r. Howland, was engaged in
throwing the cabin furniture out on deck from the companion-way.
Consequently, when the vessel went down, they were all three
caught between the companion-way and the furniture, which was now
washed back into the cabin, and were completely covered by the
rushing flood. Fortunately, Miss May had her arm outside the
companion-way, which prevented her from being swept back into the
cabin, and Mr. Montant, in his struggles, losing hold of her, she
was enabled to swim, and with a few strokes gained the surface of
the water, coming up near Mr. Howland, who supported her till
they were picked up by a boat from a neighboring yacht. Mr.
Montant also escaped, though unhappily he did not long survive
the shock of the disaster.

The gold medals of the life-saving service have never been
awarded more deservedly than in this instance. It was no common
courage and humanity that impelled these two brave men to plunge
within the sinking vessel, where in the half darkness, amidst the
confusion of huddled furniture and rushing water, they strove for
the lives of the unfortunate victims. The perfect behavior of the
one in his manful efforts for his friends is matched by the
action of the other in imperilling his life for strangers.
Writing of him to the department, Colonel Crosby expresses a true
feeling, the utterance of which adds new honor to his own
conduct, in these words: "Too much cannot be said in favor of
this man, who was governed simply by his own brave instincts
rather than the hope of any reward. Nor did he have friendly or
loyal considerations to prompt him to risk his own life, which he
did by remaining to the last moment on board."

It deserves to be stated in this connection that Mr. Carl Fosberg
completed his gallantry by his modesty. After the affair in which
he behaved so well, he kept out of the way. When reporters sought
him he hid. It was with difficulty, and after some time, that he
could be found to give him the medal to which his conduct had
entitled him.

The life-saving medals of the second class were bestowed upon six
men who, at the risk of their own lives, saved a crew of nine
persons from the wreck of the bark Tanner. This vessel, bound for
Buffalo with a cargo of wheat, stranded about ten o'clock