DEED OF HEROISM.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2672, 30 November 1909, Page 2

DEED OF HEROISM.

UNKNOWN SAILOR LOSES LIFE.

SAVES SHIP AND COMPANIONS

VANCOUVER, Sept. 17. Word was received yesterday by a Japanese mail steamer that a serious explosion had taken place on H.M.S. Otter, stationed „at the British port of Wei Hai Wei, on August 16th. Two meii were killed,- and another was in a precarious condition when the mail left. -ffi.' .

It is the .custom for the torpedo-boat destroyers to leave their moorings about 8 p.m., and to :gp, outside for night firing about three times a week, and on thi,s occasion steam was being got up when the accident occurred. Details of the accident disclose a story of great bravery on the part of a second-class petty officer of the tor-pedo-boat destroyer. Unfortunately, the man’s name was not known, but a sailor from one of his Majesty’s ships at Wei Hai Wei recounted the incident a s follows-.--When the tube burst, below there were about half a dozen men in the stoke-liold, and vicinity. The bursting of the tube was followed by a huge volume of steam rushing frqm the hold, and realising that an accident had occurred the .petty officer-forced his way below and immediately set to -work to secure the safety of the ship and' at the - Same time stop the rush of steam and scalding water. In this he was successful after a terrible experience. The work of getting the other men out was begun at once, and it is reported-that those who were below and got out alive owe their lives to the bravery of this man. All the men- were o-ot to the deck alive, but one whs so badly scalded that-he died shortly afterwards, and another was very-badly injured, and died later. When all dair-

ger- was; pa^sed;dhe;;;pet.ty;_.pfficex-;came} on' deck, 'we. are tola, and said,..,‘yAre. the boys alPri'ght ?’ ’ and/qh; being wered in.-the affirmative-lie- replied that he thought lie was about finished. Thy man then collapsed, and died -without regaining consciousness. His hands were beyond description. y The accident occurred at about sixt o’clock at night and visitors on. the island saw the steam issuing from the ; decks of the Otter and the pinnaces conveying the doctors on board. The two' men who had died' as a result of tlie injuries they had sustained were buried with full naval honors.