A GALLANT RESCUE.

Kumara Times, Issue 412, 21 January 1878, Page 2

A GALLANT RESCUE.

This morning's Grey Paver Argus reports that yesterday afternoon about four o'clock while a number of children << were playing on the wharf, a little girl about two years of age, named Whitmore; fell into the river from her* " sister's arras while the latter was aU tempting to step fiotn the wharf on to the paddle-box of the Luna. Tftife"/ alarm was at once given, and the child could be seeu floating down the river' 5 alongside the steamer. The purser of the vesssl, Mr John Ponsonby, at once sprang into the water with all hfs/ clothing on, and swimming rapidly caught the child as it was sinking under the quarter of the vessel. He then tried to hold on by the rodder,: but the current was too strong, and he and the child were swept, down the river, the current tuning them both over several times. It was thought at this time that both would be drowned, unless he let go the child, but he clbng to it ev&ry moment becoming weaker. The current now swept them on to the Lioness, which was lying about fiftyyards further down the river, and as the crew on board her had observed the accident they were ready with ropes and boathooks to render assistance. Ponsonby was just able to catch a rope, which he held on to, when one of the, sailors seized the child by the hair and dragged it on board, the same good office being rendered to Ponsonby. The child when taken out of the water-was insensible, aud bleeding at the mouth • lib was taken to Clune's Hotel, where it was ' examined by Dr Smith, and carefully attended to by Mrs and is not likely to be much the wouse for its narrow escape from drowning. Mr Ponsonby walked to his ship, and received the hearty congratulations of all those who saw his bravery.

A SINGULAR ANECDOTE. A book recently published by tie Marquis de Segur, a very fervent Roman Catholic, contains the following j curious anecdote:—" Mgr. Bastide in- ! troduced me to Mdlle. Ameila JJeautard, a pious young lady'of Marseilles. This admirable Christian, having come .to Rome, nas retained thereby a superior j and divine interest. Jn 1866 she was : inspired to crown her life by a supreme , and heroic sacrifice. Pius IX. was ! seriously ill. Mdlle. T.eautard resolI ved to offer herself as a victim to God i in th« pUce of his Vicar; but fearing it would be an act of presumption, she wished to obtain the authorisation of the Pope himself. When she had cvm- ] mnni'cated her desire, Pius IX. rej mained silent and thoughtful; at | length, as if obeying a secret voice, he | placed his hand on the head of the j Christain heroine, and said, * Go, my ' child, and do what the Holy Spirit has | sngested to you t The next day Mdlle. | Leautard was present, acording to her j custom, at the first mass at St Peter's, i Hhe retrieved the communion, and when ! she had received in her heart the victim j of love, she offered her life for the Pope j to Him who gave His for the human I race. Her desire was scarcely expressed j when she was seized with a terrible and 1 sudden pain, and fell to the ground ; with a cry. A medical man was sent j for, but he declared that his science was ; powerless against an inexplicable malady. Three days afterwards she expired. The news of this miraculous death was conveyed to the Vatican. Pius IX received it without expressing any surprise, but raising his eyes to heaven murmured with emotion,' Cosi tosto acceitato' (So soon accepted)." Such is the narrative of. the Marquis de Segur, who seems convinced that the sacrifice of Mdlle. Leautard explains the long life of the Pope. The hujy had received the Cross of the Leigonof Honor from the Emperor fo» heractsjtf ben J volence. '^-^^^^^^^*j3Pv-• I l TIN T G 5000 or 6000 LATHS,- a< ' Wood and party's Tramway, Rose race, Dillman's. Apply at the way. Tenders close WEDNESfrJK 23rd Januarv. . ur ~