Notater |
- Faddere: Pouline Kettner, Klara Jørgensen, Søren Klausen.
- Bor "Fælledsvej passage 12, st." hos sine forældre. Noteret som sømand.
- Fra Australsk avis:
A COURAGEOUS AfT.
STRUGGLE FOR LIFE.
Edward Nelson's Bravery
The drowning, fatality near the anchorage on Thursday, May 8.
When Peter Mollnitz, a Danish seaman an lost his life by falling overboard, from the pilot boat Carina, was attended by a commendable act of bravery on the part of Mr. Edward Royla -Nelson, aged 19, who pluckily risked his life in an endeavor to save the drowning man.
Though Nelson's efforts were unsuccessful, the fact remains that he deserves some recognition for his
courageous act.
When Mollnitz fell overboard from the Carina which was taking the captain of the steamer Natal and
another seaman to the anchorage to join that ship. Nelson who was in charge of the Pilot boat, jumped into the sea after the man and managed to hold on to him. Prior to jumping overboard, Nelson told a lad named Hutchinson aged 16, to, take the wheel. A life buoy was thrown out to the drowning man just before Nelson went to his assistance. Hutchinson did not understand the handling of the boat which was moving along at about four knots an hour.
The captain of the Natal threw a line to the two men in the water, and Nelson holding it with one hand and Mollnitz, who was unconscious, with the other, was drawn through the water for some distance until he was forced to let go. Both men sank, and Nelson was unable to hold the man any longer. Exhausted, he rose to the surface but saw no sign of Mollnitz. The pilot boat was still a good distance away, Hutchinson being unable to turn the vessel. Nelson swam to the life-buoy after great difficulty, and holding on to it, called out directions to the lad in the boat. The Carina was eventually turned about and another line was thrown to the exhausted Nelson who was dragged aboard after being in the rough sea infested with sharks for about 20 minutes.
The lad's plucky effort to save Mollnitz's life endangered his own and it was only through sheer, determination and cool-headedness that he himself was saved from a watery grave.
The fatality occurred about 12 miles out from Pirie and the weather was very rough at the time.
Nelson is employed by the Pilot Boat Association, and lives at Fifth street, Pirie West.
Drowned Among Sharks.
After a diligent search for the body of Peter Mollintz, the Danish seaman who was drowned near the Anchorage on Thursday night, the police have given up the task as a hopeless one. Plainclothes Constable McCormack, who had charge of the inquiries concerning the fatality, stated yesterday that Mollintz's body had most likely been eaten by sharks, which infest that part of the coast.
Mollintz came to Pirie as a member of the crew of the steamer Natai, but signed off while in port. Just before the steamer sailed from Pirie he signed on again at a higher rate of pay.
The drowned seaman was born at Copenhagen, and was 21 years age.
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