Hull, 8th August, 1861.
To the Right Honourable Thomas Milner Gibson, President of the Board of Trade, London.
Honourable Sir,—I beg most humbly to lay before your honourable Board the case of John Ellerthorpe, foreman of the Humber Dock gates at this place, who saved the life of John Eaby under most trying circumstances, and at great risk of his own life.
On the 30th of July last the said John Eaby was seized with a fit and fell into the dock basin, a depth of nearly twenty feet from the top. John Ellerthorpe, hearing his cries for assistance, spontaneously leaped into the water, and after struggling with the man in that dangerous condition, eventually succeeded in saving his life.
I likewise humbly beg to inform your honourable Board that this is the twenty-ninth person's life the said John Ellerthorpe has been the exclusive means of saving from a watery grave.
If your honourable Board should deem his actions of humanity worthy of your honourable Board's notice, a committee of the working men of this town is in formation to present him with a memorial, and if your honourable Board consider him worthy of any remuneration, I will communicate the same to the chairman of the committee, who will forward any information your honourable Board may require.
I remain your most humble and obedient servant,
THOMAS RAWLINSON.
2, Wellington-street, Hull.
RECEIVES A SILVER MEDAL.
In answer to this appeal, the Board of Trade, through Sir Emmerson Tennant, struck a silver medal to the honour of Mr. Ellerthorpe.
The Sovereign having awarded our 'Hero' with a gift of £20, and the Royal Humane Society and the Board of Trade having decorated him with their marks of honour, it remained for the inhabitants of Hull to show their appreciation of the humane and gallant deeds of their fellow townsman. Such deeds as our 'Hero' had performed are not less heroic than feats of valour on the battle-field, and well deserve public recognition as well as reward from private associations.