THE . The Journal of the Royal National Life- Institution.

VOL. XXVI.—No. 292.] NOVEMBER, 1927. [PRICE Gd.

October Gales.

Two Gold Medals awarded to Moelfre, Anglesey, and two Silver Medals to St. Mary's, Isles of Scilly. THE month of October ended with, a by awarding two of its Gold Medals, week of strong winds rising at times to and thirteen Bronze Medals. gales, which reached their climax on These are the first Gold Medals to the 28th and 29th. On those two days be awarded since the service to the it blew a severe gale from the south and S.S. Hopelyn by the Life- at Gorles- west over Southern Ireland, England ton and Lowestoft on the Bast Coast and Wales, rising in places to hurricane in 1922. During the nine years since force, gusts of 85 miles an hour being the end of the War, five Gold Medals recorded at Holyhead. On land much have been awarded for three services, damage was done by the winds and and two of those services have been floods, and a number of lives were lost, carried out by Welsh Life-boats—the and hundreds of people rendered home- service of the Fishguard Motor Life- less. boat to the Dutch Motor Schooner At sea, during the eight days from Hermina in December, 1920, and now the 22nd to the 29th October, there the service of the Moelfre Life-boat. were seventeen Life-boat launches at In the course of these seventeen different places all round the coast, launches, thirty-one lives were rescued from Stromness in the Orkneys to St. by Life-boats, but unfortunately not Mary's in the Isles of Scilly. Of these without loss among their rescuers. One launches ten took place during the man of the very gallant Moelfre Crew, height of the gale on the night of the William Roberts, died during the service 28th and the early morning of the from exposure. 29th. The gales during this last week of The two outstanding services of the October caused a terrible tragedy week, and, so far, of the year, were among the fishing population of the carried out by the Motor Life-boat at Islands off Co. Mayo and Co. Galway, St. Mary's on the night of 27th October, on the west coast of Ireland, over 50 and the Moelfre, Anglesey, Pulling and lives being lost. On this coast the Sailing Life-boat on the night of the fishermen use either open rowing-boats 28th. The very gallant service of the or canvas coracles. No weather reports St. Mary's Life-boat, and three other are received in these remote islands and boats, to the Italian steamer Isobo, the villages, and though it was known that Institution has recognized by awarding a gale was coming, the little fleets had two of its Silver Medals and six of its put out on Friday night. An attempt Bronze Medals, besides lesser awards; to stop some of them was made by a and it has marked the fact that the priest, who had learnt from his •wire- service of the Moelfre Life-boat to the less of the approaching storm, but he Ketch Excel was carried out in the was too late; there were no means severest of weather, and that skilful of signalling, and in the night the open seamanship, courage, and devotion to boats and coracles were overwhelmed. duty were conspicuously shown by all The Life-boat story of this week of on board in face of the greatest danger, fierce storms, tragedy and magnificent 516 THE LIFEBOAT. [NOVEMBER, 1927. courage is best told day by day in the order of events. Wreck of the S.S. " Isabo " on the Scilly The first service of the week was on Rock. Saturday, the 22nd., -when the LJan- Two days later, on the 27th, came the du&no Life-boat went out afc eight in first of the two great services of this the evening, in a strong breeze with a week. At five in the afternoon the rough sea, to the help oi a motor yacht, Italian steamer Isabo, of nearly 7000 Delphor, of Liverpool She had tons, with a cargo of wheat, ran anchored in the bay, but dragged her ashore in a dense fog on the Scilly anchors, drifted beneath the pier, break- Kock to the west of the Island of ing her mast, and was then carried on Bryher in the Isles of Scilly. A to the rocks of the Great Orme. Here moderate breeze was blowing from the the Life-boat rescued her crew of three, south-west, but it increased later to a but for two hours the Life-boat had to gale, and all the time the sea was very wait in the bay, until it was considered heav.y, accompanied by a south-westerly safe for her to come in. The owner of swell. The steamer's syren was heard the yacht gave £5 to be divided among through the fog, and the first boats on the Life-boat Crew. the scene were three from Bryher—an Two days later the Lowestoft Motor open boat, the Czar, 30 feet long, Life-boat went out in the afternoon to manned by eight men, and two motor- the help of a Dutch sailing lugger, boats, Ivy and Sunbeam, each from Johanna Marie, which had gone aground 20 to 25 feet long, with a 7 h.-p. engine. on the Newcome Sands, and was The gallant work of each of these three pounding heavily. There was a strong boats deserves to be separately described. breeze and a heavy sea, following a Mr. William B. Jenkins was in charge N.E, gale the night before. The Dutch of the Czar, and the spirit in which he skipper asked for immediate help. A went about the work of rescue can he tug had also put out, and the Life-boat judged from his remark when the great got a hawser from her to the stranded risk of his attempt was pointed out to lugger. By means of this the lugger him: " I'm going to save those men, was towed off the sands, the Life- if I have to swim for it." On reach- boat standing by until she and her crew ing the scene of the wreck, he and of twelve were safe in harbour. his crew found a number of men adrift on floating wreckage, and at very great Ten Lives Saved from a Trawler. risk in that heavy sea and in the midst The following day the Stromness of jagged rocks they succeeded in pick- Motor Life-boat was called out shortly ing up eleven men. These they trans- after one in the morning to the help ferred to the motor-boat Ivy, so as to of a steam trawler, Amethyst of Hull, make room to rescue more, as it was which had run ashore on Hoy Head, felt that a pulling-boat ran less risk in while on. her way home from the Faroe the broken water than a motor-boat. fishing. A strong breeze to moderate They continued their search, and three gale was blowing from S. to S.W., with more men were picked up. Then, a moderate sea, and there was heavy hearing cries from the , they closed rain. The Life-boat anchored, veered in on her and succeeded in getting a down to the trawler and took off the ten line aboard, by means of which another men on board her. The trawler herself man was hauled through the water. became a total wreck. Three years ago, The St. Mary's Motor Life-boat had on the 4th October, 1924, the same Life- now arrived on the scene, and the Czar boat rescued ten men from the steam accordingly made for shore, the dark- trawler Hessonite, belonging to the ness, fog, and heavy sea all combining same owners, the Kingston Fishing to make her return difficult. After Company, which had been wrecked in landing the men, Mr. Jenkins and his a dense fog at Birsay. The Company crew took them to their houses, fed has sent the Institution £10 in gratitude them, and lent them warm clothing. for the service to the Amethyst. The Ivy, manned by a crew of three, NOVEMBER, 1927.] THE LIFEBOAT. 517

i . «!••!• i, LlFEpDATS COURSE TO WKCCK _.»«_* LIFEBOATS COURSE HOME

THE SULLY ISLES

CABLES 10 5 o

SCENE OF THE WRECK OF THE S.S. "JSABO."

ISLE or AMGLESEY

SCENE OF THE WRECK OF THE "EXCEL.1 518 THE LIFEBOAT. [NOVEMBER, 1927. with Mr. Ernest Jenkins in charge, was reached the Scilly Kock she could see the second boat on the scene. She was and hear nothing in the dense fog. in grave danger throughout on account She therefore went to Gweal Rock, but of the mass of wreckage among which finding nothing there went back to she had to manoeuvre, and the floating Scilly Rock. On the way back she wheat from the cargo which threatened met the Ivy, and from her obtained news to foul the machinery. She was, of the wreck and its position. She however, most skilfully handled, and reached it at about 9 p.m. Cries were picked up one man out of the water and heard from the foremast, but the took over the first eleven men rescued Coxswain was faced with a grave by the Czar, problem. Not only were the seas now The Sunbeam, which carried on. her breaking right over the steamer, and upper deck a , 9 feet long by actually over the men clinging to her 4 feet 6 inches broad, arrived on the rigging, but the wind had increased to scene in growing darkness, to hear gale force. To attempt a rescue in cries in the water, but the mass of such circumstances was hopeless. It wreckage made approach impossible. would almost certainly have meant the She succeeded, however, in picking up loss of the Life-boat and her crew, and one man by means of a line. Mr. as a consequence the loss also of the Charles Jenkins, her coxswain, then lives which she was trying to save. very gallantly launched the dinghy and Some of the Life-boat Crew wanted to set out in her himself, accompanied make the attempt, and were with by a young man, Edward Reginald difficulty persuaded against it, but Jenkins. By means of this tiny boat Coxswain Lethbridge, a most courageous they rescued three men in succession, and experienced Life-boatman, exercised each having to be hauled in very care- his judgment in deciding that they fully over the stern for fear of capsizing must wait until dawn. The Life-boat her. As it was, she was half-filled with accordingly put in to New Grimsby. water. Meanwhile the Sunbeam herself There the men landed to get a little had picked up another man. Then, food, and then all re-embarked and hearing cries for help from the west- remained in the boat all night. ward, the Sunbeam, went in that direction and found the vessel. Closing down on Rescued at Dawn. her port quarter, the Sunbeam's crew At about 4 next morning the local succeeded in getting a line on board, doctor, Dr. W. E. Ivers, who had come and by this means were able to haul a over from St. Mary's in the Duchy of further seven men, including the captain, Cornwall motor-, offered his ser- through the sea into their boat. vices, which were accepted, and once As most of the men, like those picked more the Life-boat set out. Dawn was up by the other boats, had no clothes, just breaking as she reached the wreck, it was imperative to get them ashore and the piteous cries for help from the quickly if their lives were to be saved. rigging showed that she was still in Accordingly, the Sunbeam returned time to save life. She approached from ashore and left the Motor Life-boat to the lee side—anchoring on the weather complete the rescue. side and veering down was out of the The Motor Life-boat had been called question—and the Line-throwing Gun out at 5 p.m., and had left the slipway was fired. The first line fired carried eight minutes later. She had nearly away. The second fell right across the four miles to travel, threading her ship, but the men aboard her were not way through Samson Mats, and thence able, or were too exhausted, to reach it. from Bar Point past Colvel Rocks A third line was then fired and a direct to Castle Bryher Island in growing hit made, but in attempting to secure darkness —- a difficult and tortuous it one man was washed overboard. passage which only a man with a The Life-boat dashed into the breakers thorough knowledge of the dangers and was able to save him. Happily would dare to undertake. When she he was wearing a life-belt, for he was NOVEMBER, 1927.] THE LIFEBOAT. 519

THE SERVICE TO THE "ISABO."

J

THE RESCUERS AT WORK

GETTING ONE OF THE STEAMER'S CREW ON BOARD THE LIFE-BOAT. These two pictures are from sketches made by the Bowman of the St. Mary's Motor Life-boat, Mr. Harry Barrett. 520 THE LIFEBOAT. [NOVEMBER, 1927. unconscious when picked up, but he was man had died in the rigging, and a brought round after much labour by fifth had dropped off some time during Dr. Ivers, helped by the Assistant Motor the night. Of the sixth nothing was Mechanic. known. Two men then slid down the forestay So ended this dangerous and gallant of the wreck. As each, reached the service, in the course of which thirty- forecastle-head he was swept into the two lives were rescued of the Isabo's sea, and it was only by a miracle that crew of thirty-eight. It took place on. each man was saved. In each case the the Thursday and the Friday. On the Life-boat closed in, threw a line to the Sunday night twenty of the survivors man, and then went astern, towing him attended church at St. Mary's, and until the boat was clear of the rocks, prayers were said by the Vicar, who when her Crew were able to get him on knows a little Italian, in their own board. language. Lusty yells were then heard from a rock some distance from the ship, and a The Awards. man was seen clinging to it. He was Where all behaved so gallantly, the naked, save for a life-belt. He had Institution found it difficult to single been on the rock all night, and, incredible out those who deserved special recogni- though it seems, he was actually asleep tion, but it decided to make the following when the Life-boat arrived in the awards: morning, and was awakened by the To Coxswain Matthew Lethbridge, the reports of the Line-throwing Gun J Silver Medal A line was fired at him. In attempting To Second Coxswain James T. Leth- to secure it he was washed off his feet bridge, an elder brother of the Coxswain, by a wave, but he struck out gallantly the Bronze Medal. towards the Life-boat and was safely To Motor-Mechanic T. H. Rokahr, picked up. For the present there was who handled the engines most ably, nothing more to be done, and it was particularly when the propeller was imperative to get the rescued men fouled by some wreckage, the Bronze ashore, so the Life-boat shaped course Medal. for home. Not only had the rescued To Dr. W. E. Ivers, who in spite of men been in the rigging all night, with the fact that he was not a sailor, and, a gale Wowing and the waves breaking though not sea-sick, suffered much over them, but they had suffered intense physical discomfort from the rough pain from the grains of wheat, of which weather, the Bronze Medal. the cargo was composed, being blown, To each of the nine remaining into their faces. When taken on board members of the Life-boat Crew, the the Life-boat they were so exhausted Thanks of the Institution inscribed on and so numb with the cold, that the Vellum. Life-boat men, after reviving them with To the Coxswain and Crew extra rum, had to feed them by hand with monetary awards were also given. chocolate. To Dr. W. B. Addison, Honorary As the Life-boat was passing Bryher, Secretary of the Branch, the Thanks Dr. W. B. Addison, the Honorary Secre- of the Institution inscribed on vellum, tary, who had come out in a motor-boat, in recognition of his courage in going was taken on board. The survivors were out in the Life-boat, as ne has done landed at 8.30 in the morning, and the on other occasions, where his medical Crew went home for a meal and change services might be required, in spite of clothes. At 9.45 a.m. they set out of the fact that he sufiers from rheu- again, with Dr. Addison on board, to matoid arthritis. search for more survivors. Finding The following awards were made to none, they returned at 12.45 p.m. Six the men who manned the Czar, the Ivy, men were missing, and it was believed and the Sunbeam, for the gallantry that three had been drowned in the which they showed : stokehold when the vessel struck. One To Mr. Charles Jenkins, Coxswain of NOVEMBER, 1927.] THE LIFEBOAT. 521 the motor-boat Sunbeam, who rescued and with one hand supporting us swim three men in the dinghy, the Silver ashore. I owe my life to these practices. Medal. I never feared to drown from the first." To Mr. Edward Reginald Jenkins, When he got into the water from the who went in the dinghy with Mr. Charles wreck he found an oar and floated with Jenkins, the Bronze Medal. it until he came to a big rock. Round To the other four men of the Sun- this he swam looking for the lowest beam's crew, the Thanks of the Institu- place to attempt a landing. He found tion inscribed on Vellum. one where a receding wave left the To all six men a monetary award was rock exposed for some fifteen feet, and also made. waited for the next wave to carry him To Mr. William E. Jenkins, who was on to it; seized it and held on with all in charge of the open boat the Czar, his strength until the receding wave which rescued fifteen lives, the Bronze allowed him to crawl up it. He walked Medal. round to see if any other men had got To each of the other seven men in the on to it; hunted for seabirds' eggs, but Czar, the Thanks of the Institution found none ; and then got some shelter inscribed on Vellum. in a little cave, where he kept himself To all eight men a monetary award warm by exercise and massaging him- was also made. self. To Mr. Ernest Jenkins, who was in charge of the motor-boat Ivy, which The Moelfre, Anglesey, Service. picked up one man and took over the first eleven men rescued by the Czar, On 28th to 29th October, the night the Bronze Medal. following the service of the St. Mary's To each of the other two men of Life-boat, the gales reached their worst, the Ivy's crew, the Thanks of the striking with special violence on the Institution inscribed on Vellum. coast of North Wales and Lancashire. To all three men a special monetary That night nine Life-boats were award was also made. launched. Five of them were from The Institution also made special Stations in North Wales, and of those monetary awards to the crew of four five, four were from Anglesey. These of the Duchy of Cornwall motor-launch, nine were the Pulling and Sailing Life- who took Dr. Ivers to Bryher, and made boat at Moelfre, the Motor Life-boat at two trips on the following day, in the Beaumaris, the Holyhead Steam Life- worst weather, and gratefully acknow- boat (which was launched twice), and ledges the help given by Mr. Moat, the the Holyhead Pulling and Sailing Life- Coast-guard Officer, and Mr. Ernest boat (all Stations in Anglesey), the Jenkins, a civilian coastwatchman, who Motor Life-boat at Porthdinllaen (Car- first heard and reported the Isabo's narvonshire), the Pulling and Sailing signal of distress. Life-boat at Maryport (Cumberland), The man who had been asleep on the the Motor Life-boat at Weymouth on rock was the second-mate. The story the South Coast, and the Motor Life- he told when he landed explains his boat at Cromer and the Pulling and remarkable endurance. He is 24 years Sailing Life-boat at Sheringham on the old, very strong, and a powerful East Coast. swimmer : The first of the nine to be called out " As a lad at home I used continually was the Moelfre boat. to swim five and six hours daily. At about 3 in the afternoon a message During the war, when our little boats was received from Point Lynas that a were not allowed to fish off shore, my vessel was in distress about 3| miles off father and I used to swim out two and the lighthouse. A whole gale was blow- a half miles with spillers, and unwind ing from the S.W. with a very heavy the line and hooks from a board as we sea, and the weather was very cold. The swam, and later go out and wind the Coxswain of the Life-boat was away, line hooks, and fish up round the board, and the Second Coxswain took charge, 522 THE LIFEBOAT. [NOVEMBER, 192T. having with him Captain Jones, who, was dead before the Life-boat reached although not a regular member of the shore. Life-boat Crew, as he is otherwise The Life-boat was still in great diffi- occupied, goes out when he can, and is culties and considerable danger. Her always ready to put his local knowledge hull had been badly damaged, she was and experience at the service of the full of water, and instead of rising Life-boat. A quarter of an hour after over the seas, she cut through them. the message was received the Life-boat Shortly after she left the wreck her jib was launched. was blown into ribands. Her sailing After getting a more exact position qualities were HOW seriously impaired, from pilot vessels sheltering undei but she struggled towards the Menai Point Lynas, she made for the position Straits, beating against the gale, and given, reaching it about 5.30, and reached them at about two o'clock next there found the auxiliary ketch Excel morning, anchoring by Puffin Island. in a helpless condition, made fast to The distance she actually sailed before a German steamer, which apparently reaching the comparative shelter of the could do nothing to help her. Straits must have been 15 to 20 miles. As the Life-boat approached them, the It was during this passage, through the steamer cut the tow-rope to the ketch, height of the gale, that William Eoberts, leaving it to the Lifeboat to rescue her one of the Life-boat's Crew, collapsed crew. The ketch fell ofi to leeward, and and died of exposure. the Life-boat made an attempt to get Meanwhile the Beaumaris Station. alongside. had been notified of the launch of the Moelfre Life-boat, and the Motor Life- Life-boat right over the Wreck. boat there was ready in case she was This attempt failed. The ketch was required. Soon after six o'clock the already water-logged. It was obvious telephone and telegraph, both broke that she could not last much longer. down, and the Coxswain was stationed If her crew were to be rescued before at the Boathouse to watch for signals. she sank, they must be rescued without Shortly before ten o'clock, signals were delay. The Second Coxswain and seen going up from Penmon, and about Captain Jones did not hesitate. They the same time a messenger arrived to chose the desperate course of taking report that much uneasiness was felt the Life-boat under full sail right over about the Moelfre Life-boat, as she had the water-logged wreck. They knew not returned. Soon after ten o'clock that at the best they must seriously the Beaumaris Motor Life-boat was damage the Life-boat, and that the odds launched. She made for Lynas Point, were that they would completely wreck cruised towards Meolfre Roads, and then her. Their bold and heroic gamble returned to the Menai Straits. Here succeeded. The Life-boat was carried she sighted the Moelfre Life-boat, near by a heavy sea right on top of the upper Puffin Island, but, through an \m- deck, and was stove in in three places, foitunate misunderstanding, believing two on the port side and another, very her to be in no need of help, the much larger, on the starboard side. Beaumaris Life-boat returned to her The three men on the ketch were grabbed Station. and hauled aboard, and the Life-boat As no help reached her, the Moelfre was swept back by another wave. Life-boat, with her exhausted and Shortly afterwards the ketch foundered, practically helpless Crew, remained at and the German steamer went on her anchor in the Straits until daylight, way. when she was seen, and the Motor In being hauled aboard, one of the Life-boat again came out, took her three men of the ketch received injuries in tow, and brought her into Beau- from which he died. In the pitch dark, maris, which was reached at 8.30 in •with a full gale blowing, no one knew the morning. There the Crew were how he received them, or even when taken up to the Bulkeley Arms, where he died. All that is known is that he they were received and cared for with NOVEMBER, 1927.] THE LIFEBOAT. 523

THE MOELFRE LIFE-BOAT.

A photograph taken alter the service on 28th October, showing the damage on the port side.

The hole, 13 inches by 7 inches, on the starboard side.

L 2 524 THE LIFEBOAT. [NOVEMBER, 1927. the greatest kindness by Mr. and open when the telephone wires were Mrs. Musgrave. They had then been blown down, and for his work in meeting out for over seventeen hours. During the Moelfre Life-boat and arranging the whole service the Second Coxswain, for the accommodation of the crew at William Roberts, had remained at the Beaumaris. Captain Davies, like tiller. For some hours after he landed Colonel Williams, was out all night and he was completely blind, from the salt spared neither himself nor his car. water, the wind, and the terrible strain The whole crew were completely ex- of that unceasing and unrelaxed watch- hausted by their long and terrible ing at the tiller through the whole struggle. All needed medical atten- night. While the Second Coxswain tion, and were unable to return to work was at the tiller, the leadership in this for a week, while some of them did not magnificent service, and in the heroic recover for two and three weeks. decision by which the crew of the ketch A letter of thanks has been received were saved, was shared with him. by from the owners of the Excel. Captain Jones. The Awards. Other Launches on the Night of the 28th. The Institution has therefore made On the opposite side of Anglesey to the following awards :— Moelfre and Beaumaris. the two Holy- To Second Coxswain William Roberts, head Life-boats were also out for the the Gold Medal, the highest honour greater part of the night, the Steam which it can bestow, and which it gives Life-boat being launched twice, the only in recognition of great courage second time in search of the Pulling and and leadership in face of very grave Sailing Life-boat. No lives, however, danger. were rescued. In one case the vessel To Captain Jones, the Gold Medal. only required a pilot, while the crew of To each of the other members of the the other vessel, which had driven Crew, the Bronze Medal. ashore in shallow water, were able to To the widow of William Roberts, the land unaided. Bronze Medal. She will also receive a Meanwhile, at Porthdinllaen, on the pension, as her husband died on service, other side of Carnarvon Bay, two and an allowance for a grandchild de- steamers in the bay were seen to be pendent on her. making signals of distress, shortly after In addition to the Medals, the Institu- ten at night. They were found later to tion has made the following awards : be the Matje of Hull and the Dunvegan To Colonel Lawrence Williams, of Preston. The wind was so violent Honorary Secretary of the Moelfre that the Honorary Secretary and the Branch, an inscribed barometer in Coxswain had to crawl part of the way recognition of his unremitting exertions to the Boathouse for fear of being blown to keep in touch with his boat and to right over the cliff. The tide was high keep up such communication as was and the sea was running right into the possible, most of the telegraph and Boathouse. It had even torn some of telephone wires having been blown the rollers on the slipway out of their down. He was out all night in his sockets and washed them away. To motor-car, had some narrow escapes launch in such circumstances would have from falling trees, visited many places been dangerous if not impossible, and in the course of the night that are it was decided to wait until the tide had considered dangerous for a car even in ebbed a little, especially as it cou2d be daylight, and did not return home until seen that the steamers were dragging he knew his boat was safe. out to sea, and were in no immediate To Captain B. B. Davies, the peril. Ihe Life-boat waited until mid- Honorary Secretary of the Anglesey night, and was then launched, the local committee, an inscribed barometer Honorary Secretary, Captain Owen in recognition of the prompt steps he Evans, going with her, as he frequently took to try and keep communication does. NOVEMBER, 1927.] THE LIFEBOAT. 525 Both steamers were found to be hold- within a few yards of her in the darkness, ing their own, but the Life-boat followed but she had no means of signalling, and them to be ready in case of need. About the matches of her crew were soaked three in the morning the wind took off, through. The Life-boats returned with- the sea moderated, and both steamers out having found her, but in spite of were able to get back into the roads, one the fact that her engine had broken anchoring there, while the other, having down she succeeded in making the shore, lost her anchor, steamed right on to the her crew taking to the oars. sandy beach. The Life-boat kept with Later in the day, two more Life-boats, them until they were safe, and it was both on the Welsh Coast, the Motor not until eight in the morning that Life-boat from Mumbles and the Pulling she was once more inside the breakwater. and Sailing Life-boat from Ferryside, Extra monetary awards have been were out searching for a small boat, made to the Coxswain and Crew, and reported to be capsized with a man Letters of Appreciation have been sent clinging to her, but nothing could be to the Honorary Secretary, and to Mr. found, and it was discovered later that T. Hoopt-r, the foreman in charge of what had appeared to be a boat was a certain shore Engineering work now buoy which had broken adrift. being carried out at the Station, who So ended these eight days of storm. also went out as a member of the Crew. There have been weeks in which more This is not the first occasion on which lives have been rescued, but in the he has done tfiis, and on the last he was violence of the gales, the dangers faced presented with an inscribed barometer. and overcome, and the gallantry and A Letter of Thanks has been received endurance of the crews, this last week from the Captain of the S.S. Matju. of October, 1927, may rank with the Farther north, on the Cumberland greatest weeks in the history of the coast, the Maryport Life-boat was Service. launched to an unknown vessel, reported There is one other fact of interest to to be drifting in the Solway Firth. A be added to the summary of the week whole gale was blowing here from the given at the beginning of this article. W.N.W., bringing so heavy a sea right There were seventeen launches of Life- into the harbour that the Honorary boats, and the total number of lives Secretary doubted if it would be possible rescued, including those rescued by the to go, but the Coxswain replied at once, three shore boats from Bryher, was " I'm going." The Life-boat made the sixty. In awards to the Life-boatmen most gallant attempts to clear the har- and other rescuers who took part in bour, but was finally blown against the these services, and to the launchers of North Pier and slightly damaged. As the Life-boats, and in compensation to there was no definite news of the vessel, the Moelfre Crew who were incapaci- the Life-boat was recalled and the Crew tated by their long and terrible struggle, stood by in readiness. An extra mone- the Institution has paid over £800. In tary award was made for this launch. addition to this the pension granted to the widow of the Moelfre Life-boatman On the South and East Coasts. who died of exposure, would, if pur- On the south coast the Weymouth chased as an immediate annuity, cost Motor Life-boat was out for nearly some £700. This sum may be fairly six hours, from 6.30 in the evening until added to the capital cost of the gales, after midnight, in response to the S.U.S. and makes a total of about £1500. It of the steam- M. Arnus of Barce- includes nothing in respect of the other lona, but the tanker got safely into expenses of those services, such as the Portland Roads under her own steam. repair of the damaged Moelfre Life-boat. On the East Coast the Cromer Motor It consists simply of the awards, Life-boat and the Sheringham Pulling monetary and other, which have been and Sailing Life-boat were both out made to those who took part in the for half the night searching for a missing work of rescue during this one week of motor fishing boat. They both passed gales. 526 THE LIFEBOAT. [NOVEMBER, 1927. Buy a Life-boat Calendar! THE Institution is again issuing a Life- of Northumberland, who had placed a boat Calendar. It feels that there is no life-boat, built by Greathead, at North better way of keeping the work of the Shields, and presented another to Life-boat Service continually before the Oporto, Portugal. The engraving from public from the first day of the year to which the Calendar has been reproduced the last, and it hopes that many readers was presented to the Institution by of The Lifeboat will buy this Calendar Mr. 0. G. Berry, who was a member not only for themselves but to send to of its staff from 1893 to 1923. their friends. The Calendars will be 11J inches long Calendars are becoming each year a by 9 inches wide, and they can be more popular form of gift, and those obtained from the Institution in any who use the Life-boat Calendar may quantity, post free, Is. each, or 10s. a

THE LIFE-BOAT CALENDAR, 1928. A Life-boat Rescue near Tynemouth Castle. (Painted and engraved by W. Elmvs, and published in 1803 by Henry Greathead, builder of the first Life-boat.) feel that they are making it do a double dozen, this price including an envelope service. They will be sending their with each Calendar. It will weigh, in friends a beautiful calendar and they the envelope, just under 4 ounces, so will be helping the Institution. that it can be sent through the post, The Calendar will have a reproduction with the envelope open, for Id. in colours of a picture painted and Those who wish to order Calendars engraved by W. Elmes, and published should apply as soon as possible to the in 1803, by Henry Greathead, the Secretary, Koyal National Life-boat builder, though not the inventor, of the Institution, Life-boat House, 22, Charing first Life-boat launched at Tynemouth Cross Road. London, W.C. 2, and should in 1789. It shows a Life-boat service enclose with their order a postal order off Tynemouth Castle. The original or stamps. Only such orders can be engraving was inscribed to the Duke dealt with. NOVEMBER, 1927.] THE LIFEBOAT. 527 Accident with a Maroon. A MOST unfortunate accident, resulting of burying the mortar, the reason being in the death of the Coxswain, occurred that if the mortar were to explode at Port St. Mary, Isle of Man, on 6th there would be no risk to those stand- August, on which day Life-boat Day ing round being struck by pieces of and a Road Practice of the Life-boat flying metal. At some Stations, how- were to be held. Coxswain Kneen, in ever, it is not possible to bury the firing the maroon to call out the Crew, mortar, and at these it is mounted on was struck by it on the forehead and a portable base, strict instructions being died shortly afterwards. given that no one shall be allowed to Coxswain Kneen, who was 58 years stand near when the maroon is fired. old, was a specially good Coxswain, The Institution has issued sand-bags to taking the greatest interest and pride all Stations which, use the portable base, in the Life-boat and Boat-house. He with instructions that these are to be had been appointed Bowman in 1896, filled and packed round the mortar. Second Coxswain in 1902, and Coxswain Meanwhile the Board of Trade is carry- in 1916. He left a widow and an ing out. further experiments. unmarried grown-up daughter. The In order to prevent a repetition of the Institution, following its custom of pen- accident at Port St. Mary with the sioning the widows and dependent buried mortars, a memorandum was sent children of all Life-boatmen who lose to all Stations concerned, drawing their their lives at service, have given Mrs. attention to the printed instructions Kneen a pension. issued to every Station where the mortar A careful inquiry was held into the is used, and printed on each maroon, that accident, and it was suggested that it the firer should stand as far away from would not have occurred had the mortar the mortar as possible when striking been placed on a post above the level the fuse. This memorandum was fol- of the firer's head. The advisability of lowed by a poster-card with two doing this was considered before the photographs illustrating the right and mortars and maroons were introduced, the wrong way of standing. Where in place of the socket distress signal, the right way is adopted, there should two years ago. It was then decided be no risk to the firer, even if there that it was better to adhere to the should be a premature explosion of the practice, approved by the Home Office, | maroon.

A Summer Service. What it feels like to be Rescued. ON the afternoon of 12th August a " On Friday, 12th August, 1927, the message was received at the Yarmouth, promptness and efficiency of our Life- Isle of Wight, Station, that a sailing- boat Service were brought home to us boat had capsized about a mile and a in a very forcible manner. We have half from the shore, off Fort Victoria. often read and heard of the gallant deeds A moderate gale was blowing, and the performed by our Life-boatmen and sea was rough. Within five minutes have perhaps subscribed to the funds, the Motor Life-boat was launched, little thinking that we ourselves might the Honorary Secretary going with her, one day need its aid. [As Sir William as neither the Coxswain nor Second Hillary said in his appeal, " From the Coxswain was immediately available, calamity of shipwreck no one can say and within fifteen minutes she had that he may at all times remain free, reached the wreck and picked up and whilst he is now providing only two men and two ladies who had been for the safety of others, a day may on board her. One of the ladies has sent come which will render the cause his us the following account of the rescue : own."] 528 THE LIFEBOAT. [NOVEMBER, 1927. " On a rough and stormy night it is rocket go up from the shore, and we no wonder that the men should be on knew help would soon be at hand. alert for the Life-boat call, but on a fine Although we were all fairly good swim- August day with a not-too-rough sea, mers, I doubt if we could have made the who would expect a disaster ? So the shore if no help had come. Anxiously rapidity with which the Life-boat came we watched the far distant harbour for a to our aid speaks well for the splendid sign of rescue, and in a very short time organization. we saw the dark blue launch tearing " It was a beautiful day for sailing, towards us. Some other boats also set a good stifi breeze and the sea just rough out, including the Southern Railway's enough to make it exciting. We were steamer Freshwater, but it was the racing along, heeled well over, when Life-boat that won the race. without warning a sudden gust caught " We were thrown life-belts, and eager us, and at the same moment an extra hands helped us on board. Warmed large wave hit us and submerged the without by oilskins borrowed from the sail, which was almost on the water. Crew, and within by generous rations Rapidly the yacht filled, and we felt of rum, we were soon back at the pier, ourselves slipping into the sea. The greeted by cheering crowds. boat then turned upside down, and we " Thanks to the Royal Life-boat were left to swim round it and hold on Institute, thus ended what had been if possible, while large waves broke to us a really thrilling adventure, and over us. not, as might so easily have been the " It was not long before we heard the case, a dismal tragedy.''

Life-boat as Ambulance. IT has happened on a number of make no headway against the strong occasions that a Life-boat has acted as current, so the Motor Life-boat was ambulance in bringing injured men to launched. shore. Another service of this kind With the Life-boat went the Vicar of was performed by the Appledoie Motor Appledore, the Rev. H. C. A. S. Muller, Life-boat on the 10th October. A a member of the Life-boat Committee, wireless message was received that the who could speak Norwegian, and the s.s. Copeman of London, on her way man was safely landed. Dr. W. A. home from Algeria, was putting in to Valentine, another member of the Life- Appledore as her boatswain, a Nor- boat Committee, and a St. John's wegian, had been seriously injured in Ambulance were waiting for him, and he the head by falling tackle. A tug went was taken at once to the Bideford out to meet the steamer and took the Hospital, where Mr. Valentine sewed up injured man on board, but she could his wound.

Twelve Hours in a Whole Gale. ON August 22nd the Clacton Motor into Harwich. Then on the way back, Life-boat was out for over twelve hours the Life-boat found a ship's boat, with in a whole gale with a very heavy sea, one man on board, helplessly drifting, and went to the help of two vessels. with her sails in ribbons. The man and The first was a small yacht with two the boat were both saved. The Life- people on board, which had become boat, which had been launched at 11.30 unmanageable four miles away. Two in the morning, did not get back to her members of the Life-boat Crew were moorings until midnight. The Coxswain put on board her and brought her safely and Crew were given extra awards. NOVEMBER, 1927.] THE LIFEBOAT. 529 Inaugural Ceremonies of Motor Life-boats. Porthdinllaen, Caernarvonshire, and Aberdeen. THE new Porthdinllaen Motor Life- Captain Innes then gave particulars boat was named on 12th August by of the new Life-boat and of the legacies Dame Margaret Lloyd George. out of which she had been built, and D.B.E., J.P., President of the South' said that the Station had a Crew of Caernarvonshire Branch of the Ladies' which it has every reason to be proud, Life-boat Guild; and the Aberdeen and that it was fortunate in having Motor Life-boat on September 17th by in Captain Owen Evans an Honorary the Lady Maud Carnegie (H.H. Princess Secretary who was an experienced Maud). master-mariner and had himself been There has been a Life-boat Station at out in the Life-boat on service. Mr. Porthdinllaen since 1864, and it has a Arthur Owen, in accepting the Boat, record of 187 lives rescued from ship- said that she would be ready at any wreck. The new Motor Life-boat is time of day or night to answer the call. of the Watson Cabin type, 45 feet by The dedication service was con- 12 feet 6 inches, with a 76 h.p. engine, ducted by the Rev. H. Williams, of which type there are now thirteen on Vicar of Nevin, and the Rev. John the coast. She has been built out of a Hughes, Calvinistic Methodist Minister number of legacies which, with the of Edeyrn. Dame Margaret Lloyd consent of the trustees, have been George then named the new Life-boat amalgamated. These legacies were re- M.O.Y.E., these being the initials of the ceived from Miss J. S. Manby, of Middle- names desired by the donors, while the sex ; Mr. William Gates, of Shepperton, full names are inscribed on a plate Middlesex; Mr. F. W. N. Lloyd, of inside the Boat. As soon as she had Bromley, Kent, and the Misses J. C. and been named the Boat was launched. J. L. Owen, of Bodowen, Caernarvon. After a Vote of Thanks to Dame The High Sheriff of Caernarvonshire, Margaret had been proposed by Mr. Mr. G. Hughes Eoberts, presided. William Thomas, J.P., and seconded by Commodore Sir Richard Williams- Captain Watkin Williams, J.P., Dame Bulkeley, Bt., K.C.B., R.N.R., a Vice- Margaret presented to ex-Coxswain President of the Institution, was to Evan Hughes, of Criccieth, the Certificate have presented the Life-boat to the of Service which had been awarded to Branch, on behalf of the Institution, him by the Institution on his retirement and Mr. J. E. Greaves, Lord-Lieutenant after serving 26 years as Coxswain, 10 of Caernarvonshire and Chairman of years as Second Coxswain, and 10 years the Branch, was to have received her. as a member of the Criccieth Crew. Unfortunately they were both pre- Captain Garro Jones, M.P., proposed, vented at the last moment from being and Mr. Rees Thomas, J.P. seconded, a present, and their places were taken by Vote of Thanks to the High Sheriff, Captain H. G. Innes, R.N., District The day before the Ceremony, a Inspector of Life-boats, and Mr. Arthur Garden Fete was given for the South Owen, Vice-Chairman of the Branch. Caernarvonshire Ladies' Life-boat Guild The Ceremony took place in glorious by Mrs. Wynne Finch, one of its Vice- weather in the presence of some 4000 Presidents. At this fete a meeting of people, among these present being the Guild was held, Dame Margaret members of the family of two of the Lloyd George presiding, and the officers donors, the Misses Owen. were re-elected. In opening the proceedings, the High Sheriff appealed to the inhabitants of Gift from Mr. Lloyd George. South Caernarvonshire to be generous in Since the Ceremony the Institution their support of the four Life-boats which has received from the Right Hon. the Institution had placed on their David Lloyd George, O.M., M.P., a gift coast, and which, between them, had of £15 to provide the Line-throwing rescued over 500 lives. Gun for the Boat. 530 THE LIFEBOAT. [NOVEMBER, 1927. Rev. A. W. Scudamore Forbes, B.D., Aberdeen. Minister of the West Parish Church, There has been a Life-boat Station at Aberdeen; a musical programme was Aberdeen for over 70 years, but until played by the band of the 4th Gordon 1925 it was maintained by the Harbour Highlanders, a anchored in the Commissioners. At the beginning of river being its bandstand; the singing that year, at their request, it was taken was led by the Fisher Girls' Choir, over by the Institution, the Station conducted by Councillor Allenby; and consisting of two Life-boats and a a detachment of Girl Guides formed a Rocket Apparatus. Both boat-houses guard of honour. It was estimated that and other buildings were handed over besides the 500 invited guests there were to the Institution, and the Harbour over 10,000 people present on both sides Commissioners agreed to contribute of the river and in boats. The speeches annually £500 towards the maintenance and singing were broadcast, and were of the Station. made audible to the great audience by The Institution at once decided to lay means of amplifiers placed up and down down for the Station a Motor Life-boat the river bank. of the largest type, the 60-foot Barnett In handing the Life-boat to the Twin Screw, costing over £14,000, and Branch in the name of the donor, Mr. meanwhile sent two Pulling and Sailing John Mackie, and of the Institution, Life-boats to the Station. The new Sir Godfrey Baring said that the Insti- boat was completed in October of last tution recognized the great importance year, and an account of her journey of of the Aberdeen Station, and as soon as 565 miles from the building yard at this Station was placed in its charge, Cowes to Aberdeen, against heavy head the Institution decided to provide it gales all the way, appeared in The with a Motor Life-boat of the largest Lifeboat for last February. She has and most powerful type. He had no been built out of a legacy from the late doubt that the Aberdeen Crew, with this Mr. John Mackie, of York. magnificent instrument for saving life, At the Ceremony on 17th September, would worthily carry on the great on the River Dee, Lord Provost Lewis. traditions of Scottish Life-boatmen. President of the Branch, presided ; Lady Crew and Life-boat, in fact, had already Maud Carnegie named the Boat, being proved themselves in the service to the accompanied by Lord Carnegie; and trawler Ben Tore only a few days the Institution was represented by before. Sir Godfrey Baring, Bt., Chairman of the The Rev. A. W. Scudamore Forbes Committee of Management, the Duke then dedicated the Life-boat to the of Montrose, Chairman of the Scottish service of God, and Commander Diury Council, Lady Findlay, Honorary Secre- gave a full description of her.* tary of the Council, Mr. George F. Shee, In accepting the Lifeboat, Lord M.A., Secretary of the Institution, and Provost Lewis said that Aberdeen Commander E. D. Drury, O.B.E., R.D., deeply appreciated the generosity of the R.N.R., District Inspector of Life-boats. Institution and the courage and fore- Among those present were the Lady sight with which it faced its great Provost, the Marquis of Aberdeen and responsibilities. None knew better than Temair, P.O., K.T., G.C.M.G., G.C.V.O., they in Aberdeen what the Life-boat Lord-Lieutenant of Aberdeenshire and a Service meant to the seafaring com- Vice-President of the Institution; the munity. Very Rev. Sir George Adam Smith, Lord Provost Lewis then pointed out Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Aber- that a fifth of the whole Life-boat deen University, Lady Smith, Sir John Fleet was stationed on the coasts of H. Irvin, K.B.E., and Lady Irvin. Scotland. If Scotland was to do its The religious service was conducted duty and preserve the independence of by the Rev. J. Esslemont Adams, * A full description of the sister life-boat D.S.O., M.C., B.D., Minister of the West at Plymouth appeared in the last issue of The United Free Church, Aberdeen, and the Lifeboat. NOVEMBEK, 1927.] THE LIFEBOAT.

By permission of] [Liverpool Courier and Express LAUNCH OF THE PORTHDINLLAEN MOTOR LIFE-BOAT.

By permission of] [Pelman, Aberdeen, WRECK OF THE "BEN TORC" NEAR ABERDEEN.

L 3 532 THE LIFEBOAT. [NOVEMBER, 1927.

By permission of] [Pelman, Aberdeen. THE NAMING CEREMONY OF THE ABERDEEN MOTOR LIFE-BOAT.

£y permission of] [Pelman, Aberdeen. LADY MAUD CARNEGIE NAMING THE BOAT. Left to right: Lord Provost Lewis, Lord Carnegie, Lady Maud Carnegie, Sir Godfrey Baring, Commander Drury. On the exteme right: the Duke of Montrose. NOVEMBER, 1927.] THE LIFEBOAT. 533 which it boasted, then it should con- seconding this Vote, Mr. Shee described tribute a fifth of the total of £250,000 the arrangement which was made annually needed to provide and maintain between the Harbour Commissioners and the Service. Instead of £11,000, the the Institution, and paid a tribute to the sum at present contributed, it must work of the Ladies' Life-boat Guild of raise £50,000. Aberdeen, for its part, Aberdeen which that day was holding must raise to the last penny its pro- a Life-boat Day. portionate share of that sum of £50,000. At the end of the Ceremony the It could not do less. It ought to do Life-boat made a trip up and down the more. river with visitors on board, and with The Lord Provost then introduced Line-throwing Gun and breeches buoy Lady Maud Carnegie, who, stepping gave a demonstration of Life-saving. forward, pulled a ribbon which released the bottle of champagne. As it broke over the bow of the Life-boat she named Service to the " Ben Tore." her Emma Constance and wished her Eleven days before the Inaugural God-speed. Ceremony, on 6th September, the A Vote of Thanks to Lady Maud Aberdeen Motor Life-boat was called Carnegie was proposed by the Duke of out at 10-30 at night to the help of the Montrose, who pointed out that for every Aberdeen steam-trawler Ben Tore which ship lost at sea ten or twelve were lost had gone ashore on the rocks in a dense on shore, and appealed to rich and poor fog. There was a breeze with a to support the Service. The Vote was moderate swell, which was breaking seconded by Sir John Irvin and sup- heavily on the rocks. Using the search- ported by the Marquis of Aberdeen and light to find her way among the partially Temair. In replying on behalf of Lady submerged rocks, the Life-boat got close Maud Carnegie, Lord Carnegie said that enough to the trawler for her crew of six Lady Maud had come that afternoon to to jump on board. All landed safely the Dee to name the new Life-boat, not except the skipper, who fell into the sea as a stranger to the river, but as one who but was safely hauled aboard the Life- had known it from near its source all her boat. The Life-boat then backed out life. from among the rocks, and reached her Lady Findlay proposed a Vote of Station again just an hour after she Thanks to the Lord Provost. In had left it.

Having it Both Ways. THE District Organizing Secretary in never published its annual report. the North of England reports that he The District Organizing Secretary at recently had an interview with a once handed him the full annual report prominent Newcastle shipowner who for 1926. The shipowner replied that made various criticisms of the Institu- " it was too big to wade through " ! tion, the principal one being that it

1 lb. of Tobacco a Year for the Life-boats. THE Glasgow Branch has received said, " Perhaps some of you with wives ten guineas from the Captain and and families to support feel you cannot Crew of the motor-ship Cape York afford a subscription, but what about of the Lyle Shipping Company of doing without say one pound of tobacco Glasgow. Before passing round the in one year, and subscribing the equiva- Institution's collecting-book the Captain lent in cash ? " The result shows what wrote in it a special appeal in which he a good appeal this was. 534 THE LIFEBOAT. [NOVEMBER, 1927. The New Station at Galway. IT was decided last year to open a new Life-boat Institution, without any Life-boat Station at Kilronan, Aran financial contribution being made to it Islands, at the entrance to Galway by the Free State Government. The Bay on the west coast of Ireland. A Government, however, provided the Motor Life-boat of the Watson Cabin telephones free of charge, and every type is to be laid down for this Station, Life-boat Station and every Station and until the new boat is ready, the of the Coast Life-saving Service was William Evans, a Watson Motor Life- now connected with the telephone boat, built in 1921, and stationed at service. Mr. Roddy went on to say: Wexford until replaced this year by " The relations between the Govern- a Watson Cabin Life-boat, will be the ment and the Life-boat Institution Galway Life-boat. have, since the establishment of the She reached the Station on the Saorstat, been of a most friendly cha- 6th July last, and on the 8th September racter-. The Government is glad to see she visited Galway, where the new the Institution continuing its activities Station was formally inaugurated. Mr. in the Saorstat, and desires to extend Martin McDonogh, T.D., Chairman of the to the work every facility in its power. Harbour Commissioners and President It recognizes that the work is of supreme of the Galway Bay Branch, was in the importance, and deserving of every en- chair, and the Free State Government couragement. The establishment of this was represented by Deputy Martin new Station in Galway Bay is due largely Roddy, Parliamentary Secretary to the to representations made to the Institu- Department of Fisheries. tion by the Department of Industry In his opening speech Mr. Martin and Commerce ; and I desire on behalf McDonogh pointed out that Ireland was of that Department, as well as of the still contributing to the Life-boat Service Government, to thank the Institution only half the sum spent annually in for the careful and speedy manner in maintaining the Irish Stations, and which they looked into the case when heartily seconded the appeal of the it was put to them, and for the very Governor-General for more generous satisfactory way in which they have support. met the needs of Galway Bay for pro- tection." Mr. Roddy ended his speech Irish Free State and the Institution. with a tribute to " the wonderful record " Deputy Martin Roddy then pro- of the Institution, and an appeal to posed a resolution thanking the In- Galway to make the new Station self- stitution in the name of Galway, and supporting. pledging the county to use every The resolution was seconded by the means to secure an annual income Very Rev. Canon A. J. Nestor, P.P., sufficient at least to defray the cost V.F. of maintaining the Galway Motor Life- Mr. T. J. W. Kenny moved, and boat Station at Kikonan. Mr. Roddy Captain Tierney, the Harbour Master, gave an account of the arrangements seconded a vote of thanks to Mr. Roddy. which had been made on the coasts of Mr. Herbert G. Solomon, the District Southern Ireland for saving life from Organizing Secretary for Ireland and shipwreck since the Free State was Wales, then formally handed the Life- established. The Marine Section of the boat to the Galway Bay Branch. Department of Industry and Commerce She was received by Mr. J. O'Kelly- had taken over the Coast Life-saving Lynch, the Honorary Treasurer, who Service, formerly maintained by the said that the Galway Chamber of Board of Trade, and now had 53 Commerce was the first to take up the Stations, manned partly by the Coast- question of a Galway Station, and guard and partly by volunteers. The thanked the Institution for the way in Life-boat Stations continued to be which the request had been met. maintained by the Royal National Mr. O'Kelly-Lynch then handed the NOVEMBER, 1927.] THE LIFEBOAT. 535 Life-boat to Father Hopkins, C.C., importance of efficiency in every detail, Honorary Secretary of the new Station, and he promised that, although the who, in receiving her, said that the men new Life-boat might not be called upon of Aran, who had a hard struggle for often, she should always be ready. existence on the sea, would not be Mr. Sean Ford, D. J., proposed, and the found wanting when called on to go to Rev. John Nash, Rector of St. Nicholas, the rescue of their fellow men. During seconded a vote of thanks to the Chair- his short experience as Honorary Secre- man, the Harbour Commissioners, and tary of the Station, he had learnt the the Harbour Master.

Descendants of Lukin and Hillary. THE records of Life-boat families which converted a coble into the first Life- have been appearing in The Lifeboat boat stationed on our coasts, at Bam- show how strong a part the influence burgh, Northumberland, and who built of heredity plays in the manning of the the first Sailing Life-boat in 1807; Institution's boats. It is of interest, that at Ardrishaig, in Argyllshire, a too, to record that the new Honorary great - grand - niece of Sir William Secretary of the Ladies' Life-boat Hillary, the Institution's founder, has Guild at Winchester, Miss Bostock, joined the Guild, and that a great-grand- is a descendant of Lionel Lukin, the daughter of Hillary has offered to help London coach-builder who in 1786 in forming a Branch at Hertford.

An Inland School and the Life-boats. THE District Organizing Secretary in much the children knew about the the Midlands recently visited the school Service in this Midlands village, so far at Alderwasley, in Derbyshire, to from the sea that only one or two of present a certificate won by a pupil of them had ever seen it. Then he found the school in this year's essay competi- that the headmistress came from tion ; it is a remote village of a few Southport, and that she was greatly hundred inhabitants, and some of the interested in the Institution's work. children walk eight miles to and from He presented the Certificate and then school. was begged to stay and lecture on the He arrived in the morning, in pouring Life-boats in the afternoon. This he rain, to find the playground decorated willingly did, and it was not until several with flags, and was received with loud hours later that he was able to get cheers. He was surprised to find how away.

Bedridden Girl's Life-boat Bazaars. A FRAMED picture of a Life-boat going this year. At the third bazaar, for out to a vessel in distress has been which she had been working for the past presented to Miss Ruby Snow, of Bide- six months, she had a fancy-stall, a ford, in gratitude for her work for the vegetable stall, a sweet-stall and a dip. Life-boat Service. Although Miss Snow, She made £8 10s. 10d., and the expenses who is seventeen years old, has been were about five shillings. Altogether bedridden for years, she has on three Miss Snow has sent over £13 to the occasions held bazaars in aid of the Institution, and " has made up her Life-boats. The first of these was in mind that as long as she is able she will 1923, and the second and third were work for it." 536 THE LIFEBOAT. [NOVEMBER, 1927.

"S.O.S.": A Life-boat Duologue. By Commander Stopford C. Douglas, R.N., Deputy-Chief Inspector of Life-boats. Broadcast by Sir Gerald du Maurier and Miss Mabel Terry-Lewis. [This duologue was broadcast by the British Broadcasting Corporation from London on Sunday llth September as " The Week's Good Cause."] PRELIMINARY announcement by B.B.C. the window, darling. That was a bad Announcer : one. I want you to come with me to a small SHE : Just imagine how frightened house overlooking the sea in a small one would be on board ship—the fishing village on the iron coast of Corn- anxiety and responsibility of the Cap- wall. If it were daylight you would tain and officers. see out of the window—on your left a HE : Pretty awful, I agree. Who small harbour suitable only for fishing wouldn't sell a farm and go to sea ? vessels ; on your right a life-boat house with a long concrete slipway. It is SHE : Hulloa, what's that tiny light in an exposed position, but it is in the over there, do you see ? (Sharply) best place possible under the cir- Jack ! it's getting bigger ; it can't be a cumstances, a rocky promontory giving steamer's light, it's a regular flare. it some shelter from the prevalent Jack ! I believe it's a ship in distress ! south-westerly winds. It being 10 p.m. HE : Steady, darling. Let's have a on a winter's night, you see nothing but look. By gad, I believe you're right! a few flickering lights from the harbour. Rockets ! Have the Coastguards seen The houses are mostly in darkness. In her, I wonder ? We'd better do some- these parts the country folk—with none thing. Eing 'em up. Tell the police. of the distractions of a large city—go Let the Life-boat people know. Phyllis, to bed early, unless duty compels them ring up the Coastguards, quick! Tell to venture out of doors. And it some- 'em there's a ship in distress ! (Pause.) times does, as you shall hear. I want Hurry up, darling '. Poliuan 24. you to imagine a young couple in the SHE : (Telephones Coastguard.) It's small house I have just referred to. all right, Jack, they've seen her already He is an ex-Army man minus a leg, she and are calling out the Life-boat. (Two his devoted wife. Their day is ended, maroons are heard.) What's that ? and he is just putting down Ms book in Hulloa, there's a shot< readiness for bed. She has gone to HE : No, darling. It's a maroon. look out of the window. She is speak- There they go. That's the signal for ing. Listen : calling out the Life-boat. But there's not much need for it. The men have SHE : Jack, what an awful night. been hanging round the Life-boat House Just listen to the wind and the sound all day on the chance of something of the waves. I'd hate to be at sea on turning up. a night like this, wouldn't you ? SHE : Look ! You can see the people HE : I shouldn't know much about running. The Life-boat House is all it, as I should be deadly ill for one lit up. See the slipway! We'll be thing, but sailors probably don't mind able to see her launch. —they think it is much safer than being on land with chimney pots flying about. HE : I might be able to do something if it weren't for my infernal leg. I'm SHE : But I never remember a storm no sailor, but dash it all, I could do like this. Listen! Oh, what awful something to make myself useful— lightning ! anyhow, I could give those—what do HE : I shouldn't stand so close to you call 'em ?—stout fellows a cheer. NOVEMBER, 1927.] THE LIFEBOAT. 537 SHE : Look ! There she goes ! She's now all right. I'll write my cheque afloat! Hurrah ! Jack, they'll be all now, and we'll start collecting to- right now. Those men won't leave morrow for the Institution. them to drown, I know. HE : You bet they won't. What This appeal was helped by another magnificent men they are ! It's lucky and unexpected appeal which was they've a motor in their boat, for it's a made immediately before it. The even- dead beat to windward. Even so it ing service at St. Martin's-in-the-Field will take them most of the night to reach was broadcast the same evening, and her, and I don't suppose they'll be able the Life-boat Duologue was given as to get the men off until daybreak. soon as the service was over. The service was conducted by the Rev. SHE : Well, Jack dear, it's no good H. R. L. Sheppard, and at the end your waiting up, then ? of it he said : " I am bound to refer HE : Well, I'm certainly not going to to-night's collection which is to be to bed. When they come back we'll devoted to the Girls' Club of St. Martin's, get some hot grog, and you can make but I do not make any appeal to my some of your wonderful coffee, and fry listeners, as I know that Sir Gerald du some eggs and bacon. Yes, that's a Maurier, later in the evening, is making good idea. (Thoughtfully.) You know, a very special appeal on behalf of one the Life-boat Institution is a wonderful of the finest institutions in the country, concern. All run by voluntary contri- the Royal National Life-boat Institu- butions too. It's time I sent them a tion. We want your sympathy, but I cheque. It's only a night like this that hope that your financial support will makes one realize the work they're go to the Life-boat Institution." doing.

SHE : Yes, do let's send them some- The Response to the Appeal. thing. Send them a cheque to-morrow. Responses to this appeal continued to HE : No, I'll do it at once. Where come in for the following three weeks. does one send it to ? Altogether 420 were received, the total SHE : I think the address is 22, sum contributed being £376 17s. 2(7. Charing Cross Eoad, W.C.2. The contributions varied from ten HE : Oh, Lord, how do I remember guineas to sixpence. They came from all that—(slowly) 22, Charing Cross all over Great Britain, from Inverness Road—I know. 22 is twice eleven, to Exeter, and four came from Antwerp. that is two cricket teams ; that means Among those who responded were " An good discipline, good training, good old soldier in his eighty-fifth year, ' team work. That's necessary for Life- " An old sailor living in Belgium," " A boatmen too (laughing). There's good sailor's wife," " A sailor's widow," and Pelmanism for you. Now how do we " A poor woman." remember Charing Cross Road ? SHE : I think I can help you there, Two other Life-boat Broadcasts. Jack. The Cross. What does it stand On 16th September, Mr. Edgar Johnson, for ? An act of sacrifice—self-sacrifice. the District Organizing Secretary for the " Greater love hath no man than this, North of England, gave a talk from the that he lay down his life for his friend." Newcastle-on-Tyne Station, called " The Isn't that the spirit of the Life-boat Sea-Fighters of Northumbria," and on service ? 1st October, Captain A. S. Balfour, HE : You're right. It is. And, by O.B.E., late of the Royal Indian Jove, I've just remembered. There's Marines and a member of the Edinburgh a better address which gives us the Committee, gave a talk from Edin- right word—Life-boat House, Charing burgh, on " Shipwrecks on the Scottish Cross Road. Yes, I remember that Coasts." 538 THE LIFEBOAT. [NOVEMBER, 1927.

Life-boat Families. The Cables of Aldeburgh, Suffolk. By Walter Riggs, Hon. Secretary of the Aldeburgh Branch. THERE has been a Life-boat Station at the Life-boat, but in a very gallant Aldeburgh in Suffolk for over a century. attempt to swim out to a wreck. This The earliest record of it which the was on 3rd November, 1855. A Swedish Institution has, is that in 1824, the year brig, Vesta, had been driven ashore in in which the Institution itself was a very heavy gale. A number of men founded, the Suffolk Shipwreck Associa- went through the surf to the rescue of tion ordered a Life-boat to be built and the brig's crew, with lines round their placed at Sizewell. In 1851 the Station bodies. Among them was the Honorary was moved to Aldeburgh, five miles Secretary of the Branch, Mr. Newson farther south, and since 1905 it has had Garrett, who was awarded the Thanks of two Life-boats. the Institution inscribed on Vellum Few Stations have as fine a record. for Kis gallantry on this day.* Mi. The Aldeburgh Life-boats have rescued Garrett was swept off his feet and 413 lives. rescued by Thomas Cable. Cable—who, In this record the most conspicuous as the Institution recorded at the time, part has been played by the Cable family, had " on several occasions distin- which, for five generations, has served guished himself by his courage"— in the Life-boat. Two of its members then attempted to swim out to the brig, have lost their own lives in attempting and the line which he took with him to save life from shipwreck, and four— was got on board her by means of a three of them brothers—were killed in grapnel, but the part which he was the War. holding broke, and though seven of the nine men of the brig were saved, he Two Cables Drowned on Service, himself was seen no more. The first of the Life-boat Cables was The first Thomas had two other Thomas Cable, who served for some sons, one of whom, William, went thirty-five years, from the time when to Australia as a farmer, while the other, the first Life-boat was placed at Sizewell Robert, served in the Life-boat for about in 1824 until he lost his life on service, 30 years, and was one of the crew of at the age of fifty-eight, on the 21st the Pascoe who succeeded in swimming December, 1859. ashore when she capsized. Thus, of The weather was bitterly cold that day these first four Cables, three served and a strong south-west gale was blow- in the Life-boat, their total length of ing. The Life-boat Pascoe was launched service being some 80 years, and two to the help of a Whitby brig, Unity, of the three lost their lives on service. but when she was crossing the shoal a We come now to the third generation. heavy sea struck her and she capsized. The second Thomas had two sons and She righted herself, with one man still three daughters, and it was James in the boat and others clinging to the Cable, one of his sons, who had the most life-lines. Four of these men succeeded distinguished career of all the Life- with his help in getting aboard her, and boat members of the family. He was she drifted northwards for a mile and a Coxswain for 30 years, from 1888 to half and then, came ashore. The re- 1917, and was three times awarded the mainder swam for shore, but three of Silver Medal of the Institution. The them, among them Thomas Cable, were first time was in December, 1891, in drowned. recognition of several gallant services Four years before, his son Thomas, who was then 35 years old and for * AD account of this service 'was quoted in The Liftbcat for February, J925, from the fifteen years had been a member of the reminiscences of Dame Millicent Fawcett, Mr, Crew, was drowned, not when out in Newson Garrett's daughter. NOVEMBER, 1927.] THE LIFEBOAT. 539 and in particular the rescue of seventeen were answered and she found the men from a Norwegian barque, Winnifred, s.s. Hylton, of London, riding at anchor, which, on llth November of that year, with 21 men on board. Her rudder in a whole S.S.W. gale, had lost her and propeller had gone, the hatches main and mizzen masts, struck a sand- had been washed off and one of her bank and filled with water. A very boats smashed by the seas which were heavy sea was breaking on the shoal, breaking clean over her. As the and it was only with great difficulty weather was moderating the Life-boat that the 17 men were rescued, some put two men on board, and went to being taken from the jib boom and Lowestoft for tugs, returning with others hauled through the surf. them. The steamer was then towed For this service James Cable was also into safety. awarded a Medal by the Norwegian The second service was on 4th Government. October, when a German barque, Antares, went aground on the Shipwash Three Services in One Day. Sands in a southerly gale. It was very Just three years later, in December difficult and dangerous to get alongside 1894, he was awarded a Clasp to his as there was no shelter for the Life-boat Silver Medal " for his continued gallant and the waves were breaking right over services." This award followed three the barque, but at the third attempt fine services by the Aldeburgh Life-boat James Cable took the Life-boat right in the previous month, all on the one through the breakers and got near day. During a violent storm the Life- enough for the crew of the barque to boat was launched to a vessel which had jump into her. Besides the Clasp to lost her masts and appeared to be his Silver Medal, James Cable was water-logged. She was a Finnish presented with a Silver Watch by the barque, the Venscapen. The Life-boat German Emperor for this service. got under her lee and took off the fourteen men on board. Ten minutes James Cables's Many Awards. later the derelict struck on the outer In addition to the awards alreadv shoals and went to pieces. As the mentioned, James Cable was presented sea on the shoals was so heavy the by the Mayor and Corporation with a Life-boat did not attempt to return to Silver Tobacco Box for going out in his Aldeburgh, but ran for Harwich. On own boat and rescuing four men, and the way she fell in with the pilot- his record for saving life from drowning Fox, of Hull, with seven men on board, is only less remarkable than his Life- her sails, boat and anchors gone, and boat record. He holds the Royal her pumps broken. The Life-boat took Humane Society's Medal for saving life her into Harwich. A little later, at from the shore, and has three times 5 in the afternoon, the Life-beat was received its Vote of Thanks on Vellum again launched, and she was out until for similar services, while among his midnight searching for a vessel reported other awards is a Silver Cigarette Case in distress, but she found nothing except presented by a lady, three of whose a large quantity of wreckage. For the daughters he saved, at various times, service to the Venscapen James Cable from drowning. An account of his was presented with a cup by the Finnish services would not be complete without Government. reference to the fact that in 1891 he James Cable's Second Clasp was was one of four Coxswains chosen as awarded him in 1900 for two services judges in the trials of the Institution's that year. At 10 o'clock on the night different types of Sailing Life-boat which of 15th February the Life-boat was were carried out at Lowestoft in 1892, launched in a heavy S.W. gale with a and lasted over two months. tremendous sea, and crossed the shoals, One of the most noteworthy feats of but could find no vessel. She anchored the Aldeburgh Life-boat during James and burned lights, but it was not until Cable's Coxswainship was on the 4 in the morning that these signals occasion of the wreck of the barque 540 THE LIFEBOAT. [NOVEMBER, 1927. Indian Chief, on the Long Sands, in an appointed Bowman in 1905, so that E.N.E. gale on January 5th, 1881. The when he retired last year he had done Aldeburgh Life-boat, as well as the 45^ years' service. In that time he boats at Harwich and Clacton, was helped to rescue over 170 lives. called out, but she reached the sands It was the fourth generation of Cables to find that the survivors of the crew which was of military age when the had already been rescued by the War came. Of Bob Cable's five sons, Eamsgate Life-boat, which had been three were killed serving in the Army, towed out to the sands. and of James Cable's three sons, one The Aldeburgh boat then ran for was killed. Two of these four Cables Harwich, but shortly after her arrival who lost their lives were members of news was received of a vessel ashore the Life-boat Crew. Of those who on the Maplin Sands. She put out remain of the fourth generation, one of again at once and reacted the Maplins Bob Cable's two surviving sons is in to find that the Clacton boat had the Crew and both of James Cable's. rescued the crew, so she returned to Already one of the fifth generation, Harwich. It is not always the success- one of James Cable's three grandsons, ful services which are the greatest. is serving, and another, twelve years of The Aldeburgh boat had saved no lives, age, is only waiting until he is old but in a winter gale and bitterly cold enough. Thus there are four Cables weather she had travelled in the hope in the Crew to-day, while ex-Coxswain of saving them, something like ninety James Cable, and ex-Bowman Bob miles. Of the crew who manned her Cable, though too old to go afloat, still that day, James Cable, the Coxswain, serve the Life-boat, the one as head and five others are still alive, one of launcher and a member of the Com- them being Tom Cable, a cousin of mittee, the other as a launcher. James Cable. Of the Eamsgate Crew Such is the long and splendid record, which, in that memorable gale, rescued a record still not finished, of the Cable the survivors of the Indian Chief, four family. One interesting thing in this also are still alive. record still remains to be pointed out— Robert Cable, the second son of the the number of foreign vessels from which first Thomas, had two sons and eleven the Cables have helped to rescue lives. daughters. One of his sons, Tom, has The second Thomas lost his life on a just been mentioned, the other, Bob, service to a Swedish brig. Of the six was also in the Crew, and for many vessels for services to which James years Bowman, retiring only last year. Cable was decorated, three were foreign. Born in September, 1855, he first Of the 37 services in which Bob Cable went to sea at the age of twelve, took part, no fewer than 15 were to in a fishing-smack. He joined the foreign vessels. Life-boat Crew in 1881 and was

The Oldest Life-boat Collector. BY the death of Mr. Webster Hoare, as ever, and worked all day long in of St. Albans, on 20th October, the complete Life-boat rig, oilskins and all! Institution has lost its oldest collector. He was quite exhausted with the weight, Mr. Hoare was nearly 87, and for nearly but would struggle on." That was 30 years had collected for the Institu- three years ago, when Mr. Hoare was tion. On these occasions he always 83. Less than a month before his wore oilskins and sou'wester. Our death, he was again collecting on St. Honorary Secretary at St. Albans Albans' Life-boat Day. As on earlier writes that on Centenary Life-boat occasions, he was in oilskins, and Day, " he was one of the first col- " before breakfast, had collected 3 Ibs. lectors in the field, as keen and active 2 ozs. of coppers ! " NOVEMBER, 1927.] THE LIFEBOAT. 541

JAMES CABLE. Coxswain at Aldeburgh 1888 to 1917. Three times awarded the Institution's Silver Medal for gallantry in rescuing life from shipwreck. Holder of the Royal Humane Society's Silver Medal, and three times awarded its Thanks on Vellum, for saving drowning persons from the shore. 542 THE LIFEBOAT. [NOVEMBEB, 1927.

Centenary of the Padstow Station. THE Life-boat Station at Padstow has 1911, It was a service in which the celebrated its Centenary this year. Coxswain's personal courage and leader- The first mention of it in the records ship were conspicuously shown. A of the Institution appears under the W.N.W. gale was blowing, with a heavy date, 24th January, 1827, when it was sea, and two , the schooner Island decided to make a grant of £10 towards Maid of Belfast and the brigantine the provision of a Life-boat for Padstow. Angele of Brest, struck on the Doom Bar. The total cost of the boat was estimated The Life-boat rescued the schooner's at about £40, and tne remainder of crew of five, and it was when she was this sum -was raised by subscriptions. returning with them that the Angele was The Life-boat was 22 feet long by 6 feet wrecked. The Life-boat at once put 6 inches broad, and 2 feet 6 inches deep, out again, but in the gathering darkness and pulled four oars single banked. and the terrible sea she failed to reach She was further described as having the wreck and returned. Her Crew " both ends alike so as to row out were exhausted, but Coxwain Baker against a sea and return without turning immediately called for volunteers. her, thus avoiding the risk of being up- It was not unnatural that at first set." they should hesitate to come forward, The boat remained at the station but the Coxswain's perseverance, and until 1856, when the Institution replaced the example of his courage, at last her -with a self-righting Life-boat, and collected a crew, and the Life-boat went with, the sending of this new boat out to find the brigantine completely took over full control of the station. submerged and one man in the rigging. Since that date there have been six Him she rescued. The other four had Life-boats at Padstow, and the total been washed away shortly after the number of lives rescued by the station brigantine had struck the bar. from 1856 to .the present day is 365. The Institution's Silver Medal has been Two Disasters. awarded five times to Padstow Life- These 365 lives were not rescued, boatmen. The first was won by William and these honours won, without loss Giles in 1833, when he went out with of life. There have been two disasters seven volunteers in the original Pad- in the history of the Station. In 1867 stow Life-boat and saved four out of the Albert Edward, the second Padstow five of the crew of a brig, wrecked in a Life-boat of that name, was capsized violent gale. The second medal was when going out to the help of an won by Coxswain William Hills in American schooner, wrecked on the December, 1865, when he and his crew Doom Bar, and five of her crew of with great difficulty succeeded in thirteen were drowned. The second rescuing the crew of seventeen of the and greater disaster, in which two barque Juliet of Greenock, which had Life-boats were wrecked, occurred in anchored at the entrance to the harbour 1900, two years after the Institution near Hell Bay, with a strong W.S.W. had stationed at Padstow a steam gale blowing. Some hours after her Life-boat, James Stevens No. 4, in crew were taken off, the sea was making addition to the Pulling and Sailing a clean breach over her, and in the end Life-boat. On the evening of llth April, she was carried into Hell Bay and with a strong W.N.W. wind blow- became a total wreck. On his retire- ing, the ketch Peace and Plenty, of ment, eleven years later, Coxswain Hills Lowestoft, struck on the Greenavray was awarded a Clasp to his Medal. Rocks. Five of her crew were rescued Coxswain William Webb was awarded by the Trebetherick Rocket Brigade, the Medal on his retirement in 1883, and three were drowned. Meanwhile, and Coxswain W. H. Baker, for the at about 8.30 p.m., the Pulling Life- service to the Angele in November, boat, Arab, was launched, and when NOVEMBER, 1927.] THE LIFEBOAT. 543 about 20 fathoms from the Peace and station in place of the Steam Life-boat. Plenty, anchored in order to veer down These two Life-boats are still at Pad- to her. While at anchor she was struck stow—the Arab with a record of 57 lives by a tremendous sea which completely rescued, and the Edmund Harvey buried the boat, washed eight of the with 78. crew overboard and broke her ten oars. The special conditions of this The eight men were got safely into the dangerous coast required a large deep- Life-boat again, but she was helpless draught vessel capable of keeping the without her oars, and after remaining sea; and as the disaster had shown at anchor about an hour, and burning that she must be more powerful than handlights as signals of distress, the the Steam Life-boat which had been Coxswain decided, as no help came, wrecked, it was decided to build a to attempt to reach the shore. By tug to take out the Pulling and Sailing keeping the boat head to the sea, and Life-boats. She was specially designed veering with the cable, he succeeded by the Institution's Consulting Naval in. getting her beyond the heaviest Architect, Mr. G. L. Watson, designer breakers and then into a creek. The of the famous Watson type of Life- crew jumped for the shore, and the Life- boat. boat herself was dashed against the rocks, becoming a total wreck. The The " Helen Peele." Steam Life-boat was launched after This tug, the Helen Peele, was, and the Pulling Boat, and as she was leaving still is, the only tug in the Institution's the harbour, about 9.30, a heavy swell Fleet. The Helen Peele has taken rolled up on the port quarter, broke as part in many rescues, working princi- it struck her, and completely turned her pally with the Edmund Harvey, but over. The Second Coxswain, Oscar now her service is coming to an end, French, was at the wheel. He had no and shortly after the Padstow Station idea that the boat had turned over, enters on its second century, the Tug but thought that she was passing through and the two Pulling and Sailing Life- the sea. He held on to the wheel, but boats will be replaced by two Motor finding that he was suffering from want Life-boats, one of them a light Motor of breath he let go, and on coming to Life-boat which can be launched from a the surface found the Life-boat bottom carriage, the other one of the largest up, with her propeller still revolving. type—the 60-foot Barnett Twin Screw. He and two other members of the crew With these two types of Motor Life- were the only survivors. The other boat, one able to carry out deep-water eight were drowned. services, and having a radius of action In the following year the Arab was of 250 miles, and the other for work on replaced by another and larger self- the bar, this dangerous piece of Coast righting Life-boat, of the same name, will be better protected than ever before and a second and still larger self-righter, in the history of the Padstow Life- the Edmund Harvey, was sent to the boats.

A Life-boat Day in Floods. LIFE-BOAT DAY in Chippenham, Wilts., and as, owing to the flood, the market was held on September 16th, and in was cancelled and fewer people were spite of the fact that the Kiver Avon in the town than had been expected, was ten feet above its normal level, it certainly looks as if the weather and the centre of the town flooded, the conditions, in the words of one of the collectors went about their work un- local papers, " brought vividly before dismayed and collected £13 14s. As the townspeople the peril of those who this was only £3 10s. less than last year, earn their livelihood on the water." 544 THE LIFEBOAT. [NOVEMBER, 1927. PADSTOW.

THE LATE COXSWAIN WILLIAM HENRY BAKER. Coxswain 1904 to 1923.

THE WRECKED LIFE-BOAT "ARAB." In the background is the wreck of the "Peace and Plenty/' NOVEMBER, 1927.] THE LIFEBOAT. 545 An Ill-Fated Ship. IN the last number of The Lifeboat was nearly all their clothes, and the captain published an article on the Stantons having one leg broken in two places. and Stephensons of Boulmer, the two The ship arrived eventually at Mauritius families in that little fishing village without having sighted a single vessel from which are drawn the greater part able to assist. Some of the officers, of the Crew of the Boulmer Life-boat. who lived ashore while the ship was being There has been a Life-boat Station there refitted, lost all they had saved from the since 1825, and in that time over 160 ship in a fire which destroyed part of lives have been rescued. The present the town, and here they lost another boat, a Pulling and Sailing Life-boat of apprentice, killed through falling out the Self-righting type, was built in 1911, of the rigging. The owners entirely out of a legacy which the Institution refitted the ship here and sent out a had received in 1909 from Mr. G. E. fresh captain to replace the one invalided Dawes, of Brockley, London. The Life- home. The ship sailed from Mauritius boat is named Arthur R. Dawes in for , U.S.A., when completed, memory of his son, who was serving in and was not heard of again until news the ship Jason as an apprentice when arrived of her loss off Cape Cod. I she was wrecked near Cape Cod, give you the above particulars relating to Massachusetts, on 5th December, 1893, the last voyage of the Jason, as it was all her crew of twenty-seven being through the wreck and loss of my drowned but one. brother that my father decided to In the letter which accompanied the present the Life-boat Institution with legacy, Mr. George Dawes described the a Boat to commemorate his name." last voyage and the wreck of the Jason —" the event which," so he wrote, Of the wreck itself this account was " influenced my father largely to make given in a private letter quoted in a his bequest." It is such a strange story Cape Cod paper: of persistent ill-fortune, ending in com- plete tragedy, that we think that all " The night of 5th December, 1893, who read the article on the Stantons was very dark, a terrific storm raging and Stephensons, will be interested and hurricane blowing. The life-saving to read also this story of wreck which crews were all on the alert ; a ship, led to the Boulmer Life-boat being which proved to be the Jason, came in named " Arthur E. Dawes." sight of the Cape Cod Light-ship. She was being driven at a terrific speed along " The Jason, a large sailing-ship, sailed the bay. She struck upon the reefs of from Middlesbrough on her last voyage Wellfleet, where she was broken in two in ballast for Cardiff, where she took in by the heavy sea ; it was impossible for a cargo of coal for Calcutta. She sailed the Life-boats to go out—it would have on a Friday, and on the following Sunday been madness to attempt it. Wellfleet was cut down to the water's edge in a is only a small city, and as soon as any collision off the south coast of Ireland. person mentions the name " Jason" She lay in Cork Harbour several months they can get the history of the wreck for repairs, eventually reaching Calcutta, from any man, woman, boy or girl, so where she lay several months waiting terrible was the night that it cannot be for a cargo. One of the apprentices forgotten." was lost here. He was found in the It was because of this wreck off the river, and is supposed to have been coast of Massachusetts in 1893 that, murdered by natives. The Jason sailed eighteen years later, a Life-boat bearing from Calcutta for Boston, U.S.A., with the name of one of the Jason's appren- a cargo of jute, and was caught in the tices was stationed at Boulmer, Indian Ocean in a hurricane and dis- Northumberland, over 4,000 miles masted, the crew and captain and away from that spot where he and his officers, also the captain's wife, losing twenty-five shipmates were drowned. 546 THE LIFEBOAT. [NOVEMBER, 1927. The Margate Motor Life-boat at Calais. ON th« invitation of the Mayor of Calais On the evening of their arrival the a party representing the Life-boat principal members of the party were Stations on the Kentish coast crossed entertained to dinner by the Mayor of to Calais on Sunday, 14th August, in Calais (M. Lreon Vincent) and the the Margate Motor Life-boat Lord Mayoress, to whom Mrs. Gomm pre- Southborough, to be present at the sented the bouquet of carnations, tied unveiling, on the Monument to the with red, white and blue ribbon, from Calais Life-boat men, of the names of the Mayor of Margate. Among those those of them who have been decorated present were Commander Chollet, one by the Legion of Honour. This is the of the Inspectors of the French Life- second visit which the Margate, Life- boat Society, and during the even- boat has paid to France, for she was ing sea-shanties were sung by boya present two years ago at the centenary from the Scarborough training ship celebrations of the Boulogne Life- Maisie Graham, under the command of saving Society. The party was in Lieut. H. Heather, R.KV.R. charge of Mr. T. W. Gomm, the On the following day the Mayor and Honorary Secretary at Margate. Corporation held a reception at the The Life-boat left Margate at nine Town Hall, at which the Mayor of o'clock on the morning of 14th August. Calais welcomed his English guests, On. board were Mr. Gomm, Mrs. Gomm speaking first in English and then in (who during the past two years has French, and the Mayor of Deal replied. done such splendid work in interesting The whole party then signed the visitors at the Margate Life-boat House), " Golden Book of the Town of Calais." Mr. Cr. Boulting of the Margate Com- It may be mentioned that when the mittee, Coxswain Alfred Jones of Mar- Deputy-Chairman of the Institution, gate, ex-Coxswain S. Clayson of Margate, the HOD. George Colville, after attending Coxswain Thomas Reed of Eamsgate, the annual meeting of the French Life- the Motor Mechanic, the Assistant boat Society in 1925, visited Calais to Mechanic, and two Life - boatmen. see a launch of its Motor Life-boat, he The Mayor of Margate, Mrs. Hatfield, was told by the Mayor that he was the who had been unable to accept the first foreigner to be received ia the invitation of the Mayor of Calais, saw new Town Hall. the Life-boat off and sent by it a Following the reception, the whole bouquet to the Mayoress of Calais. A Keatish party were present at a big crowd of people watched her go. luncheon at the Casino. The Mayor again presided, and there were a number of speeches, all of which the A Stormy Passage. Mayor translated from French into The Life-boat called at Deal, which English or from English into French, was reached in two hours and three- as the case might be. As Le Petit quarters, and there took on board Calaisien feelingly said in reporting the Mr. John Prior, Honorary Secretary of lufloheoD, " What a task ! " the Goodwin Sands and Downs Branch, Commander Chollet spoke of the Coxswain Hoile of Deal, Coxswain Baker friendship existing between the French of Folkestone, Coxswain Griggs of Hythe, and British Life-boat Services, and the Mayor of Deal (Mr. John Arnold, Mr. Gomm replied, saying how much J.P.), whose father was a Life-boat- the British Service admired the work man,, the Town Clerk, and the Town of the French Life-boatmen. On either Sergeant. At Deal, as at Margate, the side of the sea which separated the Boat -was seen off by a big crowd. She two countries there were Life-boatmen reached Calais in three hours and ten of whom it could be said that they minutes after a very rough crossing, were equally brave in facing the perils having to face a S.S.W. gale, with a of that sea in their task of saving heavy sea and storms of rain. life. NOVEMBER, 1927.] THE LIFEBOAT. 547

By permission of] [Photo Press. THE MARGATE MOTOR LIFE-BOAT ON HER WAY TO CALAIS. (Left to right: Mr. T. W. Gomm, Honorary Secretary; Mrs. Gomm; the Mayor of Deal; the Town Clerk of Deal.)

By permission of] [Photo Press. THE MAYOR OF CALAIS AT THE MONUMENT DES SAUVETEURS. In front of him are the Life-boatmen of Calais. 548 THE LIFEBOAT. [NOVEMBER, 1927. In the afternoon came the chief before him the gallant Life-boatmen ceremony. The names on the Monu- of their own coast and the English ment to those who died in the wreck of coast joining together in this tribute the Pluviose were first unveiled, and to the Life-boatmen of Calais. The following this the procession marched French and British national anthems to the Life-boatmen's Memorial on brought the ceremony to an end. which have been inscribed the names In the evening the Mayor of Deal of the Life-boatmen of Calais who entertained the Mayor and Mayoress of have been decorated by the Legion of Calais and the representatives of the Honour. Here the Mayor of Calais Institution to dinner; and on the read out the names and records of the following day the Life-boat sailed for men, and Commander Chollet recalled home. She left Calais at 3 o'clock in the history of the Calais Station. the afternoon, piloted by the Calais Established in 1867, its Life-boats had Life-boat, and after calling at Deal and been out on service eighty-eight times Ramsgate, reached Margate at 7.30. and had rescued 299 lives. He recalled So ended a visit in which the greatest also that the first Calais Life-boat had kindness and hospitality were shown by been a gift from the Queen of England the people of Calais and the French and had been named Prince of Wales, Life-boat Service to the representativee and said how proud he was to see of the British Service.

From the Foreign Life-boat Societies.

The Use of Oil on a Heavy Sea. THE annual report of the North and where she arrived at 3 p.m. During South Holland Life-saving Society for her progress through the Stortemelk, 1926 contains the following account with the sea aft, oil was employed to of an arduous service by the new abate the fury of the waves. In view Motor Life-boat Brandaris stationed at of the exceptionally high seas during Terschelling: this very heavy storm a great deal " On receipt of a communication from was accomplished by the crew during the coast-guard that rockets were being this trip. It lasted 9| hoars, during fired W.N.W. of the Eierland light- which time the motors ran splendidly. house, the Brandaris left on Wednesday, The consumption of oil was 198 litres. ICth March, at 5.30 a.m. during a storm Although no rescue could be accom- from the N.N.W. In spite of the plished, yet it was possible to confirm immensely high sea the Brandaris that the Brandaris, with her reliable behaved splendidly. In the Stortemelk Rromhout Motors, showed herself suit- (Spilt Milk), however, she shipped a able under very difficult conditions for heavy sea as a result of "which the the work that is to be expected from Master's platform was set back. The her." distorted stanchions were straightened again as far as possible, after which the Establishing Communication by vessel rounded the west until the Aeroplane. Eierland tower was bearing south-east, The following is an extract from the after which the Eierland grounds were report for 1926, of the South Holland observed. The vessel then proceeded Society for Saving the Shipwrecked: in a more westerly direction to the " The Society gave its co-operation in position indicated, namely, tower E.S.E. conjunction with the Military Air Not observing anything there, the Service, the Municipal Medical Service .Brandon's, proceeding E.N.E. and of Rotterdam, and the Voluntary First through the Stortemelk and right over Aid Brigade of Hook of Holland, in the Boomkensdiep, and through the organizing a demonstration of life- Schuitengat, returning to the harbour, saving on the Dutch Coast, on the 10th NOVEMBER, 1927.] THE LIFEBOAT. 549 September, at Hook of Holland, for 61 are double Stations, provided with the members of the Third International a Life-boat and Rocket Apparatus, Congress of Life-Saving and First Aid 42 are Life-boat Stations only, and in case of accidents. To the great 15 are Eocket Stations only. We have interest of the numerous members of 10 open boats provided with motors the Congress, among whom were many and 8 decked Motor Life-boats, including foreigners, the beach Life-boat Emile the three new Motor Life-boats, the Robin was launched, and it was shown Hindenburg, with twin screws, and the how, by means of the line-throwing Bremen and Hamburg with a single mortar, communication is established screw. These three boats have been between shore and ship, for which pur- placed respectively at Borkum,, Nor- pose a mast with rigging had been derney and Friedrichskoog. erected on the foreshore. " We are glad to be able to report a " This demonstration was also used very satisfactory increase in the amount for carrying out an experiment in order collected by means of our Life-boat to ascertain how far it is possible to Collecting-Boxes, and we gladly accept establish such communication with the the suggestion of the Oldenberg Branch help of an aeroplane. After having to recommend to all OUT workers to been warned by telephone, an aeroplane develop the use of these collecting-boxes of the Military Air Service left the flying as widely as possible, and especially to grounds at Waalhaven and within a have them placed at suitable hotels few minutes reached the scene of the and inns with the request that the wreck, represented by two rowing- managers should draw the attention boats anchored at sea at a distance of of visitors to the collecting-boxes and 300 metres from the coast. A line 500 ask for support. The best and safest metres in length had been paid out from foundation for our financial strength is, the aeroplane, provided at its end with however, the regular subscription list, a ' manche ' (air bag) which kept the even if the amount subscribed is small. line taut. Having arrived above the Eor even the small contribution links wreck, the aeroplane, which had, in a subscriber in a permanent way with the meantime, descended to a height of our important work. We therefore about 50 metres, released the attached strongly recommend this means for end of the line which was provided with the strengthening of our financial organi- a float. The line, dropping down zation and the furtherance of our practically taut, established communi- national work. cation between the ship and the shore " The propagandist film, which has on which the air bag dropped. Owing been mentioned several times in our to the splendid manoeuvring of the Annual Report, has been notably pilot of the aeroplane, the experi- improved, and it is held at the disposal ment, -which, was carried out- under of our workers. A very valuable favourable weather conditions, was publicity effect may be expected from entirely successful." the presence of our models, charts and pictures in the Shipbuilding Hall of Germany's Record: Methods of the German Museum at Munich. A Collecting. splendid position has been allotted to THE following are extracts from the our Society through the kindness of report for the year 1926-1927 of the the President of the Museum, and the German Life-boat Society. distinguished marine painter Herr Glaus " Our Stations came to the rescue in Bergen has most generously presented the case of 14 wrecks and rescued 50 us with a large painting descriptive of persons, thus bringing up the total of a rescue by a Life-boat. This picture the number saved by the Society since is placed in a prominent position above its foundation in 1865 to 5,084. our exhibits." (Supporters of the In- " Our Stations in the year under stitution may be reminded that Mr. review were 118, of which 77 were on W. L. Wyllie, R.A., one of the most the eastern sea and 41 on the North Sea. distinguished of our marine painters, 550 THE LIFEBOAT. [NOVEMBER, 1927. has many times placed Ms great talents of the House Flag of the Institution at the service of the Institution, which which replaced the dreadful beer-bottle holds several pictures from his brush badge which used to disfigure our and owes to him the beautiful drawing boats !—EDITOR, The Lifeboat).

Special Gifts. "All my Pocket-Money." Gift to Sir William Hillary. ONE shilling and threepence has been Two pounds has been received, received from a little boy of Greenford, addressed to Sir William Hillary— Middlesex, with a letter saying, " This who .founded the Institution 104 years is all my pocket-money; best wishes." ago! No Tips! A cook-housekeeper working in From an "Old Blind Lady." Richmond has sent a donation with, a A woollen scarf has been sent letter in which she said that she did not anonymously with the message, "For care to take tips, and when, these were one of the Life-boatmen, knitted by an offered her she accepted them not for old blind lady." herself but for the Life-boat Service. A Weighing Machine's Contribution. Ten Shillings from an Infants' School. A gift of ten shillings has been received A London, chemist has sent twenty- from the children of the " Forster" five shillings, being the proceeds of his Infants' School, Holloway, London. weighing machine, all of which he puts The children are all between four and in a Life-boat box. eight years old, and this is the second year in. which they have sent ten From the R.R.S. "Discovery." shillings. When the E.R.S. Discovery reached A Gift from the Montrose Crews. the Thames after her two years' cruise in the Antarctic, investigating the life The Crews of the two Life-boats of whales, her wardroom officers sent stationed at Montrose carried out their the Institution a donation of over £7. usual exercise on 20th August, the same day on which Montrose held its Life- boat Day. They returned to the The Right Response. Institution, as a gift, the sum of £6 10s. When one of the officials of the which they had received from it in Institution was going home, just after payment for this exercise. receiving the first account of the gallant service, on the 28th October, of the A IJd. Stamp. Moelfre Life-boat, he showed a copy of We give the following letter in full: the account to a travelling acquaintance. " Mummy gave me a stamp to put The acquaintance read it through and, on a letter to Daddy but I put it in the saying " I think that is worth a dona- box without and am sending it for the tion," handed him a pound note. Life-boatmen as Daddy said he was so brave and did not get enough. With love from Mary." From the Fishwives of Cullercoats. Although, since our letter, as well Every August the fishwives of Culler- as Daddy's, was unstamped, it is the coats in Northumberland make a collec- General Post Office which has principally tion for the Life-boat Service when benefited by this donation, we are none their Life-boat is launched for its the less grateful! exercise. They have now done this NOVEMBER, 1927.] THE LIFEBOAT. 551 for six years, and this year the amount An American's Fifth Gift. raised was £114; Mrs. Polly Donkin, In the February issue it was recorded their star collector, beating her previous that an American who has crossed the year's record by nearly £4. She Atlantic over 100 times, and whose collected £32, a larger sum than many English ancestors went to America towns contribute in the whole year. five years after the Mayflower sailed, In the six years the fishwives of Culler- had made three separate gifts in admira- coats have collected over £600. tion of the Institution's work, amounting to £102 10s., in the names of himself, A Gift from the St. Abbs Crew. his son, and daughter, that they might be enrolled as Honorary Vice-Presidents The Crew of the Motor Life-boat at of the Institution. He has now made St. Abbs, Berwickshire, which, like a fourth gift of a hundred guineas in the other Motor Life-boats, does an exercise names of four of his friends that they also each month, have returned, as a gift may become Honorary Vice-Presidents, to the Institution, the pay which they and a fifth gift of fifty guineas in the received for their exercises in July and name of two more friends, making a August. total of £260.

The Scottish Life-boat Council. THE Scottish Life-boat Council which Godfrey Baring, on behalf of the was set up at the Conference held in Committee of Management, congratu- Edinburgh last January, and which it lated the Council on the progress which was decided should meet twice a year, it was making. held its first and preliminary meeting, The second half-yearly meeting was at which it elected its officers, in held in Edinburgh on 27th October, Edinburgh on the 15th February. An the Duke of Montrose, Chairman, pre- account of this meeting appeared in the siding. Lifeboat for last February. The first The District Organizing Secretary meeting of the fully constituted Council reported that four new Branches had was held in Glasgow on the 17th May, been formed and that special attention thepukeofMontrose,C.B.,C.V.O.,V.D., was being directed to the formation of Chairman, presiding, supported by Sir Ladies' Life-boat Guilds. In this con- Godfrey Baring, Bt., Chairman of the nexion the Chairman reported that Committee of Management; Lady Find- arrangements were being made to hold lay, Honorary Secretary of the Scottish a Reception on board the Anchor Liner Council; and Mr. George F. Shee, M.A., Transylvania at Glasgow on the 22nd Secretary of the Institution. The November, when the Duchess of Suther- Organizing Secretary presented a report land, President of the Ladies' Life-boat of the work of tho Scottish District for Guild, had promised to inaugurate the the previous three months. She also Guild which was to be formed in reported that the first of the Area Glasgow. Conferences which it had been decided Reports were made by Branch dele- at the preliminary meeting should be gates, many of these reports showing an held from time to time, had taken increase in contributions over those of place at Dumfries on the 28th April, last year. and that as a result two new Branches The Council received with very great had been formed. From the experience regret the resignation, on account gained at the Conference it was decided of ill-health, of Lieut.-Col. Sir James that future Area Conferences should be Wishart Thomson, K.B.E., its Vice- confined to single counties. President, and it was decided to leave Honorary Secretaries of a number of the nomination of his successor until Branches presented reports, and Sir the next meeting. 552 THE LIFEBOAT. [NOVEMBER, 192T.

Summary of the Meetings of the Committee of Management. life-boat. Vessel. Lives Thursday, 15th September, 1927. Beaeued. Sir GODFREY. BAROTG, Bt., in the Chair, Porthoustoek. . S.S. Gwenifand, of Newport. Stood by Ik-ported the receipt of the following special vessel and rendered contributions : — assistance. £ s. d. Kobin Hood's Bay S.S. Ben Bead, of Bris- Civil Service Life- boat Fund (per tol. Stood by ves- Mr. H. A. Clark) in respect of sel. expenditure incurred for the Rosslare Harbour Motor -vessel Bar- Civil Service Life-boats in (Motor) parees, of Glouces- 1926 2,436 9 3 ter. OTAXHJ oy ves- Lloyd's, Members and Sub- sel. scribers of (Collection). . . 1,467 10 - St. Mary's, Scilly Motor fishing boat — To fte thanked. (Motor) Henrietta, ol St. Paid £15,118 2*. $d. for sundry charges Mary's. Saved boat in connexion with the construction of Life- and rescued . « 3 boats, Life-boat Houses and Slipways, and Torbay (Motor) , Motor boat Pishergirl, the maintenance of the various Life-boat of Teignmouth. establishments. Landed 2. Voted £225 18s. to pay the expenses of the „ S.S. Brcmksea, of following Life-boat services : — Southampton, lAie-boat, Vessel. Lrves Stood by vessel. > Rescued. Yarmouth, I.of W. Paddle Steamer Queen, \ Aberdeen No. 1 . Steam trawler Sen (Motor) of Southampton. (Motor) Tore, of Aberdeen . 6 Stood by vessel. i Clacton-on-Sea . Steam tug Sun IX, of „ Sailing boat Jean, of ' (Motor) London. Stood by Yarmouth ... 4 : vessel. „ Yacht Moira, of Roch- The Lowestoft (Motor) Life-boat assisted ford. Saved vessel to save the Belgian motor trawler Yolande, and rescued . . 2 and rescued from shipwreck her crew of four. i „ A boat of WhitstaHe. Also voted £307 13*. 4d. to pay the expenses i Saved boat aad of the following Life- boat launches, assemblies j rescued .... 1 of crews, etc., with a view to assisting persons j Cullercoats . . Steam trawler Island on vessels in distress : —Aberdee n No. 1 i Prince, of North (Motor), Aberdeen (Torry Life-saving Appa- i Shields .... 9 ratus), Bembridge (Motor), Brighton, Caister, I Dunbar . . . S.S. Elder-water, of Clacton-o»-Sea (Motor), Coverack, East- Newcastle-on-Tyne. bourne, Falmouth, Fraserburgh (Motor), Stood by vessel. Great Yarmouth and Gorieston (Motor), Praserburgh , , Steam drifter Verdure, Holyhead, Johnshaven, North Deal, Porth- (Motor) of Fraserburgh. dinllaen (Motor), Ramsgate (Motor), Rhos- Rendered assistance. colyn, Rye Harbour, Sennen Cove (Motor), „ Steam trawler John Skateraw, Southwold (Motor), and Wells. iiupuis, of Grimsby. Granted £22 to men for injury in the Stood by vessel. Life-boat service at Appledore, Cardigan, „ Steam drifter Alba- tross, of Fraser- Walmer, and Winterton. burgh ; Motor drif- Granted a pension to the widow of Edward ter Jeaniiie Noble, Kneen, Coxswain of the Port St. Mary Life- of Fraserburgh ; boat, who waa accidentally killed while Steam drifter fjm- engaged in firing the mortar in connexion with blem, of Lowestoft ; Life-boat Day, on 6th August, 1927. Motor boat Com- Voted a compassionate grant of £5 to the i fort, of Fraser- widow of Ben Jones, who was left in very poor burgh ; Steam circumstances. Jones had been a Life- drifter Bwfian, of boatman at Ilfracombe for about 40 years. Fraserburgh. Stood Voted a special gratuity of £5, in addition, by vessels. to a pension and a Life-boatman's Certificate, Kiimore ... A fishing boat of to George S. Griffiths, who was » member of Bannow. Rendered the Tenby Life- boat crew for 33 years and Porthdinllaen . A fishing boat of afterwards Signalman for 22 years. (Motor) Porthdinllaeix . . 3 Granted an additional reward to the crew NOVEMBER, 1927.] THE LIFEBOAT. 553 of the Clacton-on-Sea (Motor) Life-boat for was rough. Of the two men on board the two arduous services on the 22nd August. fishing boat one was rescued, but the other Directed that a letter be addressed to the was drowned. The owner of the motor boat Chief Constable of the Aberdeenshire County which towed the Life-boat has been thanked. Constabulary expressing appreciation of the services rendered by Constables Brooks and Eobertson, of Fraserburgh, on the occasion Thursday, 20th October, 1927. of the wreck of the motor yawls Robin and Sir GODREY BAKING, Bt., in the Chair. Lend Me on the llth August. Co-opted Colonel the Master of Sempill, Addressed a letter of appreciation to Mr. Algernon Maudsley, C.B.E., and Mr. H. Lieut. A. Smith, R.N.R., Honorary Secretary TansJey Witt, Members of the Committee of of the Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, Life-boat Management. Station, who took charge of the Life-boat on Reported the receipt of the following special service on the 12th August when she rescued contributions:— the four occupants of the sailing boat Jean; £ s. d. also commended the Life-boat Crew for their H.R.H. The Princess Louise, promptness on this occasion. Duchess of Argyll, to " The Voted a Framed Photograph of a Life-boat Ladies' Life-boat Guild" going out to a vessel in distress, and addressed (donation) 15 16 - a Letter of Thanks, to Police Inspector W. H. ANONYMOUS (donation) . . . 100 - - Williams, and voted £1 each to four other men, ANCIENT ORDER OF FORESTERS and £1 each to the owners of the two motor FRIENDLY SOCIETY (additional boats used by these salvors, on the 1st June, donation) 60 — - when five persons were rescued at Southern- White Star Steamers' Charity down. They were visitors who had been cut Account (additional donation) 50 - - oft by the tide while walking along the coast. Miss A. HALL (additional dona- Information of their perilous position was tion) 60 - - telephoned to the Porthcawl Police, and Mr. GEORGE BAITDRY, M.D. Inspector Williams at once obtained two (donation) 26 5 - motor boats and himself went out with them. Mrs. GEORGE BAUDRY (donation) 26 5 - A moderate S.W. breeze was blowing with a The Rt. Hon. DAVID LLOYD heavy ground swell, and the rescue was GEORGE, O.M., M.P., for a attended with a certain amount of risk, one Line-Ihrowing Gun for the of the boats being slightly damaged. Porthdinllaen Life-boat . 15 — - Voted £3 to three men for rescuing a bather, —To be thanked. who had got into difficulties, and a bathing Paid £22,033 10s. for sundry charges in attendant who had gone to his help, at Whitby, connexion with the construction of Life-boats, on the 15th August. The men were out Life-boat Houses and Slipways, and the salmon fishing when the bather shouted for maintenance of the various Life-boat estab- help. Cutting their net, the men pulled to the lishments. rescue. Meanwhile the bathing attendant Voted £81 6s. 6d. to pay the expenses of had reached the man. By the time the coble the following Life-boat services :— reached them the bather was unconscious Life-boat. Vessel. Lives and the attendant exhausted. Both were Rescued. taken into the coble and artificial respiration Abersoch Ketch Emily Barret, of had to be used to restore them. Barrow. Stood by vessel. Voted 10*. to the Life-boat Coxswain who, Appledore . S.S. Copeman, of Lon- with the Chief Motor Mechanic, put off, on (Motor) don. Landed one the 1st August, from New Brighton, in a injured man. motor boat to a vessel reported to be burning Great Yarmouth Barge Lady Maud, of flares. It was found that the flares arose and Gorleston London. Stood by from a small fire on a boat in which men were (Motor) vessel. working, and no help was required. Margate . Boat Mary, of Margate. Voted £2 to the owner of a motor boat, (Motor) Saved boat and res- and £2 to the two men of the crew for rescuing cued 2 at Penzance, on the 10th August, two boys Mevagissey . Ketch Amazon, of who were in an open sailing boat which had Bideford ..... 2 been disabled and was in danger of going on Newbiggin . Seven fishing cobles of to the rocks. The motor boat which saved Newbiggin. Stood by them was an old converted Life-boat. cobles. Voted £2 10s. to four men who manned Ramsgate Yacht Silver Hind, of two motor boats which put out from Kilmore (Motor) Dover. Rendered on the 23rd August to the help of a fishing assistance. boat from Bannow which had been dismasted by a squall. One of the two motor boats The Great Yarmouth and Gorleston (Motor) towed out the Kilmore Life-boat, and another Life-boat saved the S.S. Jolly Kate, of London, motor boat also went out to the rescue. A and rescued from shipwreck her crew of strong S.W. breeze was blowing and the sea twelve; the same Life-boat assisted to save 554 THE LIFEBOAT. [NOVEMBER, 1927. the steam drifter Cedron, of Banff, and rescue of the Lowestoft Motor Life-boat for an from shipwreck her crew of nine; and the arduous service on the night of the 2nd Porthdinllaen (Motor) Life-boat saved the October. French yacht Hose Marine and rescued Directed that Coxswain George Craner from shipwreck her three occupants. be notified that be committed an error of Also voted £228 9s. 9d. to pay the expenses judgment in not launching the Appledore of the following Life-boat launches, assemblies Motor Life-boat when flares were reported of crews, etc., with a view to assisting persons oa the 9th September. These it trans- on vessels in distress:—Brighstone Grange, pired were from the schooner Mary Sinclair Caister, Caister No. 1, Great Yarmouth, and which was ashore. Gorleston (Motor), Lowestoft (Motor), New Voted £10 for division among nine men Brighton No. 1, New Brighton No. 2 (Motor), for rescuing the two occupants of a small North Deal, Poole and Bournemouth, Port motor boat off Broadstairs, on the 25th St. Mary, Selsey and Bognor (Motor), September, in a strong westerly wind, with Southend-on-Sea, Walmer, Wells, Whitby, a heavy sea. The boat's engine had broken and Yarmouth, Isle of Wight (Motor). down and she was being carried out to sea. Granted £72 lla. to men for injury in the While the two men were rescued, it was found Life-boat service at Blackpool, Blakeney, impossible to save their boat, the tow-line Brooke, Cardigan, Moelfre, North Deal and parting twice in the heavy seas. Sennen Cove. Voted £2 to two men for rescuing two other Voted a compassionate grant of £5 to the men who had gone out of Weymouth Harbour widow of John Hughes who was old and in in a small sailing boat when it was blowing a poor circumstances. Hughes had been a gate and were unable to get back. When Life-boatman both at Cemaes and Moelfre. their difficulty was seen, the Superintendent of the Great Western Railway sent out one Directed that a Letter of Appreciation be of the Company's boats which was at the addressed to the Wallasey Corporation mouth of the harbour. She brought the thanking them for placing their ferry steamer distressed boat into safety, but was herself Snowdrop at the disposal of the New Brighton nearly swept by the seas while returning. Pulling and Sailing Life-boat when she was Voted £1 2*. 6d. to the Life-boat Coxswain called out for service on the 5th October. at Ardrossan and two other men for rescuing Also granted the sum of £5 to the crew of the four persons, whose rowing boat was caught Snowdrop. by a southerly wind and stranded on the Granted an additional reward to the crew 10th August.

Awards to Coxswains and Life-boatmen. To DAVID CRASKE, on his retirement on the Crew of the Huna Life-boat, a Life-boatman's closing of the Station, after serving 20 years Certificate of Service and a Gratuity. as Bowman, and previously 5 years as a member of the Crew of the Grimsby Life- To THOMAS PASHBY, on his retirement, after boat, a Life-boatman's Certificate of Service serving 11 years as Second Coxswain, and and a Pension. previously 4 years as Bowman, of the Scar- borough Life-boat, a Pension. To JOHN MEKEICK, on his retirement, after serving 16J years asBowman of the Cromarty To GEORGE S. GRIFFITHS, on his retirement, Life-boat, a Pension. after serving 22 years as Signalman, and To ALFRED MOON, on his retirement, after previously 33 years as a member of the Crew, serving 25 years as Bowman, and previously of the Tenby Life-boat, a Life-boatman's 13 years as a member of the Crew ot the Certificate, a Pension, and a Gratuity. Hastings Life-boat, a Life-boatman's Certi- To CHABI.BS W. CHILVKES, on his retirement, ficate of Service and a Pension. after serving 5 years as Bowman, and pre- To WniiAM COOK, on his retirement, after viously 28 years as a membar of the Crew, serving 6 years as Second Coxswain and of the Gorleston Life-boat, a Life-boatman's previously 21 years as a member of the ( Certificate of Service.

Awards to Honorary Workers. To MRS. FABMEK, who was at one time connexion with the Gloucester Branch for Honorary Secretary of the Gloucester several years, the Record of Thanks:— Branch, and who has helped the Institution, Mrs. G. BAILEY. for 20 years, the Gold Brooch and the Miss CLIFT. Record of Thanks. Miss HEWLETT. To the following ladies who have worked in Mrs. H. PITT. NOVEMBER, 1927.] THE LIFEBOAT. 555 To Capt. W. H. TAYLOR, R.N., on his retire- To Mr. JOHN BAIKD, on his retirement, after ment, after 13 years' service as Honorary ten years' service as Honorary Secretary Secretary of the Exmouth and Budleigh of the Donaghadee Branch, the Thanks of Salterton Branch, the Thanks of the Institu- the Institution inscribed on Vellum and tion inscribed on Vellum and framed. framed. To Miss RUBY SNOW, in recognition of her valuable assistance at Bideford, a Framed To Mrs. P. COLEMAIT, J.P., in recognition of Photograph of a Life-boat going out to a her valuable co-operation for many years vessel in distress. at Clacton-on-Sea, the Gold Brooch and the Record of Thanks To Mr. C. H. MAJOR, of Skegness, in recognition of his valuable assistance in connexion with To Mrs. H. B. BOOTHBY, in recognition of her Life-boat Days for many years, a Framed valuable assistance at Grimsby, a Framed Photograph of a Life-boat going out to a Photograph of the Life-boat going out to vessel in distress. a vessel in distress.

News from the Branches. Annual Meetings: Financial Branches and decline being due to the fact that the Guilds. bulk of the collections for 1927 were CHELTENHAM.—On 18th July, Mrs. made after the end of financial year. Richard Davies, Chairman, presiding. Mr. B. L. Nairn, Vice-President of the The report for the year ending 30th Dundee Branch, thanked the Guild on September, 1926, showed that £59 had behalf of the Institution, for their been collected as compared with £270 generous and sustained help. in the previous year, the previous year's GATESHEAD.—On 16th September, sum including the results of two Life- Colonel A. Henderson presiding in the boat Days, since that held in 1925 was absence of the Mayor. The report for on 30th September, the last day of the the year ending 30th September, 1927, financial year. Miss Wanklyn, the showed that £48 had been collected as Honorary Secretary, spoke of the efforts compared with £141 in the previous which had been made to form a Ladies' year. The Chairman said that those Life-boat Guild in Cheltenham, and who lived on the Tyneside should do invited ladies to serve on its Committee. all they could for the Life-boat Service, The meeting was followed by a concert. both because they were dependent on DRIFFIELD (Yorkshire).—The annual shipping and because it was at Tyne- meeting of the Ladies' Life-boat Guild mouth that the first Life-boat Station was held on 8th July, Mrs. E. Clements, had been established. President, in the chair. The report on GREAT YARMOUTH AND GORLESTON. the year's work showed that £27 had •—The annual meeting of the Ladies' been collected. Mrs". Blakeston, the Life-boat Guild was held on 4th July, Honorary Secretary, pointed out that Mrs. B. Leach presiding. The report the year began with a membership of for the year ending 30th September, 18, and this had now been increased to 1926, showed that £440 had been col- 60. After the meeting the President lected as compared with £303 in 1925. entertained the members of the Guild Mrs. Leach, the retiring Chairman, was to tea, whist, and tennis. thanked for her services, and Lady DUNDEE.—The annual meeting of the Vincent was elected Chairman for the Guild was held on 9th October, Mrs. ensuing year. It was pointed out that William Longair, President, in the both the Reserve Boathouse at Yar- Chair, supported by ex-Lord Provost mouth and the Service Boathouse at Longair. The report for the year end- Gorleston were open to the public, in ing 30th September, 1927, showed that charge of Guild members, for the purpose £88 had been collected as compared of selling Life-boat souvenirs. with £290 in the previous year, this LARGS (Ayrshire).-—On 4th August, 556 THE LIFEBOAT. [NOVEMBER, 1927. the Reverend Robert Oswald, B.D., year, the decline being due to the fact Chairman, presiding. The report for that no Life-boat Day was held in the year ending 30th September, 1926, 1926. On the motion of the Lord Mayor, showed that £130 had been collected as it was resolved that those present should compared with £127 in the previous be constituted a Blanch Committee, and year. The Chairman referred to the an Executive Committee was also great loss to the Branch in the death of elected. The Duke aad Duchess of Mr. Robert Wood, who had from the Northumberland were re-elected Patrons beginning been its Honorary Secretary. of the Branch. Mr. F. J. Crawley, the Mr. Robert Pettigrew was elected to Chief Constable, was re-elected Honoraiy succeed him. It was stated that the Secretary, and Captain H. J. Arm- Life-boat Day, as usual, would, be held strong, F.C.A., was elected Honorary on the day of the local Regatta, and Treasurer. that it would be followed by a Fancy PERTH AND DISTRICT.—On 5th Sep- Dress Parade the day after, again tember, the Reverend P. R. Landreth, organized by the Tennis Club, to whose Chairman, presiding, supported among services to the Branch the Chairman others by Mr. A. N. Skelton, M.P. for paid tribute. An address was given by Perth. The report for the year ending the District Organizing Secretary. 30th September showed that £408 had LEEDS.—On 26th September, the been collected as compared with £382 Lord Mayor (Alderman Hugh Lupton) in the previous year, and in spite of presiding, supported by Sir Charles industrial distress the Branch had still Wilson, M.P., Chairman of the Branch, further extended its operations, holding aad Mr. George F. Shee, M.A., Secretary Life-boat Days in 39 districts in the of the Institution. The report for the county. These days had raised £325. year ending 30th September, 1927, In moving the adoption of the report, showed that £1,105 had been collected Mr. Skelton congratulated the Branch as compared with £599 in the previous on the fact that although Perth was as year. In presenting the report Sir Charles far inland as any part of Scotland could Wilson said that the result of Life-boat be, it was sixth in the list of Scottish Day—£410—was very satisfactory in Branches. The Office-bearers were view of the always limited number of re-elected, workers. If more workers could be got, PRESTON.—On 23rd September, Mr. he was convinced that it would be quite W. A. Margerison, Chairman of the easy to raise at least £1,000 a year by Branch, presiding in the absence of tie the Life-boat Day. He also pointed Mayor, supported by Mr. S. White head, out that a little time ago a promise of the Honorary Secretary, Mr. J. G-. £1,000 had been received, provided ten Bradshaw, Honorary Treasurer, Miss other donors of the same amount could I. E. Cross, Honorary Secretary of the be found. He hoped that they would Ladies' Life-boat Guild, and Mr. George come forward so that Leeds, like Brad- F. Shee, M.A., Secretary of the Institu- ford and other cities, might have a tion. The report for the year ending 30th Life-boat bearing her name. Mr. September, 1927, showed that £421 had George F. Shee gave an address on the been collected as compared with £486 work of the Institution. Mr. J. H. in the previous year. Mr. Shee gave an Henderson was elected Honorary Secre- address on the work of the Institution, tary in place of Mr. E. Warwick Broad- and Miss Cross presented the certificate bent, who was warmly thanked for his won by a Preston boy in the Life-boat services. Essay Competition. NEWCASTLE - ON - TYKE.—On 26th YORK.—On 6th September, the Lady July, the Lord Mayor (Councillor A. W. Mayoress (Mrs. Oscar Rowntree) pre- Lambert) in the Chair. The report for siding. The report for the year ending the year ending 30th September, 1926, 30th September, 1927, showed that showed that £144 had been collected as £56 had been collected as compared compared with £362 in the previous with £59 in the previous year. It was NOVEMBER, 1927.] THE LIFEBOAT. 557 decided to form a Ladies' Life-boat of Management of the Institution. Guild, and the ladies present received Members of the Hartlepool Life-boat certificates and badges of membership Crew were present, looking very and Prince of Wales' collecting cards. picturesque in their red caps, blue An address was given by the District jerseys, and white neckchiefs. Sir Organizing Secretary, and it was stated Godfrey Baring spoke of the splendid that a determined effort was to be made services of the Hartlepool Station, and to increase the Branch's contribution. warmly congratulated the Branch on the continued and whole-hearted work New Branches and Guilds. of Mr. Belk, who for forty-six years had been its Honorary Secretary. It was ASHTON-UNDER-LYME (Lancashire).— unanimously decided to form a Life-boat The Mayor (Alderman J. W. Under- Guild, the Mayoress being elected wood) presided at a meeting which was President, Miss Foxton and Mrs. Moore held on 6th July for the purpose of Vice-Presidents, Mrs. Bowes Hon. forming a Ladies' Life-boat Guild. An Treasurer, and Mrs. Edgeller Hon. address on the work of the Institution Secretary. The Guild has since done was given and the following officers good work, having already raised over were elected: President, the Mayoress ; £45 by a Life-boat Day, and £17 by Vice-Presidents, Mrs. Broadbent and Collecting Cards, while many other Mrs. Wild; Honorary Treasurer, Mrs. cards have still to be returned and Postle; Honorary Secretary, Mrs. H. several social functions are to be Ashworth. arranged. BEEDBUBY (Cheshire).—At a meeting SCARBOROUGH.—At a meeting on 9th held on 5th July, at which about fifty August, summoned by Councillor Mrs. ladies were present, it was unanimously Whitfield, an address was given by the decided to form a Ladies' Life-boat District Organizing Secretary, and Mrs. Guild. Mrs. Morley was elected Presi- Whitfield made an appeal to those dent, Mrs. Beesley Vice-President, Mrs. present to form a Ladies' Life-boat S. A. Driver Honorary Treasurer, and Guild. It was unanimously decided to Mrs. W. A. C. Mountain Honorary do this, and those present received Secretary. membership badges and certificates, CLITHEKOE (Lancashire).—At a meet- and Prince of Wales' collecting cards. ing on 4th August it was decided to An Executive Committee was set up, re-organize the Ladies' Life-boat Guild. Mrs. Whitfield being appointed Pre- Mrs. Hartley Baldwin was appointed sident; Mrs. Geoffrey Unwin and Mrs. President; Mrs. Arthur Burton, Mrs. Walter Jackson, Vice-Presidents ; Mrs. Whipp and Mrs. King Wilkinson, Vice- Francis Whittaker, Honorary Treasurer; Presidents ; Miss Taylor, Honorary Miss Jessie Turnbull, Honorary Secre- Treasurer; Mrs. Puckle, Honorary tary. Secretary. It was decided to organize THIRSK (Yorkshire).—A meeting was Dances during the winter, and to hold a held on 27th September, on the invita- Flag Day in the early spring with the tion of Mrs. Bell, at which it was object of raising the £100 which it was unanimously resolved to form a Guild, hoped that Clitikeroe would be able to and the following officers were elected : contribute each year. Mrs. Bell, President; Mrs. H. Arkle, HARTLEPOOL.—On the 12th April the Honorary Treasurer; and Mrs. L. Mayoress of Hartlepool (Mrs. H. W. Frank, Honorary Secretary. Various Bell) convened a Ladies' Meeting, which methods of appeal were discussed, and was very representative and well it was decided that the best would be a attended, those present subsequently Life-boat Day. enjoying her hospitality. The Mayor WATH-UPON-DEARNE (Yorkshire).— and Recorder (Mr. H. W. Bell, J.P.) On the invitation of the Chairman of presided, supported by Sir Godfrey the Urban District Council, Mr. J. A. Baring, Bt., Chairman of the Committee Braithwaite, a meeting was held at the 558 THE LIFEBOAT. [NOVEMBER, 1927. Town Hall on 29th July at which, an given by Mr. George F. Shee, M.A., address was given on the work of the Secretary of tie Institution. In the Institution. It was then unanimously course of his address Mr. Shee said that resolved to form a local Branch, and the Blackpool Branch had a band of the following Officers were elected: the devoted workers, especially -women, Chairman of the U.D.C., President; who year by year raised large sums for Councillor R. T. Carr and Councillor the Life-boat Service. It was work H. Cutts, Vice-Presidents; the Rev. which demanded personal service, and F, B. Gunnery, M.A., Honorary Trea- that service was being most generously surer; the Rev. R. Miller, Honorary given by the workers of Blackpool. Secretary; and Mrs. 0. G. Thomas and Other speakers also paid tributes to the Mrs. Prendergast, Assistant Honorary Branch's workers, and Mr. H. A. Secretaries. Deakin, Assistant Secretary of the Branch, announced that Life-boat Day Special Meetings. had raised £321. BATTERSEA.—A special meeting was BLAKENEY (Norfolk),—On llth held on 1st October at the Town Hall, August the first Life-boat Day was held at which the Mayoress presented to at this Station, and in connexion with it Christopher Street, of the Battersea a number of speeches were delivered Central School for Boys, the Challenge from the Life-boat in the street. Among Shield, Book, and Certificate which, he those who spoke were the Earl of had won for the best essay in the London Leicester, Bishop O'Rorke, the Reverend District in the Life-boat Essay Com- Lee-Elliott, Chairman of the Local petition in 1927. The Mayor (Coun- Committee, Mr. S. E. Baker, Honorary cillor W. Humphreys) presided, sup- Secretary of the Branch, and the ported by Captain the Viscount Curzon, District Organizing Secretary for C.B.E., V.D., A.D.C., R.N.V.R., M.P., Greater London. The Earl of Leicester a member of the Committee of Manage- recalled the capsizing of the Wells ment, Mr. Saklatvala, M.P., and Com- Life-boat in 1880, when 11 men out of mander Marsden, prospective Conserva- the crew of 13 were drowned, of which tive candidate .for North Battersea. he had been an eye-witness; and Certificates were also presented which Mr. Baker described the last service of had been -won by another boy of the the Blakeney Life-boat, when she went same school and two girls of the Ethel- out in a N.W. gale in blackest darkness burga Street School. Lord Curzon and searched the sea for five hours for gave an address on the work of the a wreck, only finding it at last when she Service, pointing out, in reply to a heard a voice calling out of the darkness. suggestion from the Mayor, that it should This lead her to the wreck, and two men be nationalized, that in Life-boat work were saved only just in time. Both he the voluntary method had been proved and Mr. Lee-Elliott hoped tftat now that both, more effective and far less ex- the Life-boat Day had been started at pensive. Mr. Saklatvala spoke of the Blakeney the Branch would greatly advance of the British nation across increase its contribution to the Institu- the seas of the world as a marvel, and tion. almost a miracle; and said that in every part of the country one would BRADFORD.—Sir William Priestley, find boys and girls full of the national Chairman of the Branch, presided at a sea spirit. The Mayor spoke of Bat- special meeting held on 26th September, tersea's pride in the successes won at which Mr. George F. Shee, M.A., by her boys and girls, and of the Secretary of the Institution, gave an great educative value of such competi- address on the Institution's work, tions. dealing in particular with the great economy of a Life-boat Service main- BLACKPOOL.—A special meeting was tained by voluntary means instead of held on 23rd September, at which the by the State. Miss Nora M. Grainger, Mayor presided, and an. address was Assistant Secretary of the Branch, NOVEMBER, 1927.] THE LIFEBOAT. 559 reported that in spite of bad trade, the meeting was held on 19th September, Branch had raised £1.903, only £72 less Bailie Wright, Chairman of the Branch, than in the previous year. presiding, at which an address was given On 9th October, the Lord Mayor and by Mr. George F. Shee, M.A., Secretary Lady Mayoress (Alderman and Mrs. of the Institution. In the course of it Richard Johnson) gave a civic reception he pointed out that the present contribu- to a party of Bridlington Life-boatmen tion of Scotland to the Service fell far who were visiting the city for their short of the cost of maintaining the annual outing. Both the Lord Mayor Life-boats on the Scottish coast, and and Lady Mayoress put on Life-boat said that he was sure this fact had only dress, and in welcoming the men the to be brought home to the people of Lord Mayor spoke of Bradford's pride Scotland for an increased response to in the fact that in its Life-boat work it be made to the Institution's appeals. easily beat its rival Leeds. He also Following Mr. Shee's address the forma- paid a tribute to the work of the tion of a Ladies' Life-boat Guild was Assistant Secretary, Miss Nora discussed. Grainger, and to the organizers of the annual Life-boat Matinee. FLEETWOOD (Lancashire).—A special meeting of the Branch Committee and DUNDEE.—A special meeting of the Ladies' Life-boat Guild was held Branch and Guild on 21st September on 24th September, the Honorary was to have been held in the grounds Treasurer, Mr. R. Fogg, presiding, at of Airlie Park, the residence of Sir which an address was given by Mr. Charles and Lady Barrie, but owing George P. Shee, M.A., Secretary of the to bad weather it took place instead at Institution. Mr. Shee also presented the Masonic Halls. The guests were to Mr. H. G. V. Walsh the picture of a received by ex-Lord Provost and Mrs. Life-boat going out to a vessel in dis- Longair, Mrs. Rettie, and Mr. J. M. tress, awarded to him in 1926 on his Hunter-Mitchell, J.P., President of the retirement from the Honorary Secretary- Branch, who took the chair, among ship, and congratulated him upon those supporting him being Mr. B. L. having established a Ladies' Life-boat Nairn, Vice-President, and Mr. George Guild which had done excellent service. F. Shee, M.A., Secretary of the Institu- Mr. Fogg pointed out that in the tion. Mr. Mitchell explained that the twenty-four years since he became object of the meeting was that the Honorary Treasurer the annual con- members of the Committee and the tributions of the Branch had risen from Guild might become better known to £43 to £314. one another, have an opportunity of discussing the object for which they INVERNESS.—A special meeting was were all working, and meet the Secre- held in the Town Hall on 16th Sep- tary of the Institution. In the course tember for the purpose of inaugurating of his address Mr. Shee said that a Ladies' Life-boat Guild and the among the three or four names of those presentation of the Challenge Shield who were the most self-sacrificing for Scotland won in the Life-boat Essay workers for the Life-boat Cause in the Competition by Miss Edith M. Munro, British Isles, the names of ex-Lord of Foyers Public School, for the best Provost and Mrs. Longair stood out essay sent in by a Scottish school. very prominently. A very large part Provost MacEwen presided, supported of the prosperity of the Branch, and the by Lady Findlay, Honorary Secretary largest part of the success of the Guild, of the Scottish Life-boat Council, Sir were due entirely to Mrs. Longair's Godfrey Baring, Bt., Chairman of the deep interest and enthusiasm. Mr. Committee of Management of the Shee then presented certificates won by Institution, and Mr. George F. Shee, two pupils of Dundee schools in the M.A., Secretary. Provost MacEwen Life-boat Essay Competition. said that the Institution needed no DUMEEKMLINE (Fifeshire).—A special words of his to recommend it, and 560 THE LIFEBOAT. [NOVEMBER, 1927. that, many as were the calls made land. Sir Godfrey Baring gave an on the public's generosity, the Life- address on the work of the Service, and boat Service was one of those presented Miss Munro with the Challenge national appeals which had a very high Shield, a copy of " Britain's Life-boats," claim on their support. Mr. Duncan and a certificate. Mackintosh, the Honorary Secretary of the Branch, spoke of the heavy task LYTHAM.—A special meeting of the before the Institution itself and the Branch Committee and Ladies' Life-boat Scottish Council, in raising the neces- Guild was held in the Boathouse oa sary funds, and said that they were 24th September, at which an address confident that the public would never was given by Mr. George F. Shee, M.A., fail in its support. Lady Findlay spoke Secretary of the Institution, in the of the steps which were being taken to course of which he said that he hoped increase Scotland's support of the when the new Lytham St. Annes Motor Institution. She did not say that less Life-boat arrived even greater efforts interest had been taken in its work in than" in the past would be made on Scotland for, since 1914, contributions behalf of the Service with which both had been increased by 75 per cent., but Lytham and St. Annes had been so when it was realized that in some parts honourably associated for generations. of England there had been an increase of as much as 280 per cent, it would be ROTHERHAM.—A special meeting was seen that Scotland's position was not held on 27th September in the Town what it should be. Scotland now had Hall, at which Mr. J. Dickinson, J.P., 43 Life-boats, of which 12 are Motor Chairman of the Branch, presided, Life-boats, and soon would have 20 supported by the Mayor and Mayoress Motor Life-boats, the capital outlay (Councillor W. and Miss M. M. Brooke), for which would be £150,000, while the Mrs. K. W. Fieldsen, President of the cost of maintaining all the Scottish Life- Ladies' Life-boat Guild, and Mr. George boats would be £18,000 a year. What F. Shee, M.A., Secretary of the Institu- she wanted to bring home to them was tion. Mr. Shee gave an address on the that at present Scotland was only con- work of the Institution. tributing £11,000 a year. That was not enough. A Scottish Council had SHEFFIELD.—A special meeting was been set up to deal with the question, held on 27th September, the Mistress and she was quite certain that it would Cutler (Mrs. D. Flather) presiding. The not be for want of enthusiasm if very Honorary Secretary, Mr. J. Henderson, shortly Scotland was not covered with said that about £560 had been sent to Branches, including even the most the Institution from Sheffield for 1926. inland districts. One of the means for He pointed out that the new regulations increasing Scotland's contribution, on regarding collectors on flag days reduced which the Council chiefly depended, was the number of helpers on Life-boat Day, the formation of Ladies' Life-boat but he looked forward to great things Guilds, and she was delighted to know being done when the Ladies' Life-boat that one had now been formed at Guild got thoroughly to work. The Inverness. Lady Findlay then pre- energies of the Mistress Cutler had sented the Guild Badges to the Honour- already had a considerable effect in able Mrs. Smyth, President of the increasing interest in the Branch's work, Guild, Mrs. E. C. Jack, Vice-President, Mrs. Flather said that she looked and Mrs. Layton, Honorary Secretary. forward to seeing Sheffield send £1,000 Mr. Shee gave an account of the Life- to the Institution each year. Mr. Shee boat Essay Competition, and pointed paid a tribute to the work of Mrs. out that in Scotland, out of 36 education Flather, Mr. Henderson, and the authorities, only 4 had refused per- members of the Guild, and suggested mission for the Competition to be held that Sheffield should follow the example in their schools—those of Glasgow, of other great cities, and raise a fund to Aberdeen, Renfrewshire, and Suther- provide a Motor Life-boat to bear the NOVEMBER, 1927.] THE LIFEBOAT. 561 city's name. Mr. Cole, the Chairman Whist Drives, Concerts, Dances, Garden of the Branch, replied that such an Parties, and Sales of Work. idea had already been considered by ASHTON (Lancashire).—An American their Committee, and he hoped that it Tea was held in the Mayor's Parlour would again come up in the near future, on 20th July, at which the Mayoress when industrial conditions were more [Mrs. E. S. Oldham) presided. Over favourable to such an appeal being 100 ladies attended, and the amount made. raised totalled over £20. HOKNSEA (YORKSHIRE). — On 4th SOUTHPORT.—A special meeting of August a " Lavender Fair" was held the Ladies' Life-boat Guild was held in the grounds of " Fairbank" and on 20th July to receive the Balance " Westgate House," lent by Mrs. J. R. Sheet of the Life-boat Day. This Hedley (President of the Hornsea showed that £472 had been raised as Branch) and Messrs. P. Davies and compared with £498 in the previous Wharton. The Fair was opened by year, the collection in the streets bring- Mrs. Adrian Bethell. Altogether nearly ing in £288, and the Mayoress's appeal £80 was raised by it. £177. The Mayoress (Mrs. G. H. Garden Parties have been organ- Hibbott), who presided, thanked the ized, in aid of the Institution, by workers, and pointed out that although the following Branches and Guilds: there was no longer need for a Life-boat Driffield (Yorkshire), St. Albans (Hert- at Southport, owing to the provision of fordshire), and Standish (Lancashire). Motor Life-boats at neighbouring ports, the town was just as dependent as CLACTON-ON-SEA.—The annual con- before on the mariners of the country, cert in aid of the funds of the Life-boat and therefore the Life-boat Service was held in the Pier Theatre on 5th should have the same claims on their September. A collection was taken by support. the Crew. As a result of a concert held at SOUTH WOLD (SUFFOLK).—At a meet- Bowness (Westmorland) the sum of ing in the Market Place, on 28th April, £212 has been handed to the West- Mr. Harry Smith, who is a member of morland Motor Life-boat Fund. the Kessingland Life-boat Crew, and Sales of work were organized in aid whose father was at one time Second of the Institution by the following Coxswain, was presented by the Mayor Branches and Guilds : Blyth (North- with the Gold Medal of the Eoyal umberland), CuIIompton (Devonshire), Humane Society, which was awarded Halifax (Yorkshire), and Lymm to him for the bravest deed of the year, (Cheshire). when, in a heavy sea, he dived from a trawler to rescue another member of Whist Drives were held at Market the crew who had fallen overboard. A Weighton (Yorkshire) and South Ben- full account of this fine service appeared fleet (Essex). in the February issue of The Lifeboat. A Dance in aid of the Institution was Mr. Smith also received the Freedom held at Beaumaris (Anglesey). of the Borough of Southwold. After the ceremony the church bells were Visits to Life-boat Stations. rung. The Institution was repre- HUMBEB.—On 7th September a party sented by the District Inspector of of forty workers from Bradford visited Life-boats, and Mr. Ernest Woolfield, the Life-boat Station on the Humber the Honorary Secretary of the Kessing- to see a launch of the City of Bradford land Branch, and both the Southwold Motor Life-boat, a number of them and Kessingland Life-boat Crews were taking part in the launch. This was present. Before the ceremony, Mr. followed by a life-saving display, and a Smith, with his father and mother, were brief account of the work of the Station entertained to lunch by the Mayor and was given by the District Organizing Corporation. Secretary. 562 THE LIFEBOAT. [NOVEMBER, 1927. TEESMOUTH.—On 18th August a and the Primitive Methodist Churches. party of fifty members of the Redeai The collection amounted to nearly £18. Ladies' Life-boat Guild visited this Station as the guests of Mr. IMskney, A Life-boat Week at Berwick-on-Tweed. one of the Honorary Secretaries, and BERWICK-ON-TWEED.-—A Life-boat Mrs. Todd, Honorary Secretary of the Week was held by this Branch, which Ladies' Life-boat Guild. included a Life-Saving Display and Life-boat Launch on Saturday, 30th Religious Service*. July ; a Children's Pageant on Tuesday, 2nd August; a Fancy Dress and Tableau FLAMBOKOTJGH.—On 31st July an Procession on the afternoon of Thursday, open-air Thanksgiving Service for the 4th August; and a Fancy Dress Ball on Life-boats was held, in which ministers the night of 4th August. of three denominations took part. Addresses to Rotary Clubs. ILFRACOMBE.—An open-air Service conducted from the Life-boat by the Life-boat addresses have been given Eev. I. Siviter, Vicar of SS. Philip to the following Kotary Clubs: Barn- and James' Church, was held on 21st staple, by Captain Basil Hall, E.N., in August, in aid of the Institution and the July; Lewes, by Rear-Admiral T. P. H. local Seamen's Bethel. Over 3,000 Beamish, C.B., on 1st September; people were present, and the collection West Bromwich, by Captain Basil Hall, amounted to over £25. R.N., on 6th September; Taunton, by Captain Basil Hall, R.N., on 9th Sep- PORT ERIN.—The annual Life-boat tember ; and Newcastle-on-Tyne, by Mr. Service was held on 31st July, the Edgar H. Johnson, F.C.I.S. (District preacher being Archdeacon Kewley, Organizing Secretary for the North of supported by ministers of the Wesleyan England), on 16th September.

A Magnificent Service on the East Coast. As the Journal goes to press the reports steamer, while the other half remained have been received of a magnificent on the Sands with fifteen men on board. service on the East Coast on 21st and The Gorlestou Life-boat was launched 22nd November, in which the Motor to their help at 8.30 on the evening of Life-boats at Cromer, Gorleston, and the 21st, but it was not until 20 hours Southwold all took part. The Dutch later that the Cromer Life-boat suc- oil-tanker Georgia had broken in half ceeded in rescuing them. A full account on the Hasborough Sands, one half of this splendid service will appear in going ashore near Cromer after the men the next number. on board had been rescued by another

Notice. The next number of THE LIFEBOAT witt be published in February, 1928.

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