SPLENDID BRAVERY.

Colonist, Volume LV, Issue 13613, 3 January 1913, Page 7

SPLENDID BRAVERY.

News reached Fremantle recently of a dramatic incident at Rottnest Island. Lighthouse-keeper Waters set, out the other day oil a fishing excursion, accompanied by his daughter Florrie, aged about 18, in a small dinghy. They were in the vicinity of Munday Island, and were endeavouring to cross the narrow passage between the island and Roe Reef, when an accident occurred. Waters wished' to- cross, the passage, hoping to do so between the rollers, wliich, built up by the wind from'the north, came iii at intervals. The boat was about half-way across the passage when a breaker caught dt, and it immediately sank. The occupants were thrown out. When the dinghy eventually came to the surface, bottom upwards., Waters and his daughter caught hold of the keel. Waters was unable to swim, and his daughter went to her father's assistance. Breaker after breaker broke over them, and each time the daughter had to swim after her father and bring him back to the upturned boat. Several times the boat turned over on top of the man, but the plucky girl kept diving, under and > dragging him out, and succeeded in keeping him above water. 'Waters implored his daughter to leave him and save her own life. The' girl kept the man afloat until,; finding her strength too severely taxed, she

scoured,her father with her leg, aiid,^ with lier hands, tore off some of her clothes. Waters became unconscious, and his dead weight was thrown on to liis daughter, who continued hL struggle. Meanwhile an eye-witness named Arthur got within throwing di&tauce of the pair, who were being brought in on the rocks, with each succeeding breaker. Miss Waters had, just enough strength left to tie the line about her father and scramble to the reef herself, when she collapsed. • , Both were very much bruised. Waters is still laid up, suffering from shock, cuts, and exposure. Those who saw the occurrence speak highly of the pluck and determination displayed1 by Miss Waters.