ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15273, 13 October 1911, Page 3

ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY.

KECOGXITIOS OK COURAGE. (I'xr United Puess Association'.) CHIiISTCIIURCII, October 12, At a meeting of the Court of Directors of the lioyal Humane Society of Now Zealand the following awards, were made i—

The silver medal was awarded io Charles A. Cowan (27) for rescuing, lames M'Letid (20) from drowning at Auckland on February 3, 1911. At 7 a.m. 011 the date mentioned .M'Leod fell into the water at Maimka.ll Heads, and Was floating facc downwards, when Charles Cowan, in full working clothes, dived in to his rescue, between the, steamer s.s,. Putiki itncl the rock where had I disappeared under the surface. Cowan j failed in his first- attempt., to secure the drowning man. He dived again under. 111? ship, this time successfully. Cmvan was thoroughly exhausted, and had to be helped up with ropes. The place where. M'Leod went down is infested with sharks, and had it not Wen for the prompt roiciie by Cowan the mail would most likolv have perished. 'i'iie silver medal was awarded to GfWge 11. Voyce (17) for rescuing Thomas H. Gardiner (9) from drowning at LyHelton on Saturday, 22nd July, 1911, about 8.30 p.m. The night being very dark and cold, jiist as the steamship Maori wiis leaving tlie wharf under way, .1 young lad named Gardiner fell overboard in close vicinity 10 the stern of the vessel. Almost immediately George 11. Voycc divested himself of his coat I ami jumped overboard, caught hold of the lad, and swam with him to a pile, where he wa.s hauled up on the wharf by onlookers. There is no doubt that the act was extremely meritorious, as the rescuer did it at the risk of his life, the propellers of the steamer being in motion, and he practically jumped into a cauldron of boiling water. The bronze medal was awarded to Ciaronce C. V. Davi.cs (21) fot rescuing A. S. MThail (30) and John D. Connell (19) from drowning at Waingongoro beach at about 11 a.m. 011 April 2, Sortie men went out to bathe, including A. L. M'l'hail and John D. Connell. They

had not bcqn in very long, w|icn they started to ewini buck, hut the current

being very strung, tlioy soon got into difficulties' C. i)avies, who was among the spectators on the boach. soon went into tlioir rescue. lit? succeeded in Retting M'Phail out safely, and then Davies attached himself to st fishing line and managed to reach Council and get hold of Ivim. Then he called wit for thp- line to be pulled in, which the people on the bp,tcli did. When nearing the shore the. line broke, and some of the spectators

had to come to tlicir assistance. Davies showed much promptness and great presence of mind.

A framed certificate was awarded lo Cecil Ellison (15) for rescuing William Curlew anil 'Alfred Hart from drowning at Wellington oil May 14, 1911. On the dale mentioned, about 6,50 p.ni., three boys were capsized in a 12ft sailingseow. Curlew and Hart could not swim. Hart (■('rambled up on to the boat, and Ellison assisted Curlew up alongside, Hart. The boat would not stand the weight of the three boys, so Ellison volunteered to swim

ashore, for help, and bad much difficulty in doing so, as lie was fully drcfwl, Ho bravely fought his way in the dark tblhe boat harbour against iv strong wind, and was picked up in a very exhausted state. The boat, rid of Ellison's weight supported tltc other two hoys until they were rescued by the Harbour Board men in a hiillf lirtal. A certificate was awarded to Albert Dent (35) for rescuing Harold Payne (6j) from drowning at the Wbangarci town wharf Oh Juno. 26, 1911. At 4 p.m.' a small boy nnin'ed Harold Payne, who was fishing on the wharf, overbalanced himself and fell into the water, and being unable to swim, sank scvoral times before Dent, who was near by, went to his rescue, and after much difficulty succeeded in bringing him to shore in a very exhausted and unconscious slate. If not rescued at the time the lad would certainly have been drowned.

A certificate was awarded to Kenneth G. li. M'l>,ni <121 for rescuing George Nixon (10) from drowning at Ancklaiul on November 30, 1910. At '1.30 p.m. George Nixon was swimming off tlie Dnvonport beach with water wing,« on, and got mil into deep water. Tile wash from a forry steamer tools liis wings away front Mill, and he was in danger of being drowned, when Kenneth M'Lean, who was near by, plunged into the water ami swam lo his assistance. After much struggling and diflieulty the- hoy M'Lean succeeded in getting George Nixon ashore, lint not before they were both very exhausted. Hut. for the promptness ami [iresenre of mind of M'Lean tho little lad would certainly have been drowned.