HONORS FOR THE BRAVE.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8542, 9 May 1895, Page 3

HONORS FOR THE BRAVE.

A touching ceremony took place recently at the saloon of the Castle Line Royal mall steamer, the Norham Castle, to wit, the presentation of medals and rewards for bravery to the captain and officers and men who assisted in the reaoue of the crew of the sailing vessel Fasoadale, which was wrecked off v Nstal on February 7. The r«ioue was mainly dne to the dauntless courage of Mr Frank Whitehead, chief officer of the Norham Cwtl*. He plunged into the roaring and surging mo, with a life line,. and wai met by a boy named Ferri*— as brave as himself —who leapt from the wreok with anothsr rop* ; the two ropss wsre knotted togother, and made, really, a line of life, for along it passed seventeen of the crew of tbs ill-fated Fasoadale. The honors Ware many : Lloyd's w silver medal, a silver medal from the Liverpool Shipwresk and Humane Society, fell, among oth'en, to Mr Frank Whitehead'* lot while the captain's (Bobsrt Duncan) reward was also a silver medal from the Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane SocietyThere were also gifts of money to everyone, among thorn {wing s present from the Castle Line Company to oaoh individual; Sir Donald Onrris, on the Company's behalf, asking Captain Duncan to accept £100, and Mr Jenkins, the officer in charge of tke second boat to put off to the wreok, £25. The men aleo were thought of, receiving a month's extra pay. But at the oeremoavy all these things valuable enough in themselves, and nice to have, counted for littl* beside the large-heartedness shown by Mr Whitehead. In accepting hi* honor* Mr Wbitebead modestly said, " I am a sailor, and sailors arc not good at speeohes. I thank you gentlemen for your kindness. I have nothing to say about myself. But I should like the boy not to be forgotten." The officer's words bore fruit.. M? Rongemoot, Vice Chairman of Lloyd*, at once said that ho thought he might undertake to *ay that the brave lad, Fsrris, iHoulcl receive the bronze msdal of the Corporation of Lloyd's.