CAT RESCUE TRAGEDY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21562, 5 August 1933, Page 2 (Supplement)

CAT RESCUE TRAGEDY

TWO LIVES SACRIFICED CORONER'S HINT TO PUBLIC ADVICE 'TO CALL POLICE AID When investigating the fate of two men who lost their lives in an fittempted rescue of a kitten trapped on a ledge above the water of the River Irwell, the Manchester coroner, Mr. C. W. W. Surridge, lately hinted that it would be better to summon the police to deal with a situation than to risk human lives. v Tho victims in a 'double tragedy that was witnessed by a number of people from a nearby bridgo were:—William Burke, aged 46, a former Salford boxer, and Constable Thomas Jewes, aged 25, of tho Manchester City Police. Constable Jewes was drowned in an effort to save J3urke, who got into difficulties. Witnesses described how Burke, who had the appearance of having been drinking, was lowered down to a buttress near tho water, and, clinging to a rope with one hand, placed the kitten on his shoulder with the ether. The frightened kitten scrambled back into tho water to return unaided 'on to a niche in tho buttress, but Burke fell into the river.

Although Burke regained the rope he was too weak to hold on to it when it was lifted. Constable Jewes went down the ropo to Burke's assistance, but he was pulled under by the latter's struggles and was lost a few yards from tho rope. Evidence was given by Victor McGuiro that Burke was decidedly under the influence of drink. McGuire added that he told people who were holding tho rope, " Don't let him go

down. You will never get him up again." No notice was taken of his remark.

Superintendent Williams stated that Constable Jewes joined his division on September 10, 1930. He held the chief constable's second-grade certificate for swimming. " Constable Jewes would have had three years' service in September," continued the superintendent. " He was awarded the Watcli Committee medal for bravery in October, 1932, for stopping a runaway horse." In his summing up, the coroner remarked that it was one of the saddest cases that had fallen to his lot to investigate. " It is a pity that a private individual should do a thing of this kind without proper precaution," the coroner proceeded. " One does hope that any member of the public who sees something of that sort will report the matter immediately to the police. The police will take charge of any subsequent operations which are necessary. I do hope the public will remember that, in order that any similar accident may not occur again." Verdicts of " accidental death " were recorded, tribute being paid to the gallantry of Constable Jewes and the witness Tudor.