TRAGIC FATE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 233, 3 October 1933, Page 10

TRAGIC FATE.

JELLICOE'S BUTLER.

VAIN RESCUE EFFORT.

ATTEMPT TO SAVE WOMAN.

Earl Jellicoe's butler, Henry Pulley, aged about 45, lost his life in a gallant attempt to save a woman from drowning at Orchard Bay, two miles west of Ventnor, Isle of Wight. The woman, Georgina Nicliol (22) was carried out to sea and was later found dead on the beach some distance away.

Miss Nicliol, who was employed as under-nurse by Lady Doris Blacker, daughter of Earl Peel, was staying at an liotel at St. Lawrence, near Ventnor. She went bathing in a rough sea with another under-nurse employed by Mrs. Alfred Noyes, the wife of the poet, who lives at South Wold, St. Lawrence.

Miss Nicliol was soon in difficulties, and her fellow-batlier made a plucky attempt to rescue her, but Miss Nicliol was washed out to sea.

Two men sitting on the beach, Henry Pulley, butler to Lord Jellicoe, at St. Lawrence Hall, and a visitor to Ventnor, whose name is unknown, heard the gills' screams for help and launched a small pleasure boat to go to their assistance.

In the heavy seas the boat capsized, but the two men swam out, fully clothed, towards Miss Nicliol. They were unable to reach her, and then Mr. Pulley, finding the current was too strong for him, clung to a rock while his companion attempted to reach the drowning girl. He was unsviccessful, and returning towards the shore, found that Mr. Pulley had apparently been flung across a rock and was drowning. Mr. George Tlieaker, of Ventnor, then entered the water, and, although he injured a leg through striking a rock, he helped the visitor to bring Mr. Pulley to the shore, where artilicial respiration was attempted.

Assistance had been called from a neighbouring hospital, and Dr. Farquharson continued attempts to revive Pulley, but without success.

In the meantime Miss Nichol had been carried eastwards by the strong current, and was washed ashore in Steephill Cove, the next bay to Orchard Bay, three-quarters of a mile away from the place where she got into difficulties. Dr. Farquharson hurried along the cliffs and attempted to revive her, but found that she was dead.

The visitor, whose brave attempts at rescue were watched by a small crowd, disappeared as soon as' Dr. Farquharson took charge.

Lord Jellicoe said his butler had been with him for about a year. "We all had the greatest respect and affection for him, and his death has upset us a great deal. Pulley leaves a widow aud a child of thirteen."