NARROW ESCAPE FROM DROWNING.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4327, 1 February 1875, Page 3

NARROW ESCAPE FROM DROWNING.

(From the Otago Daily Times, January 23.) As Mr. Long and Mr, W. Comrie, accompanied by a lady, were rowing across the harbor to Vauxhall, about three o'clock yesterday afternoon, their attention was attracted by the loud cries for assistance of two men on the beach near Anderson’s Bay. Upon proceeding a short distance farther they noticed a man struggling in the water, about fifty yards from land. Mr. Comrie pluckily jumped overboard and secured the drowning man, who was apparently insensible. With the least possible delay the unfortunate fellow was towed to land and taken to the Anderson’s Bay Hotel, where he received every attention. The man (whose name we could not ascertain) was in Mir. A. Campbell’s employ, and taking some groceries in a spring cart along the beach. When passing an incline of about nine feet the horse stumbled and fell, bringing man, cart, and all into the water. Mr. Long had great difficulty in rescuing the horse and cart, though the animal was swimming gallantly. The provisions were saturated with water', but apparently all safe. Wonderful to relate, the cart and harness were not damaged, even the traces being unbroken. The man himself probably had a clean dive, as no bruises were visible upon him. Great credit is due to Mr. Comrie and Mr. Long for the celerity displayed by them., Had the two men who witnessed the accident on the beach been swimmers and shown true courage they would certainly have attempted to rescue their drowning fellow creature without delay, This providential escape affords another striking illustration of the importance of every individual acquiring the art of swimming.