On Saturday afternoon week, between three and four o'clock, two little boys, one six years of age, and the other about nine, sons of Mr. Horncroft, of No. 6, Bridge-row, Pimlico, were playing on the banks of Grosvenor Canal, Pimlico, and climbing up one of the cranes used for unloading the barges, when the youngest accidentally fell off the crane into the water, a height of about ten feet. The eldest immediately jumped into the canal after him, when, after a short struggle, they both went down. At this moment, Mr. Peel, the printer, in the New-Cut, Lambeth, accompanied by Mr. Ryan, comedian, at Astley's, chanced to pass with his celebrated Newfoundland dog Nero, well known for his performances in various pieces at the different theatres. Mr. Peel, who saw the children sink, instantly threw a pebble to the spot, and Nero plunged in, dived at the place, and almost instantly brought up the eldest boy, but as he was swimming with him to the shore, the clothes tore that the dog had hold of, and the boy sank again, but was quickly recovered by the dog, and brought safe on shore. The youngest had appeared twice during the time, and no sooner had Nero placed the boy in safety, when he plunged in a second time, and after diving for a few seconds, he appeared with the youngest boy, and brought him on shore, in a state of complete exhaustion. By this time upwards of two hundred people had assembled, and the children were conveyed to the nearest public house where they soon recovered. Every person appeared anxious to see the dog that had saved the children's lives, and the caresses he received from the crowd were overwhelming. Mr. Horncroft, the father of the children, on being informed of the circumstance, expressed his acknowledgements to Mr. Ryan, and on Monday, gave a dinner, at which Nero appeared as the principal guest, and evinced the greatest docility by harmlessly playing with the children that he had saved from a watery grave. (575 - 576)