MONEY FOR SAVING LIFE

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 March 1939, Page 3

MONEY FOR SAVING LIFE

J* REWARD REFUSED. LONDON, February 28. “it would be criminal of me to accept the money,” declared a workless man this week after he had sent back a cheque for £5OO given to him by a wealthy man whose •wife he had saved from severe illness, possibly from death. Last Summer Mr. and Mrs. Poweys-Rea now living in the south of France, were staying in an exclusive hotel on the sea front at Southsea. In another hotel John Shore was working ms receptionist. One morning John was taking his daily beforebreakfast dip when he saw an elderly woman strolling along the esplanade. Suddenly she collapsed. In a moment, John was racing up the deserted beach to help her. He lifted the woman to her feet, then half led, half-carried her to her hotel. That woman was Mrs. Poweys-Rea. She and her husband have been grateful ever since to the young man whose prompt action probably saved her life. When the Summer was over Mr. Poweys-Rea and his wife went to live in Lourdes. John Shore, his seasonal job over, returned to job-hunting in London. The grateful husband and the workless man wrote to one another. But John never breathed a word about his poverty. He wrote happily about, everything except work and money. But Mr. Poweys-Rea was wondering how he could reward the modest young man who had probably saved his wife’s life. Thinking that a hotel receptionist might have ideas ol 1 unning a cafe on his own. he sent him a cheque for £s<u>. It was returned by the next post. So Mr. Poweys-Rea came to London to- meet John Shore hoping he might change his mind This week they went to sec a. film to )gether and then had tea. But John I was adamimni. “If I imd found a wallet of yours 1 would have readily accepted a reward But this ’ . n case of human life,” lit said, “'i was my duty to help. I die , what anyone else would have done ir the circumstance ;.” Later he said “1 admit. 1 was tempted. I know what it is to go hungry. I know I could do r lot of things with £5OO. But I an much happier for having refused it.' I Said Mr. Poweys-Rea: “He is a fool. I made no stipulation about the use o the money. I thought he would like to start a little business of his own oi something of the sort,'’