Branch of Paul Brevere Motor Company wants to locate here, According to Letter received by Scout Mayor Ashworth and Read by Scout Clerk Oliver.

At the meeting of the Boy Scout city officials Tuesday night the following communication from the Paul Brevere Motor company of New York City was read by City Clerk Jobbie Oliver, the company desiring a location in this city:

Since leaving Mt. Vernon on June 6 the two Boy Scouts of the local troop and one Junior Scout in charge of Asst. Scoutmaster Underwood have visited the Jeff Davis monument near Hopkinsville, Ky., Clarksville, Tenn., Bowling Green, Ky., and are now seeing the sights at Mammoth Cave. The party is making the trip on bicycles and will return via Louisville, Ky., and Southern Indiana.

Being mayor and making speeches is a new experience and I feel that this is one of the times when a “feller” needs a friend.

I want to say that we, the Boy Scouts of America, are very glad to know that our city officials have the trust in our ability to allow us to run this city even for a short time.

You know that there are a great many things that the city of Mt. Vernon needs and I, as Mayor propose three:

• The first is to buy the city a new fire truck. It is well known to some of our citizens that had some of the larger fires we have had in late years gained much headway it would have been practically impossible for the fire department with its present equipment to control them.
• The second is to buy Black's Natural park as a city park and to preserve its natural beauty. I would suggest that the Scouts be allowed to care for it: cut down the dead trees, plant new ones and the like.
• The third is to buy a city camping ground. I suggest the island at Phillips landing. It has excellent swimming facilities and the island is wooded.

I hope the council will give these three things its serious consideration.

I thank you,

George Ashworth, Jr.
Boy Scout Mayor of Mt. Vernon
(February, 1925)

True to their obligation to “help other people at all times,” Mt. Vernon Troop No. 1, Boy Scouts of America, worked all day Saturday and Sunday in the storm stricken area of Griffin, assisting in cleaning up property, salvaging valuables and burying dead poultry. The boys were in charge of Scoutmaster Frank Fessenden and Asst. Scoutmaster Thos. Underwood.

The local troop co-operated with several troop from Evansville, all the boys being placed in command of Executive Harry Marsh, who issued all orders and made all detail assignments. During their short stay the sixty boys from both cities accomplished much work and were highly complimented by Capt. Phil Rowe, in charge of the military area. The local boys also received much praise from the Evansville officers on their discipline, obedience and willingness to work.

The rapid rise of Black River cause by the overflowed Wabash River, necessitated an early departure of the Scouts. The Mt. Vernon troop, the last to leave, was compelled to drive their truck through a foot of water which covered the flooring of the bridge and approaches on each side. A short time later the road was impassible.

Local boys making the trip and lending their assistance were Scouts George Ashworth, Donald Flesher, Kenneth Ranes, Malcolm Aydt, John Herbert Leffel, Everett Alldredge, Malcom Abell, Teddy Brinkman, John Ofer, Raleigh Coan, Carl Suttner, Robert Soden, Charles Hix and Jobbie Oliver.

I saw on a morning talk show that today (Feb. 26, 2010) is the one hundredth anniversary of scouting in America. That would mean the main subject of this article was born the year scouting started here. Scout Don T. Flesher would also be 100 years old now in 2010.

Hero is a word our society kicks around a little too much but Flesher appears to be the real article, a person that knew he was risking his own life to save another, and then forged ahead anyway. Of him the newspaper says “We believe we voice the sentiments of all Mt. Vernonites in extending congratulations and when you have grown to manhood, the generations of the morrow will look to you as one who unmindful of self, faced death and as a loyal companion did your duty.”

Researching the Award of Honor he was presented I was impressed with the seriousness of the medal. Nothing to be taken lightly, it is one of the rarest and highest Boy Scout awards, and is very often presented posthumously. It requires an actual life and death struggle. I don't know of any other presentations in the Mt. Vernon area.

Well, “the morrow” mentioned above is here and I imagine almost no one knows of Scout Flesher, or Leonard Lawrence, Jack and Charles Crowder, or George Dieterle, an assistant scoutmaster. I hope that this group of articles will do something to alleviate that and rekindle the memory of these Mt. Vernon Heroes.

The old dam is a natural series of rocks in the Wabash River between Mt. Vernon and New Harmony. I guess at the time there was no “Fire and Rescue” because it states that the people camping there tried for 2 hours to find a drowning victim's body. I don't really understand why Sam Fingers had to be identified as “colored” in the article, I guess it was a requirement of the times.

Sometime in the late 70s I asked a group of old farmers at Gundi's restaurant what ever happened Don Flesher. The consensus was that he moved to Ohio and “died young”. George Dieterle became the Commissioner of Labor for the State of Indiana and died of cancer in about 1970. If you can help out the old scout tell me the history of these other Heroes.

About 25 Boy Scouts of Troop No. 1 will leave Tuesday morning at 6:00 o'clock for a week's encampment at Dawson's Old Dam resort on the Wabash river, where they will receive instruction in Scout work as well as enjoy themselves in swimming, boating and other outdoor sports.

The camp will be in charge of Scoutmaster Frank J. Fessenden and Asst. Scoutmaster George (Butch) Dieterly. The latter will also serve as swimming instructor, as he is an expert in this work.

Sam Fingers, colored, who highly pleased both boys and officials at the camp last year as cook, will again have charge of this end of the camp and parents of the boys are assured that they will be well fed. Sam is one of the best culinary experts in this section and the troop is fortunate to have again secured his services

The heroism of Mt. Vernon 's youth was demonstrated Monday at Old Dam, resort on the Wabash just below New Harmony, when several local boys made a gallant but unsuccessful attempt to rescue Russell Smith, 19, Evansville, from the waters of the Wabash, finally being compelled to let Smith go to his death in order to save their own lives. The drowning occurred about noon in 15 feet of water and but about 15 feet from shore at a point where the current is very swift.

The drowned boy, son of Mr. And Mrs J.R. Smith, former Mt. Vernon residents, had gone to the Dam in company with other members of the Epworth League of an Evansville Church. With others he had gone in swimming just below the rapids and was making an attempt to come out of the water when he was noticed by Leonard Lawrence, son of Mr. And Mrs. C.L. Lawrence of this city. Lawrence, who had just reached shore, stood watching Smith struggling against the current and then notified others on the bank that he was going out to help Smith in to the bank.

After a few moments' struggle with the Evansville youth, Lawrence called for assistance and Jack and Charles Crowder, sons of Mr. And Mrs. A.H. Crowder, also of this city, went to the assistance of Lawrence, but the efforts of all the boys were unable to tow Smith to shore in the swift Current. Lawrence became exhausted and it was necessary for Jack Crowder, a Boy Scout of Troop 2 to help him ashore.

In the meantime Donald Flesher, son of Mr. and Mrs. Howard Flesher of this city, who was swimming about 75 yards away, was called to by parties on the bank witnessing the attempt at rescue and he went to the scene. Finally Charles Crowder became exhausted and was forced to swim ashore. Flesher, who is a Boy Scout of Troop No. 1 and has successfully passed his merit badge test in life saving, made a brave attempt to bring the drowning boy to shore, but his long swim at a fast speed had taken much of his strength and he was unable to tow to boy against the current. Flesher then held on to Smith and attempted to hold him afloat until help came and three times was carried beneath the surface with the boy each time coming up with him. The fourth time Smith went under Flesher was so exhausted that he was unable to offer further aid and began to swim toward the shore. By the time he had reached the bank he could not climb out of the river and was pulled ashore by Joest Wade. The other three boys were in a similar state of exhaustion when they reached shore.

Just as Flesher was forced to abandon the attempt at rescue George Dieterle, an assistant scoutmaster of Troop 1 and an expert swimmer and diver, reached the water's edge and made for the spot where he saw Smith go down for the last time. He at once began diving for the body but was unable to locate it.

Dieterle continued to dive at intervals for two hours afterward in the company of Jimmy Shultz of New Harmony, Joest Wade of this city and several Evansville boys, but none were able to locate the body.

The accident was witnessed by a large crowd of picnickers who were spending the day at the resort.

The point where the drowning occurred is almost directly in front of the resort ground but is not a good place to swim as the rapids going over the rocks are but a few feet distant. The regular swimming beach is on the opposite side of the river and is considered on of the best in this section. The boys had been swimming on this side of the river.

Young Smith was a nephew of Mr. And Mrs. Sylvanus Johnson of this city and had visited here frequently. Mr. Johnson announced Tuesday that a reward of $50 was offered for the recovery of the body.

The body of the drowned by was recovered Wednesday morning at 7:00 o'clock being found by Tom Arbaugh of Maunie Ill. Mr. Arbaugh is a mussle hunter and was out on the river when he discovered the body a mile below the L.&N. Bridge. This is at least 12 miles below the scene of the drowning.

Coroner Samuel Davis was immediately notified and went to the scene. Following his inquest he rendered a verdict of accidental drowning. The body was removed to the Weisinger morgue in this city where it was prepared for burial and this morning was taken to his parent's home in Evansville.

From the lips of men and the pen of writers have aft been told the valiant deeds of heroism and bravery of American young men, but at no time in the epoch of United States history has a more outstanding spirit of self sacrifice been manifest that that of the five Mt. Vernon boys who went to the aid of Russell Smith at Old Dam Monday in an attempt to save him from a watery grave.

No call for help came from Smith as he struggled in vain against the swift current, and no call was necessary for the five heroes, who plunged into the murky waters of the Wabash, thinking not of self, but with only the though of saving a human life. The fact that two of the youths were Boy Scouts and one an assistant scoutmaster bespeaks a good word for this growing organization in our community.

The names of Leonard Lawrence, Jack Crowder, Charles Crowder, Donald Fleasher and George Dieterle will long be remembered in Posey County. They gave all that was possible for them to give in their futile attempt to save the boy's life, and two of the Mt. Vernon boys came near paying the supreme sacrifice.

The fact that they offered themselves with no thought of their own consequences, even though their efforts were unsuccessful, is enough to make all of Posey county swell with a just pride in this youthful citizenry.

Greater lover hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friend.

The biblical proverb might well be paraphrased to read that the fullest measure of love is also expressed when a man offers his life to save that of of a friend even though the supreme sacrifice of the hero is not demanded. Don Flesher, 17-year-old son of Mr . And Mrs. Howard P. Flesher, Locust street, a member of Troop no 1 Boys Scouts of Mt. Vernon will be presented the present rank of junior assistant scoutmaster, exemplified that love when he braved the treacherous current of the Wabash river at the old Dam on July 5 in a heroic but vain attempt to save the life of his friend, Russell Smith, of Howell, Ind. In recognition of that heroism Frank Fessenden, scoutmaster of Troop 1, today received from Daniel Carter Beard, National Scout Commissioner, a metal of honor for Scout Flesher together with a letter of commendation suitable for framing and a personal communication from the national commissioner, complimenting Flesher upon his display of heroism.

The medal of honor, the only one ever conferred in Posey county, will be formally presented Flesher at the morning hour of worship at First Methodist Episcopal Church by Rev. C.T. Alexander, pastor of the church and member of the troop committee.

The attempting rescue Flesher used all the knowledge which he had gained in winning his Scout merit badge in life saving but the current was too much of a handicap.

A court of honor of Troop 1 composed of Herbert Leffel, E.S. Lichtenberger, James H. Blackburn, Martin W. Smith, George S. Green and Rev. J.E. Beal investigated the rescue attempt and reported their findings to the national court of honor of the Scout organization.

Scoutmaster Frank Fessenden today through the press extended a special invitation to these men to be present at the church services tomorrow when the medal will be formally presented Scout Flesher.

The medal of honor is one of the highest honors that can be bestowed upon a Boy scout, Mr. Fessenden stated today. These medals are not bestowed blindly nor in great number,” he said. “Only for some deed of great heroism is this honor awarded a Boy Scout.