A NEW ZEALANDER’S BRAVERY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 392, 21 March 1908, Page 4

A NEW ZEALANDER’S BRAVERY.

An Auckland gentleman now travelling in Europe has sent to the Auckland Star the following clipping translated from an Italian newspaper, dealing with an incident in which an important part was played by a young New Zealander, well-known in athletic circles, Mr Arthur Sims, formerly captain of the New Zealand and Canterbury representative cricket teams. It must be understood that the information has been sent to New Zealand entirely without Mr Sim’s knowledge: —“ This afternoon Madam Serini, residing in the Calle dell’Aroo, Venice, was going to Murano to call on the family of Signor Toso Luigi son of Fernando, a partner in the firm of Ferro Toso and ' Co. She was accompanied by her little girl, Ebe, five years old. About three o’clock, the lady with the little girl, started on the return journey to Venice, being accompanied to the Colonna train station by the wife of Signor Toso, who had brought with her another little girl. On reaching the tram the child Ebe mounted it at once, but turning round to bid another farewell to the other little girl, slipped, and was precipitated into the .very deep Ship Canal. At the cry of help from the passengers and staff, an Englishman, Mr A. Sim, who was staying at the Hotel Vicltoria, and who was in a small steamer with two ladies, without the slightest hesitation dressed just as he stood, dived into the canal and brought the little pet into safety, amid the applause of the people. The weeping mother clasped in her arms the little girl, who was at once taken to the house of Signor Toso. Meantime the Englishman was assisted out at Signor Toso’s factory. The doctor wss sent for, and Doctor Luigi Pasqualigo, the sanitary official, arrived and examined both the little girl and the Englishman, but, with the exception that the child was somewhat frightened, neither had sustained any injury. Signor Favare procured some clothing for the foreigner, and assisted him to dry and re-dress himself. The most heartfelt thanks was tendered to Mr Sims, in the name of the little girl and of the husband, by Madam Siriui, who asks us to publish this act of courage.”