Facing Slow Death.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 22 July 1910, Page 2

Facing Slow Death.

HEROIC NARRATIVE OF PR

SOXER OF THE TIDE.

Imprisoned upright in the sea. by a fallen cra.ne, with the tide slowly rising until it was a for>t over- his head. 'H.iml then rescued hy the heroic dockma.sfor of Workington and brought hack to consciousness, Stephen Johnstone was on June 2 in danger, suffering from acute bronchitis and apparently the injuries caused by the Tall". His rescuer, Qnayle, who in his clothes dived at once to ascertain how the fallun crane .held the victim said, that Johnstone, though he had the free use of bis amis made no struggle. Ho had involnntanly stretched himself to his nil] height the moment ihe entered the water. When Quayle came to tho surface again Johnstone looked linn squarely in the face and asked quietly "Is the tide coming : n or <>iiU Quayle's reply was, "The tide is coming in." "Then," said Jo'linstone again quietly, but with a stoicism that made tears well out ?/, 1100 - V ? s of ''is mates around liim, 1 am done." These were his last words. The tide was already lapping his lips. In a moment or two it closed hungrily over his mouth and then his nostrils Quayle said that as they held Johnstone with the water now oyc rliis mouth and nose they felt like _ men demented ; it seemed incredible that a man in their grasp .should drown. Qnayle, however, did not permit his over-wrought feelings to prevent him from directing the rescue woivk which required another crane to he installed, The water was a foot deep over the crown of the unhappy man s head when at last the. great crane swung out her jih. Quavle seizing the hook, dived asain' to make the attachment to the imprisoning beams, and Johnstone's unconscious body was brought to the surface.