BRAVERY RECOGNISED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14088, 17 December 1907, Page 2

BRAVERY RECOGNISED

MULLANY'S .MKMOIIY HOXOriil-D,

Tho Tto.'.til Humane Society of Australasia, of which Dr Coughtrey is agent hove, has placed on rcoorii tho following minute:—"William Ernest Mullany, of Port Chalmers, Now Zoalaiul, aged 14 years, lost Ilia lifo in attempting t-o rctcuo his schoolfellow, Thomas Curraiij from drownins 011 February 12, 1907, at Waihoki Lake, New Zealand, TJio two hoys mid othere were bathing and playing v.-itti 1 small punt. '"' I if water, Iho punt turned over, and they were thrown out. Ourrau could only just swim, ami was in difficulties. MIIIJanv wont to his assistance, and put his arm round Curran, tho latter stragglod, anil Uioy wont under. , Mullany got free for a moment, but took him again and tried to drag him to a boat near bv. Cirrrim wwghl. Mullany rtrfnin, and both diswipcarcil, and were drowned, Mullany couM easily have got ashoro himc-elf, but lest his life in toying to savo his companion."

At the publio meeting in Melbourne, when speaking of those who lost their lives in endeavouring to save others, tho Venerable Archdeacon said: Deferring to Mullany and another, they nro two who loit their !iv«s in saving thorn of others. They are not hero to answer to their names, but wo can atwwov for their tied;! and recall in g-ratcft.il memory.tho acts which led to tlioir death—death for the snko of other.?, There is death in war, and war, with all its patriotism, may Womo a passion. Thoro is a nobility in the death of such hordes."

When spealrfng of tho act of Mullany in endeavouring to save Curran, the president of the Royal Humane Society of Australasia rofen-<xt in fooling tonus to tho actions of two young latb losing their livco for others. Oho was William Thomas Fielding, of Queensland, aged 18 ye,ire, and the. other was William Ernest Mullany. of Port Chalmers, Dunedin, .and ho wound up by cayinK that sucli deods as tltcso of Lawrence Frost, who rcscucd lives in connection with iho collision between the 6teamcr Kapanui mid tlio Haymoro in Auckland Harlxittr on Dcoombor 23, 1905, jri lha north of Mew Zealand, and Mullany, in tho south ond of that colony, wore worthy of wider rcoognition than tho intrinsic vahto of Iho medals and cortifieates tho society was obliged to accord such acts of gallantry. At Ilm same public function I-lis Kxcollonoy the Governor, referring to Fielding's and Mullany's acts, raid of Ihe latter that wliilo ho could l.avo saved himself ho chose "rather to dio than abandon tho lad whom ho was trying to e?.vo." His " memorj' deserved to be covorcd with honour for all time.

Wo repot 1o not?, iiotwillufaudiiis l)r Ooughtrey's appeal in our columns some months ago, that tho only schools in tho Dcminion who tock advrntase of the special offers of the Boyal Humane Society of Australasia to promote swimming exercise.? with a view to 6avinp life wero the Christchurch Boys' Hiffh School. the Kaiipoi District- High Schcol, the Wangamti College, and tho Wellington Ctollefie.