THE ROLL OF HEROES.

Colonist, Volume LIII, Issue 13168, 26 July 1911, Page 6 (Supplement)

THE ROLL OF HEROES.

ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY AWARDS.

A NELSON RESCUE

Christchurch, July 10. The Board of Directors of the Royal Humane Society met this afternoon, M.hen the following applications for awards wore considered :—

The case of David Spence (49) in rescuing E. J. Prestall (25) from being stabbed at Dunedin on August sth, 1910.—-The facts were that on August sth, 1910, at 7.30 p.m., while on the ship County of Inverness, David Sponce was standing on tho 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, and just as he was on the rail David Spend? called out to the oflicer.ihat he had his knife out, and <lby the time I ran over," lie added, "the second officer had got his arm. I asked the man to let go the knife, but he held it all the faster, and I"gave the knife a jork, breaking it into three pieces. The second officer's hand was cut. At the time I called out the knife * was eloso to liis body. The man then went to the galley and took tho carving knife, which he intended to use afterwards."

It was resolved that tho case was not one that came within the'scopo of tho 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 Bayno was

at her school picnic at North East Harbour. Sho was bathing about 60 or 80 yards from where George McKay was when a boy called out that McKay was 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 Bayne 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 tlie bank. Ho was cold and unconscious, and it took quite 40 minutes to bring him round. A bronze medal was awarded in this case.

Case of Percy A. Page (25) in :.ps. cuing Mr Radloy from drowning at Nelson on August 21st. 1010.—The facts were as follows: On August' 21st 1910, at 10 a.m.. James H. Haaso witnessed the accident referred to and Porey Paac, of Takaka, dived into the wnto'r and rescued the man Radley 'it (he risk of his own life. Radley being a very tall man'and Page a very i.idorsized man. Radley was in a •<■•■>■ exhausted condition and quite uu h\p to save himself, and tho officers of the ship were a considerable time ->i pumping out the water which Raol- \ had swallowed. The tide h:;d d.i'le.l Radley under th<- wharf, and mod.? it extremely difficulty for a small man like Page to get him out from 'judo the structure of tho wharf. A bronze medal was awarded. Case of Cyril Waters (17) in rescuing Jas Torr'ane (29) from drowning at Catlins on December 28th, 1911. The facts were that on December 28th, 1911, Waters swain out a distance of 10 yards in between 6 and 10 feet of water to reach Torrane, who was in difficulties. He lost no time in .^-t-h----ing Torrane and nromptlv had hi-n < n the bank. The promptness of the -i>scuc avoided any occasion to ren.'t to restoration. It seems nuite as^ood if not better than a person rescuing a half drowned man, as the risk is greater when a person hns all lis strength and faculties than when t i« strength and reason are leaving h'n'. A Intt:'!' of commendation" was granted. Case of Herbert R. dough (7) in rescuing Gordon and Gladys Clough (o month and 5 years respectively) from fire at Pitt Island on January 13th, 11)11 - The facts wore that on January 13th, 1911, at 10 a.m. Mrs dough, whose husband was away at work, left heT home to go to the garden a mile distant from the house, leaving Herbert in charge of the younger children, who were asleep in one of the rooms. Some few minutes later the boy, who was playing outside, hearing screams, rushed inside and found the room i» flames. He immediately led his little sister outside, and then, covering the baby with a blanket, placed him in the care of tho little girl and re-entered tho burning room, pulled the bedding from the bedside, tore down tho blazing curtains, and dragged a tub of water from the adjoining roo7!i and beat out the mimes with a wet broom. When the flames were extinguished he collapsed and sank on the bedstead. He not only saved the lives of the children, but also tho house and furniture. A framed certifcate was awarded, and also a special letter to be framed setting out the facts of the case and tlm high appreciation felt by the Board of Directors.