SINKING OF THE AIDAR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22204, 6 March 1934, Page 11

SINKING OF THE AIDAR

CAPTAIN’S HEROISM RECALLED The death of Captain William John Nutraan, which took place recently lit Devon, England, recall* a deed of great heroism at sea, a* a mult of which Captain Nutmau bad conferred upon him by his Majesty the King the muckcoveted Albert Medal of the Pirat Class. This medal, known as the civilians* V.C., is presented only to those whoa# courage is of a high standard, the official statement reading that “the rescuer at sea must rot only seriously imperil hit own life, but must do eo under eonditions which make hi* survival **• tremely unlikely. Hia risk of death > must be greater than hia chance of life. The deed for which "Captain Nutmatt received the distinguished medal took place on January 19, 1906. Tha steamer Aidar of Liverpool was sinking fast, and boats from the steamer Staffordshire had taken off all the ship’s company except the master, Captain Nutman, and a fireman helpless from injuries, whom Captain Nutman refused to leave. , . ■>. The Inst of the Staffordshire’s! boat#, no longer able to remain , by the sinking chip, was sent away by her waster himself. The Aidar then sank and all seemed over. The unexpected, however, happened. Captain Nutman came up still holding the firemen and climbed, up on the bottom of an upturned boat. : Half-an-hour later, in circumstance* of great difficulty, both men wer* picked up and taken to the Stafford' shire, while the waster of the Aidar had great satisfaction in learning that his sacrifice had not been made in vam —the injured fireman lived. ; J