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Westport Times, Volume 1, Issue 133, 3 January 1868, Page 4

Gross Cowardice. —The Argus reports an instance of gross cowardice on the part of four men which was adduced at the inquest on the poor boy M/Crossan, who was drowned a day or two ago, in a dam at Eaglehawk. The evidence showed that at the moment the poor boy was sinking four miners stood on the bank, coolly looking at his death struggles. The piercing screams of the boy's sister had no effect in moving their craven hearts to try and save him, but they told her to go home and tell her mother. A. brave manly little fellow, thirteen years of age. named David Young, who was mending a whip 100 yards off, heard the screams and ran to the dam. The four men said a boy was drowning, and told him to go into the water to save him, and " not to be frightened." Young replied that he could not swim ; but looking at the water, he saw Crossan sink, and with a manlier heart and braver spirit than all the four "men," he nob!y dstermined \o risk his life. He waded. iato the water up to his armpits, and felt with his feet for the body until assistance came. The four men did nothing whatever. The jury added to their verdict a remark to the effect that they were unanimously of opinion that deceased's life could have ueen saved had any of the four men gone to deceased's aid, instead of sending the boy Young, who could not swim, into the water.