HEROIC ACTION RECALLED

Taranaki Daily News, 7 June 1932, Page 4

HEROIC ACTION RECALLED

LEAPED INTO DEEP WELL GIRL WHO RESCUED HER BROTHER. DEATH OF MRS. CONSTANCE OWEN. A well-known and highly esteemed resident of New Plymouth, Mrs. Constance Owen, died in New Plymouth hospital yesterday. The eldest child of the late Mr. and Mrs. W. G. Stockley, Mrs. Owen was born at Auckland on October 4, 1852, and came to New Plymouth with her parents as a child on June 4, 1861. Mrs. Owen vividly recollected the troublous days of the Taranaki and Wanganui wars, her father having served as a sergeant in the Royal Artillery. Ever since she came to New Plymouth Mrs. Owen was connected with St. Mary’s Church, first as a Sunday school teacher and later as an ardent worker in the interests of the church. When she was about 21 years of age Mrs. Owen won honour by means of a courageous act that she performed. One of her brothers, Mr. W. A. Stockley, now of Auckland, who was then about 15 months old, fell down a well in her father’s garden. The child would have been drowned had not Mrs. Owen, catching sight of him from the house as he was disappearing, immediately run to the spot and jumped down after him. The well.was 35ft. deep and there was about 20ft. of water in it, but Mrs. Owen clung to her brother until neighbours, attracted by her screams, hauled them both to safety by means of the well bucket. Mrs. Owen’s husband, Mr. Arthur Owen, predeceased her 18 years ago. She had no children and is survived by three brothers, Messrs. H. L. and C. J. Stockley, Sydney, and Mr. W. A. Stockley.