PORTER'S BRAVERY

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 568, 27 June 1933, Page 7

PORTER'S BRAVERY

TO BE RECOGNISED DIYED CNDER MOYING TRAIN IN EFFORT TO SAYE WOMAN. A VAIN SACRIFICE. Sr" r*7 No act of heroism in the last decade has stirred Melbourne more than that in which Frank Jenkin, the 22-year-old porter at Kensington railway station, gave his life on Snnday night. The story of his self-sacrifice will be brought before the Royal Humane Society at its meeting on Monday night and his name probably will be recorded in the societys 'archives, his parents receiving' a certificate to remind them of a gallant son. Jenkin jained the Vietoria Railways service as a supernumerary porter six years ago and went to work sweeping the platforms of the Brunswick Station. He was an assiduous worker, ever ready to give to the public any service that lay in his power. He was soon popular with the regular train travellers and with' the station staff. Three months ago he was transferred to Kensington Station. To Woman's Aid. While the stationmaster made up the day's running records and cash it was Jenkin's dtity to clear the late trains. He was engaged in this work on Sunday night when he met with injuries that resulted in his death next day. He had just cleared the 9.28 train to Melbourne when Mrs. Sybil Carey, ' 30, of Edgar Street, Glen Iris, rushed aeross the platform to join the moving train. Yictorian electric trains gather speed at an amazing rate and Jenkin, realising this, must have known the danger that confronted the wom,an as she hade a bid t0 swing ahoard. Dashing forward Jenkin called a warning. The woman fell hetween the platform and the moving train and the young porter flung himself down to save her from the grinding wheels. H egripped her clothing as she was drawn down hetween the platform and the train. The woman, too clung to Jenkin. Dragged Under Train. Together they were dragged down, both fighting for their lives, until they were under the moving train. The train was stopped within a few yards, but Jenkin's valiant effort had been in vain. The woman had been killed before ishe struck the rails. Her spine and legs had been crushed almost to a pulp. Jenkin's head was gashed and his feet had heen caught by the wheels. Badly bruised, he was hurried off to hospital but his condition was so serious that an operation could not he attempted that night. Early on Monday morning his left leg and the toes of his right foot were amputated. But he died on Monday afternoon. Even before Jenkin's action had cost him his life his heroism was being discussed on all sides. One of the earliest inquirers of his welfare was the iGovernor-General (Sir Isaac Isaacs), who having read of the young porter's hravery telephoned the Melbourne Hospital at 9 a.m. on Monday.