A PLUCKY SEAMAN.

Manawatu Herald, Volume II, Issue II, 4 June 1880, Page 3

A PLUCKY SEAMAN.

. '....;,—. *— __ , . . • A noteworthy incident which occured in one of the late gales, a little to the north of Boddain Har* bour, i not far- from. Peterhe^d, ,is recorded by a cbrresporiden't. 1 A Swedish schooner was therer driven on the rooks, and thence on to the beach, -whete she stranded, the ,sea \ making a clean breach over her. By means of the Manby. rocket apparatus a line was , flung on board, but the crew either did not know what* to^dd with , it- or -were paralysed by fear and "cold. Seeing this a noble fellow named George Oatley, a gurner's mate, and drill instructor of the Naval Reserve at Peterhead, s'ripped'and-sWamont.to the vessel through the breakers He reached- her in- safety, Tmade fast the line, and then put on a few clothes which the crew gave him, after which he sent the crew— who numbered five in all — ashore in a cradle, one after the other. Last of all he came back himself, and as his form, cut and bleeding from contact with the rocks and beuumbed with cold, was drawn to land, the crowd of spectators who 3) ad witnessed the gallant, deed cheered him to the echo. He was pressed to take some brandy, but refused it saying he was a teetotaller ; and on being told he would die if he did not take it, he replied that he would rather die than take it. He did not take it, and he is as well again as ever he was. Oatlfiy is thirty six years of age, has been in the Royal Navy for twenty years, and lias the China and Abys> sinian medals. The Duke of Edin buigh has marked his appreciation of his gallant conduct, as above narrated" by recommending him for the Albert medal of tho first class. The Earl of Errol, "whoso seat is near Peterhead, started a subscription for a testimonial to him, and the movement was officially" taken in hand by the Provost and Council of that town, who have received many donations from all parts of the country^ » v - „-- ' ■-. ■ ...• '