CASUALTIES.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12932, 11 October 1907, Page 8

CASUALTIES.

HEROIC RESCUE.

(SPECIAL TO "THE PRESS.") DUNEDIN, October 10. Further particulars in regard to the shocking death of the ma a Neil Johneon, while cleaning tho condenser in the engine-room of tbo steamer Talnne, show that two men were ineide the oondeiwer—one in, each compartment. J«mee Smith, who was working in the end where tho door was off, found the flames rush througjh from, the other compartment, and ignite hia clothes, which were more or leise saturated with turpentine. The end being off where he waa working, ho immediately jumped out, end doused himself in. the water standing ia the bilgee. The whole inside of the condenser waa a mass of flames, and he yelled out to the watchman on deck to got water and assistance, which he immediately did Johnson was in tho inferno. To get out ho had to climb on to the frames and equeezo up over the plates to get at the means of exit. He. was overcomo by the heat and fumes, and fell down. Help isoon arrived, and after two men had gone in and had to come out again, nearly overpowered, tho position became serious. William StiyeTs, a fireman of the W«rrimoo. went down as .vx>n as the others came out, also Mr Pritchard. fourth engineer of the. Warritnoo. who as soon as ho arrived, stripped off most of his clothes in order not to bo handicapped in getting through the small entrances, and fearlessly wont in to tho rescue. These two went down amidst the overpowering fumes, and picked up Johnson, who w«a lying on the bottom, and through .sheer pluck they managed to jrot him to the outlet. Willing hands drew the victim out. Ho was burned nil over, and tho skin peeled off. It waa a heroic rescue. Later. At the inquest on Johnson, a verdict was returned that death wa.s due to shock, caustxl by burns accidentally received. Tbo jury regarded the use of naked Ught3 in confined space with inflammable material, as :v risky practice, and suggested tliat in future covered lighte should be used. Johnson had previously been washing tubes with kerosene, whjcJi hud saturated his clothes.

(tress association telegram) KELSON. October 10. News received by private, cable notifies tho death by accident at Vancouver of Mr Hubert Morton, son of the let© Mr Ramsay Morton, and formerly \ papil at Nelson College. XEW PLYMOUTH. October 10. George. William Cunningham, a wellknown settler at TiUorongi. a middle--vge<l man, with a largo family, hanged hinwelf l«ist niidit. lie had been in ill-hMtJth for « long time. The body of the lad Janice* Dustow. wlk> hiis been iiiissing since »September '28th, whs found in tlu- river ne-ar where iu\ was knoAii to have been whitebaitinj£.