Democratic Sentinel, Volume 20, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 July 1896 — Deserved a Decoration. [ARTICLE]

Deserved a Decoration.

The queen has conferred the decoration of the Albert medal of the first class on Mr. William John Nutinan, late (piaster of the steamer Aidar of Id verpool, says the Pittsburg Dispatch. The following is an account of the services in respect of which the decoration has been offered: At 2 a. m. on Jan. 19, while the steamer Staffordshire of Liverpool was on a voyage from Marseilles to Port Said, signals of distress were observed to be proceeding from the steamer Aidar, also of Liverpool, and the Staffordshire immediately proceeded to her assistance. As the Aidar was found to be sinking fast three of the Staffordshire’s lifeboats were at once launched and. with great difficulty, owing to the darkaess and the heavy sea, succeeded in rescuing her passengers and crew, twentynine In number. At 6:10 a. m. the only persons left on the Aidar were Mr. Nutman (the master) and an in Jured and helpless fireman whom he was endeavoring to save and whom he absolutely refused to abandon. The ateamer was now rapidly settling down and, as It Was no longer safe to remain near her, the officer in charge of the rescuing boat asked Mr. Nutnian for a final answer. He still persisted in remaining with the injured man, choosing ratlfer to face almost certain death dhan to leave him to his fate. The men in the boat were obliged to pull eway and immediately afterward, at 6:17 a. m., the Aidar gave one or two lurches and foundered. After she disappeared Mr. Nutman was seen on the bottom of an upturned boat, still holding the fireman. Half an hour elapsed before the rescuing boat could approach, but eventually Mr. Nutman and: the fireman were picked up and taken on board the Staffordshire, where the Injured man was with difficulty re stored by the ship's surgeon.