Modest hero saves two boys from drowning
On Saturday afternoon an exciting
incident occurred near the Hirst
Locks on the Leeds and Liverpool
canal in connection with which an
act of heroism was performed
which will be read of with pride.
Shortly after one o’clock on the
afternoon in question, Donald and
Roland Ross, aged six and nine
years respectively, sons of police
constable Ross of Shipley, left
their home to go for a walk, the
road selected being along the
canal bank.
Swing bridge
All went well until they reached
the wooden swing bridge which
spans the canal near the Hirst
Locks. Here the boys were playing
about when the younger one,
entirely oblivious of the danger,
approached rather near the edge
of the water on some boards
which had been rendered slippery
by the action of the water.
The elder boy, seeing the danger,
went to bring his brother back but
just as he reached him, Donald
slipped and both boys were
precipitated into the water.
A little boy who was near at the
time at once ran off and told his
grandmother, Mrs Garside, who
resides at Hirst Locks.
That lady was unable to render
any direct assistance but seeing a
man coming down Hirst Lane, she
beckoned him.
The man immediately ran down
to the water’s edge and without
waiting to divest himself of any of
his clothing pluckily jumped into
the water and brought out one of
the boys
Then he again entered the water
and rescued the other boy.
After which the gallant rescuer
walked away in the direction of
Saltaire without leaving his name
and address.
Constable Ross, immediately on
hearing of the occurrence set to
work to find the rescuer. His
enquiries have elicited the fact
that he man’s name is Bob
McTurk, a manufacturing
chemist, carrying on business in
Manchester.
Rowing Club
Mr McTurk resides in Bradford
and is a member of the Bradford
Rowing Club, who occupy an
adjoining portion of the river.
But for the timely intervention of
this gentleman it is probable that
both of the boys would have
perished and Mr McTurk’s
courageous act certainly deserves
more than a passing notice.
Shipley Times & Express 16 July 1898
