Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 239, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 October 1912 — "BILLY" RUGH GETS MONEY AND FAVORS [ARTICLE]

"BILLY" RUGH GETS MONEY AND FAVORS

Noble News Boy of Gary Who Gave Crippled Leg for Giri’s Life is Being Richly Rewarded. “Billy” Rugh, the Gary newsboy, concluded yesterday that the crippled leg which he sacrificed on Sunday to save the life of Miss Ethel Smith had proven the greatest blessing of his life. Previously he had considered the limb, which had been paralyzed since he. was an infant, his greatest detriment, but since the operation, in which all the skin was removed from it to replace the skin that had been burned from Miss Smith’s body in a motorcycle accident, he has received S6OO in money, a free life insurance, offers of enough artificial limbs.to supply a centipede, and felicitations from all pails of the country. As a climax he was informed that .a committee of citizens in Gary had planned to place his name on the list of those to be considered for a Carnegie medal. “It is altogether too much,” said Billy, as he sat propped up in his cot in Gary General hospital, Thursday, with a heap of letters before him. A representative of The Tribune had just handed him an envelope containing $62 that had been sent to The Tribune office for his benefit. “People talk about the world being hard and cruel —there’s nothing to it. The world is kind and good. With this money I can buy a little stand and sell newspapers and notions and I won’t have to be out in the storms. “Folks have been awful good to me all my life, but I always tried to give them their money’s worth. The first $1 bill that came to me here made me feel ashamed, but I’ve bden thinking it over, and when I get into business I guess I can be fixed up to pass the money right on to somebody who really needs it.” “Hello, Mr. Sunshine, I’ve brought something for you,” and a woman with a rippling smile and beaming eyes flitted into the sick-room. “Hello, Miss Roberts,” said Billy, and uncovered the bowl. He lifted out a “drumstick” of a chicken. Miss Fern Roberts is a sister of Rae Roberts, Miss Smith’s fiancee, with whom she was riding at the time of the accident Miss Smith is greatly improved. She sat up' in bed Thursday and ate her ‘first meal, “It seems so good to think I am going to get well,” she said. “Words cannot express my gratitude for the sacrifice Of Mr. Rugh.” It was said Thursday night, however, that Miss Smith will require another operation, and more epidermis before she will recover the use of her limbs.