PORTER’S BRAVERY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 14 January 1928, Page 6

PORTER’S BRAVERY.

SACRIFICES TILS LIFE

MAN’S SENSE OF DUTV

LONDON. Nov. 23

Admiration was expressed by Mr. Ingleby Oddie, the Westminster coroner. yesterday for a porter on the Underground Railway, who, in bis anxiety for the safety of passengers, jumped on a train whic-b had started, closed the gates of the train platform which was crowded, was swept into a tunnel, and received injuries from which he died. “This was a man with a conscience and a- sense of dutv,” said Mr. Oddie. “He jumped on the train to try to save life. He did his duty and was doing nothing wrong.”

The incmest was on .Tames William Samuel Chambers, aged 29, a porter at Pmcndillv Circus Underground station, who died in Charing Cross Hospital.

LOST NERVE

Mr. Hyam Fineberg, of East Dulwich, a passenger on the train, said that he saw Chambers jump on the train as it was moving with the idea of trying to close the gates. “He tried to get off,” added Mr. Fineberg, “but must have lost his nerve as the train approached the tunnel. He came in contact with the tunnel entrance and fell on the track.”

Mr. Fineberg, replying to Mr. W. Carter, representing the National Union of Railwaymen, said that the platform was crowded. Mr. A. Fames (for the London Electric Railway Company) read a regulation issued to the company’s servants to the effect that ‘‘no servant must jump on the steps or footboards or run alongside trains entering or leaving stations.”

The coroner: Suppose a platform porter sees a train leaving the platform with the gate open, and people standing on the platform, what is his duty ? Mr. McLeod (the stationmaster): It really should be closed.

DANGER

Mr. McLeod agreed that occasionally trains started during the crowded hours with gates open. The coroner: .It would be dangerous, of course, for sncli a train to go into.a tunnel with passengers not inside the gates?—That, is so.

Therefore, if a porter sees a passenger in such danger it would not lie unreasonable for him to try to close the gates?—No, I suppose not. The coroner: That is what this man was doing. Mr. Oddie, in his tribute to Chambers, said that they had all seen and admired the dexterity with which platform porters dealt with crowds which at times seemed almost uncontrollable. A verdict of “Accidental death while in the execution of his duty” was recorded.