AN ACCIDENT AT THE SYDNEY DOCKS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2258, 10 June 1897, Page 16

AN ACCIDENT AT THE SYDNEY DOCKS.

A SAILOR'S NARROW ESCAPE.

HEAD STRUCK A PIER WHILE ROWING ASHORE WITH THE LINE FROM A SHIP, AND FELL INTO THE WATER, BRUISED AND INSENSIBLE. When a member of our staff went in search of Mr John Smith, of 4 Wilmot street, Sydney, he fortunately found him at home, and on his remarking that the object of his visit was to obtain particulars of a narrow escape from death he had heard Mr Smith had lately experienced, found no difficulty in obtaining the same. " Yes, it is quite true that I did have a narrow escape," said Mr Smith,

" and if you want to hear about it I will | tell you with pleasure. I was down ! at Howard Smith's wharf on November 19 last, where I was generally employed, and at the time I met with my accident was taking a line ashore from an incoming steamer. Through colliding with a post whilst in the boat I got thrown into the water, receiving a severe injury to my head in addition to being half drowned by the quantity of dirty water I swallowed. I was taken to the Sydney Hospital, where I remained three weeks." " Did they do you much good, Mr Smith?" " No, indeed ; they only patched me. up for the time being, and it was lucky for me that I got a bit of an easy job minding a gate at the wharf, for I was so desperately weak and debilitated that I could not attempt to take on hard work. However, I managed to stay on for five weeks, and then returned home for three or four days' rest, which I was badly in need of. I then went to see the Government Medical Officer, who said my case was incurable, and wanted me to go to Liverpool Aslyum ; but this I refused to do, so I ultimately returned to Sydney Hospital, where I remained three weeks." " Did you feel any better after that, Mr Smith ? " " No, decidedly worse ; in fact, twice over worse, and was glad to return home again." " How did you feel affected, Mr Smith?" " Chiefly spitting of blood, which would keep me awake day and night. Mrs Rees, my landlady, can tell you how bad I was ; in fact, she thought it was all over with me, and that I should not be long for this world." " How did you hear of Dr Williams's Pink Pills, which we were told was what pulled you together again ? " " Through a pamphlet being left at ' the house. I. thought at first that the pills were too expensive for me, but i Mrs Rees persuaded me to try them, so ! I got a box and started to take them, ' according to the printed directions. ' After the first box X felt wonderfully j better, the blood spitting almost left me, my appetite returned ; indeed, it was better than before my accident. It is a remarkably rare thing for me to spit blood at all now.'' ' "Do you attribute this beneficial effect to Dr Willianis's Pink Pills ? " "I do entirely. In fact, it must be so, for 1 have taken no other medicine. Before my accident I always enjoyed the best of health, having led a healthy outdoor life, so it proves my accident must have been a very serious one to knock me up as it did. I have the firmest belief in the virtues of Dr Williams's Pink Pills, and so has Mrs Eees, my landlady." Mrs Rees here certainly corroborated Mr Smith's statement in every particular. " I hare," continued Mr Smith, "strongly recommended these pills to all my friends and acquaintances, and they have also a strong advocate in Mrs Rees, who is a firm believer in them. " (Signed) J OHN SMITH, "4 Wilmot street, off Liverpool street, | Sydney.* - ;