BRAVERY ACKNOWLEDGED

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 15, 12 July 1911, Page 3

BRAVERY ACKNOWLEDGED

HUMANE SOCIETY'S AWARDS. By Oable —Press Association —Copyright, Christchureh, Wednesday. The board of directors of the Royal Humane Society met on Tuesday afternoon, when the following applications for awards were considered:—

The case of Davil Spenee (49) in rescuing K. J. Prestall (25) from being stabbed at Dunedin on August 5, 1910. The facts were that while on the ship County of Inverness, David 'Spence was) standing on the port side of the ship, when he saw the captain of the ship and the second officer trying to get a Russian Finn on board, and just as lie was on the rail Davkl Spence called out to the officer that lie had lii.s knife out, "and by the time I van over," he added, "the second officer had got his arm. I asked the man to let go the knife, and he held-it all the faster, and I gave the knife a jerk, breaking it into three pieces. The second officer's band was. cut. At the. time I called out. the knife was close to Ms body. The man then went to the galley and took the carving knife, which he intended to use afterwards."—lt was resolved that the case was not one that eame within the scope of the society's work.

Tlio ease of Catherine E. Bfiyno (It), in rescuing George McKay (13) from drowning at Dunedin on February 24, 1911.—The facts were that on February 24, 1911, Catherine Bayne was at her school picnic at North-East Harbor. She was bathing about 00 to 80 yards from where George McKay was, when a boy called out that George McKay was d'owning. Malcolm Turner went in to help him, but pot into difficulties, as Jle had bet-ween 30 and 40 yards to swim out to him. Miss l?avne swam on! to help Turner. McKay had sunk sevi" •! times when she brought him out inL shallow water, and tlu-n her mother tnok him up on the hank. He was cold and unconscious, and it took quite 40 minutes to bring round.—The bronze medal was awardea.

The ease of Percy A. Page (25). for rescuing Mr. Radley from drowning at Nelson on August 21, 1010.—Oil August 21, 1010, at 10 a.m., James H. Hatwe witnessed the accident referred to. Percy Page, of Takaka, dived into the water and rescued the man Hartley at the risk of his own life, Radley being a very tall man and Page a very under-sized one. Radley was in a very exhausted condition. quite unable to .save himself, and the officers of the ship were a considerable time in pumping out the water which Radley had swallowed. The tide had drifted Radley under the. wharf, and made it extremely difficult for a small' man like Page to get him out from under the structure of the wharf. —The bronze medal was awarded.

The case of Cyril Waters (17), For rescuing James Torrance (29) from drownm? at Catlins on December 28, 1010.—The facts were that on December 28, 1010. Waters swam out a distance of ten yards in between six and ten feet of water to reach Torrance, who was in difficulties. He lost no time in reaching Torrance, and promptly had him on the bank. The promptness of the rescue made it unnecessary to resort to measures for restoration. The rescue seemed quite as good, if not better, tluui a person rescuing a half-drowned man, as the risk was greater when a person had all his strength and faculties, than when his strength and reason were leaving him.—A letter of commendation was granted. The case of Herbert R. Clough (J), for rescuing Gordon and Gladys Clough (5 months and 5 yeans of age) from fire at Pitt Island on January 1.1, Mil.— The facts were that on January 13, Mil, at 10 a.m., Mrs. Clough, whose husband was away at work, left her home to go to the garden a mile dis-, tant from the house, leaving Herbert, in charge of the younger children, who were asleep in one of the rooms. Some few minutes later the boy, whs wai playinu outside, hearing screams, rushed inside, and found the room in flames. He immediately led his little sister outside, then, covering the baliy with a blanket, placed him in the care of the little girl. He re-entered the burniiisr room and pulled the bedding from the bedstead, tore down the blazing curtains and dragged a tub of water from the adjoining room and beat the flames with a wet broom. When the flames were extinguished he collapsed and .sank on the bedstead. He not only saved the lives of the children, but also the house and furniture.—A framed certificate was awarded, also a special letter to be framed setting out the facts of the ease and the high appreciation felt by the board of directors.