Sterling Heroism.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 7 August 1914, Page 2

Sterling Heroism.

Towards the close of a very busy week, at one of the numerous gold mines scattered along the borderland of British Columbia and the United States the following example of great heroism occurred. The hoist engineer, a typical, big-hearted Western human, was lowering two men to the bottom of the shaft, 300 feet deep, when the brake on the hoist regulating the speed of the free-running drum became detached from its fastenings and was useless. The engineer at once put in the clutch connecting the drum with the grear, and turned on steam in an attempt to set in motion the raising action of the machine ; but by some chance this failed to work, and in the meantime the skep in which the men were riding gained a terrific speed. Realising that a horrible death awaited his fellows unless the descent was stopped, the hero, still holding the clutch in. threw himself sideways between the rapidlyrevolving cogwheels, which, jammed by the mass of torn clothing, mangled flesh and crushed bone, brought the drum to a standstill.

The men were saved, but the sacrifice, though still this side of the grave, is a physical wreck of his former self.