ALIVE IN RUINS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20793, 9 February 1931, Page 12

ALIVE IN RUINS.

MAN 90 YEARS OLD.

buried for three days.

MINOR INJURIES RECEIVED

CALLING UNTIL EXHAUSTED.

[by TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER. 3 NAPIER, Sunday.

After being buried in tho ruins of the Park Island Old Men's Homo from Tuesday morning, Mr. James Collins, aged 90, was dug out at 12.30 a.m. on Friday. He was alive. And now *ho is recovering from the shock. A constable on duty at the ruins Heard a groan and immediately reported tho matter at the police station. A giavodigging squad was removed to tho ruins, and after half an hour's work released the man. He was in an excited and delirious condition, but not hurt, beyond bruises on his legs and arms.

Seen at tho hospital this morijing Mr. Collins said he remembers the 'quake. He ran, but he knew not where. He was still in a very nervous and excited state. "I would call until I was exhausted and then sleep," he said. " Then I would call again." After he had called about six times ho was answered. By that time ho did not realise that this meant he was saved. Beam Protects Body. Tho ambulance men who accompanied tho excavating party stated that the old man's face was buried in a kupok mattress when ho was found and that a beam had protected his body. This is the only authentic caso of a man being found in collapsed buildings alive. Very many cases liavo been reported, but all savo this one have proved to bo hoaxes. The discovery of Mr. Collins accounts for all tho inmates of tho Park Island Home. Ninety-four were in tho homo when the earthquake occurred. Eighty were saved and 14 were found dead. This morning Mr. Collins had his photograph taken and ho appeared to bo very pleased about it. Ho sat up in bed and looked better in health than the average man of 90 years who has been through no stress. Memories of the Past. Apart from tho fact that ho has a few abrasions on his faco ho had a good colour and a ready tongue, but ho could not give any coherent story cither of his life or the terrible experience of being buried for three days. Asked how ho managed to hold out ho said tho waiting was thirsty work and there wore times when ho could have done with a gallon of beer. But, as is usual with tho aged, his memory was brightest as to tho days of tho distant past. Ho spoko of Zululand and Capetown. "It was there I won the threo mile, tho two mile, the high jump and tho long jump," he said. Later he mentioned India and Lord Kitchener and Lord Roberts. One named Peshawar and Karachi in tho hopo of stimulating some glimmer of memory for precise detail. He echoed tho names and his eyes lighted but all he said was; "Yes, it was in India I won tho three miles and the two miles." Dpctors Astonished. "What was your regiment?" ho was asked. "I was always a riding man," he. replied. "I worked for years for General Russell hero in Hawke's Bay, and what a tine man ho was. I was a long time over in Patea way." Then ho harked back to the past. He spoko of Buller and said something about surrender. "Buller was a great man," ho said. "Ho camo from my place." < "Where was that?" he was asked. "Tipperary, County Cork," he replied, arid his brogue boro out the truth of this memory. Ho said he had fought for his Queen and his country. This old man of sparo build has astonished doctors and nurses by his vitality and his amazing recovery. Since reaching hospital on Friday, eating, drinking and sleeping havo filled tho hours, but in moments his merry eyo pays its compliment to his pretty nurse. ANOTHER AGED PATIENT. MAN OF NINETY-ONE YEARS. FOUND IN RUINS OF HOME. [BY TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL REI'ORTEIi. ] NAPIER, Sunday. Another remarkable patient in the hospital hero is Mr. Henry Skclton, who wn» pulled out of tho ruins of his homo by his son a few minutes after tho building collapsed. Ho is 91 years of ago. He camo to Now Zealand in 1856 as a corporal in tho 65th Regiment and fought through tho Maori War. His feet aro badly crushed and he is in a much more serious condition than Mr. Collins. SEAMEN STRANDED. NORTHUMBERLAND'S PARTY. FORCED STAY AT WAIROA. [ilY TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL REPORTER.'] PALMERSTOX NORTH, Sunday. A party of men from tho steamer Northumberland is stranded at Wairoa. Alarmist reports that tho whole of the town, of Wairoa was on fire was responsible for the despatch of tho Northumber land from the Napior roadstead on Friday. Aftor landing 14 men in two of tho ship's lifeboats it was found that no special assistanco was required, although tho town, like others in the stricken area, had sustained extensive damage. Tho captain and tho ship's surgeon went ashor/ in tho boats.

When an attempt was made to return to tho ship it was found that the bar had become unworkable on account of heavy seas. Tho Northumberland returned to Napior and her commander, Captain 11. , Upton, flew back by aeroplane to join his sliip yesterday morning. Meanwhile tho 14 men, under the charg'o of tho second officer, Mr. H Rogers, are at Wairoa indefinitely, tho wnv out by road being blocked. However, tho stranded contingent is in touch with tho ship, as a four-valvo portable wireless set was borrowed for its use in Wairoa,