Frontier Sentinel 30th December 1915
A Plucky Action
A correspondent received a report of a plucky rescue effected under exceptional circumstances on Christmas Eve night, but although the tidings only reached the writer on last Saturday night the matter had already been reported to the R.I.C., Newry.

It appears that a farmer named John Fearon about eighty years of age, who resides at Crowhill, Newry, was going along the Derrylecka River on the night in question, between 7 and 8 o'clock. when he evidently missed his way in the dark, and fell into the unprotected river, which in places varies from 6 to 10 feet in depth.
The screams of the old man attracted the attention Mr. William Smith, Crobane, Newry, who immediately rushed to the scene and, only divesting himself of his coat, jumped into the river, which was swollen and running, and succeeded after much risk and difficulty in bringing the imperilled man to the bank, after which he tok him to Treanor's until he recovered.
Two ladies named Coyle and Treanod witnessed the rescue. The rescuer has ten children, the eldest being only 16 years of age, and he deserves the utmost praise and recognition as were it not for his timely acton old Mr . Fearon would undoubtedly have lost his life.


