BRAVERY AT SEA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22608, 22 December 1936, Page 14

BRAVERY AT SEA

HUMANE SOCIETY'S MEDAL RESCUE DURING HURRICANE [from our own correspondent] SUVA, Dec. 11 One of tho first acts which the new Governor of Fiji, Sir Arthur Richards, was called upon to perform shortly after his arrival in the colony was to present tho Royal Humane Society's silver medal and certificate to Mr Henry Cross, engineer on the Govern ment steamer Derek, which was wrecked on tho island of Koino in a hurricane in February last. The Derek at tho time was proceeding to Konio to investigate tho wreck of a cutter, which had gone ashore a few days previously in a hurricane. A second hurricane spnyig up and tho Derek was driven ashore. It became necessary to abandon the vessel and the crew were getting ashore by means of a line between the vessel and tho beach. Captain E. G. Twenty man, exharbourmaster at Suva, who was travelling on the vessel in tho capacity of Lloyd's representative, was lowering himself into tho water when be lost his-grip of tho lino and was thrown into the sea. Ho was in considerable danger of being sucked under the vessel and crushed when sho rolled again when Mr. Cross jumped overboard after him and succeeded in rescuing him, taking him into shallow water, from where he was assisted ashore. Captain Twentyman said at tho time that ho would undoubtedly have lost his life, for he was completely exhausted. Making the presentation, His Excellency said that the courage shown by Mr. Cross worthily upheld the traditions of those who go down to the sen in ships. It. is interesting to note that Captain Twentyman, now an elderly man, has received several awards for rescuing life at sea.