The Life-Boat
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THE LIFE-BOAT, OK JOURNAL OF THE NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION. VOL. VI.—No. 64.] APRIL IST, 1867. Is. AT the Annual General Meeting of the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, held at the Mansion House, by the kind permission of the LORD MAYOB of London, on Thursday, the 28th of February, 1867, His KOYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE OF WALES, K.G., in the Chair, the following Keport of the Committee was read:— whole of the inhabitants of these islands to ANNUAL REPORT. our maritime popuktion, and of the duty of protecting them, as far as possible, from THE Committee of! the ROYAL NATIONAL the dangers of shipwreck on their own LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION; with feelings of shores. gratitude and satisfaction, once more pre- In. tiieit last Annual Report, the Com- sent to its supporters and to the British mittee expressed their gratification at the Public their Annual Report. establishment in France of a Life-boat The generous co-operation of their coun- Society, founded on the same principles as trymen has now happily relieved them from our own, and that it then already possessed all anxiety for the present efficiency of the 11 self-righting Life-boats, built by Messrs. Life-boat Service, so far as the same is FOEEESTT, of Limehouse, under the super- dependent on pecuniary aid; and the con- intendence of this Institution. It affords the fidence that is reposed in them, alike by the Committee further pleasure to be able public and by the hardy boatmen of our to report that that Society has now 17 coasts, with whose help they are enabled to Life-boat stations complete, and 8 others effect the benevolent object for which the nearly so, whilst 7 more are in course of Society was instituted, affords them every formation, so that, ere long, it will possess encouragement in the prosecution of it. no less than 32 Life-boat establishments. The Institution has, during the past These boats are now all being built in twelve months, continued to receive the France, on the plan of this Institution. noble assistance of inland towns and pri- In a former Report it was stated that this vate individuals, by the presentation of the Committee proposed to build and place, at entire cost of Life-boats, so that an in- selected stations, a few improved fishing- creasing number of these towns are now re- boats, provided with safety fittings, hoping presented in this way by their own boats thereby to gradually introduce such improve- on the coast—a gratifying indication, not ments in the smaller class of coast fishing- only of general sympathy with, the humane boats as might lead to a considerable dimi- work.of the Society, but probably also of a nution in the loss of life, which so frequently growing sense of the indebtedness of the occurs from their being overtaken by gales LITE-BOAT JOURNAL.—VOL. VI.—No. 64. 264 ANNUAL EEPORT. 1, 1867. of wind when at a distance from the land. to their request; and the Committee now Two of these boats are now completed, beg to congratulate the supporters and well- and in the hands of trustworthy fisher- wishers of the Institution on that auspicious men on the coast of Scotland, and three event, and publicly to tender His Royal more will shortly be ready. At their next Highness their grateful thanks for the im- Annual Meeting, the Committee hope to portant favour he has thus bestowed on the be able to report satisfactory results from Life-boat Cause. the experiment. The details of the work of the Institution The Committee, actuated by the loyal ! during the past year may be thus sum- feelings which so happily pervade all classes marised. in this kingdom, ventured to invite His ROYAL HI&HNESS THE PRINCE OF WALES to Life-boats.—Thirty-three new Life-boats preside at this their Forty-third Annual Meet- have been built; of these, thirteen have ing. With that urbanity and kindness which ! been provided for new stations, and the distinguish him on all occasions, His Royal ! remainder to replace worn out or inferior Highness most kindly and promptly acceded boats. They are stationed as follows :— ENGLAND. WALES. NORTHUMBERLAND . Boulmer. GLAMORGANSHIRE . Swansea. Blyth. MERIONETHSHIRE . Barmouth. YORKSHIRE . Bedcar. CARNABVONSHIKE . Portmadoc. NORFOLK . Mnndesley. ANGLESEY . Llanddwyn. Sheringham. SUFFOLK . Gorlestone. Southwold. CHESHIRE New Brighton. KENT . Margate. SUSSEX , . Winchelsea. SCOTLAND. Brighton. ORKNET ISLANDS . Stromness. West Wittering. ELGINSHIRE . Lossiemouth. DORSET . Chapman's Fool. Lyme Regis. DEVONSHIRE . Brixham. IRELAND. / Brnnnton. Co. Down . Tyrella. CORNWALL . Looe. DUBLIN Poolbeg. Fotrey. Skerries. Falmouth. CORK . Ballycotton. St. Ives. Queenstown. SOMERSET . Burnham. Courtmacsherry. Carriages have also been provided for most coast of Cornwall. The boat, while pro- of the above boats, and boat-houses erected ceeding to the aid of the crew of the schooner at all the new stations. Georgina, of Boston, U.S., wrecked on the The Life-boats of the Institution now Doom Bar, was upset, and although she \\ number one hundred and seventy-four. immediately self-righted, her crew Were pre- They have been the means of saving four vented from regaining her by the violence of hundred and twenty~six lives during the the surf, and five of them unhappily perished past twelve months—nearly the whole of —thus painfully reminding the Committee of them under circumstances when no other the perilous character of the work which they description of boat could with safety have have undertaken to guide and superintend. been employed in such a service. XTp to the commencement of February, Shipwrecks and Loss of Life.—Disasters the Committee had hoped to be able at sea during the past year have been very to congratulate this Meeting on the entire numerous, and many of them were of a exemption from accident in their Life-boat most distressing nature. It is only neces- Fleet during the past twelve months, as sary to refer to the awful catastrophe to the until the 6th of that month no life had been Australian Screw Steamer London, on the lost. However, on that day, a fearful cala- llth of Janaary, 1866; to the lamentable mity happened to the crew of the Institu- scenes about the same period ia Torba}', tion's Life-boat at Padstow, on the north and on other parts of the coast; to awaken APEIL 1, 1867.] ANNUAL REPORT. 265 sad remembrance of the peculiarly fatal wrecked crews.* And this assistance is by character of these visitations. no means limited to the efforts of our No one who has witnessed a storm on our hardy Life-boat men. Men of all ranks coasts, when the waves are mountains high, come forward not only to lend a helping can have failed to be impressed with the hand, but also freely to risk their own lives terrific character of the scene, nor to think to save the life of the drowning mariner. with feelings of the liveliest pity on those As illustrative of this gratifying fact, the who are exposed to its fury. While every Committee have much satisfaction in. refer- human effort to render aid is often baffled ring to the noble exertions of the Kev. by the violence of the tempest, the niiud is CHAKLES COBB, of Dymchurch, Kent, in penetrated with a sense of the mighty rescuing from the rigging on Sunday power of Him who " holdeth the waters in morning, the 6th January last, one of the hollow of His hand," and can say to the the crew of the French lugger, Cannier de tossing billows, " Peace, be still!" -Dieppe, which was wrecked off Dymchurch, in a strong gale of wind and heavy sea. The Wreck Register of the Board of The Gold Medallion of the Institution has Trade informs us that the number of ship- been voted to Mr. COBB, in testimony of wrecks during the past year was 1787, his heroic exertions, and the Silver Medal accompanied by the loss of 602 lives. to JoH!f BATIST, the Coastguard-man, who Great efforts continue to be made to bravely helped Mr. COBB on that eventful render every possible assistance to ship- occasion. * The Life-boats of the Institution were instrumental in saving, in 1866, the Crews of the following wrecked vessels: Steamer Bessie, of Hayle 9 Barque Julia, of Liverpool 9 Sloop Cupid, of Goole 4 Barque Fictorine, of Ostend 1 Schooner Peerless, of AberysUrith. 5 Schooner Anaconda, of Lerwick... 5 Brig Ostp, of Fairae 1 Smack .Elizabeth, of Cardigan 6 Schooner Swann, of Goole 4 Scnooner Black Agnes, of Shields ,. 3 Smack Jenny Jones, of Barmou th.. 5 Steamer Euda, of Loith —Assisted Brigantlne Fremad, of Bergen 1 Brigantfne Pearl, of Montrose— to save vessel and crew. Schooner Laurel, of Goole 3 Saved vessel. Schooner Coronation, of London .. 4 Brig Tartar, of Stmderland—Saved Schooner Ann, of Torquay 3 Schooner Toy, of Dundee 5 vessel and crew 8 Ship Alarm, of Belfast 11 Barque Salmi—Assisted to save Schooner George, of Goole—Saved Brig n-ovidentia, of Svelvig 8 vessel and crew 16 vessel and crew 6 Smack Shamrock, of Wexford 6 Barque Margaret & Jane, of Shields a Brig Thoughtful, of Sunderland ... 8 Mary and Elizabeth, of Whiiby... 11 Barque Caroline BUsabetk, of Lon- Brig Jessie, of London 8 Schooner Treaty, of Goole—Saved don 13 Brig ChtMre Witch, of London... 3 vessel and crew 4 Norwegian Barque Inga 13 Schooner Zephyr, of Banff 6 Steamer Carbon, of Newcastle— Ship Himalaya, of Liverpool—Ren- Barque Lymun Cann, of St. John's 1 Saved vessel and crew 12 dered assistance. Ship Iran Crown, of Liverpool— Yacht Oagmar, of Middlesboro'..