A new article has been added at Newspaper Abstracts > United States > District of Columbia http://www.newspaperabstracts.com/index.php?action=displaycat&catid=323 Direct link to article: http://www.newspaperabstracts.com/link.php?id=34265 Submitted by: barbara-dave Article Title: Washington Post Article Date: February 5 1924 Article Description: Pigeon Rescue Page 8 Article Text: Washington Post February 5, 1924 Pigeon Rescue Page 8 Crowd Rewards Boy Saving Pigeon Tied High in Tree Cord on Bird's Leg Tangled in Branches, Member Nearly Torn in Two, When Youngster in Franklin Square Climbs to Rescue. That spirit that caused this country to send $5,000,000 to Japan in earthquake relief manifested itself a bit in Franklin square yesterday. Incidentally, precedents, park commission rules and the even tenor of Franklin square were broken. A lounger on a park bench turned momentarily from his newspaper to note the distress of an errant pigeon in the top branches of a big elm tree. A string tied to the bird's foot had become tangled in the twigs as it flew about the tree. It tugged unsuccessfully in an attempt to get free. As the lounger watched, others gathered and watched the struggles of the pigeon. Children playing in the park came over to see. Men and women passing through the square stopped to witness the losing fight of the bird. A policeman took up his stand. Finally the pigeon fell over on a heavier branch, exhausted and its tied foot almost pulled in two. Its distress was palpable and it seemed that at any moment it might fall from its perch minus half a leg. Something should be done, some one suggested; a woman became plaintive and it was generally agreed that the stricken bird's plight should be relieved. There came on the scene tousled-headed Arthur MAULDIN, his ruddy face flushed with play. The difficult and threatening ascent of the tree and out onto the weak branch gave him no problem. "Gee!" he said promptly, "I'll skin up there and get the birdie in a minute if the cop won't bother me." The "cop" assured him it would be all right. So the youngster took off his shoes and prepared for his climb to the expressed apprehensions of many of those in the crowd. It took him several minutes to negotiate the trunk. Then the crowd held its breath while he slid out on the branch. But he got to the pigeon, extricated it and dropped it into waiting hands below. Then the boy came down and it was supposed to be all over, but it wasn't. An elderly man rushed forward and thrust a dollar bill into the bewildered youngster's hands; a woman give a quarter; there came others and in a few minutes Arthur had been rewarded with more than $2. "Gee!" he exclaimed grinning shyly. "I hope some of you all will tell my mother; she won't know where I got all this money." Arthur is the son of R. F. MAULDIN, who resides at 467 M street northwest. He attends Columbia Junior High school. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ DC-Old-News ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ NewspaperAbstracts.com - Finding our ancestors in the news! TM http://www.NewspaperAbstracts.com