Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2014 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== EAST SHORE NEWS PENTWATER, OCEANA Co., MICH. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1871 VOLUME I, NUMBER 50. - The following is an incident of the Great Fire that deserves to be recorded: When the flames approached and threatened the east end of Madison street bridge one of the bridge-tenders, ALEXANDER BOYER, a Swede, sixty years of age, was advised by his friends to abandon his perilous post and fly for his life. Instead of doing this, however, he swung the bridge, with nobody on it but himself, and continued to swing it during those hours of danger in order to prevent its catching fire. "I WILL save my bridge!" he stoutly answered those who called to him to abandon it - and he DID save his bridge right gallantly; and after all danger was over the old man danced for very joy, exclaiming, "I did save my bridge!" "I did save my bridge!" While the old hero was stubbornly occupying his position on the bridge, two of his sons - strong armed young men - posted themselves in a small boat in the river under the bridge, to rescue their father in case of necessity, and during the night and morning saved the lives of several persons who had either fallen or rushed into the river at that point. - Chicago Journal. ===========================================================================