HALF DROWNED IN A GUTTER.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2722, 9 December 1881, Page 2

HALF DROWNED IN A GUTTER.

On Nov. 18 a heavy flood occurred in Melbourne, and the street gutters became the channels of powerful streams. In Swanston street an accident occurred which was only prevented from having a fatal termination by the dogged perseverance and plucky activity of the bystanders. A cabman named Thomas Brown, through some unexplained cause, got into the current of the gutter at the intersection of Swanston and Lonsdale streets, and was swept rapidly along, totally unable to compete with the force of the stream. A tobacconist named Higginbotham heard Brown’s shrieks for help, and in conjunction with a Newfoundland dog made efforts to save him. The dog jumped into the stream and seized hold of the man, but the current was so strong that the clothing gave way, and the man was carried still further down the channel. The dog then made another attempt, and seized hold of Brown just before he reached Little Bourke street, but the force of the'water was again too much for the dog, and he was compelled to relinquish his hold. At this moment Mr Higginbotham, who had taken hold of a post, leant out into the stream, and got a grip of Brown, but he was compelled to give way. The man disappeared in the covered channel which runs under Little Bourke street, and all hope for his safety was abandoned. The dog, however, nothing daunted by his failures, got hold of Brown as he emerged from the channel at the lower side of the street, but Brown was again torn away, and rushed at headlong speed towards the closed channel that runs under Bourke-street. Just op posite Mr Benjamin’s tobacconist’s shop another desperate attempt was made to save him. Mr Higginbotham, Mr Mates, and the invincible dog plunged into the stream, and by great exertions managed to rescue Brown from what must have been certain death. When the cabman was hauled out it was found that his clothes were torn to shreds, a fact which was no doubt largely owing to the persistent way in which the dog had taken hold of him. In addition to this, Brown’s flesh was found to be torn in many places, and he was at once conveyed to the hospital.