. !
1t. Rouse continued to work on
his swollen knee joint, however,
massaging and endeavoring to exer-
else it, Finally, doctors became
more optimistic.
Last November, after more than
a year on the inactive list, 1t.
Rouse returned to duty and was
made assistant to the lieutenant in
charge of precinct detectives. The
next month, he was appointed act
ing lieutenant and driver for Mai.
Barrett.
A policemen "a years, he was the
first member of the department to
operate a radio cruiser car. He
served as motorcycle man for a
time and was assigned to the auto
squad as detective sergeant for
number OF years.
Praised for Heroism.
1t Rouse is married and lives at
1888 r street S.E.
The committee called the act for
which he was honored one of per-
sonal heroism above and beyond the
call of duty"
Pvt. Hamilton, assigned to the
18th precinct. sought to wrest con-
troll Of the automobile from the
driver during the desperate ride,
although only his head and arms
were inside the window and there
were no running boards to give him
footing.
This act clearly distinguished
Pvt. Hamilton for gallantry and in
trepidity above and beyond the call
of duty. and In upholding the high
est traditions of the police depart
ment he gave his life" the commit
tee commented.
Detective Sergt. Hunt and partner
were serving as plants" In an effort
to apprehend pair of stop light"
bandits at Tenth street and Rhode
Island avenue NV. June 13, 1947.
A holdup man approached Sergt.
Hunts side of the parked car,
pointed a pistol at the detective and