Medal Awarded to Terre Haute Water Man

Medal Awarded to Terre Haute Water Man

The Carnegie Hero Fund Commission at its annual meeting in Pittsburgh, Pa., on January 17 awarded Frank M. Johnson, general foreman of the Terre Haute, Ind., Water Works Company, a bronze Carnegie medal for saving a human life at great danger to his own.

The specific act for which the medal was awarded to Mr. Johnson occurred on January 23, 1920, when he rescued L. V. Shephard from a meter well at the local plant of the American Car and Foundry Company. In company with Mr. Johnson, Mr. Shephard went to the car company to take the meter register. When lie descended into the meter well, gas which had escaped from a leaking main and seeped into the well overcame him he fell unconscious. Mr. Johnson stayed at the top to take the readings. As soon as he discovered Mr. Shephard’s predicament lie without any hesitation descended into the well and lifted the unconscious man to the meter platform. He then in turn fell overcome by the gas fumes. Three of the employees of the company who had sensed that something was wrong ran to the well and one of them, a switchman, holding his breath descended and fastened a chain to Mr. Johnson. This became loose, however, and the man again went into the well and fastened a rope about the unconscious man, who was then hauled out of the gas filled pit. Mr. Johnson is married and has a family of two children. The incident was brought to the attention of the Carnegie Commission by Dow R. Gwinn, president of the water company.