A WONDERFUL ESCAPE FROM DROWNING.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 14, 8 May 1876, Page 2

A WONDERFUL ESCAPE FROM DROWNING.

(" Sydney Herald.")

About half-past two o'clock on the ] 2th ultimo, just as a cutter, which usually plies between the Gas Company's Wharf rani the Parramatta Paver, was getting alongside the Gas Company's Wharf, a young German sailor, employed on board, named James Pifi'kin. was struck by the boom and fell overboard. One of the persons ou board tried to catch hold oft' Piir'kin, as he knew that lie was unable to swim. He succeeded in seizing Pift'kin's baud, but it slipped from his grasp, and the poor fellow was seen to sink immediately after. The alarm was given that a man had I wen drowned. A number of people came with dragging apparatus from the Gasworks close by, but before they had got them into use a boat came longing to the American ship Whistler. The chief mate of that ship stripped himself ami dived after the body of Pift'kin. This he did several times without success. At Bowntree's Dock, which is not far distant, there lay a brig with a number of South Sea Islanders on board. One of the islanders, who, hearing of the occurrence, had come to tlie spot, dived down, and on the hrst attempt brought the body to the surface. It was covered "with coal tar, in winch the islander said lie had found it embedded at the bottom of the water. It is said that no less than fifteen minutes had from the time Piii'kin had disappeared. When the body was recovered life was to ail appearance extinct, but it was taken into the engine-room of tlie Gasworks, where several of the employes set about to try whether they could not restore animation. Hot water was applied, the body was chafed, blankets were used, and after about half an-hour of earnest work for resuscitation signs were discovered of returning vitality, and soon after he had greatly recovered.