A GALLANT RESCUE.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 January 1922, Page 4

A GALLANT RESCUE.

NEW PLYMOUTH, HARBOR INCIDENT. SAILOR SAVES SHIPMATE. The seaman Petersen, -who effected the gallant rescue of W. Granlund from drowning in the New Plymouth harbor at midnight oil Wednesday, now lies ill in his bunk in the -forecastle of the liner Port Albany. The long struggle of half an hour in the cold water brought on a chill, and although not seriously ill, Petersen is confined to his bed.

Visited by a Daily News representative yesterday Petersen said that while going aboard the Port Albany at about midi Tight on Wednesday Granlund (the ship’s carpenter) fell from the gangway between the wharf and the side of the ship. Petersen heard the alarm, and im--mediately went over the side on a rope, the darkness and the wharf piles making a dive risky. A gale was howling under the wharf, and the water was black and choppy. With considerable 'difficulty Petersen found his man, only to lose him again in the swirling water, and having to dive down to bring the drowning man to the surface. Granlund was then apparently lifeless, evidently having struck his head in the fail.

Notwithstanding the seeming hopelessness of his task, Petersen tenaciously battled against the elements and the dead weight o-f his helpless comrade (Granlund's weight is about 16 stone), and not till half an hour had elapsed were the two men hauled up on to the wharf. Medical aid was summoned, and Granlund rallied under artificial respiration, and was conveyed to hospital. Questioned about his exploit, Petersen admitted' modestly, “Yes, he had got his man”; and undoubtedly the fact that “Chips’ ” life was saved was considered sufficient recompense for the hard struggle entailed. Possibly when the band plays at the Breakwater to-morrow, and the crowd gathers on pleasure bent, the sick man in the forecastle of the Port Albany will not be forgotten.