Splendid Heroism.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 23 September 1910, Page 4

Splendid Heroism.

A splendid act of heroism was performed the other day h.v an .Australian workman, diaries' James Nelson, who risked his life under nom shattering conditions to save a mate from destruction. Nelson was working with h!s two mates at the hottorn of a. oOft sewer shaft, close to the rivor Yarra, indeed so close (hat a powerful pump-working continuously was required to keep the watei fro mflooding the shaft. The li.ard Milestone rock at the hottom was being removed hy means of gelginite, and Nelson, after drilling nine holes, charged them ivitli tho ex plosive, lighted the .uses and start eel to climb for safety. It was ikk an easyclinvb, and for tho first sever- or eight feet a rope was substituted for a ladder lest the explosive should blow the ladder to atoms. Nelson and his mate Williamson had gone half way up the shaft, fully expecting Holmes, the third man, to be closo behind them, when thej iheard the words: "Mates, J can't move. I'm stiff and numb." They looked down and saw Holmes, evidently overcome by a fit of fainting struggling to climb, but making no progress from the awful spot. They •knew, as he knew only too well, that the fire in the fuses was by that time within a few inches of the explosive, but Nelson did not hesitate, and sending back a cheery answer descended. iio must .have known how slender the chances were that lie could oven reach his mate before those nine charges hurled them both into eternitv. He managed to get hold of Holmes, but tho latter was too weak f.o aid him. and they remained clinging to the lowoi runs of the ladder.n waiting for the explosion—and their death. The pumps had stopped and the water swirled in at a great rate, rising ■ quickly from their feet to their knees, from their knees to their chins. .A supreme eif-jrt and for a moment thev were free f mm ono danger _ Thru, in ,-.iim';l succession 10 K'"lgnnte charges cvpkded, and the men w.v,» ;l i, r , osf [.„.„ fn)|n t)lc slippery ladder; bvtt the water had •saver! them, and they wm sMIi alive. Assignee was rendered from above and (hoy were soon in he open air. siimwndeil hv friends Loth, says the IMhmirne \„- 0 , vm . apparently uiihrrl. and after a si-art time resume'! their work; h n 'l l»elore many hi.urs had Nel*m was (lea:! .(he ~; ij s l, „m is f llm , ls f'l'i Hi«' shock ln,| .ied (~-,„