EVERYDAY HEROES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11771, 28 September 1901, Page 1 (Supplement)

EVERYDAY HEROES.

A MAN WHO GAVE HIS LIFE FOR HIS MATE. At Hooley Hill. Ashton-under-Lyne, two excavators named John E. Rothwell and John Strode have been suffocated in the shaft of a main sewer, 64ft deep. Rothwell was lowered to the bottom of the sewer in a hoppit, which ascended without him, the man having been overcome by foul gas. After a plucky effort by another workman to rescue Rothwell Strode volunteered to go down to recover the man. but he. too, was overcome, and was unable to ascend. Repeated attempts were made to rescue the two men, and finally a bricklayer named John Clarke descended the shaft strapped to the hoppit, and succeeded in bringing the dead body of Strode to the surface I Later on Roth well's body was recovered, BOY'S PLUCKY ACT. A. 14-year-old lad, named J. Christopher, noticing a heap of clothes on the canal lock" bank at Merthvr, dived to the bottom, a depth of 22ft, and touched what he believed to be another boy's body. He obtained the assistance of some youths, who dived without discovering anything. Being certain, however, that a both Mas below, the courageous little fellow made another dive, and this time brought tip the bodv by one of the ears. Dr. James and PoliceSergeant Lamb, after prolonged exertions, succeeded, to the great surprise of everyone, in restoring animation. Christopher had saved three persons from drowning previously. The case will be reported by the High Constable to the Royal Humane Society. A GALLANT RESCUE. The story of a young boatman's gallantry was unfolded at an inquest on the body of Lionel Tyser. 25, a stockbroker, who was drowned in the Thames during the evening of the Ditton Amateur Regalia. His widow told the coroner that shortly before eleven o'clock at night she and her husband, with her sister and a. little boy, were, proceeding to a houseboat in a four-oared skiff, when, in throwing the tiller ropes into the stern, she fell overboard, and her husband plunged in after her. A young boatman named Charles Ling said he was on the houseboat Notre Dame when he saw two persons straggling in the water. . He dived in and crught the lady, at the same time catching hold of a passing punt, whose occupants assisted him in getting the lady out of the water. He then plunged in alter Mr. Tyser, but was unable to find him. In returning a verdict of " Accidental death" the jury commended Ling for his bravery, and the coroner added that the fact that he risked his life was the more commendable since it was reported that Ling was by no means a good swimmer. He should certainly bring his conduct before the Royal. Humane Society. The jury expressed their approval, and presented Ling with their fees.