HEROIC SIGNALMAN.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10407, 22 July 1912, Page 3

HEROIC SIGNALMAN.

One of the most striking examples of fortitude and devotion to doty ’veer recorded is reported from Manchester, A signalman named William Morrell was accidentally shot in the eye while at h!s post, bnt athSough he angered great pain he continued to manipulate the signals until ho was relieved nearly an hour afterwards.

The Manchester and County (Jan Club were holding a pigeon shoot in a field near the Lancashire County Cricket Ground at Old Trafford, and in a field close by, adjoining the Manchester South Junction and Altrincham railway line, a number of man were shooting at the birds that escaped the gnus of the members of the club About ten miuntes to four one of these men tried to bring down an escaping pigeon, but failed, The shot went through the glass of the signal box above, where Morrell was attending to his duties. One or more of the pellets entered his left eye, and others struck him in various parts of the hea > Morrell fell back into a ,chair, blinded and bleedsog, a?d adjusted the levers for 59 minutes before relief came.

If Morrell had not regained at bis post the consequences might bare been disastrous, or a number of trains went by before hs was relieved at 20 minutes to 5 and taken to the Manchester Ere Hospital, where he now lies. it is,feared that the sight of one eye is destroyed, ft young man named Eden witnessed the accident, and immediately entered the signal box. He stated afterwards that Mcrrel! was obviously in great pain “Bat he stuck to his work,” said Eden, with a note of admiration”!!* bis voice. "He on dropping, and getting ng and shifting the levers. It was grand how he stack to his dnty, ” Eden went in 'search of a doctor, bnt failed to find one at home. Eventually a doctor summoned by telepho. e from 4 the cricket ground. He anivcd by a train which was stopped near tbs signal box The doctor bandaged Morrell’s wonnds, and the heroic slanalman was removed to the aye 'hospital.