Many friends of W. D. O'connor have mani fested their interest in bringing to the attention of the general public the graphic stories of Ameri can heroism which are contained in this volume. Among these friends was Charles W. Eldridge, formerly of the publishing house of Thayer and Eldridge, Boston, and afterward connected with the Treasury Department at Washington. Out of loyalty to o'connor's memory, Mr. Eldridge un dertook the considerable task of examining all of o'connor's contributions to the Annual Reports of the life-saving Service, and of selecting those best adapted for republication. The preparation of the volume for the press was nearly completed at the time of Mr. Eldridge's death in 1903, and the publishers of Heroes of the Storm desire to express their Obligation to the service which Mr. Eldridge's affectionate admiration for his friend led him to perform.
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