SAVING LIFE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1176, 11 July 1911, Page 7

SAVING LIFE.

HUMANE SOCIETY'S AAVARDS. (By. TelesTapii—Prese Association.) Christchurch, July 10. The Board of Directors of the Royal Hu r mane Society met this afternoon, 'when the following applications for awards were considered:—' David Spence (aged 49), for rescuing E. J. Prestall (aged 25), from being stabbed at Dunedin on August .">, 1910. The facts were that at 7.30 a.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 got a Russian Finn on board, and just as he was on the rail David Spence 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, and 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 hu intended to use afterwards." It 'was resolved that the case was not one that came within th 6 scope of'the secretarv's work.-

Catherine E. Bayne (M years) for rescuing George M'Kay (13 years) from drowning at Dunedin on February 21, 1911. The facts were that Catheriiie'Bavne was at her school picnic at North Ea"st Harbour. She was bathing about 60 or SO yards 'from where George M'Kay was when a boy called out that George M'Kay 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. M Kay had sunk several times when she brought him out on ILT hen > r moil *}- took him up on tho bank. He was cod and unconbrint S 'hin, tl " n te 40 "inutw to awarded '•-'• : A bronzo • Blcdal - ,vns

? aS ° f° • ye ? rs) for iur. J.adiej from drowning at Nelson on I n ""? £ 10 wa ! er a,ld rescued the man Radley at the risk of his own life Radley was in ( , very exhausted condition and quite unable to save himself The tide had drifted Radley under the wharf and made it extremely difficult for P.W to got him out. A bronze medal was awarded.

T^ ril T Wat<?l '-\(J 7 for r « C "'»g ; m >\J on ' anc f " 9 s'« ars > f rom drowning at tatlins on December 28, 1910 The tacts were that AVaterS' swam out to 'reach lorrane, who was in difficulties. ' He promptly had him on tho bank, and the promptness of the rescue avoided any occasion to resort to restoration. If. seems quit? as sood. if not better, than a. persrui rescuing a half-drowned man, as the risk is greater when a person ha< all his strength and faculties than when his strength and reason ore leaving him. A letter of commendation was granted. Herbert R. Clench (7 years), for rescuing Gordon and Gladys Cloush (5 months) and (5 years) from fire at Pitt'island oh January 13. 1911. The facts were that Mrs. ClOugh, whose husband was away at i>;ork, left her home to no to the carden, a mile distant from the house, leaving Herbert jii charge of the younger children, who were asleep in one of the rooms. Some few minutes later the boy, who was playing outside, hearing srrfan'is rushed inside, and found the room In flames. He immediately led his little sister outside, then, oorering the baby with a blanket, placed him in the care of the little girl, and. re-entered the burning room, pulled the hcddiivf from the bedstead, tore do'.rn the blazing curtains, and dragged a tub of water from the adjoining room and beat the (lames with a wet broom. When the flames were extinguished he collapsed, and sank on the Iwdstead. He not only saved the lives of the children, but al-o the house and furniture. A framed certificate was awarded, a'lsb a. Special letter to be framed selling nut tho facts of the case, and the hi?h .appreciation felt by the board of directors. ' •