ONE OF THE MEN WE KNOW.
It is always a pleasure to know.a man who stands at the head of any line of endeavor. A man who excels in the particular direction to which he has turned his energiesiis sure to be a man worth know ing. Such a man is Capt. W. D. Andrews, the great Canadian swimmer, whose many deeds of heroism have made his name honored in this country and in Europe. In Buffalo and Cleveland, where he passed much time, he has made many personal friends. It would require a volume to describe all his sublime acts of heroism. Lakes Ontario and Erie have been the principal scenes of his exploits, and his fame has spread throughout the entire lake district.
His recent recommendation for that most distinguished honor, the Albert Medal of the first class, in recognition of his many daring acts of bravery in saving life from drowning, gives timely interest to the following sketch of his career : Captain W. D. Andrews was born in the city of Kingston, Ont:, Canada, May 19th, 1853. From his boyhood up he has been em ployed in one way or other upon the water, and happily for him and many others, he early in life acquired a thorough knowledge of the art of swimming.' Andrews' exploits in saving life date from the year 1869, and from that time he has always been ready to risk his own life to save the lives of others. The danger incurred in jumping overboard is very great. Many expert swimmers shrink from it. Andrews has encountered dais risk under almost every variety of circumstances. He has followed the drowning under rafts of timber, under vessels at anchor or in docks, from great heights, and often to the bottom in great depths of water ; and, what is very remarkable, always successfully.
From his brilliant record arCi. selected the following deeds of bravery, any one of which should entitle him to the highest honors this world can confer for saving life : Kingston.
July 23rd, 1869.—The first deed of bravery to which attention is called occurred at his native city ; when only sixteen years old he rescued a lad of eleven years of age, who, while playing on a raft of timber opposite the city, accidentally fell into the bay. Fortunately, Andrews, who was writing in an office upstairs, heard the cry, and taking in the situation at once on reaching the wharf, plunged in with all his clothes on and rescued the boy, who had sunk twice be fore assistance arrived. He would certainly have perished but for
,Andrews' bravery.
For this and other acts of gallantry Captain Andrews was awarded the gold life-saving medal of the first class with clasps.
In September, 1869, Andrews commenced steamboating, which occupation he followed for many years successfully.
Owen Sound.
On the morning of the 2211d of April, 1878, while the mail steamer Waubuno, of which Captain Andrews was an officer, was lying at her moorings on the west side of the Sydenham River, opposite the city of Owen Sound, he rescued an old man who at tempted to cross the river on some floating timber (the swing bridge being in course of repairs at the time). When about mid-stream the man fell into the water, where be was struggling for life, when Cap tain Andrews' attention was called to the circumstance. He instantly sprang into the river just as he stood, in full uniform, and swimming out to the drowning man, caught hint as'he rose again to the surface, and swain with him to the Owen Sound side of the river, where he landed him in safety. Then finding it impossible to procum a boat, and feeling his clothes stiffening about him in the frosty air, Andrews again plunged into the ice-cold water and swain back to the steamer, where he was received with cheers by the officers and crew, who fully appreciated his courage and humanity'. For this Captain Andrews received the Owen Sound life-saving gold medal.
Toronto.
In July 1874, Andrews removed to Toronto, where he soon be came celebrated as a first-class swimmer. On 10th July, 1878, Andrews performed another deed of bravery in saving the life of an Englishman named William Waghorne, aged twenty-seven, who was bathing in the river Don, and got into peril. Captain Andrews heard the cry for help, ran to the spot, plunged in and saved the man. Mr. Waghorne recognized Captain Andrew's invaluable ser vices by making him a suitable present. In addition, the city of Toronto awarded the Captain a gold medal with clasp bearing a suit able inscription.