Show MEDALS FOR HEROES the splendid deeds of a small coterie of heroes of peace and industry whose brave hazards incurred in order that their fellow workmen might live were performed IM huu deeds of miles from the red battlefields were commemorated in pittsburgh pa on the occasion of the dedication of the new buildings of the bureau of mines department of the interior september 29 and 30 and october 1 when dr van H manning mannin gf director of the bureau and president of the joseph A holmes safety association announced the awarding of diplomas and medals by the association in presenting the hard won tokens dr manning said in recognition of the inauguration of a nationwide movement for the conservation of life and health among the mining the in n and metallurgical workmen and for tro of greater safety in these indus tries the nation owes a lasting gratitude the creator e to the late dr joseph A holmes of and the first director of the bureau burea of mines As a recognition of and in appreciation appreciate now e of the legacy that the mining industry hoi les s of dr enjoys through the activities eliou sh it seemed proper that some action tle or of be taken to perpetuate the memory anili humanitarian work that dr I holmes ef abed and to further encourage organized organize d first a forts for greater safety in mining 50 work wor to the injured and mine rescue organ WO was s 0 with this purpose in view there safety 5 zed in 1916 the joseph A holmes posed is c co opposed ow P association the association lesl te t clin of representatives of the leading states uni united tea T of the institutions and labor g and receives its financial suppo support rt v voluntary contributions after organization the society agreed to award diplomas and medals of honor to persons in the mining and metallurgical industry for deeds of heroism or praiseworthy acts in efforts for the rescue of imprisoned miners or persons in jeopardy and to give recognition in proper awards for persons who may devise or put into use appliances for the benefit of greater safety of mine rescue or recovery operations As the first president of the association it becomes my privilege and pleasure to announce the first list of awards authorized by the association upon the recommendation of its committee on awards the awards made apply to deeds of persons who voluntarily jeopardized their lives in efforts to rescue miners entombed by either a mine explosion or a mine fire diplomas and gold medals were awarded the following robert brennan butte montana brother of neal brennan who lost his life along with william G mitchell in the Penn pennsylvania sylvani mine of the anaconda copper mining company butte montana on february 14 1916 while attempting to locate and rescue two miners who were imprisoned by the gases and smoke from a fire raging in the mine that took the lives of twenty one men mary J mitchell butte montana widow of william G mitchell who lost his life along with neal brennan in the pennsylvania mine of the anaconda copper mining company butte montana on february 14 1916 while attempting to locate and rescue two miners who were imprisoned by the gases and smoke from a fire raging in the mine that took the lives of twenty one men granite J frowen butte montana and thomas cooney butte montana in recognition of the hazardous risks taken by them following the mine fire in the pennsylvania mine of the anaconda copper mining company butte montana on february 14 1916 in which fire twenty one lives were lost including two rescuers frowen and cooney not only warned the miners employed in two different levels but led parties of miners in a state of exhaustion to a point of safety thus saving the lives of at least fifteen of their fellow workers jessie burrell jones douglas avenue pittsburgh pa widow of lewis meredith jones who lost his life in the barrack ville no 7 mine of the jamison coal coke company barrackville Barrac kville west virginia on october 20 1916 while directing the work of a rescue crew in an effort to locate ten miners who had been imprisoned by an explosion within the mine on october 19 1916 and who were later found dead madge dugan butte montana widow of manus dugan in recognition ot of the hazardous risk taken by her husband in the speculator mine of the north butte mining company butte montana on june 8 1917 following a fire in the mine that imprisoned many miners and caused the loss of one hun dred sixty two lives twenty seven men were saved from death by the acts of manus dugan who collected the men and directed the construction of a barricade that protected them against the deadly gases dugan later became separated from the party and lost his life elizabeth lelia farmer havaco cavaco west virginia widow of john calvin farmer who lost his life on december 21 1918 in the havaco cavaco mine of the new river pocahontas consolidated coal company havaco cavaco west virginia while attempting to locate two miners who were imprisoned by an explosion in the mine and who lost their lives thomas jones speedwell tennessee father of samuel jones who lost his life on december 21 1918 in the havaco cavaco mine of the new river pocahontas consolidated coal company havaco cavaco west virginia in an effort to rescue john calvin farmer who lost his life george washington keith havaco cavaco west virginia henry clay turner maitland west virginia and adam B mitchell fort gay west virginia these awards are made in connection with the hazardous risk voluntarily taken by these men in an eff effort ort to rescue the lives of men engaged in rescue work in the havaco cavaco mine of the new river pocahontas consolidated coal company havaco cavaco west virginia following the explosion in the mine on december 21 1918 G W keith in an effort to rescue john farmer was overcome and was rescued by clay turner and adam mitchell who crawled to the stricken rescue crew and succeeded in bringing keith to fresh air where he revived martha hardy dunbar pennsylvania widow of samuel hardy who lost his life in the mt braddock mine of W J rainey mt braddock pa on january 20 1919 while with clyde foltz making an effort to rescue six men who were imprisoned by smoke and gases from a fire within the mine thelma ethel foltz dunbar pennsylvania widow of clyde foltz who lost his life in the mt braddock mine of W J rainey while with samuel hardy making an effort to rescue six men who were imprisoned by smoke and gases from a fire within the mine michael orient pennsylvania frank krum orient pennsylvania and august klaus orient pennsylvania in recognition of the hazardous risk these men took in the rescue of herman earhart and clyde livingston in the mt braddock mine of W J rainey mt braddock pennsylvania on january 20 1919 these men appeared on the scene in answer to a call for assistance and upon their arrival found that two men had lost their lives in an effort to enter the mine they proceeded on foot and traveled four thousand feet and located herman earhart and clyde livingston in a semi con condition from the effects of the gases from a fire within the mine these rescuers telephoned for a trip of empty cars which was lowered from the surface and the two semiconscious semi conscious men were loaded into the car and hauled to the surface although unconscious upon reaching the surface they later recovered owing to the long distance to the homes of the majority of the recipients of the awards it has been thought best to arrange for their presentation on the occasion of some local function at or near their homes due notice will be given the recipients or custodians of the time and place |