THE LIFE-BOAT JOURNAL

OF THE Bational %ife=boat Jnatitution,

(ISSUED QtTABTEBLY.)

VOL. XIII.—No. 143.] FEBEUABY 1, 1887. [PRICK 3d.

THE LIFE-BOAT DISASTEKS AT SOUTHPOET AND ST. ANNE'S. SINCE the publication of the last number 15.) The tide at the time of the rescue was about half ebb, and although there was an of the LIFE-BOAT JOURNAL, terrible disas- eddy running to the northward close in shore, ters have befallen the crews of the Life- the main stream was running W.N.W., or in boats at Southport and St. Anne's, on the the teeth of the wind, aud consequently con- siderably increasing the very heavy sea which coast of Lancashire, the full details of was already running owing to the continuance which are given in the following report of bad weather. The tide setting against the wind caused the sea to break heavily, rendering famished to the BOARD OF TRADE by the it extremely dangerous to boats. Special Commissioners appointed to hold The narrative-of the coxswain of the Life- the official inquiry into the circumstances, boat Charles Biggs is attached; it is briefly as follows:— Sir DIQBY MURRAY, Bart., attending on The Lytham boat was launched successfully behalf of the Board of Trade, and Capt. at five minutes past ten, signals of distress having been seen at 9.30 P.M., December 9th, the Hon. H. W. CHETWYND, E.N., Chief bearing about S.W. from the boat-house; she Inspector of Life-boats, on behalf of the proceeded down the river under oars for a mile EOYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION. and a half, and then set sail, steering about S.S.W., the wind being W.N.W., wind and sea about abeam. The boat was filled four or five [OFFICIAL KEPORT,] times, and when a quarter of a mile from the ship, the sails were taken in and the masts down. After getting the oars out, a heavy To the Eight Honourable breaking sea struck her, throwing the boat over The Lord STANLEY of Preston, &o., with her gunwale under water, the sudden President of the Board of Trade. lurch breaking three of the oars. The boat MY LORD, subsequently got safely alongside the ship, and In obedience to your instructions we have was successful in rescuing the crew. visited Southport, St. Anne's and Lytham, and She did not see either of the other Life-boats have inquired into the circumstances attending or any signals from them. the rescue of the crew of the barque Mexico, of Owing to the very heavy breaking sea which Hamburg, and the accidents to the Southport was running at the time, this was a very good Life-boat, Eliza Fernley, and the St. Anne's Life-boat, Laura Janet, and we now have the honour to report as follows:— Dimensions of the Charles Biggs: The rescue of the crew of the barque Mexico Ft. in. was effected by the Lytham Life-boat Charles Length over all .... 37 0 Biggs. Beam 80 There is some difference of opinion both as Depth 3 5J to the force of the wind and its direction during the period occupied by the rescue and the This boat had four water-ballast tanks hold- return of the boat, but as nearly as we can ing about one ton; the three after ones only judge the force was about 7 of Beaufort's scale, were filled on this occasion. and the direction W.N.W. We attach a memo- This was this boat's first service; she had randum and letter from Mr. Hartnup, of the only been about a fortnight in the hands of the Liverpool Observatory at Bidston. (Appendix

VOL. XIII.—No. 143.—LIFE-BOAT JOURNAL. 214 THE LIFE-BOAT JOUENAL. [FEBRUARY 1,1887.

opinion that in such a sea he may not have SODTHPORT BOAT ' ELIZA FERNLEY.' been able to prevent the boat falling off at times, but as he was a man of very great ex- Signals of distress were observed at the boat- perience, who had rendered good service in the house about 9 P.M. of December 9th. The crew past, we are not disposed to attach much im- were immediately assembled, horses procured, portance to this allegation. and the boat was transported about three and a half miles along the sands and successfully Dimensions of the Sonthport Life-boat. launched a little to the westward of the wreck. ft. in. By about 1 A.M. the Life-boat had reached a Length over all .... 34 0 position a little ahead of the vessel on her star- Beam 85 board bow, and was about to let go her anchor Depth 3 5J to veer down to the wreck, when a heavy This boat was built in 1874. breaking sea struck her about four points on the bow and instantly capsized her. Tho anchor at this time was in the act of THE ST. ANNE'S LIFE-BOAT. being let go, and consequently fell overboard with about 12 feet of cable, two or three ,turns . The distress signals were observed at about of the inboard part of which were round the 9.15; the crew were summoned, and the boat bollard, which turns were probably washed off was successfully launched at 10.25. as soon as ever the boat capsized. The depth She proceeded for about 500 yards under oars, of water was about 17 or 18 feet. and then made sail, crossing the Salt House The evidence is somewhat conflicting as to Bank. the number of men who were under the boat What happened after this is a matter of pure when she capsized; there is no doubt there conjecture. There is some evidence to show were six, and Henry Robinson, one of the sur- that two red lights and other signals were seen vivors, was of opinion there were nine, but as about west by north from Southport, at a dis- it was impossible for them to see one another, tance of about two miles. If these two red it is not quite certain that some of the voices lights were distress signals from the Life-boat, •which he heard may not have been those of she had probably met with some casualty in that men on the outside of the boat. position; but as none of her crew have survived, The boat never righted, and was found on any opinion as to the cause of the disaster must the beach about three miles to the westward of be purely hypothetical. The Life-boat was Southport at 3 A.M. of the morning of the 10th. found on the beach in the position marked on Three men, Peter Wright, Timothy Eighy, and the plan (Appendix No. 11) at 11.15 A.M. on Peter Jackson, were found dead under the boat. the 10th. The boat was bottom up, and three Balph Peters was found on the shore with life bodies were found hanging on the thwarts nearly extinct; he expired soon afterwards. with their heads downwards. The boat in John Ball was found at about 4.15 A.M. of the drifting ashore must have capsized as soon as 10th standing in a pool of water near the boat she got into shoal water, and it would then up to his knees; he was taken in a cab to the have been impossible for her to right again. Southport Infirmary and died there. Whether she capsized before this there is no John Jackson and Henry Eobinson came evidence to show. ashore in the boat and were able to effect their There is evidence of some shouting having escape, but they were in too dazed and ex- been heard in the direction in which these two hausted a condition to afford any .assistance to lights were seen, which renders it possible the the other men. These other men appear to boat may have been disabled in the before- have become entangled by the oars and lines, mentioned position, but we doubt whether it and no assistance unhappily being at hand they was possible for snouting to have been heard were unable to extricate themselves. The on such a night a distance of two miles, although other bodies were found in various positions on the listeners were to leeward. the beach. This boat had been out on service on five We are of opinion that the loss of life was occasions, and had saved six lives on December attributable to the boat never righting after 4th last. She was built ia 1881. she capsized, although there is evidence that We regret to have to state that from evidence she made several attempts to do so, but always taken by us at St. Anne's and Lytham we find fell back again, and we think her failure to that the coxswain was physically unfit for the right was occasioned by the anchor having performance of so arduous and difficult a service been let go, and also to the number of men as he was ill with consumption, and was not holding on round and under the boat, though expected by his medical man to last beyond the former of these two causes would probably the spring. be sufficient to account for the casualty, as has Two or three of the others were not strong been proved to have occurred on previous oc- men, and one poor fellow had only had a basin casions. of gruel all day prior to proceeding on this This boat had been out on service eleven times service. The Honorary Secretary of the Branch previous to this disaster, had saved fifty-two states in his evidence with reference to this man, lives, besides rendering assistance to one vessel. " I believe he (Bonney) stinted himself for the It has been stated in evidence that some of sake of his family. I don't think his privations the crew remonstrated with the coxswain for lasted for more than a week or two; he showed keeping the boat so much broadside to the sea; no signs of it." the Press have also stated this. We are of We were privately informed that this man's FEBRUARY 1, 1887.] THE LIFE-BOAT JOURNAL. 215 children always appeared well clothed and fed, other two boats. She is fitted with four water- and that he only stinted himself for their sakes. ballast tanks amidships, running along the There was no one in authority present at the keelson, holding about one ton of water: they launch of this boat excepting the coxswain who can be filled as soon as the boat after launching was drowned, and therefore nobody alive is gets into a sufficient depth of water, they take responsible either for the coxswain or any of one minute to fill, and can be pumped out in the men proceeding in the boat on this night in the same space of time when required. This an unfit condition. boat has also larger air cases running along the The coxswain, according to the rules of the sides above the deck, and consequently holds NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, is the person less water when filled through a sea breaking in authority at a launch on service. on board, than the older type of boats. We are unable, in consequence of the lack of We are of opinion that greater safety can bo evidence, to assign any reason for the loss of this obtained in the future by increasing the stability boat. of these self-righting boats, which will at the Dimensions of the St. Anne's Boat. same time increase their righting power, but in Ft. in. this we have been in a great measure anticipated Length over all 34 7 by the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, who, Beam 84 guided by the experience which they and their Depth 3 6i officers have attained in the past, have already fitted about seventy-five boats with watei ballast, She was built in 1881, and her righting and are as fast as practicable increasing that powers had been tested on the station. number. They have besides constructed or A paper was put in by Lieutenant Tipping, fitted four boats with drop-keels; these boats B.N., which was certified as correct by the will have still greater stability, but owing to Secretary of the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITU- the increased weight of these fittings, and the TION, showing the number of self-righting Life- consequent greater draught of the boats, they boats which have been launched on service for will not be adapted for all stations. the past thirty-two years, the number of lives The only pleasant duty which has devolved which have been saved by them, and the upon us during this painful inquiry, is to be number of lives which hare been lost through able to bring to the notice of your Lordship their capsizing. the great gallantry of the fishermen of this From this paper, it appears, that inclusive neighbourhood. We have ascertained that there of the loss of life into which it has been our is never the slightest difficulty in obtaining a 'nful duty to inquire, the boats have been crew to endeavour to save life, no matter what Cnched 5000 times on service, and have saved may be the state of the weather; and the pecu- over 12,000 lives. On these occasions, there liar formation of this part of the coast, and the were only 41 capsizes, 23 of which were un- numerous sandbanks, which, in bad weather, attended by any loss of life. In the remaining cause a very nasty confused and breaking sea, 18, 88 lives were lost, viz.:— render the service a particularly dangerous one. 76 Life-boat men, We are, &c., 12 Shipwrecked men, (Signed) DIGBY MUBBAY, HENBY W. CHETWYND, giving a total of 88 men. Captain B.N. The 76 Life-boat men lost represented about 1 in 850 of the men afloat in the Life-boats on Directly the intelligence of the sad service, and the capsizes 1 out of each 120 launches on service. In addition to this, the disasters to the two Life-boats, entailing boats have been out for exercise 15,000 times the loss of twenty-seven lives, reached the during the same period of thirty-two years, with Institution, telegrams were despatched to a loss of only 8 lives. Looking to the long period embraced, and the the Local Honorary Secretaries, expressing arduous and dangerous nature of these services, deep sorrow and sympathy, and requesting we cannot but think that this is a splendid record, reflecting great credit on the manage- them to provide, on behalf of the Institu- ment of the KOYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT IN- tion, for the immediate necessities of the STITUTION and then: officers. survivors and the widows and orphans. Good, however, as the record is in the past, we think, looking to the experience gained in It was also suggested that a special fund the course of all these years, it may be excelled should be at once raised for their benefit, in the future. The fact of one boat out of three having effected the rescue of the crew of a to which the Institution would liberally stranded ship, while the other two were cap- contribute. sized, might have been a matter either of Two of the District Inspectors of Life- accident or of superior management, but with- out seeking in any way to detract from the boats were promptly sent to the Life-boat gallant service of the Lytham boat, we are satis- stations in question, to make full inquiries fied that the Life-boat, the Charles Siggs, wag far the better boat of the three, having both far and render all possible co-operation. greater stability and righting power than the A special meeting of the General Com-

N 2 216 THE LIFE-BOAT JOURNAL. [FEBRUARY 1, 1887. mittee of the Institution was subsequently in Southport, St. Anne's, Lytham, Black- convened to consider the whole circum- pool, Preston, Liverpool, Manchester, stances, this sad calamity being unpre- Blackburn, Chorley, and other towns, the cedented in the history of the Society, aggregate reaching close upon 30.000Z. and it was unanimously resolved:— New and improved water-ballast Life- boats have been sent by the Institution " That this Committee desires to take to Sonthpoit and St. Anne's, to take the this, the earliest opportunity, of place of the boats which met with the placing on record its high apprecia- disasters, and it has also been decided to tion of the past services of the crews provide a second Life-boat for the South- of the Southport and St. Anne's port Station, to be kept moored afloat at Life-boats, and its deep and heartfel-t the end of the pier. A large sailing- sympathy with the widows and boat, of the self-righting type, 40 feet families of the brave and noble men long and. 10 feet wide, provided with a who lost their lives in the gallant sliding keel, has baen chosen by the and heroic attempt to rescue the Institution for that purpose. crew of the barque Mexico, on the A statement having appeared in several night of the 9th December." newspapers to the effect that the BOAED The sum of 2,000?. was voted by the OF TRADE contemplated an inquiry into Committee to the local fund for the benefit the efficiency of the Life-boat Service as of the widows and orphans, and rewards conducted by the EOTAL NATIONAL LIFE- ' and other payments, amounting altogether BOAT INSTITUTION, the following letter was to 239Z., were made to the representatives addressed to the Chairman of the Insti- of the crews of the Life-boats and others, tution, on behalf of LORD STANLEY of including the funeral expenses, as well as PRESTON, the President of the Board of payments to the Lytham and Blackpool Trade :— Life-boat men for launching their boats on " Board of Trade, Whitehall Gardens, S.W., the morning of the 10th December, to look 13th January, 1887. for the missing St. Anne's Life-boat. On Dear Sir Edward Birkbeck, In reply to your letter, Lord Stanley of that occasion the Blackpool coxswain was Preston wishes me to inform you that the state- injured, and was in danger of losing his ment which has appeared in various newspapers life, a heavy sea throwing the boat on to to the effect that the President of the Board of Trade has promised his best consideration to her beam ends, and pitching him into the the desirability of holding an official inquiry sea. Fortunately, he retained his hold into the sea-worthiness or otherwise of the Life-boats of the Royal National Life-boat of the yoke-lines, and was hauled on Institution, is without foundation. board again, after he had been dragged Lord Stanley is aware that the Institution along for about sixty yards. is giving the matter its most serious considera- tion, and he has offered to place at its disposal The sympathy shown by the public any official assistance that it may require. was most remarkable and gratifying. I am to add that representations have been Her Majesty the Queen, the Patroness of made to the Board of Trade as to the desira- bility of instituting an official inquiry, but as the Institution, graciously contributed Lord Stanley believes that the Institution is in IQQL to the special fund, and His Imperial full agreement with the Board of Trade in tlie matter, he does not think that any occasion for Majesty the Emperor of Germany sent such an inquiry has arisen. 2501. The Daily Telegraph appealed to Yours faithfully, its readers to give their aid, with the re- (Signed) T. W. P. BLOMEPIELD. sult that the munificent sum of 6,646Z. " Sir EDWAED BIBKBEOK, Bart, M.P., was contributed through the medium of Chairman of the Boyal National Life-boat that newspaper. Funds were also started Institution." FEBBITABY 1,1887.] THE LIFEBOAT JOURNAL. 217

THE LIFE-BOATS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM. complete victory. Henry VIII. also came LXVIII. HARWICH.—The Springwett, 45 feet here in 1543, to inspect his navy, sta- by 11 feet, 12 oars. tioned off Harwich; but a more notable HABWICH, standing on the extremity of a visit was from Queen Elizabeth (1561), tongue of land or narrow peninsula pro- who accepted an invitation from the jecting into the estuary of the rivers Burghers, and stayed several days at a Stour and Orwell, is said to have risen house in the central part of High Street. into note and importance from the ruins At her departure she graciously asked of Orwell, destroyed by the action of the them what they had to request of her, sea. Traces of the lost city are reported and received from them the answer, to be still visible at low water, distant "Nothing, only to wish your Majesty a five miles in a S.E. direction from the good journey." On which Her Majesty, shore, at a spot now indicated by the turning her horse about, and looking West Bocks. This is only one of nu- upon the town, said, "A pretty town, merous instances showing the extent of and wants nothing," and so bade them the ravages the sea has made on our farewell. Charles II. made a stay of four coasts in the last four or five centuries. days, but his object was to build men-of- Harwich was originally a fishing village, war, the Dutch being particularly active, and never seems to have been a place of and threatening to invade the shores of much note. Only in recent times has it East Anglia, or to sweep the seas of all become a parish separate from that of English shipping. No wonder, then, he Dovercourt. It derives importance chiefly came here to look after his navy. The from being a convenient point of departure great sea-fight of June, 1666, between the to and returning from the Continent, and English and Dutch, took place off this also on account of the large and spacious part of the coast, resulting in the com- harbour, which is rendered a safe and plete defeat of Van Tromp, the Dutch commodious anchorage to vessels from Admiral, at whose main truck a broom the furious easterly gales experienced on was lashed, as a symbol of his intention this coast, by the shelter of Landguard to sweep the seas. William IIL was point on the Suffolk side of the river, the twice at Harwich, on his passage from entrance to the harbour being quite land Holland, and, as before noticed, George I. locked, except to the southward. The and George II. were constantly passing to town has in consequence been constantly and fro en route to the Continent. visited by the reigning kings and queens Harwich is a quaint old town, of some of England, for the purpose of inspecting 6,000 inhabitants, and consists of three their fleets riding securely at their an- principal streets, parallel to one another, chorage, and also as a place of embarka- the church of St. Nicholas, dedicated to tion for the Continent, no uncommon the patron saint of fishermen, occupying journey in the time of the first two the site of an ancient building of the Georges, whose frequent trips from Eng- 12th century. Shipbuilding and fishing land to their Hanoverian dominions gave were the chief industries, but both, great annoyance to the Commons and especially the latter, have declined of late Privy Council of the realm. The earliest years. In 1882 there were 130 vessels authentic historical event connected with belonging to the port, with an aggregate the locality was the battle at the mouth tonnage of 13,630 tons. The harbour to of the rivers Orwell and Stour, between which attention has been called has been King Alfred's fleet and sixteen Danish much improved as a harbour of refuge, ships, in the year 884, in which the and the pier has been extended and Saxons were victorious. Isabel, queen of fortified. Two lighthouses, the low near Edward II., landed here in 1326, with the beach, and the high at the S.W. 2,700 men, in open rebellion against him. entrance to the town, guide vessels to the Edward III., fourteen years later, sailed anchorage, and the channel is completely from the port, and, learning that the commanded by the fort at Landguard, French fleet was near Sluys, engaged it and a smaller one above Harwich. with an inferior force, and gained a Improvements on an extensive scale 218 THE LIFE-BOAT JOURNAL. [FEBBUAEY 1, 1887. have been made by the Great Eastern seen even in clear weather, and the only Railway Company, for the development way by which news of the disaster could of the traffic with the Continent, though be made known in Harwich would be by a good deal has been transferred to the the lightships moored off the different port of Hull. The Great Eastern Hotel banks, at varying distances from the was first built in the immediate vicinity shore, repeating the signals from one to of the quays, alongside which their the other, and finally to the town if the steamers were moored. Latterly large weather is sufficiently clear—a distance sums of money have been expended in of four miles only intervening between it reclaiming land, and, in order to increase and the nearest lightship off the Cork the convenience of passengers, quays have Sands. All the travelling smacks and been constructed at Parkeston, the river pilot-boats had been driven into port by Stour deepened to permit the company's the fury of the gale, thus upsetting at steamers to come alongside, and a mag- once local reasons, certainly based on nificent hotel has been erected. More- professional authority, which had been over, a side line has been made to the advanced against the establishment of a quay, so that the mail trains branch off Life-boat station as a useless expense, to Parkeston after leaving Wrabness, viz., that the wrecked crew would always without entering Harwich at all. Out- be rescued by smacks or pilot-boats long side the harbour the ocean is a perfect before a Life-boat could reach them. In labyrinth of sandbanks, parts of which consequence of the thickness of the wea- are dry at low water. Their position is ther, accompanied with blinding snow- clearly indicated by lightships, and the storms during the height of the gale, the channels between them well marked by signal of distress could not be seen-—they buoys; nevertheless, numerous shipwrecks certainly could not be heard—even by the have occurred, and many lives have been nearest lightship, and it was not until lost as well as much valuable property. thirteen hours after, that is to say about The ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTI- 7 P.M., the first intimation was received at TUTION had for years desired to station Harwich of anything being amiss at sea. one of its Life-boats here, but its offers The only available means of succour in had been continually declined, it having the harbour was a small but serviceable always been considered by those best steam-tug the Liverpool, the property of a qualified to judge, that the outlying banks private individual in the town. Early on which vessels were liable to be wrecked the following morning the Liverpool put were all so distant that before a Life-boat to sea, as the weather had slightly mo- from Harwich could possibly reach them, derated, in search of the wrecked vessel, the shipwrecked persons would have been 4he risk of losing the tug during a win- taken off by one of the numerous travel- ter's night, and gale of wind, among the ling smacks which are almost always intricate passages of the numerous shoals, cruising about on the look-out for vessels being too great to justify the captain in in distress. Unfortunately this opinion starting before daylight. Proceeding to prevailed until the close of the year the Cork lightship he learnt that the 1875, when one of those sad disasters Sunk lightship had been firing all night : occurred which again and again remind ho then proceeded to the latter, and was us of the dangerous character of our informed there was a vessel on the Long- shores. A few months before, the Ger- sand. He next steamed to the Long- man passenger - steamer Schiller, was sand, but found no vessel; i he then wrecked off one of the Scilly Islands steered for the Kentish Knock, and when with the loss of 331 lives, and now ano- half-way to it saw the steamer on the ther emigrant ship of the same nationality sandbank. Being able to approach her shares the same fate off the coast of Essex, and lay his vessel alongside, he succeeded and 67 of her crew and passengers in rescuing the survivors, 173 in num- perish. The Deutschland, for that was ber. In passing, we would have our the name of the steamer, was wrecked in readers notice the delay occasioned by the early morning of the 6th December, the captain having to make for each on the Kentish Knock, twenty-four miles lightship in succession to gain infor- distant from Harwich, and therefore at mation of the position of the unfortunate too great a distance for anything to be vessel; but all that is now changed. FEBKUAEY 1, 1887.] THE LIFE-BOAT JOURNAL. 219

After such a calamity, no time was lost time entailed in making known to the in forming a Life-boat station at this shore any casualty visible to those on port -with the full concurrence of the board the lightships, that occurred on inhabitants, and it was determined to the outlying sands, led to the adoption of accept the Life-boat, the cost of which carrier pigeons, which were placed on Miss E. BUBMESTEK, of Park Square, W., board the Sunk light vessel a few years was good enough to offer to the Insti- back. They were utilized on some few tution—the boat being named the Spring- occasions, but it was found the birds re- well, at the donor's request. It was sent fused to fly against the wind, and no to its destination with a transporting-ear- reliance could be placed on them. Tele- riage and stoies in January 1876, without graphic communication between the Essex waiting for the erection of a boat-house, so coast at Walton-on-Naze and this light- that it might be ready for any emergency ship has now been successfully accom- that might arise. The public inauguration plished, and the neighbouring life-boats of the Life-boat establishment took place can be immediately warned should the on the completion of the boat-house in one at Walton, through adverse winds or September of the same year, the Life-boat absence from the station, be unavailable. being drawn in procession through the The total number of lives hitherto saved town, which was decorated with flags for by the Springwell since the establishment the occasion. In 1882, this boat, which of the station, in 1876, is 82. The ma- had done excellent service under great nagement of the branch is in the hands disadvantages, through want of local co- of a strong committee of the leading in- operation with the harbour tug, which habitants, including Dr. EVANS, the Hon. was private property, was found to be Secretary, who is connected by marriage hardly large enough for the requirements with the donor, Miss BUBMESTEB. In of this important station, and it was re- conclusion, we are confident that when placed by one of the finest self-righting increased facilities for proceeding to sea boats ever built for the Institution, its have been provided, as will shortly be dimensions being, length 45 feet, beam the case, combined with the speedy in- 11 feet. Like its predecessor it is named formation now at command, the im- the Springwell, and has since been the portance of this Life-boat station will be means of saving 21 lives. The loss of considerably increased.

ADDITIONAL STATIONS AND NEW LIFE-BOATS. DOBNOOH FIRTH, SUTHEKLANDSHIRE.— slipway which have since been constructed. In January, 1886, the Local Residents The cost- of the boat, which is of the made application to the Institution to form 34-feet 10-oared class, has been met from a Life-boat establishment on the shores of a special gift, received from an anony- Dornoch Firth, a shipwreck having oc- mous donor, under the initial " D," for curred there in the previous month, and a Life-boat to be named The Daisie, and several having taken place there before placed on a new station before the 1st then. They pointed out the dangerous October, 1886. In the presence of a nature of this coast, with its numerous large gathering of people from Dornoch, and shifting sandbanks and sudden Embo, and the surrounding districts, the squalls, and that several lives had been boat Went out for its first cruise on the lost which might have been saved by a 29th September, and afterwards returned Life-boat. After making full inquiry the to the point chosen for its resting-place, Committee decided to organise the pro- about a mile from the westward of Embo. posed Life-boat Establishment, and they Nearly 100 fishermen assembled at the rail- placed the new boat and carriage on the way station, and the boat having been un- station, in the latter part of September, loaded from the trucks and put upon its in readiness to meet any shipping casual- carriage, under the superintendence of ties that might occur on the arrival of the District Inspector of Life-boats, Lieut. the equinoctial gales, without waiting the BEDDOES, R.N., the men quickly worked completion of the house and launching the drag ropes, and, with a hearty cheer, 220 THE LIFE-BOAT JOURNAL. [FEBBUABY 1,1887.

and bagpipes playing, it was soon under former boat is 37 feet long, 8 feet wide' way. Six powerful horses were after- and rows 12 oars; the latter is 34 feet wards yoked to it, and with the assistance long, and pulls 10 oars double banked. of the men, amid great enthusiasm, it A new transporting and launching car- was conveyed to the " Poles," where, under riage was provided for each boat. The the supervision of Mr. KIDD, forester to cost of the Lytham Life-boat, which is His Grace the DUKE OF SUTHEBLAND, it named The Charles Biggs, was defrayed was decorated with wreaths and flowers. from a legacy bequeathed to the Insti- On arriving at the receiving house, Dor- tution by the late Miss L. M. BIGGS, of noch, the crew of twelve men took their St. John's Wood, London. The Mary- positions in the boat, cheers welcoming port boat is named The Civil Service them from the inhabitants at the west end No. 5, it being the fifth Life-boat pre- of the town. An arch spanned the road, sented to the Institution by the Civil Ser- bearing the motto " Welcome, Daisie," vice Life-boat Fund raised by CHABLES and flags floated from the cathedral spire, DIBDIN, Esq., F.E.G.8. It took part in the the castle, the court-house, jail, and other Lord Mayor's Show on the 9th November buildings. last, manned by the crew of The Civil Prior to the launch the District In- Service No. 4 Life-boat at Walmer, and spector of Life-boats publicly handed over was much admired and cheered. The

the boat to the care of the Local Com- Lytham new Life-boat was publicly mittee, and Bailie NBILL, on behalf of the launched at its station on the 29th No- inhabitants, expressed their sincere thanks vember last. It was this boat which was for the very handsome gift which had shown at the Liverpool International that day been presented to them. Exhibition and received a Gold Medal, Miss SUTHEBLAND, of Skibo, then for- and which within a fortnight of being mally named the boat The Daisie, after put on its station rendered such good which, amid hearty cheers, it was service to the crew of the unfortunate launched into the water, and pulled ship Mexico, as described on page 213. round in a fairly heavy sea, sufficient to On the occasion of the inaugural launch, test its sea-going qualities, which were in the District Inspector of Life-boats, Lieut. every respect satisfactory, to its station TIPPING, E.N., said that the Institution near Embo. The boat is to be known as had the greatest confidence in the Lytham the Dornoch and Embo Life-boat. crew, who had done good work in the past, and would, no doubt, do more with LYTHAM AND MABYPOBT, CUMBEBLAND. their new Life-boat. In acknowledging —The Life-boats on these stations have the gift, the Kev. H. B. HAWKINS, recently been replaced by new boats Chairman of the Local Committee, said possessing all the latest improvements, that he was sure that the boat would including water ballast fittings. The lose nothing in the hands of the crew. FEBBUABY 1, 1887.] THE LIFE-BOAT JOUENAL. 221

At the same time the Branch accepted it THE CIVIL SERVICE LIFE-BOAT FUND.— with all humility; they did not know At the annual meeting of the committee how soon it would be called out, still of this Fund, held on the 19th Jan., and they knew that the crew would faithfully presided over by Mr. W. H. HAINBS, of discharge whatever duty they might the House of Lords, the Hon. Secretary, be called upon to perform. The Eev. Mr. CHARLES DIBDIN, reported that during GEEGOBY SMABT having offered up prayer, the past year the fund had presented to and the hymn for those at Eea having the BOYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITU- been sung, the ceremony of naming was TION a fifth Life-boat, which, after having performed by Lady ELEANOR CLIFTON, formed a part of the Lord Mayor's Show after which the launch took place, and in November last, had been placed at Mary- the boat was tried under oars and sails. port, on the coast of Cumberland, where The inauguration of the new Life- she is much prized by the inhabitants. boat at Maryport took place on the 2nd It was further stated that the Civil Ser- December. After the boat had been vice Life-boats had been instrumental in escorted through the town in procession saving 189 lives and three vessels, and it the usual ceremony was gone through, Mrs. was decided to issue an appeal to the SENHOUSE, the Lady of the Manor, under- Civil Service to endow the new boat. taking the duty of naming the boat. The Committee of the BOYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION have on former ISLE OP WHITHOEN.—This station, on occasions expressed their high appre- the west coast of Scotland, has also been ciation of the kind and generous sym- supplied with one of the new 34 feet pathy shown by the gentlemen in the 10-oared Life-boats, supplied with a trans- Civil Service with the Life-boat work porting carriage, in the place of the former during the past twenty years. They boat and carriage. The expense was met now have pleasure in calling attention to by a contribution from the late Captain the gratifying fact that at the present HENRY LEIGHTON, of Glasgow, by the time there are no less than 9,639 sub- hands of his sister, Miss A. LEIGHTON, of scribers to this special fund, nearly every that city. The inauguration of the new office and department under the Crown Life-boat on the 17th of November last being represented in the contribution will long be remembered locally as a list. notable day in the annals of the isle, the inhabitants having made great prepara- tions to give the boat a hearty welcome, PKAYEKS IN STOKMY WEATHER.—It is often and having turned out in great force on a source of strength to seamen battling for life against the violence of the elements, to know the occasion, the day being kept as a that in churches and chapels on shore prayer general holiday. A procession was formed is being offered np on their behalf. The Act at the railway station, and the Life-boat, of Uniformity Amendment Act of 1872 enables drawn by nine fine horses, handsomely congregations in the National church to thug join together in interceding for sailors; and decorated, was escorted to the isle, on ar- the Missions to Seamen has published a special riving at which, the Bight Hon. The Earl service of intercession for those at sea, which of GALLOWAY, Patron of the Branch, called is sanctioned by the Archbishop of Canter- upon the Bev. J. C. MCTAGGABT to offer bury and twenty-seven of the English bishops up prayer, after which, Lieut. BEDDOES, for use in the churches in their dioceses in stormy weather, or on other occasions, whilst K.N., District Inspector of Life-boats, single collects from the special service can be handed the boat to the charge of the Local added to the ordinary worship. About 35,000 Committee. The gift was acknowledged copies of this little service-book have been by Lord GALLOWAY, and the Donor, Miss issued, and single copies will be sent gratis to any clergyman applying for one to the Secre- LEIGHTON, then named the Life-boat the tary, Missions to Seamen, Buckingham Street, Henry and John Leighton, after her two Strand, London. brothers. The boat was afterwards run down to the water's edge and launched off the carriage into the sea amidst the cheers of the spectators.

N 3 222 THE LIFE-BOAT JOURNAL. [FEBBUABY 1, 1887.

SEEVICES OF THE LIFE-BOATS OF THE EOYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION. EAMSET, ISLE OF MAN.—Intelligence WHITBUEN.—The William and Charles having been received that a vessel was in Life-boat was launched at about 4.30 P.M. distress about three miles 8. of Mang- on the 5th October and rescued the crew, hold Head, during a S.E. wind on the consisting of six men, from the schooner 5th Oct. 1886, the Life-boat Two Sisters Theodor, of Riga, which stranded on was launched at about 8.30 A.M., and was Whitburn Stile during a S.E. wind, a towed by the s.s. Ellen Vannin to the strong sea and a thick fog. The vessel vessel, which proved to be the schooner was on a voyage from Kiga to Sunderland Vulcan, of Douglas. At the request of with a cargo of pit props. the master the Life-boat returned ashore The s.s. Shoreham, of London, bound and despatched a telegram to Douglas for from Shoreham for the Tyne in ballast, a tug to proceed to the schooner's assist- stranded -on Cope Carr Point during ance, and on the sea moderating, and a foggy weather, on the 19th December, and favourable breeze springing up, the vessel showed signals of distress. At 6.15 P.M. was extricated from her dangerous position the William and Charles Life-boat put off at dusk. to her assistance and brought her crew, consisting of seventeen men, safely ashore. POBTHLEVBN. — On the 5th October, twenty-five fishing-boats left the harbour POST ISAAC.—At 7.30 A.M., on the between 8 and 9 o'clock in the morning, the sea then being comparatively smooth. 14th October, the Richard and Sarah At 10.30 it was seen by the harbour Life-boat put off to the assistance of two boats which were sighted in the offing authorities that there was a very heavy about two miles distant. A strong breeze ground sea raging, and a red flag was was blowing from the N.W. and the sea hoisted signifying " haste to harbour." was heavy. On reaching the boats they The boats immediately made for the were found to contain the crew of twenty- shore, but found there was great danger nine men and one stowaway, from the in running in. The Life-boat, Charles s.s. Indus, of Dundee, bound from Cardiff Henry Wright, was launched, and in two hours, amidst heavy seas, towed safely for Teneriffe with coal, which had foun- dered off Trevose Head. Twenty-five of into the harbour eight of the boats, with the men were taken into the Life-boat, sixteen men on board them, their crews and the remaining five were taken on being afraid to enter without the assist- ance of the Life-boat, and even with that board another boat which had put off to help great danger was incurred, several the rescue, and all were safely landed at of the boats narrowly escaping being 8.20. driven on the rocks or foundering. Coast- guardmen wearing lifebelts with lines CULLEKCOATS.—Several cobles which attached to them were also stationed on had gone out fishing on the 15th October, the western rocks ready to render assist- were overtaken by a gale which sprang ance if required. up from the S.E., causing the sea to break heavily on the bar. The Life-boat Co- WHITBT. — The fishing-cobles Lady Operator, No. 1, was launched at about Morris and Anne Elizabeth, of Whitby, 7.30 A.M., in case any accident should which had gone out fishing in the morn- occur, and remained outside the bar ing of the 5th October, were reported at until all the boats had got safely in. about 2 P.M. to be just outside the bar, their crews making signals by blowing BEEWICK-ON-TWEED. — Five fishing- their fog-horns and shouting. There boats having been overtaken by a sudden was a dense fog at the time and a heavy heavy gale from the S.E., on the morning sea. The Whitby No. 2 Life-boat, Harriott of the 15th October, were seen running Forteath, put off to their assistance, sup- for the harbour, and as the tide was low, plied the seven men in the cobles with and there was a strong sea on the bar, it lifebelts, and assisted them to the beach, was known that great danger would be where they landed safely. incurred by the boats in crossing it. FEBRUARY 1, 1887.] THE LIFE-BOAT JOUENAL. 223

The Albert Victor Life-boat was therefore Hughes Life-boat was launched at 3.40 launched at 9 o'clock, pulled outside the P.M., and on reaching the vessel found bar, and remained there until all the that she was riding very heavily with boats had got into safety. both anchors down. The crew of eight men were taken from their perilous po- QUEENSTOWN.—Telegrams having been sition into the Life-boat and safely landed. received from Eoche's Point at about On rounding the pier on her return to 10.30 A.M., on the 15th October, stating the shore a tremendous sea struck the that the barque Howard A. Turner, timber broadside of the boat, heaving her a dis- laden, was anchored close to the breakers, tance of sixty yards, and landing her and that the services of the Life-boat broadside on the beach to the eastward were required, the Quiver, No. S, Life- of the Life-boat house. Fortunately a boat was promptly launched, proceeded number of men were on the spot, and to the vessel, put a pilot on board and- she was quickly run up into safety. rendered other necessary services to her. A whole gale was blowing from the W. ABKLOW, IEELAND.—Several fishing- with a heavy sea. boats having been driven from their moorings on the morning of the 16th FISHGUABD, SOUTH WALKS. — On the October, the Out Pensioner Life-boat was 15th October the No. 1 Life-boat, Sir launched at 9 o'clock, and saved four large Edward Perrott, was launched at about boats, the Safe Return, Mary Frances, 2 P.M., during a whole gale from the Glance, and Green Flag. W.N.W., signals of distrejs having been shown by the schooner J. W.A., of Aber- COUBTOWN, IRELAND. — On the 16th ayron, bound from Waterford for Bristol October, at I P.M., the Alfred and Ernest with oats, which dragged both her an- Life-boat was called out by signals of chors and drifted on the rocks where she distress, and brought ashore fourteen men became a total wreck. With much diffi- from the fishing-boats Glance, Green Flag, culty the crew of four men were taken Safe Return, and Jackdaw, of Arklow, into the Life-boat and landed at Fwll- during a N.E. wind and a heavy sea. All gwaylod. the men were-in a very exhausted con- Signals of distress having been shown dition when taken into the Life-boat. by the ship Troop, of Liverpool, bound from Barrow for San Francisco with steel PADSTOW.—Shortly, after midnight on rails, the Fishguard No. 2 Life-boat, the the 16th October, the Life-boat was Appin, put off at 8 A.M., on the 7th No- launched, a messenger on horseback vember, during a strong breeze from the having arrived from Trevose Head, and N.N.E. and a rough sea. On reaching reported that a vessel was showing signals the vessel the master stated that he of distress to the eastward of Gullan. A wished the Life-boat to remain by him terrific gale was blowing from the N.N.W. some time, and that he was anxious to with a high breaking sea. The vessel send ashore one of his crew, who had proved to be the barque Alliance, of unfortunately met with a very severe Eisoer, Norway, timber laden from Hali- accident two days previously by falling fax, N. S., for Glasgow. In making from the yard and breaking his thigh, for the harbour she had been driven to and also four stowaways. Great difficulty leeward by the heavy seas, having lost was experienced in taking the wounded some of her sails, and stranded on the man into the Life-boat; but it was safely Doom bar sands. Seven of her crew were accomplished, and after taking the four rescued by the Life-boat, four others stowaways on board the boat, returned to unfortunately having been drowned before the shore and landed at Goodwiok. the Boat reached the ship. CLOVELLY.—During a whole gale from HAYLE.—The brig Albert Wilhelm, of the N.W., accompanied by a tremendous Barth, Germany, bound from the Isle of sea, on the 15th October, the steamer Man for Fowey, in ballast, bore up into Valeria, of Cardiff, bound from Briton St. Ives Bay, on the 17th October, Ferry for Portland with a cargo of coal, during a strong gale from the N.N.W. hoisted signals of distress. The Graham and a heavy sea, became embayed, and 224 THE LITE-BOAT JOURNAL. [FEBRUABY 1, 1887.

was driven ashore on the Hayle side of working most gallantly up to their waists Hawke Point, the mainmast going by the in a heavy sea against very great diffi- board as she struck. Information of the culties, the beach at that point being casualty having been received, the Isis very flat. Life-boat was promptly launched and proceeded to the rescue. Three attempts CABMABTHEN BAY.—A vessel having to cross the bar were "made, and even- been reported ashore on Cefn Sidan sands tually the Boat was compelled to return during a heavy gale from the N.W. on

ashore, seven of the oars having been the 16th October, the Life-boat City of lost and broken. Fresh oars were obtained, Manchester was launched at 3.15 A.M., and six fresh men took the places of those of proceeded through a dangerously heavy the crew who were exhausted by their sea to the vessel, which proved to be the former efforts, and the Life-boat again put four-masted ship Teviotdale, of Glasgow, off, succeeded in reaching the vessel, and bound from Cardiff for Bombay with a rescued five of her crew. Four others cargo of coal. Nineteen of her crew, had previously been taken off by the St. including the master, had left the ship Ives rocket apparatus, the rocket brigade and tried to reach the shore, but the boat FEBRUARY 1,1887.] THE LIFE-BOAT JOURNAL. 225 was capsized by the heavy seas, and the phosphate rock, which had stranded off master and sixteen of the men were un- No. 1 Battery, during heavy squalls from fortunately drowned, the other two men the S.W., with rain and a heavy sea. At safely reaching the land. The Life-boat the master's request, the Life-boat re- took off the remaining ten men. and safely mained by the vessel until daylight. She landed them at 6 A.M. floated, and although leaking slightly, was able to get safely away. SBATON CABEW.—Eockete and flares having been seen on the Longscar Bocks THOBPENESS, SUFFOLK.—The Life-boat during an E. wind, a strong sea, and Ipswich put off at 1 A.M. on the 4th foggy weather on the 21st October, the November, flares having been shown by a Job Hindley Life-boat was launched at vessel during a gale from the S.S.W. and 7 P.M., proceeded in the direction in a heavy sea, and brought safely ashore which the signals had been seen, and the crew consisting of six men, of the found seven men in a small boat belong- schooner Lady Ernestine, of Fowey, bound ing to the steam-trawler Express, of Scar- for Plymouth with gas coal, who had borough, which was totally wrecked on taken to their boat, their vessel having the rocks. But for the services of the become a total wreck on Thorpeness. Life-boat the whole of the men would, in all probability, have been drowned had CLACTON-ON-SEA.—On the morning of they attempted to land, owing to the the 5th November, a three-masted vessel heavy surf on the beach. was observed ashore on the East Bur- rows or Sunk Sand, but no signals MARGATE.—Signals having been shown could be made out even with the aid of by the lightships, and by a vessel ashore a powerful telescope. The wind was on the Girdler Sand during a strong S.W. blowing from the S.S.W. accompanied by wind and a moderate sea on the 3rd rain, and the sea was very rough. At November, the Quiver, No. 1, Life-boat was 8.40 A.M. the Albert Edward Life-boat launched at about 7.30 P.M. and proceeded was launched, having the wind and tide to the vessel, which was found to be the against her, at about 11 o'clock the wind s.s. Olengml, of Leith, bound from London and rain increased, and at 2 o'clock two for China with a general cargo. At the reefs had to be taken in both lugsails. master's request, the Life-boat remained On reaching the vessel at about 2.30, she during the night by the ship, until she I was found to be the three-masted schooner got afloat, after which the Boat returned | Ocean Bride, of Guernsey, bound from to her station, reaching it at about 8.30 on Shields for Granville with coal, ashore on the following morning. the Middle Sunk Sand. The master re- quested the Life-boat to stand by in case HABTMPOOL. — The schooner Peter the vessel did not come off. The tide Brown, of Montrose, bound from Leith for was then rising, and at about 4 P.M. the London, was seen to strike the Beacon crew signalled that they wished to be Bocks on the evening of the 3rd Novem- taken off; the Life-boat then, with much ber, and to show immediately two flares. difficulty and danger, rescued the master The Hartlepool No. 2 Life-boat Charles and the crew, consisting of seven men and Ingleby, was promptly launched and pro- a boy, with their clothing, and landed ceeded to the vessel. Four tugs had them at Clacton at about 6 o'clock. The already reached her, and at the request vessel became a total wreck. of the master three of the Life-boat men went on board to assist the crew. The DOUGLAS, ISLE OF MAN.—The John schooner, which had broken her rudder, Turner Turner Life-boat was launched was eventually towed off the rocks and at 3.30 A.M. on the 6th November, and taken into harbour. brought ashore the crew, consisting of two men, of the smack Alice, of and from LYDD, KENT.—The David Hulett Life- Dinorwic, for Douglas, with slates, which boat was launched at 9 P.M. on the 3rd was dragging her anchor in the bay and November, signals of distress having in danger of being driven on Fort Anne been shown by the barquentine Scotia, of Bocks during a heavy gale from the N.E., Ayr, bound from Aruba for London, with and a very heavy sea. 226 THE LIFE-BOAT JOURNAL. [FEBRUARY 1, 1887.

POBTHDINLLAEN, NoBTH WALES.—At pump, but after nearly two hours' work she about 9.30 A.M. on the 6th November, was found to be still sinking, and her crew signals of distress were shown by the of nine men and a pilot were then taken screw flat Llysfaen, of Liverpool, during into the Life-boat, and landed at 6 o'clock a N. gale and a heavy sea. The George on the following morning. The Life-boat Moore Life-boat put off to her assistance, also stood by the Olga while she made for and was requested to remain by her until the harbour, and assisted to moor her low-water, when the vessel struck the when she arrived there. At daylight the ground and commenced to leak; the Ruth Topping was found to be still afloat, chains were then slipped, she was run and the Life-boat crew, assisted by six ashore, and immediately sank, her crew men taken out in the Life-boat under the of three men being safely landed by the instructions of the Brokers, succeeded in Life-boat. bringing her into port. A signal of distress was observed from a vessel in Forthdinllaen Bay during a KBSSINGLAND, SUFFOLK. — At about strong gale from the N.W. on the 22nd 7.45 P.M. .on the llth November signals of December. The crew of the George distress were observed off Covehithe, Moore Life-boat immediately assembled, during a 8.W. wind, thick weather, and a the Boat was launched at 5.30 P.M. and heavy sea. The Kessingland No. 2 Life- rescued the crew, numbering four men, of boat, St. Michael's, Paddington, was the schooner Industry, of Aberystwyth, promptly launched, and found that the bound from Strangford Lough for Port- barge Phillis, of Harwich, bound from madoc, in ballast. Yarmouth for London in ballast had lost some of her sails. With the assistance of FLBBTWOOD, LANCASHIEE.—The sloop a steam-tug she was taken into Lowestoft Pennington, of and for Liverpool from harbour. She carried a crew of three Fleetwood, laden with gravel, was seen men. drifting into a position of danger near North Wharf, having lost her sails, during GOBLESTON, SUFFOLK.—The brig Euro- a fresh gale from the N.N.E., on the 6th pean, of and from Sunderland for Corsica, November. The Child of Hale Life-boat with coal, glass, and machinery, was seen put off to her assistance at 11.45. A.M., to ground on the Middle Cross Sand, in tow of the steam-tug Wardleys, and during a strong N.N.E. wind, hazy rescued the crew of two men from the weather, and a strong sea, on the 18th vessel, which went ashore and became a November. The Mark Lane Life-boat total wreck. went off at about 1.20 P.M., in tow of the The Life-boat was also launched at steam-tug Yare, but the brig went to 9.20 P.M. on the 28th November, in re- pieces before the boat could reach her. sponse to signals of distress, and pro- Arriving about four miles E. of the Cross ceeded, in tow of a steam-tug, to the Sand, a boat, which proved to belong to assistance of the brig Olga, of Frederick- the brig, was observed to go alongside stadt, and put a pilot on board. It was the smack Cleopatra, of Lowescroft, and found that she had been in collision with the Life-boat then made for that vessel in the barquentine Ruth Topping, of Liver- reply to her signals, and found that four pool, and the Life-boat thereupon went survivors of the crew had taken refuge on to the aid of that vessel, and found her in board her. The men were got safely into a sinking condition on Shell Wharf. Ten the Life-boat and safely landed at Gorles- of the Life-boat men went on board to ton at about 4 o'clock.

THE WEATHEE OF 1886. Abridged from the DAILY NEWS, 1st January, 1887. The weather of last year was, in some as time wore on, until at the close of the respects, like a well-constructed story. period we were introduced to incidents of Beginning in a tame and uneventful a most exciting description. The com- fashion, the interest gradually increased mencement of the year brought us a long PEBEUAEY 1,1887.] THE LIFE-BOAT JOUBNAL. 227 and dreary winter, followed by a cold, cessively heavy rainfall, and serious cheerless spring. During the early part floods were occasioned in the low-lying of the summer matters showed little ten- districts. dency to improve, but as the season pro- The winter season through which we gressed, short bursts of intense heat were are now passing has brought us very experienced from time to time, and in tempestuous weather and some touches this desultory manner the summer lin- of severe frost. So far as it has at gered on till the commencement of Octo- present gone the most important events ber. The antumn months were as mild of the season have been the disastrous as the spring was cold, and about the gale of the 8th to 9th December, and the middle of October a violent gale swept still more destructive snowstorm ex- over the western and southern parts of perienced on the 26th December. The the kingdom. The chief events of the former occurrence was due to the advance year were, however, reserved for the over our islands of an abnormally deep closing month, when storm, frost and depression, in the centre of which the flood did their utmost to show that old- barometer fell below 27-4 inches. In fashioned winters are not altogether London the minimum, reading of 28 • 30 things of the past. On the 8th a baro- inches recorded at about 4 A.M. on the metrical depression of exceptional severity 9th was decidedly lower than any ob- passed over the United Kingdom, pro- served since the year 1843. ducing severe gales in almost all parts of The passage of so deep a depression Western Europe. The disappearance of could scarcely fail to bring about great the system was followed by an interval of disturbances in the atmosphere, and, as a fairly quiet weather; but on the 26th matter of fact, very violent gales were another and much smaller disturbance experienced over nearly the whole of advanced eastwards along the English Western Europe—from south-east or east Channel, occasioning over the south of over the northern parts of our islands, England a snowstorm of more general and destructive severity than any ex- and from south-west veering to north- perienced since the memorable 18th of west over our southern and the French January, 1881. coasts. In this case, as in October, a * * * * tremendous sea raged in the west and Strong south-westerly to westerly gales south, and between the 8th and 10th of were experienced over the greater part of the month at least 100 vessels are the kingdom on the 30th of March, and known to have stranded or foundered on hard southerly gales in the northern the British coasts. parts of Ireland and Scotland on the 2nd April. It is satisfactory to know that the * * * * gallant efforts of the Life-boat crews The gales which occurred during the were successful during this one storm autumn were, with one notable exception, alone in the rescue of as many as ninety- of no great violence. On October 15 and six souls. 16, however, a very deep cyclonic dis- The heavy snowstorm of the 26th De- turbance advanced over our islands, cember was due to the passage eastwards moving at first in an easterly direction across Ireland, and then in a south- along the English Channel of a small but easterly direction to the south of Eng- somewhat deep cyclonic disturbance. In land, whence it travelled away to the the front of this system strong south- north-eastwards and dispersed. The westerly or southerly gales and rain were gales which resulted were exceptionally experienced, while in the immediate severe on our south-west and south j neighbourhood and in the rear of the coasts, and during the progress of the system the wind backed to the north- storm a large number of vessels are re- ] eastward or northward, with ezcessirely ported to have either stranded or foun- | dered on our coasts with a loss of about j heavy falls of snow. The damage done 120 lives. Over Wales, the south of by this storm, especially to the telegraphic Ireland, and the south-west of England, system, was greater than that experienced the storm was accompanied by an ex- on any previous occasion. 228 THE LEW-BOAT JOUENAL. [FEBRUARY 1,1887.

THE GALE OF OCTOBEE 15-16m LAST. At a recent meeting of the Boyal an hour for a considerable time; but Meteorological Society, a paper was read without question this velocity would be by Mr. 0. HABDING, P. E. Met. Soc., ongreatly exceeded in the squalls. In the "The Gale of October 15-16th, 1886, eastern parts of England the velocity over the British Islands," in which he scarcely amounted to 30 miles in the remarked that the storm was of very hour. The force of the gale was very exceptional strength, in the west, south- prolonged. At Seilly the velocity was west, and south of the British islands; above 30 miles an hour for sixty-one but the principal violence of the wind was hours, and it was above 60 miles for limited to these parts, although the force nineteen hours; whilst at Falmouth it of a gale was experienced generally over was above 30 miles an hour for fifty-two the whole kingdom. By the aid of ships' hours. The erratic course of the storm observations the storm has been tracked and its slow rate of travel whilst over a long distance out in the Atlantic. It the British Islands was attributed to the appears to have been formed about 250 presence of a barrier of high barometer miles to the south-east of Newfoundland readings over northern Europe, and also on the 12th, and was experienced by to the attraction in a westerly direction, many ocean steamers on the 13th. When owing to the great condensation and the first indication of approaching bad heavy rain in the rear of the storm. The weather was shown by the barometer and rainfall in Ireland, Wales, and the south- wind at our western outports the storm was west of England was exceptionally heavy. about 500 miles to the west-south-west In the neighbourhood of Aberystwyth the of the Irish coast, and was advancing at fall on the 15th was 3*83 in., and at the rate of nearly 50 miles an hour. several stations the amount exceeded 2 in. The centre of the disturbance struck the Serious floods occurred in many parts of coast of Ireland about 1 A.M. on the 15th, the country. A most terrific sea was also and by 8 A.M. was central over Ireland. experienced on the western coasts and in The storm traversed the Irish Sea, and the English Channel, and the number of turned to the south-east over the western vessels to which casualties occurred on midlands and the southern counties of the British coasts during the gale tell England, and its centre remained over their own tale of its violence. The total the British Isles about thirty-four hours, number of casualties to sailing vessels and having traversed about 500 miles. The steamships was 158, and among these storm afterwards crossed the English were five sailing and one steamship aban- Channel into France, and subsequently doned, five sailing and one steamship again took a course to the north-east- foundered, and forty-two sailing and two wards, and finally broke up over Holland. steamships stranded. During the gale In the centre of the storm the barometer the Life-boats were launched fourteen fell to 28'5 in.; but as far as the action times, and saved 36 lives. of the barometer was concerned, the prin- cipal feature of importance was the length of time that the readings remained low. At Geldeston, not far from Lowestoft, the mercury was below 29 in. for fifty hours, SUMMAKY OF THE and at Greenwich it was similarly low for MEETINGS OF THE COMMITTEE. forty hours. The highest recorded hourly velocity of the wind was 78 miles from THUBSDAY, 7th October, 1886. north-west at Scilly on the morning of Sir EDWARD BIKKBECK, Bart., M.P., V.P., the 16th, but on due allowance being in the Chair. made for the squally character of th6 gale Read and confirmed the Minutes of the pre- it is estimated that in the squalls the vious Meeting. Also read those of the Finance velocity reached for a minute or so the and Correspondence, and Wreck and Eeward hourly rate of about 120 miles, which is •iub-CommitteeB, and ordered their recommenda- tions to be carriei ] into effect. equivalent to a pressure of about 70 Ibs. Bead the Rep< >rt of the Chief Inspector of on the square foot. On the mainland, the dife-boats on his recent visit to Swanage. wind attained a velocity of about 60 miles Also the Reports of the District Inspectors FfeBBUABY 1, 1887.] THE LIFE-BOAT JOURNAL. 229

of Life-boats on their visits to the following No. 2, and Cadgwith Life-boats in rendering Stations:— the following services:— Northern District — Newbiggin, Cresswell, Lives Irvine, Port Logan, Port Patrick, Whithorn, saved. Troon, Anstruther, Crail, St. Andrews, Broughty Schooner Mistletoe, of Brixham. Remained Ferry, Arbroath, and Buddon Ness. by vessel. Eastern District^-Skegness, Margate, Kings- Schooner Fairlie & Jane, of Beaumaris . 1 gate, Broadstairs, Sonthend (two Boats), Kings- S. S. Erasmus Wilson, of London . . .11 downe, Walmer, and Deal. Schooner Resolute, of Lossiemouth ... 5 Western District—Sennen Cove, Penzance, S. S. Suffolk, of London 45 St. Ives, and Hayle. Voted also 110J. 10s. Gd. to pay the expenses Irish District—Howth, Poolbeg, Aranmore, of the Holyhead, Groomsport, Walton-on-the Greencastle, Portrush, Groomsport, Ballywalter, Naze, Huna, Braunton, Appledore No. 1, Margate Cloughey Bay, Tyrella, Newcastle, Giles Quay, and Caister No. 2 Life-boats in assembling their and Blackrock. crews, or putting off in reply to signals of dis- Reported the receipt of the following special tress shown by vessels which did not ultimately contributions since the last meeting:— need the services of the boats. £ «. d. The Ramsgate Life-boat was also called out Mrs. MCHBAY MILLEB, Cheltenham 20 - - on three occasions, but her services were not Collected on the steam yacht Ceylon, required. during her recent cruize to the Voted 3Z. to five men for putting off in a boat Baltic 10 10 - and at great risk saving the crew of three men In Memoriam, M. A. SAYCE, per from the schooner Mersey, of Arbroath, which Miss FLORA SAYCE .... 10 - - was in distress off Golspie, Dornoch Firth, —To be severally thanked. during a moderate gale from the 8.W. on the 9th September. Also that the following legacies had been Also 21. to four men for putting off in a boat bequeathed to the Institution:— and rescuing a man from a fishing boat which £ s. d. was in danger near Bridges Reef, off co. Down, TJie late RICHARD WHEATLEY, Esq., Ireland, during: a strong S. gale on the 9th of Hopton, Yorkshire (duty free) 100 - - September. The late Miss S. H. CATOB, of Also II. to two men for rescuing a man and Bournemouth (duty free) . . 25 - - a boy who were clinging to the mast of their Reported the transmission to their stations of fishing boat which had sunk off Enniscrone, co. new Life-boats for Newquay (Cardiganshire), SJigo, during a moderate breeze from the S. on St. Ives (Cornwall), and Dornoch (Sutherland- the 22nd May. shire). Bead letters from the Honorary Secretaries of the Aberdovey, Newquay, and Doruoch Branches THUESDAY, 4th November. expressing their satisfaction with the new Life- Colonel FITZEOY CLAYTON, V.P., in the Chair. boats recently sent to those Stations. Decided on the recommendation of the Chief Read and confirmed the Minutes of the Inspector of Life-boats to form a new Life-boat previous Meeting. Also those of the Fi- Station at Burry Port, Carmarthenshire, in lieu nance and Correspondence and Wreck and of the present station at Pembrey, which it has Reward Sub-Committees, and ordered their become necessary to discontinue owing to the recommendations to be carried into effect. constant increase of sand in the locality. Read the Report of the Chief Inspector of Also to appropriate the new Station to a Lifeboats on his recent visits to the Island of legacy of 3,500Z. bequeathed to the Institution by Lewis, Whitclink Bay, Frascrburgh, Pembrey, the late Mrs. J. S. BARCLAY, of Edmonton, to and Ferryside. provide and maintain a Life-boat station; the Also the Reports of the District Inspectors boat to be named the " David Barclay of Totten- of Life-boats on their visits to the following ham." Stations :— Voted the thanks of the Committee to Northern District—Nairn, Ackergill, Huna, Admiral WILMSHUBST, C.B., in recognition of Thurso, Boulmer, Alnmouth, Hauxloy, Bam- his valuable co-operation during the period he burgh Castle, North Sunderland, Buckie, Peter- occupied the office of Honorary Secretary of the head, Fraserburgh, and Whitelink Bay. Bembridge Branch of the Institution. Eastern District—Dover, Hythe, and Chapel. The Committee also specially recognized the Western District—Weston-super-Mare, Burn- good services of Mr. DAVID SULLIVAN on his ham, Watehet, Padstow, Port Isaac, Bude, resigning the post of coxswain of the Bally- Clovelly, Ilfracombe, Morte Bay, Appledore (two cotton Life-boat after twenty-eight years' ser- Boats), and Braunton. vice. During that period he had assisted in the Irish District—Drogheda(two Boats), Skerries, Life-boat to save thirty-eight lives. Balbriggan, Douglas (two Boats), and Port Erin. Paid 4,6312. Is. 9d. for sundry charges on Reported the receipt of 500Z. from the Civil various Life-boat Establishments. Service Life-boat Fund, per Mr. CHARLES Voted 104Z. 9«. to pay the expenses of the DIBDIN, F.R.G.S., Honorary Secretary, to defray Troon, Holyhead, Eowestoft, Peterhead, Lizard the cost of a Life-boat to be named the Civil 230 THE LIFE-BOAT JOURNAL. [FEBBTTAEY 1,1887.

Service No. 5. The total amount which has Lives been contributed to the Institution by gentlemen saved, in Her Majesty's Civil Service is 9.202J. Fishing cobles Jjady Morris and Anne Decided that the best thanks of the Com- Elizabeth, of Whitby. Rendered assist- mittee be given to the contributors for their ance. additional valued gift, and that it be appro- Schooner Theodor, of Riga G priated to the ne.w Life-boat about to be sent Schooner Vulcan, of Douglas. Rendered to Maryport. assistance. The Lord Mayor and Sheriff's of London Porthleven fishing-boats. Saved eight having applied to the Institution for the loan boats and their crews 16 of a Life-boat for exhibition in the Lord Mayor's S.S. Indus, of Dundee 25 Show on the 9thNovember, they undertaking to Berwick fishing-boats. Remained afloat. defray all expenses, it was resolved to lend them Steamer Valeria, of Cardiff .... 8 the Civil Service No. 5 Life-boat for that day. Cullercoats fishing cobles. Remained Reported also the receipt of the following afloat. other special contributions since the last meet- Barque Howard A. Turner. Rendered ing:— assistance. £ s. d. Schooner J. W. A., of Aberystwyth . . 4 The VISCOUNTESS OSSINGTON . . 500 - - Fishing-boat Safe Return, of Arklow. Collected on board the s.s. Aorangi, Saved vessel and 2 per W. E. PALMEB, Esq. (addi- Fishing-boat Mary Frances, of Arklow. tional) 13-6 Saved vessel. GEORGE WEBSTER, Esq., further on Fishing-boat Glance, of Arklow. Saved vessel and 2 account of his Life-boat fund . 12 10 - Fishing-boat Green Flag, of Arklow. Fifty-four Scandinavian seamen, per Saved vessel and 2 Miss AGNES HEDENSTBOM, Leman Fishing-boat Jackdaw, of Arklow ... 8 Street Sailors' Home .... 3 3 - Ship Teviotdale, of Glasgow .... 10 —To lie severally thanked. - Barque Alliance, of Riisoer 7 Brig Albert Wilhelm, of Earth .... 5 Also that the late Miss CAKOLINE CABTY, of Steam trawler Express, of Scarborough . 7 Wigmore Street, had left a legacy of 101., duty free, to the Institution. (Details of these services are furnished on The Committee expressed their regret at the pages 222-225.) death of Mr. JOHN POLLOCK, who had been the valued Honorary Secretary of the Ayr Branch Voted also 159Z. 3s. 6d. to pay the expenses of the Institution for sixteen years, and decided of the Scarborough, Gorleston, Huna, Pembrey, that their sympathy be conveyed to his family. Braunton, Donna Nook, Swansea, Littlehamp- Voted the thanks of the Committee to Mr. ton, Padstow, Port Isaac, Cardigan, Porthcawl, GEOKGB BRIDGES, Mr. J. L. RAE, and the Rev. St. Helier's, and Torquay Life-boats, in as- W. MACMANTJS, in recognition of their past sembling their crews or putting off to the aid valuable services as the Honorary Secretaries, of vessels which did not ultimately require respectively, of the Southampton, Eyemouth, assistance. and Bally waiter Branches of the Institution. Also 21. 10s. to five fishermen, for putting off The Committee specially recognized the in the gig Colombo and saving five of the crew good services of Mr. GEORGE RICHARDSON on of the s.s. Indus, of Dundee, the men having his resigning the post of coxswain of the Aln- taken to their boats on their vessel foundering mouth Life-boat, which he had held for seven- off Trevose Head, Cornwall, on the 14th teen years. October. Decided, on the recommendation of the Chief Also 1Z. 15s. to the master and crew of the Inspector of Life-boats, to form a Life-boat smack Cockatrice, for saving the crew of two Establishment at Stornoway, Scotland. men of a boat which had capsized near Paignton Also to replace the present Life-boats at Sands, Devonshire, during a strong E. breeze the Scarborough, Staithes, and Whitby No. 2 on the 25th October. Stations by new ones, possessing all the latest improvements. Also II. 10». to JAMES FRIEND (late sergeant Reported that a Gold Medal had been awarded in H.M. 44th Regiment, now keeper of two to the Institution for the Life-boat it had sent disused Martello towers at Bawdsey, who lost a to the Liverpool International Exhibition, and foot and part of a leg in the Crimean War) for a diploma of honour, being, the highest award putting off in a boat, and, with much difficulty, obtainable, for its display of models at the rescuing a young man who had gone out in a Edinburgh International Exhibition, row-boat, had broken one of his oars, and was in a dangerous position, being about six or seven Paid 4,337Z. 2s. 9d. for sundry charges on miles froto the shore, near sandbanks, and night various Life-boat Establishments. coming on, on the 20th September. Voted 220J. 18s. 4d!. to pay the expenses of the Whitby No. 2, Whitburn, Kamsey, Porth- Also 11. 10$. to three men, for putting off in leven, Port Isaac, Berwiek-on-Tvreed, Clovelly, a boat and saving three men from a sailing-boat Cullercoats, Queenstown, Fishguard No. 1, which had capsized off Worthing, during a Arklow, Oourtown, Carmarthen Bay, Padstow, strong S.E. breeze, on the 23rd October. Hayle, and Seaton Carew Life-boats in rendering the following services:— FEBBTTABY 1,1887.] THE LITE-BOAT JOUENAL. 231

the new Life-boats for Greystones, Howth, THURSDAY, 2nd December. Lytham, Maryport, Seascale, and Whithorn. Sir EDWARD BIRKBECK, Bart., M.P., V.P., in Voted the special thanks of the Committee to the Chair. the Bev. CHANCELLOR BRISCOE, D.D., in recog- nition of his long and valuable services, extend- Bead and confirmed the Minutes of the pre- ing over twenty-eight years, as the Chairman vious Meeting. Also read those of the Finance of the Holyhead Branch of the Institution. and Correspondence, and Wreck and Beward Sub-Committees, and ordered their recommen- Also to CHARLES H. BELOB, Esq., and ROBERT dations to be carried into effect. SINCLAIR, Esq., in acknowledgment of their Bead the reports of the District Inspectors of lung and valuable cooperation as Honorary Life-boats on their recent visits to the following Secretaries of the Liverpool and New Brighton Stations:— and Edinburgh Branches of the Institution. Northern District—Stonehaven, Banff, Los- Also to Mr. R. BRADSHAW, in recognition of sicmouth, Port Erroll, Newburgh, Montrose his kjnd services during the period he occupied (three Boats), Gourdon, Kirkcudbright, and the office of Honorary Secretary of the Chapel Whithom. Branch of the Institution. Southern District—Southsea, Selsey, Little- Also to Captain WILLIAM COSENS, master of hampton, Worthing, Shoreham, Brighton, New- the steam-tug Victoria, of Weymouth, in haven, Lydd, New Bomney, Eastbourne, Wey- acknowledgment of his valuable services in mouth, Bjmmeridge, Swanage, and Poole. collecting contributions on board that vessel on Eastern District—Lowestoft, Pakefleld, Kes- behalf of the Weymouth Branch of the Institu- singland (three Boats), Dunwich, Southwold tion. (two Boats), Gorleston (two 'Boats), Harwich, Wai ton-on-the-Naze, Clacton-on-Sea, Aid- Decided to replace the present Life-boat .at borough, Thorpeness, Palling (two Boats), Brighton by a new one, possessing all the latest Cromer, Mundesley, and Hasborough. improvements. Western District—Lynmouth, Carmarthen Paid 2,14:11. 9s. 5d. for sundry charges on Bay, Pembrey, Penarth, Porthcawl, Swansea, various Life-boat Establishments. Port Eynon, Milford Haven, Teuby, Little- Voted 1361.18s. 6d. to pay the expenses of the haven, Fishguard (two Boats), and Newport, Margate, Lydd, Hartlepool No. 2, Thorpeness, Pembrokeshire. Douglas No. 2, Clacton-on-Sea, Fleetwood, Irish District—Peel, Castletown, Eamsey, Porthdinllaen, Fishguard No. 2, and Gorlestou Southport, New Brighton (two Boats), Lytham, No. 1 Life-boats, in rendering the following St. Anne's, Fleetwood, Blackpool, Piel, White- services:— haven, Workington, and Maryport. Lives saved. Reported the receipt of the following special Steamer Glengoil, of Leith. Bemained contributions since the last meeting:— by vessel. £ «. d. Barquentine Scotia, of Ayr. Ditto. Trustees of the late Miss ELIZA Schooner Peter Brown, of Montrose. SMITHIES, of Tollington Park, for Rendered assistance. the Tom and Ida Smithies Life- Schooner Lady Ernestine, of Fowey . G boat for Howth 650 - - Smack Alice, of Dinorwic .... 2 A Lady, further on behalf of the Schooner Ocean Bride, of Guernsey . 9 endowment of the Whitburn Life- Sloop Pennington, of Liverpool . . 2 boat 100 - - S.S. Llysfaen, of Liverpool. ... 3 "H.S." 50 - - Ship Troop, of Liverpool. Landed five INDEPENDENT OBDEB OF ODD FEL- men. LOWS' (Manchester Unity) annual Brig European, of Sunderland. Lauded subscription in aid of the support four men. of their Life-boat 50 - - JOHN J. MOWBRAY, Esq., Dollar . 21 - - I The Kessingland No. 3 Life-boat assisted to "A.M.M.C." 1G 16 -I save the barge Phillis, of Harwich, and her Contents of Contribution Box on crew of three men. board the s.s. Drier, of Glasgow, plying between Morecambe and I (Particulars of these services will be found Londonderry, per Capt. McLARTY 11 2 lu on pages 223-226.) ROBERT BROWN, Esq., of Aracaju, j Voted also 3047. 15s. 6shroud- boats, and its deep and heartfelt sympathy with ing a ship's form the widows and families of the brave and noble Comes rushing such wild shrieking, as out- men who lost their lives in the gallant and shrieks any storm. heroic attempt to rescue the crew of the barque For God's and man's mercy, they're calling Mexico, on the night of the 9th December." to the land, Head the report of the District Inspectors of They're calling to true England by them such Life-boats, who visited those Stations to inquire hour to stand. into the circumstances attending the lamentable And where yet lives the Englishmen that accidents to the Life-boats, as described on will not then respond pages 213-215. Though Danger marches on the wave aud Voted 2,OOOZ. in aid of the fund being raised Death awaits beyond ? for the relief of the widows and families of the twenty-seven Life-boatmen who unhappily lost Then quick ring out the Life-boat, we dare but what we know, their lives. To reign above the waters, or die the waves Also 163Z. 14«. Sd. to pay the expenses of below. the launches of the two boats, the wives or We know 'tis such a moment makes heroes other relatives receiving the payment due to out of men, the deceased Life-boatmen, and to defray the But England yet is England in these young funeral and other expenses connected with the days as when— gad event. Britannia in the old times ruled o'er the Also 51. each to the two survivors of the ocean world, Southport crew. She now will follow Mercy's flag, where'er Also 53Z. 9s. to pay the expenses of the Ly tham that flag's unfurl'd. Life-boat in rescuing the crew of the Mexico, H. KAINS-JACKSON. FEBRUARY 1,1887.] THE LIFE-BOAT JOURNAL. 283

Services of the Life-boats of the Institution during 1886.

Lives 1886. sayed. Jan. 5. 12 noon. Fishing-boats. Peterhead Life-boat remained afloat. „ 8. 8 a.m. Fishing smack Valiant, of Carnarvon. Porthdinllaen Life-boat assisted to save vessel and 4 „ 8. 8 a.m. Fishing smack Trio, of Carnarvon. Porthdinllaen Life-boat assisted to save vessel and 4 „ 8. 8 a,m. Ketch Crest, of Wick. Thurso Life-boat brought ashore crew ... 2 „ 8. 9 a.m. Schooner Alpha, of Perth. Do. ... 4 ,, 8. 9 a.m. Schooner Lizzie, of Wick. Do. ... 3 „ 8. 2 p.m. Steam trawler Toiler, of Aberdeen. Do. ... 7 „ 8. 11.40 p.m. Ketch Pet, of Grimsby. Skegnees Life-boat rendered assistance. „ 9. 7 a.m. Afishin g coble of Montrose. Montrose No. 1 Life-boat saved ... 4 „ 9. 1 p.m. Barque James Kenway, of Llanelly. Holyhead Life-boat saved . . 1 „ 11. 2p.m. Schooner Mary Jane, of Aberystwyth. Fishguard No. 2 Life-boat rescued 3 „ 18. 1.45 a.m. Schooner Syren. Caister No. 1 Life-boat brought ashore crew, 6, from the Cockle Lightship. „ 23. 7.30 a.m. Fishing yawl 106, of Arbroath. Arbroath Life-boat rendered assistance. „ 28. Fishing cobles. Cullercoats Life-boat remained afloat. „ 28. 10 a.m. Fishing cobles. Whitby No. 2 Life-boat rendered assistance. Feb. 13-14. Barque FrederiJce Carolina, of Lulea. Ramsgate Life-boat saved . . 16 „ 14-15. Ship Magnolia, of Yarmouth, N.S. Barmouth Life-boat remained by vessel. „ 25. 5.30 a.m. Schooner Julia, of Lowestoft. Caister No. 2 Life-boat saved vessel and 4 „ 27. 7.30 p.m. Schooner Barclay, "of Goole. Tyrella Life-boat rescued 7 Mar. 1. 8.30 p.m. Ketch Betsy, of Newcastle. Palling No. 1 Life-boat saved .... 4 „ 2. 6 a.m. Schooner Anne Gill, of Goole. Do. Do. .... 2 „ 3, 1.30 p.m. Brigantine Caroline, of Faversham. Lowestoft Life-boat assisted to save vessel and 7 „ 9. 12.30 a.m. Brig Mat/en, of Shields. Palling No. 1 Life-boat saved 7 „ 16. 2 p.m. Three-masted schooner Republik. Holy Island No. 1 Life-boat rendered assistance. „ 17. 11 a.m. A pilot-boat of Teignmonth. Teignmonth Life-boat rescued ... 1 ,, 18. 2.15 a.m. Schooner John and Mary, of Goole. Gorleston No. 1 Life-boat assisted to save vessel and 6 „ 20. 9 p.m. S.S. City of Venice, of Glasgow. Cadgwith Life-boat rendered assistance. „ 20. 9 p.m. Ship Macduf, of Banff. Dover Life-boat remained by vessel. „ 21. 9.15a.m. Cutter Ceres, of Poole. Kimeridge Life-boat saved 3 ,, 29. 7 p.m. Smack Queen, of Arklow. Wexford No. 1 Life-boat saved vessel and . 3 „ 30. 10.45 a.m. Smack Despatch, of Bullock, Dublin. Poolbeg Life-boat saved ... 2 „ 31. Trawler White Star, of Yarmouth. Gorleston No. 1 Life-boat saved vi vessel and 6 „ 31. 6 a.m. Schooner Esther Ann, of Belfast. Poolbeg Life-boat saved . . , . . 3 Apr. 4. 11 p.m.. Dandy W. H. M., of Yarmouth. Winterton No. 2 Life-boat rendered assistance. 234 THE LIFE-BOAT JOURNAL. [FEBBUABY 1, 1887.

Lives 1886. saved. Apr. 4. midnight. Schooner Lorn, of Lancaster. Holyhead Life-boat saved vessel and . 4 ,, 7. 6.45 p.m. Cutter yacht Cruisada. Clacton Life-boat saved vessel. „ 15. 6 p.m. Barque Franziska, of Porsgrund. Palling No. 2 Life-boat saved . . 10 „ 19. 8 a.m. Steamer Langdale, of Sunderland. Sunderland No. 1 Life-boat saved . 16 „ 20. 9.30 p.m. Brig August Hermann Francke, of Sandefjord. North Deal Life-boat rescued 1 „ 29. 2.30 a.m. Smack Endeavour, of Portmadoc. Abersoch Life-boat saved . . . 8 „ 29. 2.30 a.m. Schooner Eliza Bell, of Ami-web. Do. Do. ... 5 May 12. 11.45 a.m. Schooner Edward Arthur, of .Carnarvon. Bamsgate Life-boat assisted to save vessel and G „ 13. 10.40a.m. Fishing-boat President, of Aberayron. Cardigan Life-boat rescued . 3 ,, 15. 6.15 p.m. Schooner Eliza, of Bridgwater. Buraham Life-boat rendered assistance. „ 17-18. Schooner General CatJicart, of G-reenock. Workington Life-boat assisted to save vessel and 4 ,, 17. 9 p.m. Schooner Glad Tidings, of Aberystwyth. Holyhead Life-boat rescued . 5 „ 17. 10 p.m. Schooner Admiral Nelson, of Beaumaris. New Brighton No. 1 Life- boat saved 2 „ 17. 3 p.m. Fishing smack Harry, of Courtmacsherry. Courtmacsherry Life-boat saved vessel and 0 „ 24. 12 noon. Steamer Pontiac, of Liverpool. Kilmore Life-boat remained by vessel. „ 24. 2 p.m. Dandy Happy Return, of Newhaven. Newhaven Life-boat remained by vessel. July 21. 8 a.m. Ketch Argo, of Bridgwater. Ballycotton Life-boat saved vessel and . 3 Aug. 13. 8.30 p.m. Yacht Puffin, of Berwick. Berwick-on-Tweed Life-boat assisted to save vessel. „ 28. 2.30 p.m. A boat. Cemaes Life-boat rendered assistance. Sept. 7. 2 p.m. Schooner Mistletoe, of Brixham. Troon Life-boat remained by vessel. „ 10. 9.15a.m. S.S. Erasmus Wilson, of London. Lowestoft Life-boat saved ... 11 „ 11. 5.30 p.m. Schooner Eesolue, of Lossiemouth. Peterhead Life-boat saved ... 5 „ 27. 3.30 a.m. Schooner Fairlie and Jane, of Beaumaris. Holyhead Life-boat saved . 1 „ 28. 5 p.m. S.S. Suffolk, of London. Lizard No. 2 Life-boat saved 24 „ 28. 5.30 p.m. Do. Do. Cadgwith Life-boat saved 21 Oct. 5. 8.30a.m. Schooner Vulcan, of Douglas. Ramsey Life-boat rendered some assistance. „ 5. 12.30 p.m. Eight fishing-boats of Porthleven. Porthleven Life-boat saved boats and crews 16 „ 5. 2 p.m. Cobles Lady Morris and Anne Elizabeth, of Whitby. Whitby No. 2 Life-boat rendered assistance. „ 5. 4.30 p.m. Schooner Theodor, of Eiga. Whitburn Life-boat rescued 6 „ 14. 7.30 a.m. S.S. Indus, of Dundee. Port Isaac Life-boat saved 25 „ 15. 7.30 a.m. Fishing cobles. Cullercoats Life-boat remained afloat. „ 15. 9 a.m. Fishing-boats. Berwick-on-Tweed Life-boat remained afloat. „ 15. 10.40 a.m. Barque Howard A. Turner. Queenstown Life-boat rendered assistance. „ 15. 2p.m. Schooner /. W. A., of Aberayron. Fishguard No. 1 Life-boat saved . 4 „ 15. 3.40 p.m. Steamer Valeria, of Cardiff. CloveUy Life-boat saved 8 „ 16. 3.15 a.m. Four-masted ship Tevioldale, of Glasgow. Carmarthen Bay Life-boat saved 10 „ 16. 9 a.m. Four fishing-boats. Arklow Life-boat saved vessels. „ 16. 1 p.m. Fishing-boat Jackdaw, of Arklow. Courtown Life-boat saved ... 8 „ 16. 1 p.m. Do. Glance, Do. Do. ... 2 „ 16. 1 p.m. Do. Green Flag Do. Do. ... 2 „ 16. 1 p.m. Do. Safe Return Do. Do. ... 2 „ 17. 12.30 a.m. Barque Alliance, of Biisoer. Padstow Life-boat saved 7 „ 17. 4.30 a.m. Brig Albert Wilnelm, of Barth. Hayle Life-boat saved 5 „ 21. 7p.m. Steam-trawler Exprees, of Scarborough. SeatonCarew Life-boat rescued 7 Nov. 3. 6.30 p.m. Schooner Peter Brown, of Montrose. Hartlepool No. 2 Life-boat ren- dered assistance. „ 3. 7.30 p.m. Steamer Glengoil, of Leith. Margate Life-boat remained by vessel. „ 3. 9 p.m. Barquentine Scotia, of Ayr. Lydd Life-boat remained by vessel. „ 4. la.m. Schooner Lady Ernestine, of Fowey. Thorpeness Life-boat saved . . 6 „ 5. 8.40 a.m. Three-masted schooner Ocean Bride, of Guernsey. Clacton-on-Sea Life-boat saved 9 6. 3.30 $m. Smack Alice, of Dinorwic. Douglas No. 2 Life-boat saved .... 2 6. 9.45 a.m. Screw-flat Llyefaen, of Liverpool. Porthdinllaen Life-boat saved . . 3 6. 11.45 a.m. Sloop Pennington, of Liverpool. Fleetwood Life-boat rescued ... 2 7. 8 a.m. Ship Troop, olf Liverpool. Fishguard No. 2 Life-boat landed 5 men. 11. 8 p.m. Barge Phillis, of Harwich.. Kessingland No. 2 Life-boat assisted to save vessel and crew 3 18. 1.20 p.m. Brig European, of Sunderland. Gorleston No. 1 Life-boat landed 4 men. 28. 9.20 p.m. Brig Olga, of Fiederickstadt. Fleetwood Life-boat rendered assistance. FEBBUABY 1,1887.] THE LIFE-BOAT JOURNAL. 235

Lives 1866. saved. Nov. 28. 9.20 p.m. Barquenline Ruth Topping, of Liverpool. Fleetwood Life-boat saved . 10 ,, 29. Do. Do. Do. Do. assisted to save vessel. Dec. 2. 7 a.m. Dandy Gustave, of St. Valery-en-Caux. Scarborough Life-boat saved . 4 4. 2.30 p.m. S.S. Yan Y?an, of Montrose. St. Anne's Life-boat rescued C 4. 9.15 p.m. Ship Constanze, of Hamburg. Walton-on-the-Naze Life-boat saved . 19 , 4. Do. Do. Harwich Life-boat assisted to save vessel. 8. 3a.m. Dandy Alliance, of Penzance. Penzance Life-boat saved 4 , 8. 3 a.m. Schooner Golden Light, of Penzance. Do. Do 5 8. 6.30 a.m. Brigantine Old Goody, of Paversham. Bamsgate Life-boat saved . . 7 8. 8.30 a.m. Brig Orb, of Whitby. Bridlingfon Life-boat rescued 6 8. 8.45 a.m. Dutch schooner Wietska. Southend (Essex) Life-boat saved ... 5 8. 10 a.m. Ship Charles H. Marshall, of New York. Kamsgate Life-boat rendered assistance. , 8. 12.30p.m. Trawler Agenora, of Tenby. Dunmore Life-boat rescued 3 8. 2 p.m. Ketch Honor, of Cardiff. Tenby Life-boat saved 3 8. 3.30 p.m. Trawler Swift, of Douglas. Oastletown Life-boat saved 5 8. 3.30p.m. Schooner Julia, of Kuncorn. Do. Do. 3 8. 4 p.m. Smack Henry Florence, of Wick. Thurso Life-boat saved .... 3 8. Schooner Margaret Garton, of Isle of Man. Do. Do. 4 8. Schooner Lyra, of Isle of Man. Do. Do 4 9. 6.30 a.m. Ship Pegasui, of Liverpool. Holyhead Life-boat rescued .... 21 9. 6.30 a.m. Schooner Jane Anwyl. Do. Do. rendered assistance. 9. 7a.m. Barque Fremad, of Tonsberg. Burnham Life-boat rescued .... 11 9. 10 p.m. Barque Mexico, of Hamburg. Lytham Life-boat saved 12 10. 2 p.m. Steamer Watford, of Sunderland. Caister No. 2 Life-boat remained by vessel. 14. 9 a.m. Barque Samanco, of Liverpool. Carnsore Life-boat saved .... 9 15. 10.15 p.m. Schooner Rainbow, of Harwich. Scarborough Life-boat saved ... 5 16. 10 p.m. Steamer Ben Macdui, of Aberdeen. Caister Life-boat assisted to save vessel and 12 18. 4.45 a.m. Three-masted schooner Charlie Blacltwood, of Hull. Donna Nook Life-boat rendered assistance. 19. 6.15 p.m. S.S. Shoreham, of London. Whitburn Life-boat saved 17 22. 5a.m. S.S. Acaster, of Hartlepool. Newbiggin Life-boat saved 19 22. 1.15 p.m. Schooner Swift, of Laurvig. Cresswell Life-boat rescued .... 11 22. 2.15 p.m. Schooner Pacific, of Aberystwyth. Bull Bay Life-boat landed ... 5 22. 3.30 p.m. Schooner Ocean Belle, of Amlwch. Do. Do. ... 4 22. 3.55 p.m. Schooner Jubilee, of Preston. Penmon Life-boat assisted to save vessel 3 22. 5.30 p.m. Schooner Industry, of Aberystwyth. Porthdinllaen Life-boat saved . 4 23. 5.30 a.m. Schooner Richard and Emily, of London. Wiuterton No. 2 Life-boat saved vessel and 2 23. 7 a.m. Brigantine Ella, of Maldon. Winterton No. 1 Life-boat saved vessel and 7 27. 9.30 a.m. Steamer Albion, of Hull. Penmon Life-boat saved 3 27. 9.30 a.m. Schooner Day Star, of Ipswich. Southwold No. 1 Life-boat saved . . 4 27. 9.30 a.m. Do. Do. Dunwich Life-boat saved .... 1 29. Barque Catarina, of Savona. Ilfracombe Life-boat remained by vessel. Total lives saved by the Life-boats in 1886, in addition to 33 vessels 601 Bewards were also granted by the Institution in the same period for saving: by means of Fishing and other Boats 160 Total lives saved in 1883 761

NOTICE. The next number of the LIFE-BOAT JOURNAL, containing the Annual Beport, &c., will be published on the 2nd May next. ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, SUPPORTED SOLELT BT VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS.

BOTAL Hiomntss THE PRINCESS OF WALES. Hl8 EoYAt HIGHNESS THE PRINCE OF WALES, K.Q. Vim.AralBAI, H.K.H. Tins DUKS OF EDINBURGH, K.O. JJrtsibmt—His GRACE THE DUKE OF NORTHUMBERLAND, K.G. EDWARD BIBKBECK, BART., M.P., V.P. Jtpntj-1!!(jsinnsn—Colonel Frrz-Kor CLAYTON, V.P.

APPEAL. THE COMMTTTEB OF MANAGEMENT have to state that during the past year (1886) the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION expended £34,932 on various Life-boat Establishments on the Coasts of England, Scotland, and Ireland. During the same period it contributed to the saving of 761 persona from various Shipwrecks on our Coasts. Every winter that cornea and goes has its black record of wrecks, and its terrible list of lost lives, the average loss of lives from Shipwreck annually, on the shores of the United Kingdom, being 700. GENERAL SUMMABT OF THE WORK OF THE INSTITUTION DURING 1886. Number of lives rescued by Life-boats, in addition to £. ». d. 33 Vessels saved by them 601 Number of Lives saved by Shore-boats, &o 160 ... Amount of Pecuniary Rewards for Saving Life during the Year . 6,785 11 11 Honorary Rewards:—Silver Medals and Clasps ... 14 ...... Binocular Glass 9 Votes of Thanks on Vellum. . . 13 ...... Total .... 36 761 £6.785 11 11 The Committee desire to acknowledge, with gratitude, the liberal support which they have received from the British Public during the past few years,—a support which has enabled them to establish their present great Life-saving Fleet of 293 boats on the shores of the United Kingdom. Deeply sensible, however, of the great responsibility that rests on them to maintain the Life-boats in a thoroughly efficient state, and their crews practised in the management of their boats, which can only be effected by a large and permanent Annual Income, they earnestly appeal to all classes of their countrymen to continue to aid them in upholding and perpetuating so great and truly national a Work. The number of Lives saved either by the Life-boats of the Society, or by special exertions, for which it has granted rewards since its formation, is 32,671: for which services 97 Gold Medals, 987 Silver Medals, 23 Binocular Glasses, 8 Telescopes and upwards of £93,500 in cash have been , given as Rewards. Annual Subscriptions and Donations are earnestly solicited, and will be thankfully received by the Secretary, CHABLES DTBDIN, Esq., at the Institution, 14 JOHN STREET, ADEUHL, London; by the Bankers of the Institution, Messrs. COUTTS and Co., 59 Strand; Messrs. HEEBIES, FABQUHAB, and Co., 16 St. James's Street; Messrs. HOABE, 37 Fleet Street, London; and by all the other Bankers in the United Kingdom.—February,-I887.