Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 22, Number 87, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 July 1901 — FACED DEATH MANY TIMES. [ARTICLE]

FACED DEATH MANY TIMES.

Lad Who Has Been in Imminent Peril Frequently, but Still Lives. Edward Dempsey, son of a once noted oarsman, has been near death’s door thirteen times, but the portals are still closed to him. He Is 13 years old, and has walked hand in hand with death In every year of his life and never flinched. Saturday morning he met with his thirteenth accident, but that he has passed the hoodoo number in safety is affirmed by the physicians at the Jefferson hotel. The boy was riding his bicycle down Chestnut street when he ran Into a trolley car at Eighth street, striking his head against the iron part of the fender on the rear of the car. Leading his wheel he walked to the hospital, not knowing until he arrived there that he had received a fractured skull as the result of the accident'. The doctors say he will recover. He cheerfully bears his confinement and seems concerned only In the base-bail scores. Edward’s father, Patrick Dempsey, who Is now employed In a hotel on Eleventh street, below Chestnut, was prominent years ago as an oarsman and coach. When the family lived at Falls of Schuylkill some years hack the boy was concerned in more accidents than a hospital ambulance. Once he shot the falls of Wissahickon creek in a frail rowboat and it was a common occurrence for him to fall overboard while rowing and swim ashore. This remarkable lad has been the victim of a gasoline accident, was hit by trolley cars galore, chased by, the angry subjects of his practical jokes and in many other ways made the hero of Incidents of which he was too modest to keep account. But the boy survived his thirteenth accident, probably the most serious of all, and the physicians are certain that he will be ready for another one ’ next year.—Philadelphia Press.