SEAMAN’S GALLANTRY

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 559, 11 January 1929, Page 12

SEAMAN’S GALLANTRY

RESCUES MAN FROM LOFTY ! FLAGSTAFF SUSPENDED BY CLOTHING It is doubtful if the people of the English seaport of Hartlepool ever! witnessed a. more thrilling sight than the rescue of a painter, Robert Tipp, from the flagstaff on the Borough, Buildings. For an hour and a half they watched the unconscious form of Tipp swaying on tlie lofty flagstaff, 70 feet above the ground, expecting every moment to see him drop to his death. He did drop—to be miraculously saved in a manner unparalleled in the most sensational film. With the miracle is connected the story of John Chapman, ■whose name must be inscribed on the list of England's humble heroes. Near Top of Staff Engaged to paint the flagstaff. Tipp regarded it in no way as a hazardous job. although to people passing along Middlegate there seemed safer ways of earning a living as they watched the painter, slung in a “chair” within a few feet of the top of the swaying staff-. This “chair” was secured to the staff by slipknots, a:<d hung about 14 feet above the top of a ladder standing on the roof of the building, the topmost rung resting against the pole, to which was fastened. To get to the chair, Tipp had to climb the pole, gradually lowering himself as he proceeded with the painting. Suddenly it was observed that Tipp had stopped painting, and hung limply in the chair. From some cause he liad been taken ill. and only the grip which he had on the flagstaff with his right arm prevented him from crashing to the street below to a terrible death. Mate Climbs Pole His mate, Thomas Smedley, noticing Tipp’s danger, at once climbed the j pole and tried to make him secure by ! lashing him firmly to the chair. His ’ strength failing, however, Smedley ! bad to come down. The strain on his | nerves was such that lie collapsed | after he had descended, the shock de- ! priving him of speech for two days. Meantime, to help the rescuers to ! roach the ladder, a fire escape was rung up, although for a while no one ; seemed able to hit on a feasible plan ! for reaching Tipp and bringing him down. It, was then that John Chapman, a trawlerman, came to the scene. For a few moments he watched the body of Tipp swaying in the chair. Then, quietly taking off his boots, he volunteered to climb the pole and endeavour to bring the painter down. Swarming up the staff, he found Tipp unable to speak, and quite helpless. The weight of the two men on the staff caused it to sway so violently that those watching below expected to see the mast break, or Chapman knocked into the street, at any moment. But he clung on tenaciously, working quickly and dexterously. The end of the flag halliard had Tipp’s bucket of paint attached to it. This Chapman cut off and flung into the street, after which he bound the halliard firmly under Tipp’s arms. Rescuer Exhausted By this time, however, the wouldbe rescuer was so exhausted that he had to come down for a rest, leaving the unfortunate Tipp still suspended in mid-air. After a few minutes he went up again, and cut away the cradle, thus leaving Tipp swinging clear of the pole, which was now bending so much that every moment it seemed certain to break. The people in the street watched it with starting eyes. Orders were then given to lower away the flag halliard, but after giving some three inches it stuck, and refused to move farther. Then came the horror. While Chapman and | other willing workers stood on the roof of the building, wondering what had happened, and what was best to be done, the truck—or button— at the top of the pole, through which the ropes passed, suddenly broke, and Tipp fell with a crash. The onlookers closed their eyes at the sheer horror, expecting when they opened them again to see that the painter and his rescuer had been hurled to their death on the railings far below. Miracle Happened But a veritable miracle had happened. The end of the ladder projected slightly beyond the pole, the overlapping portion forming an acute angle with the staff. This projectmg piece had run under Tipp’s coat as he dropped, and he now hung suspended by his clothing! It was discovered afterwards that the ladder-end ; had injured his side. Diiectly the first shock of surprise passed, willing helpers rushed to the painter’s aid, but they had to cut his clothing away before he could be released and lowered. This was quickly done, and ringing cheers greeted the i escuers as they at reached the ground in safety. “The men who worked on the ladder were splendid,” said a man who toi an hour had breathlessly watched the rescue, and Chapman was a real hero —a tribute with which few will disagree.