THE ROLL OF HEROES.

Colonist, Volume LIII, Issue 1315, 11 July 1911, Page 4

THE ROLL OF HEROES.

ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY

AWARDS,

A NELSON RESCUE

[United Pbesh Association.]

Christchurch, July 10. Iho Board of Directors of the Royal Humane Society met this afternoon, when the following applications for awards were considered:—

The case of David Spence (49) in rescuing E. J. Prestall (25) from being stabbed1 at Duuedin on August oth, 1910.—The facts were that on August sth, 1910, at 7.30 p.m., while on the ship County of Inverness, David Spence was standing on the port side of the ship when he saw the captain of the ship and the second officer trying to get a Russian Finn on board, \ind just as lie was on the rail David Spenco called out to the officer that he had his knife out, and "by the time I ran over," he added, "the second officer had got his arm. I asked the man to let go the knife, but lie held it all the faster, and I gave the knife a jerk, breaking it into three pieces. The second officer's hand was cut. At the time I called out the knife was close to his body. The man then went to the galley and took the carving knife, which ho intended to use afterwards."

It was resolved that the case was not one that came within the scope of the. Society's work. Case of Catherine E. Bayne (14) in rescuing George McKay (13) from drowning at Dunedin on February 24th 1911-—The facts were that on February 24th, 1911, Catherine Bityne was at her school picnic at North East Harbour. She- was bathing about 60 or 80 yards from where George McKay^ was when a boy called out that McKay w.?s drowning. Malcolm Turner went in to help him but got into difficulties, and with between 30 or 40 yards to swim out to him Miss Bavnp swam out to help Turner. McKay had sunk several times when she brought him into shallow water, and then her mother took him up on the bank. He wns coW and unconscious, mid it took quite 40 minutes to bring him round. A bronze medal was awarded in this case.

Case of Percy A. Page (25) in -os-. cuing Mr Radley from tlrownino- ;1 t Nelson on August 21st. 1910.— The facts were as follows: On August 2] st 1910, at 10 a.m.. James H. Haase witnessed the accident referred to mul Percy Paga, of Takaka, dived into the water and rescued- the man Radley ■>< the risk of his own life. Radley being a very tall man and Page a very iiidersized man. Radley was in a '<-v exhausted condition and quite tin !>le to save himself, and tlio officers of the. stiip were a considerable time -ii pumping out tho water wjiich Riiol v Iwd swallowed. The. title hcrl d;i!!.e.l Riidlev nndpr the wharf, and made it extremely difficulty for a small in:m like Page to get liim out from midn the structure of the wharf.

A bronze medal was awarded

Case of Cyril Writers (17) iv rescuing .Tas Torrane (29) from drowninc at Catlins on December 28th, 1911. The facts were that on December 28th 1911, Waters swam out a distance of 10 yards in between 6 and 10 foot <,t wator to reach Torrane, who ivns in difficulties. Ho lost no time in o: citing Torrane and nromptlv had lii-n ' n the bank. The promptness of <!ie ■«. cuo avoided any occasion to rcvj.'t to restoration. It seems nuite as if not better than a person rescuing a half drowned man, as the risk iV greater when n. person lias all I is strength and faculties than when i is strength and reason are leaving l/n>. A Iptter of commendation was granted.

Case, of Herbert R. Olough (7) in rescuing Gordon and Gladys Oongb (5 month and 5 ■ years respectively) from fire at Pitt Island on January 13th, 1911. The facts were that on January 13th, 1911. at 10 a.m. Mrs Clough, whose husband was away at work, left her home to go to the garden a mile distant from the house, leaving Herbert in charge of tho younger children, who were asleep in one of tho rooms. Some few minutes later the boy, who was playing outside, hearing screams, rushed inside and found the room in flames. He immediately led his little sister outside, and then, covering the baby with a blanket, placed him in the care of the little girl and re-entered the burn-

ing room, .pulled the bedding from the bedside, tore down the blazing curtains, and dragged a tub of water from the adjoining room and beat out the flames with a wet broom. When the flames were extinguished ho collapsed and sank on the bedstead. He not only saved the lives of Iho children, but also the house and,furniture.

A framed certificate was awarded, and also a special letter to be framed setting out the facts of the case and the high appreciation felt by the Board of Directors.