An Act of Bravery by a Boy

Otago Witness, Issue 1795, 17 April 1886, Page 4

An Act of Bravery by a Boy

The Waimate correspondent of the Christchurch Press writes —

An act of bravery, and one that deserves some recognition, was performed at the Waimate firb> a boy nami-tl Evan Fox, 11 years of age A man named Sullivan and his family occiipie 1 oue of tour cottages, and though the fire mi-'-e" the three first cottages it somehow caught thai occupied by Sullivan. Sullivan was busy at the time trying to remove an entire horse to a plari* of safety, when little Fox rushed up and told Sullivan that bis house had caught fire and that his children, seven in all, were in bed. Sullivai, rushed to the house and found that his wife and two of the children were safely outside, but that five others were in bed and that the flames had already reached the bedclothes Sullivan caught up three of hichildren and rushed to the back door \vitl> them, but before he could get out little Fox. who had fearlessly entered the burning build ing, took up one of the two remaining children and in a remarkably short space of time conveyed his burden to a neighbouring paddork Fox darted back to the house again and saw Sullivan make a fruitless attempt to get out o! the back door, which was surrounded with flames. Quick as thought, young Fox wa> through the burning door and away past Sullivan, and was seen to pickup another child thai had been conveyed to the front part of the house A moment afterwards Fox was seen trottii's, towards his own home, carrying one naked chili i in his arms, and with another running at hi? heels. Following the example of young Fox Sullivan escaped by the front door. Sullivai expresses himself in terms of the deepest gratitude towards Fox, and attributes thr saving of the five children's lives eutirelx to the timely warning of Fox and the little fellow's truly noble and brave action. I havr made careful inquiries and talked with several eye-witnesses of the courageous conduct of Fox, and give the above particulars as actual facts. While a number of people were standing looking on at the building being consumed, and while they seemed helpless as soon as i1 was known the five children were in the greatest danger of being burnt in their beds, the little lad Fox had presence of mind and courage enough to enter and emerge from theburning building twice, and after ho had rescued the children his first thought and action was to convey them to his own home. Such conduct on the part of a boy 11 years of age is not onlj worthy of being placed on record, but worthy of some substantial recognition.