The Medallic History of the United States of America 1776-1876 Part 101

[Footnote 134: See report of the Life-Saving Service, November 30, 1876, No. 84, page 441.]

To Treasury Department, Office of the Secretary John O. PHILBRICK, Esq.,[135] Was.h.i.+ngton, D. C., July 22, 1876.

Cape Elizabeth, Maine.

[Footnote 135: A similar letter was sent to Otis N.

Wheeler.]

Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith a life-saving medal of the second cla.s.s, which has been awarded to you under authority of the seventh section of the Act of Congress approved June 20, 1874, in recognition of your services in saving the lives of two men who were wrecked on Watts' Ledge, on the coast of Maine, on the 30th of November, 1875.

In sending you this medal, the Department desires to express (p. 454) its sense of the disinterestedness and zeal which marked your gallant conduct in saving the lives referred to.

I have the honor to be, Sir, your obedient servant, Lot M. MORRILL, _Secretary_.

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_Henry M. Lee and N. A. Petersen, Barnt Oleson and Anton Oleson, Henry Shark and John McKenna, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for saving Crew of the Barque "Tanner" on Lake Michigan, September 9, 1875. Awarded June 11, 1877._[136]

[Footnote 136: See Report of the Life-Saving Service, November 29, 1877, No. 84, page 441.]

To Treasury Department, Office of the Secretary, Mr. Henry M. LEE,[137] Was.h.i.+ngton, D. C., July 31st, 1877.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

[Footnote 137: Similar letters were sent to N. A.

Petersen, Barnt Oleson, Anton Oleson, Henry Shark and John McKenna.]

Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith a life-saving medal of the second cla.s.s, which has been awarded to you, under authority of the seventh section of the Act of Congress approved June 20, 1874, in recognition of your services in saving the lives of the crew of the barque "Tanner," consisting of nine men, who were wrecked near the entrance to the harbor of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on the 9th of September, 1875.

The ingenuity, skill and heroic daring displayed by you and your companions in effecting the difficult and dangerous rescue of these men upon the occasion referred to, is felt to merit the highest commendation and to amply justify the award of this medal.

I have the honor to be, Sir, very respectfully, John SHERMAN, _Secretary_.

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_Captain Charles H. Smith, of the Light-House Tender "Rose," for rescuing a boy from drowning in the Christiana River, Wilmington, Delaware, September 17, 1877. Awarded November 23, 1877._

To Treasury Department, Office of the Secretary, CAPTAIN CHARLES H. SMITH, Was.h.i.+ngton, D. C., March 12, 1878.

Master Light-House Tender "Rose,"

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith a life-saving medal of the second cla.s.s, which has been awarded to you, under authority of the seventh section of the Act of Congress approved June (p. 455) 20, 1874, in recognition of your services in rescuing from drowning, on the 11th of September, 1877, a boy named Thomas Walsh, who had fallen from a wharf at Wilmington, Delaware, into the Christiana river.

The witnesses of the affair testify that you plunged from the deck of your vessel in your clothes and, under circ.u.mstances of peculiar danger, seized the drowning lad as he was sinking for probably the last time, handed him up to the people on the wharf, and then swam back to your vessel. In this perilous action your modesty was no less conspicuous than your bravery, and in addition to the pleasure I have in sending you the medal which commemorates your gallant behavior, there is the equal pleasure of knowing that the Department is also honored by such conduct on the part of one of its officers.

Very respectfully, John SHERMAN, _Secretary_.

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_Edward Nordall, seaman on board the revenue steamer "Tench c.o.xe" for rescuing an unknown man from drowning in the Delaware River, June 3, 1877. Awarded November 23, 1877._

Treasury Department, Office of the Secretary, Was.h.i.+ngton, D. C., March 12, 1878.

To Edward NORDALL, Seaman on board the revenue steamer "Tench c.o.xe,"

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith a life-saving medal of the second cla.s.s, which has been awarded to you, under authority of the seventh section of the Act of Congress approved June 20, 1874, in recognition of your services in rescuing an unknown man from drowning in the Delaware river, on the 3d of June, 1877.

The hardy courage and humanity of your action in springing overboard in a squall of violent wind and rain, at the peril of your life, and saving this stranger, cannot fail to be appreciated, and fully deserves the public recognition and esteem which the award of a medal to you, involves. In sending you this testimonial to your brave and humane conduct, I am deeply gratified that it was so well won, and by a seaman of the revenue marine.

Very respectfully, John SHERMAN, _Secretary_.

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_Malachi Corbell, Keeper of Life Saving Station No. 5, District (p. 456) No. 6, for rescuing two men from a capsized boat, near Caffrey's Inlet, North Carolina, November 14, 1875. Awarded November 23, 1877._

To Treasury Department, Office of the Secretary CAPTAIN MALACHI CORBELL, Was.h.i.+ngton, D. C., March 12, 1878.

Keeper of Life Saving Station No. 5, District No. 6, Caffrey's Inlet, N. C.

Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith a life-saving medal of the second cla.s.s, which has been awarded to you, under authority of the seventh section of the Act of Congress approved June 20, 1874, in recognition of your services in saving the lives of Willis Westcott and James Gray, near Caffrey's Inlet, North Carolina, on the 25th of November, 1875.

It appears that these two men were clinging to a capsized boat in a heavy sea, two of their companions having already been drowned, and that you went out to their relief, and succeeded in bringing them to sh.o.r.e in an exhausted condition, at the peril of your own life, your boat being also capsized in the effort. Such an action, as marked by manly energy, courage and humanity, denotes no less the worthy keeper of a Life-Saving Station than a good and gallant man, and I have peculiar pleasure in transmitting to you this medal as the memorial of n.o.ble conduct and character.

Very respectfully, John SHERMAN, _Secretary_.

No. 86. (p. 457) PLATE Lx.x.xVI.

_June 20, 1874._

John Horn, Jr. [Rx]. By act of Congress June 20th 1874. In recognition of his heroic exploits, etc.

JOHN HORN, JR.

[_Heroic Exploits._]

JOHN HORN, JR. Undraped bust of John Horn, Jr., facing the left. C.

BARBER.

BY ACT OF CONGRESS JUNE 20{TH}, 1874. Within a wreath of laurel: IN RECOGNITION OF HIS HEROIC EXPLOITS IN RESCUING MEN WOMEN & CHILDREN FROM DROWNING IN DETROIT RIVER.

JOHN HORN, Jr., was born at Sidmouth, Devons.h.i.+re, England, September 7, 1843. He was brought when quite young to Detroit, Michigan, where his parents settled, and he is at present engaged with his father in the boat business, they owning one ferry and two tug-boats. He has been living, since 1863, on the dock at the foot of Woodward Avenue, Detroit, opposite Windsor, in Canada West, and the most dangerous place on the river. Since May, 1863, he has saved more than one hundred persons from drowning, distinguis.h.i.+ng himself especially during the great fire at the Detroit and Milwaukee railroad depot, on the night of April 11, 1866, when he rescued nine persons from the water. The citizens of Detroit presented him with a gold medal in 1869, and the Congress of the United States of America voted him another in 1874. He is still living.

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ORIGINAL DOc.u.mENTS. (p. 458)

_Act of Congress Voting a Medal to John Horn, Jr._