REWARDING THE BRAVE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18021, 21 February 1922, Page 7

REWARDING THE BRAVE.

COOGEE SHARK TRAGEDY.

SUBSTANTIAL RECOGNITION , [FROM OtTE OWN CORRESPONDENT.] SYDNEY. Feb: 17. Inspired by. the superlatively gallant act of Jack Chalmers, the ex-soldier who last week entered the surf at Coogee Beach, near Sydney, during the proj,re.'.s of a surfing carnival, and literally toro from the jaws of a shark one of his club mates, the people of New Souih Wales have been swept by a wave of hero worship that has extended to the most remote outback settlements. Public organisations in the city and in all parts of the country have carried, resolutions of commendation, and many funds have been opened to provido material recognition of Chalmers' bravery. It is expected that Chalmers, who is married, and who has been out of work for some months, will thus benefit by at least £2000. Chalmers' appearai.ee at a carnival on a neighbouring beach a few days -.go attracted many thousands of hero-wor-shippers, who broko through the barriers in order to shake hands with him, and many police were required to preserve tho space required for the> carnival. One aged woman dropped to her knees and praved when she saw Chalmers. Methods for the protection of tetters from the menace of sharks are now being publicly discussed. Tho Premier has , agreed to place a scheme before the Government providing for a bonus to encourage the' destruction of sharks, while many of the municipal bodies controlling surhV beaches propose to frame ordinances for the suppression of what ,is known as " shark baiting," that is, going out in the surf beyond what is regarded as the limit of safety. Another suggestion was that aeroplanes should patrol the beaches and bomb the sharks.