FOR BRAVERY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1258, 13 October 1911, Page 3

FOR BRAVERY.

. * ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY. (By Telegraph-Press Association.) Christchurch, October 12. At a meeting of tho Court of Directors of tho Royal 'Humane Society of New Zealand, the following awards were made: A silver medal was awarded to Charles , A. Cowan (aged 27) for rescuing James M'Leod (aged 20) from drowning at Auckland on February .1, 1011. Ar. 7 a.m. on (he dale mentioned M'Leod fell into the wafer at Mannkau Heads, and was floating face downwards, when Charles Cowan, in full working clothes, dived in to his rescue between the steamer Putiki and a ruck, where .M'Leod disappeared under tho surface. Cowan failed in his first; attempt to secure tho drowning man. Ho dived again under the ship and was this time successful. Cowan was thoroughlv exhausted and had to bo helped up with ropes. The place where M'Leod went down is infested with sharks, and had it not been for die prompt rescue by Cowan tho man would most likely have perished. A silver medal was awarded to George H. Voyce (17) for rescuing Thomas H. Gardiner CO) from drowning at Lyttclton, on Saturday, July 22, 1011, about 8.30 p.m., the night being very dark and cold. Just as the steamship Maori was leaving the wharf under way, a young lad named Gardiner fell overboard "in close vicinity to the stern of the vessel. Almost immfdiately George H. Voyce divested himself of his coal and jumped overboard, caught hold of the lad and swam with him to a pile where he was hauled up on the wharf by onlookers. There is no doubt that tlie act was extremely meritorious as the rescuer did it at the risk of _ his life, the propellers of the steamer being in motion, and lie practically jumped into a cauldron of bailing walcr. A bronze medal was awarded to Clarence C. V. Davies (21), for rescuing A. is M'Phall (30), and John I). Connell (10) from drowning at Waingongoro Heach. At about 11 a.m. on April 2, some men went, out to bathe, including A. L. M'Phail and John D. Connell. They had not been in the water very long when they started to swim back, but. tho current being very strong they soon got. into difficulties. C Davies, who wa.s among the spectators on the beach, soon went in to their rescue. He succeeded in getting M'Phail out safely, and then Davies attached himself to a fishing line, and managed to reach Connell and get hold of him. Then ho called out for the lino to bo pulled, which the people on the beach did. When ncaring the shore the line broke, and some of the spectators had to come to their assistance. Davies showed much promptness and great presence of mind. A framed certificate was awarded to Cecil Ellison (15) for rescuing William Curlew and Alfred Hart from drowning at Wellington on May It, 1911. On tho date mentioned, about G. 20 p.m., three boys were capsized in a 12-foot sailing scow. Curlew and Hart could not swim. Hart scrambled up on to the bow, and Ellison assisted Curlew up alongside Hart. The teat would not stand the weight of tho three boys, so Ellison volunteered to swim ashore for help, and had much difficulty in doing so, as he was fully dressed. Ho bravely fought his way in the dark to the Boat Harbour against a strong wind, and was picked up in a very exhausted state. The boat, rid of Ellison's weight, supported tho other two boys until they were rescued by Harbour' Board men in a hulk boat. A certificate w;as awarded to- Albert. Dent (85) for rescuing Harold Payne (61) from drowning at. Whangarci Town Wharf on .Tuno-20, 1011. Ati, p.m. a small boy named Harold Payne, who was fishing on the wharf, overbalanced himself and fell into tho water, and, being unable to swim, sank several times. Dent, who was near by, went to his rescue, and after much difficulty succeeded in bringing him to shore in a very exhausted and unconscious state. If he had not been rescued at tho time, the lad would certainly have ten drowned. A certificate was awarded lo Kenneth O. B. M'Lean (12) for rescuing Georgo Nixon (10) from drowning at Auckland on November 30, 1010, at 4.30 p.m. Georgo Nixon was swimming off Deyonport beach with water-wings, and got out into deep water. Tho wash from tho ferry steamer took his wings away from him, and he was in danger of being drowned when Kenneth M'Lean, who. was near ' by, plunged into tho wator and swam to his assistance. After much struggling and difficulty tho boy M'Lean succeeded in getting George Nixon ashore, but not before they were both very exhausted. But for tho promptness and presence of mind of M'Lean, the little lad would certainly havo been drowned.