LIFE-SAVING AWARDS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7930, 13 October 1911, Page 1

LIFE-SAVING AWARDS

ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY

PEESONAL BRAVERY EITTINGLY RECOGNISED. PRESS ASSOCIATION. CHRISTCHURCH, October 12. At a meeting of tho Court of Directors of tho Royal Humane Society of New Zealand tho following awards were made i Silver medal; Awarded CHARLES A. COWAN, aged twenty-seven years, for rescuing James McLeod, aged twenty years, from drowning at Auckland on February 3rd, 1311. At 7 a.m. on the dato mentioned McLeod fell into the water at Mannkau Heads, and was floating face downwards, when Charles Cowan in full working clothes dived in to his rescue between tbe steamer Putiki and a rook, where McLeod disappeared under the surface. Cowan failed in his first attempt to secure tho drowning man. me dived again under tho ship, and this time was successful. Cowan was thoroughly exhausted, and had to bo helped up with ropes. The plaoo where McLeod went down id infested with sharks, and had it

not been for his prompt rescue by Cowan the man would most likely have perished. Silver medal; Awarded GEORGE H. VOICE, aged seventeen years, for rescuing Thomas. H. Gardiner, aged nine years, from drowning at Lyttelton on Saturday. July 22nd, 1011. About 8.30 p.m., tho night being very dark and cold, just as tho steamship Maori was leaving the wharf under way, a young lad named Gardiner fell overboard in close vicinity to the stern of tho vessel. Almost immediately George H. Voyco divested himself of his coat and jumped overboard, caught hold of the lad, and swam with him, to a pile, where ho was hauled up on tho wharf by the on lookers. There is no doubt that the act was extremely meritorious, as the rescuer did it at the risk of his life, tho pro pollors of the steamer being in motion, and ho practically jumped into a cauldron of boiling water. Bronzo medal; Awarded CL AREN CL C. V. DAVIES, aged twenty-one years, for rescuing A. S. MoPhail, aged thirty years, and John D. Connell, aged nine teen years, from drowning at Waingongoro beach. At about 11 a.m. on April 2nd, some men went out to bathe, including A. L. MoPhail and John D. Connell. They had not been in very long when they started to swim back, but the

current being very strong they soon got into difficulties. C. Davies, who wan among the spectators on tho beach, soon went in to their rescue. lie succeeded in getting McPhail out safely, and then Davies attached himself to a fishing lino and managed to reach Connell and get hold of him. Thon ho called out for the lino to he pulled, which the people on the beach did. When nearing the shore the line broke, and some of the spectators had to come to their assistance. Davies showed much promptness and great presence of mind. Framed certificate: Awarded CF r ELLISON, aged fifteen years, for resen ing William 'Curlew and Alfred Hart from drowning at Wellington, on May 14th 1911. On the date mentioned, about 6.20 p.m., three boys were capsized in a twelve foot sailing scow. Curlew and Hart could not swim. Hart scrambled up on to the bow, and Ellison assisted Curlew up alongside Dart. The boat would not stand tho weight of tho three boys, so Ellison volunteered to swim ashore for help, and had much difficulty in doing so, as ho was fully dressed. Ht bravely fought his way in the dark tithe boat .harbour against a strong wind, and was picked up in a very exhausted state. Tho boat, rid of Ellison's weight, supported the other two boys until thoy were rescued hy Harbour Board men in a hulk-boat.

Certificate: Awarded ALBERT DEN'I aged thirty-five years, for rescuing Harold Payne, aged six and a half years, from drowning at Whangarei town wharf on June 26th, 1911. At 4 p.m. a small buj named Harold Payne, who was fishing oi. the wharf, overbalanced himself and fell into the water, and, being Unable to swim, sank several times before Bent, who was near by, wont to his rescue, and after much difficulty succeeded in bringing him to shore in a very exhausted and unconscious state. If not rescued at tho time the lad would certainly have been drowned. Certificate: Awarded KENNETH G. B. MoLEAN, aged twelve years, for resett ing George Nixon, agod ten years, from drowning at Auckland on November 30H’ 1910, At 4.30 p.m. George Nixon ’was swimming off the Devonport beach with water wings and got out into deep water. The wash from a ferry steamer took his wings pway from him, and he was in danger of being drowned when Kenneth McLean, who was near by. plunged into tho water and swam to his assistance. After’ much struggling and difficulty the boy McLean succeeded in getting George Nixon ashore, but not before they were both very exhausted; but for the promptness and presence of mind of AfoLcan, the little lad would certainly have been drowned.