Notes

New Zealand Tablet, 4 May 1911, Page 818

Notes

The Irish Envoys Messrs. W. A. Redmond, J. T. Donovan, and R. Hazleton arrived in Wellington on Monday by the Rotorua. Particulars of their movements and of the meetings to be addressed— far as these have been definitely decided on —are given in another column. We bid the envoys a hearty welcome; and we are confident that the earnest and gifted spokesmen will take with them from the Dominion a generous store of funds with which to fight the closing and triumphal onset for the rights and liberties of the Isle of the West. The enthusiasm already manifested, and the expectancy with which their visits are awaited in the various centres, are a sure earnest of success. Our readers are familiar with the overflowing enthusiasm and magnificent generosity with which the other Irish delegates were received in America some few months ago. We have faith that here, too, the envoys will everywhere receive a royal welcome; and that New Zealand and Australia, like America, will rally for the last appeal.

A Revealing Verse 'This,' says the Glasgow Herald, referring to Sir William Butler's much-discussed Autobiograph, 'is the record of a man of sterling qualities not always comfortablo in his environment, but possessed with an unquenchable spirit. A fragment of verse which his daughter says was found among his writings is among, the most revealing things in the entire narrative: '"On the dim tombs of time I see The names of men who strove in vain To lift the load, to break the chain: Then why a better grave for me?" '

A True Hero The whole community in Otago has been profoundly touched by a noble instance of heroism which happened at Round Hill, near Riverton, on Easter Monday night when Frank Smith, a fine type of Catholic young".man, in the very pride of his manhood, gave up his life in an attempt to save that of his mate. The following particulars are abridged from the account furnished by the Invercargill correspondent of the Otago Daily Times. 'Joseph Races and Frank Smith, the latter only just turned 20, were working in the afternoon shift sinking a small paddock for the lower elevator for the Round Hill Company's claim. This paddock or hole in the loose drifting sand has to be kept constantly pumped out while the work of sinking is being carried on, or it quickly fills up again W'th drainage water and drifting sludge. On the night in question it would appear that while Bates, and Smith were working with picks and shovels round the mouth of the suction pump, Bates-must have slipped and his'foot became jammed between the pipe and the rocky wall behind it. His toe had entered the pipe, and by means of the suction his foot was drawn in up to his shin, and then

his leg was broken. Smith was working alongside Bates, and held up his comrade, who would be in great pain from his broken, leg, and unable to stand upright without assistance. There was not a rope or spar or anything within reach from which to get any support—nothing but slimy, sinking sludge. The very fact that Bates's leg was glued in the opening of the pipe, also meant that the suction was blocked and no water or drift could be pumped away.' * . ' Smith, in the semi-darkness, apparently worked hard with a crowbar to wrench the month of the pipe open enough to get Bates's foot clear, and so release him, and at the same time hold the wounded Bates up as well. Smith at this time apparently threw off his blue jumper, and this also was sucked into the orifice of the pump, and completed the sealing of the suction pipe. The drainage water was meantime rising round both men in. the narrowpointed bottom of the hole in which they were, and the deadly treacherous drift Mas sneaking in all the time. Smith, in his efforts to clear Bates from the suction pipe, had probably given no thought to his own danger, and when it was too late found he was closely held in the deadly grip of the sludge, worse than the tentacles of an octopus. The oozing slime gripped him fast, while he did his best to free himself and hold up his friend. Smith took off his shirt and singlet and tried to work his legs free from his gum boots by pulling down his trousers to below his knees, but the water was rising all the time, and the sludge coming in sometimes in small slips Mas causing the bottom layers to set like cement, encasing the feet of the miners in plaster of Paris moulds. Think of the agony of the situation as the two men realised that they were caught like rats-in a trap that frosty night, not a soul within call and no prospect of assistance until the midnight shift came on. Smith, who could have got away simply enough at the beginning, was held there along with Bates. Inch by inch came the water. Smith stood up his full strapping six feet linch so as to fight the creeping elements gamely, and all the time held up his shorter mate as high as the latter's pinned leg would allow. At midnight tin; other shift came on the scene and saw two coats floating on the flooded paddock. They ran back to the township and roused the manager, and soon all the men of Bound Hil] were at the paddock. In time they got the water pumped down 18 inches, and then in the misty light their anxious eyes beheld the head and naked shoulders of Smith emerge from the receding water. He was standing quite erect, dead, at his post, having given up his life in an heroic endeavor to save his mate.' * Smith's father man widely and highly respected in the community—is a convert to the Catholic Church; and young Smith was confirmed by Bishop Verdon on his Lordship's second last visit to Riverton. At the inquest, the jury in their verdict desired 'to place on record their appreciation of Smith's noble conduct in giving his life in an endeavor to help his mate'; and a public movement is on foot to commemorate his heroism by the erection of a suitable memorial. The movement, needless to say, is being whole-heartedly taken up in the district.—P.