SCOUT'S COURAGE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 207, 26 April 1932, Page 7

SCOUT'S COURAGE

TEN - YE AR-OLD BOY WENT TO RESCUE OF TWO COMRADES. A DOUBLE FATALITY. SYDNEY, Sacurday. Wonderful courage and heroism was displayed by George Charlton, 10 -year- old Scout Cub, in an unsuccessful effort to save his two drowning comrades at Glenfield, near Liveiv pool, yesterday. Charlton, a sturdy, keen-eyed young Scout, belonged to the first Myrrickville troop. The two boys drowned were: — Bruce Smith (9), 9 Central Avenue, Marriekville and John Reynolds, 10, of Avthur Street, Marrickville. The Cubs had gone to the Glenfield Scouts Camp for a week-end bivouac and, it is believed, were taken in error to Glenfield, on the George's River, instead of to Casula, near ! Liverpool. Erskine King, Cubmaster, who could not swim, was sitting on the river bank, reading, when he heard cries, and saw the two children floundering in the river. Boy's Dash. It was then that George Charlton, who was on the bank, dashed into the river and almost sueceeded in bringing one boy to the bank. He was bravely assisted by another Cub, Richard Fleteher, of 81 Silver Street, Marrickville, who could swim, but unfortunately neither had the strength to complete the rescue. Frantic cries brought Frank Raxnsden, 19, of Fairfield Street, Fairfield, a camper, and he dived. Half an hour later he recovered the bodies, and with the aid of Constables Little and O'Dea tried resuscitation. Three little Cubs sat sobbing bitterly on the bank whilst the pofice worked frantically on their mates. Little George Charlton said Lst night that on his last attempt he had one of the drowning boys by the harxd. "I was trying to dragj him towards the bank, and he was pulling away from me. I called out' Ginger, grab my hand!' but everybody seemed too stunned, to move. I got a cramp and had to let go, and get in myself. "Bruce Smith and some others were playing near the bank, and I think somebody pushed him, in. There was a deep hole, and he fell into it. Jack Reynolds could hardly swim at all, h'ut he jumped straight in, and tried to save Bruce. "They were together out in thc stream, and then Bruce startad to pull Jack down with him. '11 jumped in, and one of them ;;*vl me by the foot. Then I got hold of one of them with my hands on both sides of his ehin. "The last time I had hold of one boy's hand, I held out my other hand and called to one of the boys to grab it, but nobody else came in, and I got a cramp myself, and had to let go." Mrs. Charlton said that her son learned to swim at Maruya, from where they had just come to Sydnev Stunned by the tragic ending to the day's scouting, Cubnmster Erskine King said: "When I saw the two boys in difficulties, I sent one of the others to some men whom I knew were near for help. "Then I ran back myself, but saw Bruce jump in. "It was a frightful end to our day. I can only think of the parents." Reynolds' father was watehing a football match when h.e unexpeclcdly heard the terrible story of his boy's death. "He was our only boy, and just went out for the day," he said.