AN HEROIC OFFICER.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 2170, 20 August 1897, Page 3

AN HEROIC OFFICER.

At the meeting of the Merchant Service Guild recently, the secretary reported that the Advisory Committee had sent in a recommendation that the Guild Cross should be awarded to Mr John H. Collin. M.S.G.. chief officer s.s. Sultan, for heroism at sea. After careful consideration of the case, the meeting unanimously confirmed the recommendation of the committee. The following are til? particulars of the case:— On 28th July a Lascar fireman fell overboard at sea in iat. 11.14 N. and long. 60.22 E. A lifebuoy was thrnvn at once to him. which he secured, and the steamer was manoeuvred in order to pick him up, hut owing to the immense sea which was running at the time the man aloft was unable to keep him in sight. After wearing the steamer several times he was sighted on the port beam, but by reason of the high sea it was impossible to launch a boat. At once Collin, without any previous warning, sprang overboard with a line, and swam after the man, who had now been three hours in the water. He succeeded in reaching him, and in making fast the line by which they were eventually hauled on board. The risk was extreme, not only from the high sea running, but from sharks, several of which had been seen running round the steamer, and their presence was known to Collin before th-r rescue.