Throughout the Civil War and beyond sailors would regularly hear the calls of fellow crewmen who fell of the vessel for whatever reason. The ship could have been at Port or high seas, in calm or most trecherous of sea conditions. In any one of the events a sailor dropping 30 or 50 feet or more into the water risked his life in order to save another. One who could well have been panicking and of course pulling the hero down with them.
Today's hero would dive in and as his commanding officer would later state, he saved a life by risking his own.
I am talking about Newfoundland born Edward Madden. (Some have his name spelt Maddin incorrectly)
Madden had found his way to Boston and signed up for naval service in 1873. He would serve for almost 7 years and on 5 different vessels during his career.
It was while on the USS Franklin pictured above, while in very fast running tides off the shores of Lisbon Portugal that Madden would become a hero when a sailor fell from one of the lower booms and into the tide below. Madden and another sailor would dive in, with no regards to their own safety and find the man and pull him to the service. A boat then came to the rescue of the three and pulled all back on ship.
Today's hero would dive in and as his commanding officer would later state, he saved a life by risking his own.
I am talking about Newfoundland born Edward Madden. (Some have his name spelt Maddin incorrectly)
Madden had found his way to Boston and signed up for naval service in 1873. He would serve for almost 7 years and on 5 different vessels during his career.
It was while on the USS Franklin pictured above, while in very fast running tides off the shores of Lisbon Portugal that Madden would become a hero when a sailor fell from one of the lower booms and into the tide below. Madden and another sailor would dive in, with no regards to their own safety and find the man and pull him to the service. A boat then came to the rescue of the three and pulled all back on ship.
Here is the actual General Order that announces, not only the recommendation but the subsequent awarding of the Medal of Honor to Madden and a 2nd shipmate.
It is interesting to note that at this very time, the USS Franklin was the flag ship on the North Atlantic Squadron, and the Admiral in charge was Rear Admiral William Radford. The same man that in 1862 was the Captain of the USS Cumberland when that vessel became the first victim of the battle the day before the most famous Monitor and Merrimack battle that Canadians served on. And two of those Canadians went on to earn MOH's in other battles. There were a few dozen other Canadian connections to that battle as well, but I'll leave that for another blog.
It is interesting to note that at this very time, the USS Franklin was the flag ship on the North Atlantic Squadron, and the Admiral in charge was Rear Admiral William Radford. The same man that in 1862 was the Captain of the USS Cumberland when that vessel became the first victim of the battle the day before the most famous Monitor and Merrimack battle that Canadians served on. And two of those Canadians went on to earn MOH's in other battles. There were a few dozen other Canadian connections to that battle as well, but I'll leave that for another blog.
After his military service Madden continued to make a living as either a laborer or sailings in some form of vessels. He seems to have bounced about a bit between Massachuseets, Virginia, California and several parts of Washington state including Clahalam, Port Angeles and Seattle.
As you can see from the document to the side, he even decided to take out US citizenship and did so in the early 1890's.
After he died in an olds folks home his body was claimed by a sister back in Boston, yet for some unknown reason he was buried at Hampton City Virginia.
His Medal of Honor has yet to surface, pardon the pun.
Bart
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