A Plucky Rescue.

Te Aroha News, Volume XIV, Issue 2133, 19 July 1898, Page 2

A Plucky Rescue.

The other afternoon as the usual crowd of wharf-loungers hung around the Kopu wharf awaiting the arrival of the-Auckland packet, the cry of ‘ man overboard’ was raised and a rush was made to the wharf side. The current of the estuary was running strongly to sea at the time, and the th night that it would fare ill with anyone clasped in its embrace that cold afternoon struck a chill into the hearts of the crowd. Par out the head of a man could be seen bobbing helplessly up and down as the fierce iide hurried im away to a watery grave. A coup eof watermen jumped into a b >at, but in the meanwhile, one of the spectators, judging that the man, who evidently could not swim a stroke, would be lost if help was not immediately forthcoming, resolved to make the attempt. Now whoever has witnessed an affair of this kind knows that irresistible as the desire is to go to a drowning man’s aid a something grips tho heart and for a time, at least, paralyses action. There is possible death.in ir, and at the thought of death we are nearly all tempted to pause h >weyer loudly and desperately humanity shreiks 1 help.’ Mr J. W. Ryau, of the Thames, is not built that way, however, for no sooner had he grasped the sruation than he sprang to the drowning man’s assistance and grabbed him a? he sank for the third time; hold ng him, all Unconscious, until the wa er men dragged them both into, safety. Mr Ryan’s conduct w. s gallant indeed. In the heat of ba tie men perform prodigies in the way of valour. Their blood is up and the lust of slaughter is upon them. We have heard men say that there is ho pleasure in the world to bb compared to the de ieious madness of a charge when saddles are being emptied at every stride, and every bound of the sptn 1 -driven steed brings his rider nearer the bayonets and death. To kick off your boots and jump into the dark swirling waters of a tidal river running to seawards like h mill-race to tho rescue of a man whose acquaintance you have yet the pleasure of making, demands a higher quality of courage than we ask even of the soldier, and as such we should all recognise it. We understand the honorary correspondent of the Royal Humane Society of Australasia has taken steps to bring Mr Ryan’s prompt and gallant action under the socitey’s notice.