"At the committee meeting, [of the Exeter Humane Society] held at the Globe Hotel on Monday last, Harry Leeke Gibbs, Esq., in the chair, rewards were distribute to several persons for having at their risk of life and health, plunged into the water to save persons in danger of being drowned.
"The Chairman in distributing the awards, expressed regret that the funds of the society did not enable the committee to give more - ten shillings was the maximum sum awarded, and in that case the recipient, George Soper, had saved a couple of children belonging to a navigator, whose hair breadth escape we recorded at the time.
"In some instances the recipients had plunged into the river at the coldest season of the year: in one case the gallant fellow (Scoynes) had plunged through the ice, and shown not only a gallant impulse, but pluck and fortitude in carrying it out.
"It is a pity that the society is not better supported, in order that these rewards might be given with greater effect. Some honorary distinction should, if possible, accompany the recognition of these acts of heroism in humble life - the society feels this - but have not the funds.
"One case, rejected, was an application by an old man for a reward for having saved a boy at the Shilhay leat, by putting out his walking stick and hooking the brat in. The old gentleman was informed that he had done no more than his duty, and that the application did him no credit, for if he had not stretched forth his stick he would have been a very wicked old man indeed. He admitted the force of the objection, and retired somewhat chopfallen."
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The Globe Hotel was in the cathedal yard next to St. Petroc's church.
Here is George Soper again from Exe Lane, receiving ten bob, but no silver medal, from the Chairman of the Exeter Humane Society. Perhaps only in London were medals awarded.
Ten shillings was the average weekly wage of a workman in 1845 and so not to be despised.
It is perhaps noteworthy that the chairman seems to have felt that it was only necessary for the Humane Society to consider the heroism of persons of the humbler life.
Chopfallen (chapfallen) is hardly used these days but it has a long pedigree. It occurs in Hamlet. Crestfallen is even earlier.
Being myself an old man, I wish I were in a position to point out to the chairman of the Exeter Humane Society that he did not need to to treat the old gentleman, who hooked the brat out of Shilhay leat, so discourteously. I should like to know the details. Did the old fellow perhaps run towards the drowning child? What was his state of health? The least the chairman could have done was to commend his action. Some of us, old men, find it difficult to tie our shoelaces, never mind lean out over a river and hold out a walking stick and rescue people. I would not be surprised if, in his own way, this old man demonstrated pluck and fortitude like the best of them.
Source: The Western Times, 26th April, 1845,
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