THE LIFE-BOAT,

OB

JOURNAL OF THE NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION.

(ISSUED QUARTERLY.)

You IX.—No. 99.] FEBRUARY lar, 1876. [PBICE 3d.

THE WRECK OF THE DEUTSCHLAXD. ON the morning of the 6th December, town and on its hardy and courageous boat- 1875, occurred one of those sad disasters men, and should again and again repeat which ever and anon remind us of the the charge, when in truth everything had dangerous character of our shores, the been done that was practicable to aid the •wreck of an emigrant ship. But a few poor shipwrecked people as soon as pos- months since the German passenger sible after the calamity was known. steamer Schiller was wrecked off one of It may be thought by some that so the Stilly islands, with the loss of 331 sweeping and absurd a charge might be lives; and now another emigrant steam- left to contradict itself, more especially as ship, of the same nationality, has shared the evidence which has since been given the same fate off the coast of Essex, and at the official inquiry by the BOARD OF 57 of her passengers and crew have un- TBADE, and has been published in the happily perished. London newspapers, completely refutes it Perhaps no maritime disaster of modern We feel bound, however, to come also to times, not even that of the foundering of the rescue of our fellow-countrymen at the Northfleet, in January 1873, has ex- j Harwich, as many of our readers may not cited more general interest, arising partly have had an opportunity to peruse the from the circumstance of its having oc- official report. curred so near the mouth of the Thames, The circumstances assumed by the and partly from the strange and reckless ' Borsen-Zeitung,' or Bourse Gazette, of charges advanced by a portion of the Berlin, are: that the Deutschland was German newspaper press against the town wrecked close to the port of Harwich, of Harwich and the boatmen of that port, where any signals of distress shown by maliciously accusing them of deliberately her could be readily distinguished; that allowing the unfortunate emigrants to she showed her German flag; and that perish before their eyes and refusing the people of Harwich suffered so many of them succour—nay, of even rejoicing at her passengers and crew to perish because their sufferings, solely because they were they were Germans—for which assumed Germans. unnatural cruelty this credulous news- It seems almost incredible that a Dews- paper appeals to its Government to de- paper of some importance, in the capital [ mand apology and reparation from the of a friendly nation, should, without in- ( British nation on behalf of the great quiry, or any attempt to verify its state- German people. ments, make so unjustifiable an attack on Turning, however, from the dreamland the inhabitants of a respectable English of assumption to the more prosiac but

THH LIFE-BOAT JOUBNAL.—VOL. IX.—No. 99. 2 c 424 THE LIFE-BOAT. [FEBRUARY 1,1876. more credible region of fact, we will the look-out on board the Cork Lightship, briefly describe the actual circumstances from which vessel rockets were then of the case. immediately discharged, and at 7.30 these In the first place, then, the spot where 1were replied to from Harwich, they having the DeutscMcmd was •wrecked—on the j given the first intimation to the good Kentish Knock—was 24 English miles people of that town that anything was from Harwich, and therefore at too great amiss at sea, and even then not that a a distance for the vessel herself, and German emigrant steamer was ashore on far less for any signals of distress or na- the Kentish Knock, hut merely that some tional flag, to be seen from that place, I vessel was in danger somewhere on one of even in clear weather. Accordingly, the • the numerous sandbanks which lie in all only modes by which intelligence of the I directions off their port. disaster could be conveyed to Harwich "We have thus accounted for the cir- would have been by the different light- j cumstance of these unfortunate ship- vessels repeating the signals from one to wrecked persons being allowed to remain another, and finally to that town, or by fov fourteen hours in their perilous posi- some vessel or boat proceeding there. tion without succour from the shore, from Now it so happened that all the hovel- the simple cause that no one knew of ling smacks belonging to that and adjacent their clanger; and we have arrived at places had themselves been driven, into another stage of our inquiry, viz.: Were port by the violence of the gale and the the means then adopted all that could be heavy sea, and that the only available j reasonably expected from humane people means of communication was therefore by j who would gladly afford succour, if in signals from the lightships. I their power, to any one in distress, to It appears, from the evidence of the i whatever country they might belong? officers in charge of those vessels, at | What, then, were the means available the Board of Trade inquiry, although ; at Harwich, for affording succour to the the DeutscKland had been on shore since j shipwrecked people? Where was the between 5 and 6 o'clock in the morn- j Harwich Life-boat? it might be asked. ing, on Monday, the 6th December, and j There was no Life-boat there, it having had immediately commenced to throw up j always been considered that the outlying rockets, and continued to do so until j sandbanks, on which vessels were liable to daylight, none of them were seen evea { be wrecked, were all so distant that before from the nearest lightship—the Kentish j a Life-boat from Harwich could teach Knock—no doubt owing to the thickness j them the shipwrecked persons would have of the weather, and almost continuous j been taken off by one of the numerous snowstorms, the master of that vessel first hovelling smacks which are almost always perceiving the unfortunate steamer at cruising about, or lying under shelter of 9.30 A.M. He then fired guns and sounded j the sands, on the look oat for vessels in the fog-horn, and continued to do so at j distress. half-hour intervals during the day, and at j There was, however, a small but ser- 4.30 P.M. commenced to throw up rockets,! viceable steam-tug, not, be it remembered, which were answered by the steamer. } the property of the Government or of the At 5.20 the mate of the Sunk Light-} town, but of a private individual, pro- ship first saw two rockets, which he sup- ! vided by him as a mercantile speculation, posed to be from a vessel on the Long ; and manned and worked exclusively at Sand, whereupon he fired guns and sent his own expense, just as any other up rockets throughout the night, but did merchant vessel is provided for its ownei's not see the wrecked ship until 7.30 on legitimate profit. It is right that the the morning of Tuesday, the 7th. His character of this boat should be borne in first rockets had, however, been seen by mind, in justice to her owner and master, FEBRUARY 1, 1876.] THE LIFE-BOAT. 425 since any service performed by her could I the spot, and finding there were a large not be demanded as a right by the com- number of persons on board her, anchored munity at large, but solely as an act of f his vessel under her lee at about 60 fathoms humanity at the owner's personal risk of distance, and sent his boats to her; but the loss of his vessel. after taking off three boat-loads, weighed The circumstance of this tug, the Liver- his anchor, placed his vessel alongside the pool, not going off instantly on perceiving ship, and took off the remainder of the the rockets thrown up by the Cork Light- survivors of her passengers and crew, ship, has been much animadverted on by 173 in all. ignorant persons; fortunately, however, So much for the Harwich tug. She did she was commanded by an able and ex- all that could possibly have been done, perienced seaman, Captain CARRINGTON, and her owners and her master are entitled who knew what he was about; who knew to the thanks of the German people, rather the difficulties of navigating in the in- than to their reprobation. tricate passages between the numerous But, 2ndly, the smacksmen of Harwich shoals off the port in a dark night and have been accused of acting like wreckers, gale of wind, and that he could only do coming not to save lives, but eagerly so at great risk of losing his owner's boarding the wrecked ship, as soon as her vessel and the lives of those intrusted to crew and passengers had left her, and him; that he might spend the whole night pillaging her—in fact, stealing everything in vainly searching for the vessel in dis- on which they could lay their hands. tress, and even if he should find her, that What, however, are the real circumstances with the small tug's boats it would be of the case, and who are the "smacks- quite impossible for him to render any men" ? They are an invaluable body of assistance to a vessel surrounded by men, whose profession, by which they broken water, in a dark night and heavy obtain their bread and support their fami- sea; and, moreover, that if any mishap lies, is that of " hovelling," that is, help- should disable his own vessel, the only ing vessels in distress, assisting them to chance of saving the wrecked persons get afloat when they have grounded on might be destroyed. sandbanks or on the coast shore, recover- Most judiciously then, in our opinion, ing anchors and cables that have been lost, he decided not to proceed to sea in search or been slipped by vessels that have sailed, of the wrecked vessel until shortly before and rescuing from the sea property of any daylight, but got his steam up in readi- kind, which, in the case of total wrecks, ness for a start. Shortly before 6 o'clock | would otherwise be irretrievably lost. in the morning he left, the gale having i 'So their credit, be it said, they have then somewhat moderated. He first went I also, in numberless cases, been the means of to the Cork Lightship, and ascertained | saving lives, of ten at great risk to their own, from her master that the Sunk Lightship as the records of the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT had been firing all night. He then pro- INSTITUTION amply testify. ceeded to the latter, and was informed As in the case of the owner, master, and that there was a steamer on the Long Sand. : crew of the Harwich tug, it must, however, He next steamed to the Long Sand, and be borne in mind that these smacksmen found there was no vessel on it. He then i are not employed and paid to save lives, steered for the Kentish Knock, and when ; but that they are merely a body of hardy, halfway to it saw the Deutschland on that daring, energetic men, who have em- sandbank. He then went to the Knock braced a dangerous calling, and who, to Lightship, and hailed her, but those on | prosecute that calling successfully, have board her could not tell him what the to provide, at their own expense, valuable wrecked vessel was, or if there was any boats, which, with their equipment, often one on board her. He then proceeded to cost 3001. or 4:001., and we believe some-

2 c 2 426 THE LIFE-BOAT. [FBBRTTAEY 1,1876. times more. These boats, or smacks, as j the United States of America; and we they are there called, perform the same work again tell their detractors that if, by as the luggers of Deal, Bamsgate, Yarmouth, unmerited censure and ill treatment, they and other places; they are fine boats, and are driven from the sea to other and safer well handled by their crews, but they are callings on the land, an immense amount not fitted as Life-boats, and cannot be of property and many lives will as a con- taken through heavy, broken water, as ; sequence be sacrificed. a Life-boat can be, to the assistance of' Srdly. What could the people of Har- wrecked crews without great risk of loss wich have done beyond what they did of their own property, by which they earn do? They had no means at their dis- their bread, and of their own lives. posal for affording aid to persons in dan- In common charity, then, they are' ger at sea, 24 miles from their town; and surely entitled to-use their own judgment until the tug returned with her cargo as to the extent to which they may risk j of German emigrants and sailors, those the loss of their own lives and of their amongst them who had heard that alarm- boats; and they would be something more signals had been seen would no doubt or less than human if they did not do so, j have thought it most probable that it was and did not remember their wives and chil- j but some poor overladen or ill-found dren or parents at home, however anxious English coaster or collier brig which had they might be to save the lives of others. succtimbed to the storm. In this instance they had been driven There was one thing, however, that the into port by the severity of the gale; but, Harwich people did do—they performed had they been able to keep the sea, they the office of the 'good Samaritan' by treat- could not without certain destruction j ing kindly and hospitably the survivors have attempted to go alongside the i from the wrecked ship; by administering wrecked ship until the gale had mode- I to their need in clothing and food, for rated and the sea gone down. The steam- i which they received the hearty thanks of tug was able to get to the Deutschiand ' the poor people themselves; and by de- before they could do so, and her owner,! cently and reverentially interring in the master, and crew had the glorious satis- town cemetery the bodies of the drowned faction of being the means of saving so which had been recovered and brought many lives from perishing; but there was ashore, the solemn burial service of the no reason why the smacksmen, when after- Church of England being read over them, wards able to board the ship, her destruc- ! and many an eye was bathed in tears. tion being then inevitable, should not I The above is a brief, truthful, unvar- take from her everything that could be j nished account of the chief circumstances saved, before too late to do so, provided j attending the loss of the Deutschland. that they handed it over to the proper • German writers may, in their warm authorities on landing, and were them- i rooms, far from the wild sea-wave, write selves satisfied with the percentage of its j what they will; our English boatmen will value allowed them by the salvage laws. I still, as cheerfully as hitherto, prosecute This the evidence brought out by the their hazardous calling—will still launch subsequent Board of Trade inquiry proved their Life-boats through the boiling surf, that they did, and they stand thus ho- ; by day and by night—will still be the nourably acquitted of all the charges means, in God's hands, of saving in Life- brought against them by the ignorance or boats alone an average of some 600 lives malice of their accusers. pei annum, and directly and indirectly, This is not the first time we have had •with their own boats, some hundreda to write in defence of this class ,of men, a \ more, a considerable proportion of whom class which, we believe, exists in no other ! are foreigners of every nationality fre- part of the world but on the east coast of quenting our shores. FEBBCABY 1,1876.] THE LIFE-BOAT. 427

On this occasion the Life-boat of the wich tug, and then another 45 miles on NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION at her return, the 15 poor fellows on board Broadstairs proceeded, as soon as possible, having been then fourteen hours sitting ! to the scene of the wreck, 20 miles dis- in their boat, with the seas and spray tant, but too late to be of service; and ' breaking over them through their whole already since the wreck of the Deutsch- terrible voyage, in a freezing atmosphere land the Harwich tug Liverpool has rescued and then landed in a benumbed, half- from certain death the crew of another frozen state, from the effects of which foreign ship, this time a Norwegian, some of them may never entirely recover. wrecked on the Shipwash sandbank ; and Bethink you, reader, whether English the Kamsgate Life-boat, summoned by I or German, how can such men be suffi- telegram from Harwich, was towed by I ciently rewarded by aught save the appro- the steam-tug Aid no less than 45 miles ' bation, nay, the admiration, of all good to the scene of the disaster, only to j men, and the approval of their own in- find on arrival there that the shipwrecked . ward souls, of which no man can deprive crew had already been saved by the Har- them.

SERVICES OF THE LIFE-BOATS OF THE NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION.

SHEBINGHAM, NORFOLK.—The Life-boat SEAHAM, DUBHAM.—About midnight on Duncan was launched from this station at the 10th October, the night being dark 6 A.M. on the 10th October last, and with violent squalls, the schooner Lucinde, rescued 2 men from a perilous position of Whitstable, came into collision with on board the fishing smack Gleaner. A the Base, of Lynn, whilst the two vessels sudden storm had compelled a number of < were making for the harbour of Seaham. fishing vessels, riding at anchor off Sher- ! Both vessels went ashore, and the Lucinde ingham, to proceed to sea. In getting grounded in a dangerous position. An under weigh the Gleaner and Reaper came i effort was made by the Coastguard to land into collision. The crew of the former, the crew of the last-named vessel with a expecting their craft to founder, got on rocket line; but that having failed, the Life- board the Reaper with the exception of boat Sisters Carter, of Harrogate, was called 2 men, and the Gleaner then went drifting \ out, and she succeeded in rescuing the crew, off to leeward in a disabled state with 2 6 in number, from their perilous position. men only on board, the Life-boat took off both the men and placed them on board NEWBIGGIN, NORTHUMBERLAND.—After the other vessel. daylight on the 14th October, the fishing 428 THE LIFE-BOAT. [FEBRUARY 1, 1876. vessels of Newbiggin -were caught in a' No. 2 boat remained on the bar ready for sudden gale from the east, and obliged to j any eventuality. After a severe struggle make for the port. Anticipating some i the No. 1 boat got alongside what proved mishap, the Life-boat William HopJcinson, \ to be the Eussian three-masted schooner of BrigJiouse, was launched, and was ! Emilia, bound from Cronstadt to Mont- fortunately enabled to render effective aid rose. The vessel was so overladen with to the fishing coblo William and Mary, j a deck load of timber that the crew were with her crew of 4 men, who were in ; unable to properly navigate their vessel Serious danger, and would probably have ! in such heavy weather, and bad no re- been lost but for the presence of the Life- | source, being then on a lee shore, but to boat. run for a port with which they had no acquaintance. Hence the signal of dis- SCABBOROTJGH. — October 14th. Soon tress. after noon a gale sprang ijp suddenly i The Mincing Lane broke all the oars on from the eastward. A lar^e' number of! one side and sustained other damage in Scarborough fishing vessels, which were boarding the Emilia,, which vessel was outside, had to bear up .and run for the then wore off shore till the tide served, harbour at Scarborough. Vessels which ; and finally run for the bar about 11 p.sr., fall to leeward when rounding the Pier- ! and, notwithstanding the heavy sea, got end under such circumstances are placed ! safely into the river, her movements in great danger, as they are quickly in the j closely attended to the last by the No. 2 midst of broken water. The Life-boat j Life-boat. The Emilia had a crew of 9 Lady Leigh was therefore launched and men. lay in readiness near the scene of danger, Two days later (on the 18th October) watching the different vessels as they two schooners and a brig were observed shot into shelter round the bend of the off the harbour, a " strong gale " from the breakwater. At 2.30 P.M. the smack Mary S.E. blowing, with a "very heavy sea" Ann, after throwing a rope to the Pier- running. These vessels were the schooner end, parted it, and was swiftly on the Anne, of Montrose, with a crew of 5 men; edge of the breakers. Fortunately the the schooner Scotsman, of Arbroath, 7 Life-boat at once made a dash at her with, men; and the brig Stf, of Cbristiauia, a line, and thus saved vessel and crew of 8 men. They were on a lee shore, but 9 men from extreme peril. with a safe harbour under their lee if they could only get in; the entrance was MostaosE.—On the 16th October the not very wide, and a heavy sea boiled up HOD. Secretary of this branch received on the bar. The Life-boat Mincing Lane a telegram from the Coastguard Station went down to the bar, and, by signals, north of Montrose that a vessel was showed the best route. So encouraged, standing for the harbour with a signal of the Anne, which belonged to the place, distress flying. It was then Wowing hard bore up, and " took the bar" in safety; from S.E., with a heavy sea on. the other two vessels, which were strangers, The No. 1 Life-boat Hinting Lane was bore up in her wake: the Scotsman also at once ordered out, and proceeded to row- got in without mishap, but the Swede down to the river bar in readiness to kept too far to the south in spite of Life- board the distressed vessel when she ap- boat signals, and touched the rocks, but proached : this was at 4 o'clock. At 4.30 drove over on the top of the next wave it was observed from the lighthouse con- without stopping; so escaping, as it were, tiguous to the Life-boat Station that the by the "skin of her teeth," and finally vessel was waiting off for assistance, afraid sailed up the river without material to approach nearer—a circumstance that damage. The Eeport states, "the sig- the coxswain of the Life-boat could not nalling of the Life-boat undoubtedly saved observe—at the same time it was con- the vessels." sidered that the crew appeared very much On the 5th December, at 3 A.M., the exhausted. The second Life-boat, the schooner Lass o' Doon, of Montrose, bound Roman Governor of Caer Hun, was there- from Sunderland to Montrose, got ashore" fore launched, and she took orders to the on the Annat Bank, off this port, in a No. 1 Life-boat to push out, if possible, snowstorm, the wind being at S.S.E. with and board the distressed vessel, while the considerable sea on. FEBEUABY 1, 1876.] THE LIFE-BOAT. 429 The Life-boat Roman Governor of Caer On the 22nd October, at 3 P.M., signals Hun, being launched, succeeded in rescu- ! of distress were observed at this station ing the crew of 5 men, who were landed from the Swedish barque Svadsfare, and soon after 4 in the morning. Later in the Life-boat Harriott Forteath having the day the same boat had again to be boarded her, the crew were engaged to launched, and brought ashore 30 men carry the disabled vessel into port, which, from the same vessel, they having been with the Life-boat in company, they suc- employed to endeavour to save the vessel, : ceeded in doing. It was blowing hard at but being obliged to desist from the in- | E.S.E. at the time of the launch. creasing foul weather, and having no ; mpde of escape from the stranded vessel j ABKLOW, IBELAND.—At 8 o'clock on but by the Life-boat. ! the morning of October 19th intelligence BBOUGHTY FERRY, DUNDEE.—About 2 j reached the station of a vessel being on P.M. on the 18th October, at which time i the north end of the Arklow Bank. It itt was blowing a heavy gale from E.S.E., - was then blowing a moderate gale from the schooner Leopold, of Eiga, was ob- ; the S.E. with very high sea. The Life-boat served on the Tay Banks at the mouth of | Out-Pensioner was launched, and proceeded that river. The Life-boat Mary Hartley, to the stranded vessel forthwith. Just as stationed at Broughty Ferry, was promptly the boat got close to her, however, the launched, and proceeded down the river in distressed vessel, which had been on the tow of a steam-tug. When a convenient bank the greater part of the night, drove position had been gained the boat cast off off it with the flood-tide, and the Life- from the steamer and pulled in to the boat, at the request of the captain, giving broken water, on the banks where the two men to pilot her into Wicklow, made wreck lay. She was successful in saving j for the shore again, where she was beached the whole of the crew, consisting of 6 j at 2.25 P.M. The vessel that experienced persons. i this narrow escape was the schooner Sen- About 2 A.M. on the 23rd October the j sitive, of Boulogne, bound from that port information reached this station that a j to Wicklow, having a crew of 6 men. ship was ashore on the Tay Banks. It ' was blowing a strong gale from S.E. ! CAISTER, NORFOLK.—On the 20th Oct., The Life-boat Mary Hartley being quickly j about 10.30 P.M., it then blowing a mode- launched, pulled out of the river, and > rate gale at S.S.W. with a very heavy sea descried the brig Vidar, of Drammen, j on, a man swam ashore about a mile north ashore in the midst of a heavy sea, her \ of Winterton Life-boat Station. An over- masts gone. The tide being at the time i turned ship's boat lay beating about in very low, the Life-boat was unable to j the surf not far from him. The man was close the wreck at once on account of the solitary survivor of 13 who had left there being insufficient water over the j the wreck of the barque Young England, of intervening shoals. Waiting at the edge i Middlesborough, half an hour previously of the bank till towards 4 A.M., she then j in the now overturned boat. A young plunged into the broken water and sue-1 Winterton beachman—who, with many ceeded in getting alongside, and with some j others that dark and stormy night, was difficulty removed from the wreck the j walking the beach on the look out— whole of the crew of 8 men, who were ; observed the boat in the surf, and then landed in safety by 6 A.M. The wreck the half-drowned sailor on the beach. of the Vidar soon crumbled to pieces. ' The first act of the sailor was to state to the young man that when he and WHITBY.—On the 18th October, at 5 | his 12 deceased shipmates left the Young P.M., during a heavy gale at E.S.E., the i England 4 men were left on board, barque Teazer, of Whitby, whilst endea- j owing to the rope which held the boat vouring to enter that port, in tow of a •, to her suddenly parting, and, more- steamer, parted her tow-rope and went ! over, that the vessel was breaking up. ashore on Whitby Sands. The Life-boat Whereupon, the young man—possibly Robert Whitworth was launched on the [ having had painful experience of the catastrophe being observed, and succeeded • value of time under such circumstances— in rescuing the whole of the crew, con- started off at once, with his face south- sisting of 9 persons. ward, and (to use the words of the report), 430 THE LIFE-BOAT. [FEBBUARY 1,1876.

" knowing that no boat could get off ex- ' vessel had sunk soon after striking, and cept the Caister Life-boat, passed by the the crew had secured themselves in the Winterton Life-boat Station, -where there j main rigging. They were now, one by one, is a medium-sized rowing Life-boat, and ; drawn through the water to the Life-boat, never stopped till he had reached Caister which at 10 P.M. regained the shore with Life-boat Station, 6 miles distant, by the 7 rescued men who had formed the which time, as may be supposed, he was crew of the Harmstan, Some of those thoroughly exhausted." rescued were severely cut and bruised, The Caister No. 1 Life-boat is one of and their escape was a narrow one, on the finest of the large sailing Life-boat account of the severity of the gale' and class, and is 42 feet long. Her crew had the rapid destruction of the wreck. been out early in the evening watching At 11.30 P.M. on the 16th November, the Young England, then considered to be "flare-up" signals on the Scroby Sand in an awkward position, but in no imme- being observed from the Life-boat Station, diate danger, and with, no distress-signal the No. 2 Life-boat was launched, and an flying. The vessel subsequently dragged reaching the edge of the shoal observed a her anchors northward and passed out of, fishing smack aground, surrounded by the sight of Caister. These men, on the re- breakers. The crew were in the act of ceipt of the intelligence of the wreck, were making a desperate attempt to escape iu not long in manning the Life-boat, and their own boat when the Life-boat was by 3.30 A.M. had fallen in with the object observed, and her services gladly accepted. of their search, which, they found " in the Having rescued the crew, consisting of 6 midst of the breakers, with her bow and men, the Life-boat lay off the sand till stern broken off, a complete wreck." The ) the tide rose, whes the sea beat the smack men were still clinging to what was ' over into deep water. The Life-boatmen left of their vessel, and were with diffi- then boarded the smack again, and, though culty hauled through the water to the she was leaking badly and waterlogged, Life-boat by lines thrown them. succeeded in bringing her into Yarmouth The report of the wreck states that Harbour by 1 P.M. on the 17th. The wind " the shouts, cries, and tears of joy (of the was moderate during the night, but there 4 rescued men) on the arrival of the was a considerable swell, resulting from Life-boat exceeded all that that crew had a previous gale. ever witnessed," The Life-boat did not At 2 P.M. on 21st November, the same regain the shore with the wrecked seamen Life-boat was launehed to the disabled till past 8 A.&T. on the 21st. The name of Norwegian brig Brodrenes Saab, of Tons- the young man who so gallantly plodded berg, which vessel exhibited signals of on through the storm, with his intelli- distress, it blowing hard at the time from gence, and so preserved the lives of the 4 the N.N.E. At the request of the master men who on the crumbling wreck were the Life-boatmen boarded the vessel, and, counting the moments, is JOHN BBOWIT. aided by her own crew of 6 persons, The Young England was a barque of 400 brought her safely into port. tons belonging to Middlesborough, bound from Hanssand to London with a cargo of HOLT ISLAND.—On the 20th October, iron and wood. She carried a crew of 17, during a gale from the E.S.E., the steamer all told, of whom 12 perished as above Britannia, of Leith, was wrecked on " The described. Kidge," close to the bar of Holy Island About 7 A.M. on the 3rd November, the Harbour. same Life-boat launched to the brigantine The Britannia, had on board a number Earmsion, of Newcastle-on-Tyne, which of passengers, and was bound from Leith vessel was strasded on the Middle Cross to Newcastle. Finding the gale too strong Sand off Caister. A gale from the S.S.E, to steam against, the captain bore up for was blowing, with tbe usual heavy seas Holy Island, and had nearly made good on the beach and off-lying banks. The iis entrance to the harbour when a heavy Life-boat having reached off under sail, sea struck the stern of the steamer, and, anchored in a suitable position, and, after slewing her out of her course, caused her many unsuccessful attempts, succeeded to strike on rocks under the Castle Point. in. establishing communication with the The Life-boat Grace Darling was at once stranded vessel by a heaving-line. Tbe launched and proceeded to the wreck, FEBRUARY 1, 1876.] THE LIFE-BOAT. 431 from which she removed 17 persons, the beach, and conveyed by horses 2 miles mostly women and children. Some fish- farther to windward, and launched off the ing vessels also made their way off to the open shore. Before this was accomplished, lee of the wreck, and before long 78 pas- however, the lights from the distressed sengers had been landed in safety. The vessel had wholly disappeared. captain of the Britannia, relieved thus of The Middlesborough Life-boat's crew, on the care of his passengers, used every the receipt of the telegram, proceeded endeavour to save his ship, but to no down the river with the Life-boat Crossley, purpose; and at about 3 P.M., the vessel and, having communicated with the light- beginning to break up, and the sea hav- house keepers near the entrance of the ing greatly increased with the flowing Tees and heard no tidings of the wreck, tide, the boats all washed away, and the rowed back again, and hauled their boat holds and stokehole full of water, the up. Life-boat was again called into requisi- The Seaton Carew boat's crew also, tion, and after three attempts she managed after pulling about outside for two hours, to embark the crew, 18 in number. The and seeing nothing, returned to their sta- vessel was then finally abandoned. tion, supposing that either the vessel had foundered, or that the Middlesborough SEATON CAREW, DURHAM.—On the 20th Life-boat had rescued the crew. Before October, at 11.30 A.M., the Eussian brig- midnight both boats and crews were safely antine Porthan, of Aland, bound from bestowed for the night. Fortunately some Oruskjoldsrik to Antwerp, being water- of the Seaton Carew men, not feeling en- logged, and in danger of foundering at her tirely reassured, kept a watch. At 3 A.M. anchors outside the entrance of the Biver (Oct. 22nd) the moon got up: some keen- Tees, slipped her cables and bore up for eyed watcher caught sight of the masts of a the land north of the river. She struck vessel rising apparently out of the black the ground a long way off shore, the tide water, and showing faintly against the being out, and a hard gale at S.E. setting now moonlit, stormy sky. The alarm was up a heavy sea on the beach. The vessel promptly given, and the farmer's horses began to break up soon after striking. once more attached to the Seaton Garew The Seaton Carew Life-boat Job Eindley Life-boat carriage. That boat was then had been taken to the beach on first ob- taken along the sands as before, and, at serving the brigantine slip her cables, and 3 A.M., for the second time launched off was now launched, with some difficulty, the beach. The masts of the wreck were owing to the heavy surf on the shore, and hailed after nearly an hour's hard rowing; after a hard row succeeded in removing a feeble answer was returned; then the from the wreck the crew of 9 men. The Life-boat closed, and her crew had the Life-boat's crew are reported as having great satisfaction of removing from the "behaved nobly" on this occasion. mizen rigging of the Auld Reekie 8 poor This Life-boat again did excellent ser- fellows who had been in that position for vice on the 21st October. Soon after dark eight hours, their vessel having foundered, on that day the schooner Auld 'Reekie, and so extinguished their tar-barrel, at bound from Middlesborough to Barcelona 7 P.M. The rescue was indeed timely, as with pitch, got ashore on the North Gare, the men saved were nearly in the last at the entrance of the Biver Tees. It was stage of exhaustion when the Life-boat blowing hard, with a considerable sea, appeared. from the S.E. The Auld Reekie burnt tar- barrels to show her distressed condition, PETERHEAD.—At 9.50 A.M. on the 22nd which signal was observed from the Life- October, the Life-boat of this Station, the boat Station at Seaton Garew, which is a People's Journal, No. 1, was launched for few miles north of the Tees. That station the purpose of saving the crew of the telegraphed to the Middlesborough Station, barque Eyack, of Langesund in Norway, which, being to windward, and able to which was wrecked north of Battray Head, approach close to the wreck while still in a hard easterly gale blowing at the time. the smooth water of the Tees, appeared to The Life-boat did not succeed in reaching have the best chance of rendering assist- the stranded vessel, however, till the crew ance. At the same time the Seaton Carew had been saved by the coastguard with Life-boat herself was started out along the rocket apparatus. After dark on the

2 c 3 432 THE LIFE-BOAT. 1, 1876. same day, the Danish smack Nathalie have perished. As it was, the peril eu- Jacdbine, of Nibe, Jutland, drove ashore countered by all was great, and the Life- near the entrance of the South Harbour, boat's crew deserved praise for their con- •while attempting to enter it. The Life- duct throughout the whole affair, whicli boat was promptly urged to the spot, and •was suitably recognised by the Institution succeeded in saving the crew of 4 men. in the way of a double reward.

GREAT YARMOUTH.—On the evening of BRANCASTER, NORFOLK.—The Life-boat the 23rd October, the Life-boat Abraham Joseph and Mary was launched from this Thomas was launched, through a heavy station, at 8.30 A.M. on the 24th October, surf, to the rescue of the crew of the to go to the assistance of the brig Cuba, schooner Saucy Jack, of Yarmouth, which j of Abo, bound from that port to London, vessel parted from her anchors, from, the ! having a crew of 8 men. The vessel had violence of the south-east gale, and drove I gone on shore on the Burham Flats, and ashore on Yarmouth beach. She carried ! was striking heavily in a considerable sea, a crew of 4 men, who were safely landed, , the result of a previous gale. Considering 3 by the Life-boat, and 1 by the rocket j their vessel lost, the crew were* ready to apparatus, the vessel herself becoming a I jump into the boat when she approached. total wreck. She was bound from Yar- I The Life-boat's crew, however, having mouth to Newcastle, i a better acquaintance with the locality, thought differently, as the weather was im- SUNDERLAND.—About 1.30 A.M. of the proving, and encouraged the crew to re- 23rd October, the night being stormy and i main by their ship; and finally, by their peculiarly dark, the wind at east (dead on advice and assistance, the vessel was driven shore), the lights of a vessel on the Beacon off the bank into deep water, and though Rocks, Eoker, to the north, of the entrance leaking badly, carried safely into King's to Sunderland Harbour, were observed Lynn. from the No. 1 Life-boat Station, and the crew of the Life-boat Good Templar pro- NEW KOMNEY.—At 10 P.M. on the 27th ceeded to launch their boat. A dangerous October, in reply to signals of distress, surf was rolling up on the exposed beach, the Life-boat Dr. Batton was launched and the boat was three times cast up on from this station, and proceeded through it, broadside on. At length the deter- a heavy sea and fresh breeze at S.E. to mined efforts of the crew were crowned the assistance of the barque Atlantic, of with success, and the Life-boat got fairly Grimstad, which, through mistaking cer- off into deep water, and was not long in tain lights, had gone ashore in Bomney making its way to the distressed vessel, Bay while on a voyage from Flushing to which proved to be the screw-steamer the West Indies. The Life-boat reached Altona, of Hamburg, bound from that j the stranded vessel as the crew —11 in port to Sunderland. The rocks on, which 1 number—were in the act of abandoning the vessel struck had quickly penetrated ; her, but, re-encouraged by her presence, her bottom, and she then fell over, with , they returned on board, the Life-boat her decks to seaward, the seas frequently ; remaining by them till her services were sweeping her from stern to stem. With no longer required. great gallantry, and much difficulty and danger, the Life-boatmen succeeded in SELSEY.—On the 14th November, dur- removing from the wreck her crew of ing a heavy westerly gale, the schooner 14 men. They were surrounded by rocks, Henrietta,, of Truro, which was at anchor however, and in the darkness came into in a dangerous position off the Selsey collision with one that ripped the bottom Bocks, hoisted signals of distress, and up, and with considerable difficulty, from the Life-boat Four Sisters was launched her water-logged condition, the boat re- to render aid; but, the tide and gale being gained the shore with the rescued men. against her, she had to return, after a Of course a boat unprovided with indepen- hard struggle, and wait till the tide dent cellular compartments would under turned at 10 P.M., when a second attempt such circumstances have been incapable was made; and shortly before miiinight of floating so many men (27) as the Good the distressed vessel was boarded, and Templar had on board, and many must found to have sustained damage aloft, and FEBBUARY 1, 1876.] THE LIFE-BOAT. 433 to be riding heavily with three anchors on the South Sand, it blowing hard from down. The vessel was afterwards got the N.E., with considerable sea. At the under weigh and carried safely into request of the captain the Life-boatmen Shoreham Harbour. boarded the vessel, which by their local knowledge and assistance was got off the CABDIGAJT. — On the 19th November the sand and carried into port. The Caseo Life-boat John Stuart was launched at carried a crew of 15 men. 6 A.M., and proceeded to the schooner This Life-boat was also afloat all the Johanna Antoinette, of Gravenhage, Hol- night of the 25th November, in conse- land, -which vessel had become a wreck quence of distress signals being exhibited on Cardigan Bar during the night. A from the lightship, from which it was " terrific gale " was blowing from the subsequently ascertained that the vessel "W.S.W., and the crew, for the most part which had required aid had got off the new hands, and with a new coxswain (in bank at 10 P.M. after the distress signals consequence of the recent withdrawal of were shown. It was blowing hard from the Coastguard), had a most perilous task the N.E. on this occasion. to accomplish, the ebb tide from the river making out over the bar against the NORTH BEBWICK.—Information having ocean swell and producing a tremendous been received at this station about 9 A.M. sea. After one hour and twenty minutes' on the 30th November, at which time it hard struggle a position to windward of was blowing a gale from the N.E., ac- the wreck was reached, and the crew, companied by snow squalls, that a vessel being in readiness, jumped into the Life- had been wrecked on the Fidra Island, boat as she dropped past them through 3 miles north of Berwick, the Life- the breakers. AJ1 the crew of 5 men boat Freemason was launched, and suc- thus on board, the Life-boat bore away ceeded in reaching the island, when it for the river, which she entered in safety, was found that the wreck was the sloop and landed about 8.30 at St. Dogmell's. Lauton of Arbroath, from that place This rescue was daring in conception, and bound to Newcastle, which had struck highly creditable to the Life-boatmen at 2 A.M. in a snow squall. One of the from the gallant and determined manner crew had perished, and the remaining in which it was carried into effect. Much 2 men, after great exposure, were thus highly meritorious service had also been rescued by the Life-boat and brought performed by this Life-boat during the ashore. many years she had been under the charge of the Coastguardmen and mainly PADSTOW.—At 6.30 P.M. on the 6th manned by them. November, information was received at this Life-boat Station of a vessel being the 14th November stranded on the Doom bar. The Life-boat the Life -boat Licensed Victualler was Albert Edward proceeded to her assistance, launched to rescue a boy who had bee.n left and was successful in rescuing 4 men who on board the smack Mermaid, of Grimsby, had been left on board by the rest of the which vessel had parted from her cables crew. The vessel was the French brig while in charge of the boy and grounded Marie Josephine, of Cherbourg, bound from 200 yards from the beach in a very rough, j Swansea to Caen. A gale was blowing broken sea, while blowing hard at N.N.E. i from the N.W., and the wreck occurred But after a vain attempt (on account of : in consequence of an attempt to enter the the. shallowuess of the water), the Life- ! harbour at a wrong state of tide. boat had to return to the shore, and the crew, forming a " hand-to-hand " line from I APPLEDOBE.—The brigantine Waterloo, the beach, as far as that was possible, of Cork, bound from that place to Bristol, the end meu swam the remaining dis- j was stranded on the Northam Sands at tance and brought the boy safely ashore. I 2 A.M. on the 6th November. A fresh This was at 7 P.M., long after dark. ! gale from W.N.W. was blowing at the Also on the 22nd November, at 3 P.M., ! time. The Waterloo, having no means of in reply to her signals of distress, this i making a signal of distress, remained un- Life-boat boarded the Eussian barque observed till daylight. As soon as she Caseo, of Bargo, which vessel was aground was seen the Life-boat Hope was got ready, 434 THE LIFE-BOAT. [FEBRUARY 1, 1876.

and at 7.45 A.M. launched to the assist- ward, having lost both her anchors. The ance of the distressed crew. By her Life-boat having boarded the Fleetwing, means all on board, consisting of 6 men she ultimately secured the services of a and the master's wife, were rescued, the steam-tug, by whose assistance she was latter being in a very exhausted state. carried, with 9 of her crew, into port. Whilst the Broad'stairs Life-boat was KISTGSDOWNK.—At 2 A.M. on the llth thus engaged, the Kamsgate Life-boat and November, the Life-boat Sabrina, launched, steam-tug also arrived, but their services during a strong gale at S.W. and pro- were not needed. ceeded to the assistance of the brig Wish, of Plymouth, which was ashore near Old SWANSEA.—At half an hour after mid- Stairs Bay. The Wish was found to be night on the 14th November, in reply to leaking, and with 3 feet of water in her signals of distress shown from the schooner hold. The Life-boatmen kept her free Ellen Beatrice, of Aberystwith, bound from of water, subsequently assisted by men Swansea to Dover, the Life-boat Wolver- from a smack, till daylight, when a steam- hampt&n launched from its station, and tug came to their assistance, and between proceeded to render assistance. them the damaged vessel was got afloat A strong gale was blowing at W.N.W., and carried into Ramsgate Harbour. and the schooner had been dragging her anchors. The vessel had also lost both NOBTH DEAL.—At midnight on the 13th spars and canvas; and the master, in ex- November, it then blowing a hard gale from pectation of his vessel becoming a wreck, W.S.W., signals indicating that a vessel requested the Life-boat to stay by him, was in distress were exhibited from the which she did till the danger was past by Gull Lightship, and the North Deal Life- the gale moderating. boat Van Kook launched forthwith. She proceeded under sail towards the Goodwin FISHGITAED.—About noon of the 14th Sands, but "being unable to discover the of November, during a terrible gale from •wreck, and no more lights being shown, the N.E., signals of distress were hoisted she came to an anchor till daylight in the on board vessels at anchor in Fishguard Downs. As soon as it was daylight she Koads. The No. 1 Life-boat, Sir Edward weighed and proceeded to the Brake Sand, Perratt, was at once launched; but before where she found the barque Monte Carmelo, she could reach the anchorage the schooner of Malta, aground, with signals of distress Elinor and Mary, of Milford, had patted flying. Having boarded this vessel, the her cables and driven among the breakers Life-boat crew succeeded in running out of the Goodwick Sands, the sea immedi- a hawser to a steam-tug, by whose aid she ately sweeping the vessel fore and aft. •was got off and carried into port. The The crew, 3 in number, were rescued with Life-boat then proceeded to the schooner j difficulty by the Life-boat. Scarcely had Josie, of New York, which was also ashore this crew been landed when the Life-boat with distress signals flying, and the master was required to perform a similar service having engaged the service of the Life- for the crew of the Laura, a smack be- boat crew to get his vessel afloat, they longing to Carnarvon; and at 1 o'clock the were fortunately enabled to do BO, the schooner Independence parted her cables schooner not having received material and drove on to the sands, the vessel in- damage. The crews of the two vessels stantly filling and the crew taking refuge numbered 21 persons. in the rigging. These men were, one by one, taken from the rigging, and all safely BBOADSJMJBS,—At midnight on the landed by the Life-boat, which had then, 13th, in reply to signals from the Gull for the fourth time, to make her way off Lightship, the Life-boat Samuel Morrison and remove the crew of the Princess Zoyal, Collins was launched, in a strong breeze of Cardigan, also stranded and the crew at W.S.W., and proceeded under sail to lashed in the rigging to avoid being swept the assistance of the barque Fleetwing, of off by the seas which broke over their Newcastle, bound from Shields to Lisbon, vessel. •which vessel had received considerable Sixteen lives were thus saved by the Sir damage while in collision with the Gull Edward Perrott, and the Institution marked Lightship, and was drifting to the east- its sense of the services rendered by add- FEBRUARY 1, 1876.] THE LIFE-BOAT. 435

ing a bar to the medal of the coxswain, Coastguard Station near the wreck, the JAMES WHITE, Chief Boatman of Coast- Life-boat was launched at 2.15 P.M., and guard, and a Vote of Thanks on vellum, at 3.45 P.M. reached a position near the and letter of thanks, to Mr. J. G. ANNAL, wreck, having come over 7 miles in a Chief Officer of Coastguard, and the Kev. hard N.E. gale, only to notice a signal J. WILLIAMS, respectively, for their valu- from the Coastguard Station that they able aid and co-operation. An additional were too late, as the solitary man who money reward was also voted to the crew. had been clinging to her had been seen to drop into the water and perish. The WEXFORD.—At 10.30 A.M. on the 14th conduct and labour of the Life-boatmen November, the brigantine Emily Raymond, were none the less creditable, as, owing to of St. John's, N.B., then aground on the the heavy surf on the beach, the boat had North Bar, Wexford Harbour, exhibited been twice thrown back on it, and had to signals of distress. A gale was blowing be remounted on her carriage for the next from the N.W. at the time, with a very attempt. No work is so trying as this bad sea on. The Life-boat Civil Ser- working in the water in bitterly cold vice, stationed at Eosslare, at the mouth weather with a large boat to handle, and of Wexford Harbour, proceeded to her the beach or sand yielding under the assistance, and succeeded in landing from feet; and the Hornsea men deserve full her the whole of the crew, consisting of credit for their persistent though un- 9 persons. successful efforts. CLEETHOHPBS.—On the 20th November, ST. ANDREW'S —October 20th, at 5 P.M. just before dark, in reply to signals of The schooner Fantee, of Hamburg, bound distress, the Life-boat Manchester Unity from that port to Shields, was wrecked on was launched to the assistance of the the Tay Bank, 8 miles to leeward of St. Danish schooner Foriuna, of Nykjobing, Andrew's. It was blowing a gale from the bound from that port to Stockton, and car- S.E. with, as usual under such circum- rying a crew of 5 men. The Fortuna had stances, heavy breakers on the bank. The lost an anchor, spars, and sails, and was Life-boat Ladies' Own was launched from in a dangerous position, while the crew- St. Andrew's, and, running to leeward were exhausted by cold and overwork. under sail, with the intention of ulti- At the request of the master, the Life- mately boarding the wreck, got close boatmen went on board and worked the enough to her to ascertain that help was ship until the following day, when the being afforded from the River Tay Life- services of a steam-tug were procured, boat and steam-tug, which were able to which carried her safely into port. It operate from the side of the bank, with was blowing a moderate gale from the less danger to themselves. They thereupon ' N.E. at the time of this service. hauled to the wind and beat back again to her station. The gallant intention of TOTJGHAL.—On the 30th October, at this Life-boat's crew, and the skill exhi- 3 P.M., the schooner Gleaner, of Milford, bited in the management of their boat, •was "wrecked beneath Clay Castle, near reflect great credit on them. the entrance of Youghal Harbour. It was blowing a heavy gale at S. The Life-boat SEASCALE.—On the 26th October, at William Beckett of Leeds was launched 9.30 A.M., the Life-boat William Tomlinson at 3.45, and succeeded in reaching the was launched to the assistance of the wreck, which, to the great disappointment schooner Elizabeth, of Carlisle, which had of the Life-boat's crew, they found de- driven ashore near Seascale, a heavy sea serted; the crew having taken to their breaking on the beach and it blowing own boat, which was almost immediately hard at S.S.W. The Elizabeth was bound capsized, and all perished. from Port Dinorwin to Silloth with a cargo of slates. The Life-boat, after a HORNISEA.—A gallant attempt was made smart row, succeeded in boarding the by this Life-boat, the Ellen and Margaret wreck, and at 1.30 P.M. returned ashore of Settle, on the 20th November, to rescue with the crew of 3 men. the crew of the schooner Rapid, of Boston. In consequence of information from the TBIGNMOUTH.—On the 6th December,

2 c 4 436 THE LIFE-BOAT. [FEBBUAKY 1, 1876. after dark, several of the fishing vessels BRIGHTON and NEWHAVBN.—At noon on of the port being known to be off it, and the 14th November the barque Broughton, expected to take the bar of the river under of Liverpool, bound from Shields to Val- somewhat trying circumstances, the Life- paraiso, was observed drifting towards boat China was held in readiness. It was the land east of Brighton, during a blowing a fresh breeze at E.N.E. with a heavy gale from the W.S.W. The rough sea on the bar at 8 P.M., when a Broughton had lost her mizen-mast, and fishing boat, whilst entering the river, had nearly all her canvas blown away; she was struck by a sea and capsized. The had also a heavy list, from the cargo Life-boat was launched as speedily as having shifted; altogether, she was ia a possible, and succeeded in rescuing 2 of most dangerous position, and hoisted signals the crew. Two were, unhappily, drowned of distress. The London Sunday-Schools' before the Life-boat reached the scene of Life-boat Robert Raikes was launched off the accident. the beach with some difficulty, owing to the heavy surf, and stretched off to the KAMSEY.—On the 24th December, at disabled vessel, under sail. The Broughton 9 A.M., the smack Thistle, of Oastletown, in the' meantime had come to an anchor, bound from Ramsey to Castletown, having and, unfortunately, the Life-boat, miscal- parted her principal cables and sprung a culating her drift, rounded-to under the leak, hoisted signals of distress. It was stern at such a distance that the heaving blowing a heavy gale at S.W., and the grapnels could not reach the vessel. As Life-boat Two Sisters at once launched, a necessary consequence, the Life-boat and, standing off under sail, succeeded in was swept astern by the gale, and, after rescuing the crew of 3 men from the Thistle. a fruitless effort to row up against it, had to bear up for Newhaven. BUDE.— On the 31st December the Life- As soon as the tide served for crossing boat Elizabeth Moore Garden was launched, the bar the Newhaven Life-boat Elizabeth and proceeded to the assistance of the Boys put to sea—this was at 8 P.M.—and, smack Mirre, stranded on the rocks under having rowed a mile westward, was taken Summerlies Point. A heavy ground sea in tow by the tug Victoria, and towed to had set in after the Mirre grounded, which the disabled barque, which, she boaided. made the task of getting the vessel afloat In the meantime the wind shifted off again very difficult. She struck the beach the land, the gale moderated,'and the after she had been got off the rocks, and Broughton rode to her anchors till finer was in a most precarious position, when weather enabled a steam-tug to convey her the Life-boat ran a line through the surf into port. to her, by which means she was got afloat again and safely Mo the river. SKBGNBSS. — At 4.30 A.M. on the 5th On the 21st December, at 6 A.M., the December the barge Star, of Colchester, brig Island Bdle, of Guernsey, bound from bound from Hull to Poole, was driven Wilmington to Bristol, drove ashore near ashore at Winthorpe Gap, on the Lincoln- the entrance to this harbour. It was at shire coast, during a fresh gale at E., the time blowing hard from the west- with snow falling heavily. The Life-boat ward, with a heavy sea running. The Henry Ingram, was conveyed a distance Bude Life-boat was again launched, and of 2 miles by horses, and at 6 A.M. succeeded in saving the whole erew of launched through a considerable surf, the 6 persons. wind being dead on to a very exposed beach. Shortly before daylight the PENSION.—On the 31st December, at stranded vessel was reached: she -was 3 P.M., the Life-boat Christopher Brown surrounded by broken water a few hun- was launched during a S.W. gale, and dred yards from the beach, and some dif- proceeded to the smack Crane, of Beau- ficulty was experienced in getting the inariSj which vessel was at anchor in a crew out. After the rest of the men had dangerous position with a signal of dis- been hauled on board the Life-boat, the tress flying. The Life-boat's crew having master fell overboard, and being without boarded the vessel, got her under weigh, a life-belt, and in imminent danger of and, having sailed her to a place of safety, being swept away, SAMUEL MOODY, fisher- left her secure for the night at 6 P.M. man, and GEORGE CHESNUTT, Coastguard- FEBRUARY 1, 1876.] THE LIFE-BOAT. 437 man, leaped into the sea from the Life- possible to get them on board. Fortunately, boat, and, having their life-belts on, were the Life-boat had only a few hundred able to support him and bring him to the yards to go when she drove ashore on the side of the Life-boat, in which position the beach to leeward of the wreck. The three men held on to the outside life-lines whole crew of the Star, consisting of 3 and were towed ashore, as it was found im- men, were thus saved.

COMMUNICATION BY ELECTEIC TELEGEAPH AND SIGNALS ON THE COAST. BY the wreck of the Deutschland, the In the eighteenth century the require- question of better means of communica- ments of a maritime country in time of tion between outlying stations on the war obliged the Government to establish coasts of the United Kingdom and internal a complete system of signals and signal bases of supply, has received one more stations all round our coasts. At the little jog forward into its inevitable ulti- conclusion of the great war with France mate position of permanent national im- that system was in full force, and at that portance. time the movements of every vessel, friend For any time during the last twenty or foe, were telegraphed from headland to years, those whose life led them to an headland, or on to large towns, or the intimate knowledge of the wants and metropolis, with a facility which con- hardships of maritime trade, and whose tributed in an important degree to the natural thoughtfulness also led them to security of the country. This Govern- consider any apparently feasible method of ment telegraph system was also available ameliorating those conditions, have advo- for summoning such aids as then existed cated the establishment of a sound system, for the preservation of life from ship- of day and night signals from all out- wreck. Accounts of wrecks at the begin- lying lighthouses, lightships, and coast- ning of what may be called the Life-boat guard stations, and the laying down of era all tend to show that the system of telegraphic cables to many of the most coast telegraphy then in existence played prominent stations. an important part in most notable Life- We have now—have had for at least boat and other rescues from shipwreck. twenty years—every form of life-saving With the long peace the need for in- apparatus fairly worked and organised, formation on the part of the Government under Government or private supervision ; as to the movements of its own or other and it is not likely that in the immediate ships became less urgent, though the coast future any remarkable improvements will system of signals maintained a precarious be made in either Life-boat, Eocket Ap- existence for many years to assist the paratus, or other means of saving life Coastguard in protecting the revenue. from shipwreck. Of all the thousand in- As smuggling decreased, the Coastguard- genious contrivances in the shape of Life- men were reduced in number, and the boats and life-rafts, which have been chain of signallers became broken into before the public since 1851, not one has gaps which widened year by year. The retained a permanent hold for general final blow was given by railways and elec- work on the coast except the Northumber- tricity, and the old line of semaphores land prize self-righting Life-boat: while between Portsmouth and the Admiralty, the rocket apparatus, which has achieved and elsewhere, and from headland to so much of late years, was in existence, headland, finally disappeared. But while in all its essential peculiarities, at the the Government, by the help of modern beginning of the century. Increased at- invention, enormously increased its facili- tention and experience have resulted in a ties of communication with the great dock- more efficient manner of working both yards and arsenals, it, conceiving itself to- Life-boat and rocket apparatus, but in be in no way concerned (we suppose) with means of communication along our coast the safety of merchant ships or saving life, we are considerably worse off than our failed to supply a substitute for the old grandfathers were. semaphore system along the coast line; 438 THE LIFE-BOAT. [FEBRUARY 1,1876. and year by year the evil has increased but besides the radical defect that such from the reduction of the Coastguard, and general warnings convey no intelligence the consequent lengthening of the interval as to whether the vessel is in such deadly on lines of coasts in -which watch has peril that she has a moral right to call on ceased to be kept. The result is that all good men to risk their lives to save during the last twenty-five years, and up her crew, or simply (as is just as often to the present time, there has been greater the case) has dragged her anchors into difficulty in communicating along the shallower water, or is leaking a little more coast, and summoning aid to distressed than usual, there is also the fact that vessels at all out-of-the-way parts of the guns can never be counted on for being coast, than existed at the end of the last heard in a gale of wind: they give no century. suflicient information as to the position The First Lord of the Admiralty, or of the wreck or the nature of the help re- the President of the Board of Trade, can quired. While the rockets, good in them- converse at leisure with Plymouth, Deal, selves as a danger signal, have become Leith, or Liverpool, but the Eddystone utterly unreliable, viewed as signals for has no means of letting the authorities at men td risk their lives, in consequence of Plymouth know that a ship is slowly their being permitted to be used by all foundering before the eyes of the keepers, sorts of persons for all sorts of purposes. though the two points are in sight of The Northfleet displays any number of each other. The light-keepers at the rockets, in the hope that aid from Life- Bishop have no means of telling the boat stations, Coastguard stations, and people at St. Mary's that a ship full of ships which surround her on all sides, passengers is slowly but surely tearing to will promptly be sent. Her despairing pieces on the Retarrier reef: and the hun- efforts are viewed from all sides with in- dreds of vessels which yearly are in deadly difference, as conveying no precise mean- peril on the Goodwins, the Kentish Knock, ing, and the few saved oat of the hundreds the Norfolk Sands, and elsewhere, have on board owe their escape to the approach no means of summoning prompt aid from of a cutter, which comes to offer a pilot! the land, though they are only a few miles The Schiller, for many hours rolling to distant from it. and fro on the reef, in the long Atlantic In out-of-the-way parts of the coast the swell, as the rosks bore their way through evil is far greater, and for hundreds of her bottom, fires both rockets and guns; miles there is no means by which a Coast- the former are obscured by the fog, and guardman or beachman can send intel- the boom of the latter passes unheeded by ligence to life-saving stations or harbours, the listeners, as an every-day and un- where assistance could be procured. meaning occurrence. While the light- The number of vessels of which infor- keepers, who in the morning behold the mation reaches the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT poor people clinging to the remnants of INSTITUTION, which might have been saved their wreck, have no means of calling aid had there been any means by which those which, in full readiness to act, is close at who first observed the distressed vessel hand, could they but be warned. could have signalled for aid, is consider- A hundred minor cases of similar im- able ; the number of those which do not port, which do not happen to draw public come under the cognisance of this Society attention, occur; and then comes another must necessarily be far greater; while in great scandal, and the word Deutschland those instances where life has been saved, becomes another smirch on our national in the majority of cases the rescued per- system of maritime supervision. sons have undergone great misery from Had a telegraph cable been laid between long hours of exposure, which would cer- the lightship and the shore, help, both by tainly have been obviated had any system steam and Life-boat, could have been sent for signalling along the coast existed. It to the Deutschland by noon of the day of is true that in the cases of the Goodwin the wreck, and, failing the telegraph, a and Norfolk Sands, recently, the light- proper system of ordinary signalling would ships have been directed to fire guns and have brought aid long before the time rockets when they see a vessel in distress, when the loss of life began. which signals are so understood' by the At the official investigation of the cir- beachmen when they see or hear them; cumstances attending the wrecks of the FEBRUARY 1, 1876.] THE LIFE-BOAT. 439

Schiller and Deutschland, attention was telligence of disasters on the coasts and called in various ways to this question, of off it, together with certain lightships, putting outlying stations in telegraphic should be so provided, together with an communication with the mainland. On organised staff of competent signalmen tlie former occasion, the objections urged and watchers. by the representatives of the Government As for the question of a night danger- were the mechanical difficulties; on the signal to be exhibited by vessels in dis- other occasion we were simply informed tress, we sincerely trust that the few that difficulties did exist which had, up words of the captain of the steam-tug to the present time, been found insu- Liverpool, relative to his reasons for not perable. taking his vessel out to the wreck of the "We do not know what these obstacles Deutschland—in which he points out that are; but it may fairly be conceded that the mere fact of rockets being thrown up those whose duty it has been to enter'into by no means proves that a vessel was in the details of any general scheme may peril—have not been altogether lost sight have detected/scientific and other objec- of either by the Government or the public. tions not generally known. But the three Few points are more important in our objections commonly advanced—the un- arrangements for adding to the security of desirableness of introducing into light- the mariner than this of the night distress- houses and ships anything to distract the signal. The present arrangement has attention of the light-keepers; the danger certainly not yet given general confidence. to be apprehended from lightning, from When the rocket-gun and flare-up were the presence of electric machinery; and reserved by Board of Trade Eegulations, the danger to the electric cable from the sanctioned by Act of Parliament, for the action of the waves at such exposed posi- occasion of a ship being in deadly peril, it tions, are manifestly not of sufficient im- was indispensable for the security of those portance to justify their being advanced who henceforward had to be guided by as serious obstacles, when once the Go- these signals that the provisions of the vernment or the public have become con- regulations should be carried out rigor- vinced that electric telegraphs in such ously. They have not been so carried positions are necessary. out, and the universal complaint of beach- There can be no doubt that sooner or men, fishermen, and life-boatmen, concur- later, if lightships and lighthouses are red in, we believe, by the Coastguard, is found to be hopelessly unsuitable for that.there is as great doubt at the present telegraph stations, special vessels and moment whether certain signals mean special houses, placed as near as possible that a ship is in great danger, or that she to the said lightships and houses, for the simply wishes to communicate for pur- sole purposes of forming telegraph and poses of convenience, as there ever was. signal stations, must be established. This is a most unfortunate fact. In Whether this necessity will arise on the moderate gales, that is, in ordinary bad part of the Government from the exi- weather, the effect of this state of feel- gencies of a maritime war, or whether ing is that numerous Life-boats, sal- such an event will be so long postponed vage-boats, and steam-tugs go out on that the need will be previously recog- different parts of the coast, when not nised by the public and shipowners as an really required, because they may be essential element in the conditions of ma- wanted, though the case does seem ritime trade and public safety, remains to doubtful: but putting aside as compara- be proved. The expense, and the sort of tively unimportant the waste of money doubt as to who are the persons respon- involved in such fruitless expeditions, sible for the performance of the under- every boatman who has so gone off to no taking, may, as we suppose, prolong the purpose returns with an additional seed of time for the carrying out of such a project distrnstfulness of "danger-signals" im- some year or two more; but we cannot planted in his mind, which seed inevitably see why proper day and night signals, by bears fruit when the moderate gale be- flags, semaphores, and various pyrotechnic comes a hurricane, and the ordinary south- lights, should not be at once arranged wester, with its warm drizzling showers, for; and we think that every headland has given place to the bitter north-easter, known to be in a position to transmit in- hail and snow. Such experiences un- 440 THE LIFE-BOAT. [FEBRUARY 1,1876, doubtedly did bear fruit when the Dewtsch- the emergency, that the news did not land was wrecked, and do so constantly in reach Eamsgate till the morning of the scores of wrecks, whose crews endure long 8th, and the Kamsgate Steam-tug and nights of waiting in Tain for succour, till Life-boat actually started on a most they perish one by one, and of whom no gallant, but unnecessary expedition . to one survives to tell us the story. rescue the crew of the wreck, at the time The beachmen, the fishermen, and the they were being taken off by the tug from Coastguard, who man our Life-boats and Harwich ! The Eamsgate men were thus other boats, and throughout the greater part needlessly exposed for fourteen hours in a of our coasts are rarely known to fail when storm, with the cold so intense that the it is absolutely certain that the crew of a salt water froze as it fell in showers over wreck is in real peril, are the last men to the bows of the Life-boat. whom to impute a shadow of blame for It is also significant, that the Aldborough this. The fact in itself is not creditable to Life-boat's crew declined to launch their a great maritime state; and the certainty boat (they being 15 miles from the wreck), that such a state of things must produce mainly-because there were no sure grounds again and again similar disaster, indeed for concluding that the crew were still is producing them in different shapes and on board it; information which could. degrees day after day at the present | certainly have been conveyed by the Ship- time, is neither comforting, we should j wash Lightship, had it had an electric- suppose, to a British public smarting un- wire communication with the shore; or, der the pain and discredit of the notable failing that, by properly-arranged " dis- disasters at sea of recent years, nor re- tant signals " visible to the eye. assuring to those foreign states whose At the same time, it is manifest that ships frequent British ports, and whose had the information been telegraphed subjects are supposed to have suffered ! from the point which it actually did reach from British maladministration of mari- ! so early as 10 A.M., either to the Admir- time affairs. ] alty or the Board of Trade, or any other public department, assistance could with ease have been sent to the wreck by orders While the foregoing has been preparing from London, not on the forenoon the day for the press, two cases have occurred after the wreck, but before noon the day of which, are apt types of hundreds of others the wreck. on the records of this Institution, and Had this vessel carried a lot of help- which will give greater force to our re- less passengers, instead of nine hardy sea- marks. men, the story of the Deutschland would The first case is that of the wreck of a inevitably have been repeated, and with a foreign barque on the Shipwash, during far greater national discredit. the night of the 6th of January. The The other recent case to which we invite Shipwash is a bank 8 miles from the attention is that of the steamer Vesper, of land, the nearest large port to it being Hartlepool, lost on the Kish Bank, 4 Harwich, from which its southern end is miles south of the Kish Lightship, on distant 10 miles. This wreck was dis- the morning of the 13th January. The covered by several smacks soon after 7 in weather is reported as a "fresh breeze, the morning of the 7th of January. The with a heavy swell." The crew of this news was in possession of the Coastguard wreck, which struck the bank at 5 A.M., and others at Walton, Harwich, and Aid- though, only 4 miles from the light- borough before 10 A.M. that day, but the ship (which saw them), 7 miles from crew were not taken off the wreck till Kingstown, and less than 6 from the after daylight on the following morning— Coastguard station at Dalkey, received after they had been more than twenty-four neither assistance nor attempted assistance, hours exposed to all the horrors of a piti- nor did the lightship pass the news on less easterly gale, and the momentary ex- to the shore until 10 A.M., when a boatman pectation of being either swept off the at Kingstown saw masts sticking out of wreck by the sea, or the vessel itself the water on the Kish Bank, with signals breaking up beneath their feet. of distress flying from them. Promptly So ill adapted is our system of sending enough then the Life-boat was launched, information along the coast, however great and, towed by H.M.'s steam tender Amelia, FEBRUABY 1, 1876.] THE LIFE-BOAT. 441 proceeded to the wreck, only to find, how- year by year. But the universal use ever, that on the steamer sinking, the of " distant signals," to be seen by the crew had taken to their own boats, and eye by day or night, might and ought being unburdened with passengers, and to be introduced by the Government the weather being moderate, all escaped forthwith. There is no reason, for in- to the land. stance, why the lightships on the Kish What a reproach to our system, that Bank and the Shipwash, should not long the lightship should have had no means ago have been furnished with the means of signalling for assistance when it was of unmistakably signalling to the nearest first wanted, and no means afterwards of point of land: such signals as " wreck on hoisting the signal that the lives were shore," " crew in imminent peril," or saved! " crew from wreck rescued;" and no rea- Certainly, if it had been blowing any- son why a permanent signal station at thing like a gale, the whole of the crew the nearest points of land respectively of the Vesper would have perished for should not have been established; the the want of the lightship having proper duty of the signalmen thereat being to means of communication. watch the lightship, and who should It is manifest that a scheme for con- have full instructions as to what to do with necting all important points of observa- their information when they get it! tion by electric telegraph, with what may This practical and cheap reform could be termed " assistance depots/.' could not be effected in a few weeks, with an outlay be completed without considerable delay, which would be inappreciable compared great consideration, and a vast outlay. with the value of the ships and cargoes "We may, in fact, conclude that this part yearly saved from destruction, indepen- of the work, even after the necessity has dently of the question of life-saving alto- been fully recognised, and the project gether. actually entered on, will be piecemeal and But such a labour could of course only slow. A few cables here and there, to be undertaken by the State, and no pri- well-known and obvious danger-points— vate society, or commercial body, or na- oftentimes the important point in deter- tional institution • could by any means , mining on the station being its suitability interfere with a work which, both on ac- for the ordinary necessities of commerce, count of the utilisation of the means irrespective of life and death cases—this already existing, and of the indispensable must be the beginning. Afterwards, as control it would be necessary to hold over time and chance develop other necessities, numerous individuals on all parts of the more cables will be laid. Again, the coast, must of necessity be initiated, car- question, of money will have an import- ried out, and kept under due supervision ant influence in delaying, because only by the Government. a certain sum would probably be allowed

THE LIFE-BOAT STATIONS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM. XII.—GROOMSPORT. the coast between these shoals and Ballycormick Point is known as Groomsport Bay. Coasting The Florence, 32 feet long, 7 feet 6 inches beam, ! vessels find anchorage in the bay with long-shore 10 oars. j winds; but it is open to the north. A LIFE-BOAT was first stationed at this small i Two miles east of the Briggs is Copeland fishing port by the Institution in 1858; in 1867 it ! Island; and a mile north of that is Mese Island, on was replaced by the present boat, the funds for which is a lighthouse of the utmost value to which were presented to the Institution by an shipping passing southward or eastward from Bel- Oxfordshire lady. fast Lough. Before the era of lighthouses these Groomsport is on the north coast of County islands and the adjacent mainland of Foreland Down, at the north-east extremity of Belfast Bay. Point, north of Donaghadee, were the scenes of Immediately to the east of the port and Life-boat many fatal wrecks. Wrecks, however, of late Station there runs out from the general lay of the years, have not been numerous, as the water be- coast, which is east and west, & series of rocks, ter- tween the islands is of a safe depth, and the coast minating in a shoal called the " Briggs"; the is sufficiently lighted. extremity is marked by a buoy, which is a mile The Life-boat at Groomsport might be useful as northward from the shore. A slight indenture of far east as these islands, as well as give her aid to 442 THE LIFE-BOAT. [FEBRUARY 1,1876. vessels stranded on the Briggs and other reefs county of Durham," Lindisfarn abbey and island, nearer home. together with the adjacent mainland, having in The boat-house is built close to a small tidal old times belonged to that see. The trend of the camber, into which the boat is launched from her coast hereabouts is north-west and south-east. carriage when the tide is above half flood. To- Holy Island conforms generally to the lay of the wards low water the boat has to be launched off land, being about 3 miles long from its north-west the open beach, a short distance to the eastward. to its south-east extremity, and a mile wide in its There are a great number of fishermen and broadest part. The north-west end fines away to pilots resident in the town, of a hardy and fine a low sandy point. The southern part is rocky type, who are not slow to risk their lives in their and bold, crowned at the south-eastern extremity own boats, in which they have great confidence; with a remarkable-looking tower and castle. Be- and thus the occasions on which the Life-boat's tween the island and the mainland is a shallow crew are called on to distinguish themselves are sound, 2 miles broad, wnich is for the most part not numerous. They have been found ready and nearly dry at low water. Off the south end of the eager to try their utmost when needed. island, however, is a clear pool, with 4 and 5 The Rev. A. H. MCCAUSLAND, Rector of Grooms- fathoms of water in it at low tides, which is port, is the active Hon. Sec. of this Branch. completely sheltered, and this is Holy Island Harbour. In the centre of the island, on its south-west shore, and overlooking the harbour, is the town of Lindisfarn, and the ruins of the old abbey. XIII.—NORTH BERWICK. The Institution has here placed the Life-boat Grace Darling, the cost of which was presented The Freemason, 30 feet long, 7 feet 7 Inches beam, to the Institution by LADY WATBOK, through Sir 10 oars. W. G. ARMSTRONG, F.R.S., in 1865. The Grace THE station in Scotland next to Dunbar (which Darling has been launched thirteen times to was described in the November number of this vessels in distress and has saved 53 lives. Journal) is North Berwick. In 1868 the Bombay was presented to the Insti- North Berwick is one of the watering-places tution by the late J. G. FRITH, Esq., and Mrs. within convenient reach of Edinburgh, and seems FRITH, and stationed on the seaward face of a likely to attain large proportions before very long. sandy point, projecting from the mainland oppo- It is also a favourite fishing-station, and a consi- site the south end of the island, and which derable number of deep-sea fishermen make it forms the southern shore of the before-mentioned their headquarters. harbour. This town is in Haddingtonshire, and is by sea The Grace Darling can proceed under the lee of about 8 miles west of Dunbar, and 18 miles the island, either north or south, when the tide is eastward from Leith Roads. up, and is kept in a boat-house, on a carriage, not Immediately east of the sandy bay, on the far from the water. At low tide her operations shores of which the town is built, and which faces are limited to the south end. ( Vide p. 430.) the north, there projects a small rocky promon- The Bombay, on the other hand, launches off tory ; on this neck of land, there about 30 yards her carriage on to the open beach. She has the wide, is built tjie boat-house for the Life-boat disadvantage of a heavy sea to contend with Freemason, which is kept on a carriage, and can be whilst launching, but is independent of tides; and launched either in a sandy bay to the eastward, or is immediately on the spot most likely to be the in the before-mentioned bay to the westward. scene of wrecks. Her crew, however, reside on Immediately northward of North Berwick, and the island, and have to cross the harbour in an a mile off shore, is Craig Leith, a rocky islet of ordinary boat, before they get to her. This is one considerable height; while 3 miles to the north- of the occasional difficulties this Institution has east is the famous Bass Rock,' a prominent object to deal with, as the most advantageous sites for seen from both sides of the Firth of Tay. The Life-boats, are sometimes far removed from the Island of May is distant 8 miles. dwellings of fishermen and boatmen. A short distance inland is the hill called North On the bar of Holy Island is 8 feet of water at Berwick Law, another well-known feature in the low water, spring tides: the course in is tolerably scenery of this coast. straight and easily discerned. It is narrow, how- Shipping passing to and from Leith Roads, ever, and there are shoals on either band. To the southward and eastward, approach this coast north are the Burrows, Ploughseat, and Willgate, closely, the Bass and Craig Leith being safe and while eastward are the Goldstone, Stiel, and easily identified landmarks. Guzzard, all isolated dangerous rocks or reefa. The zealous Hon. Sec. of this Station is "WALTER On the south side of the entrance are the Parton MALCOLM, Esq., who, with the assistance of the Stiel rocks, and the Bat shoal. Local Committee, has been able to raise funds Holy Island possesses an especial interest to sufficient to defray the expense of keeping up the North-countrymen, as the abode and refuge of the establishment hitherto. missionary Aidan, sent from the island of Ions The funds for the present boat were presented at the request of the Saxon King Oswald for the to the Institution by the Freemasons of England, reconversion of the Northumbrians, then fast in 1871. Twenty-three lives have been saved at lapsing into barbarism, after their first conver- sion by Paulinus in the time of King Edwin. the station since its first formation in 1860. Aidan and his successors in later times found it expedient to have a still more secure asylum in which occasionally to retreat, and they found it in the lonely Fame Islands, which are 5 miles off to the south-eastward. XIV.—HOLY ISLAND. It was on one of these Fame Islands that the The Grace Darling,) both 32 feet long, 7 feet 4 steamer Forfanhire was lost in 1838, and was the — • j inches beam, 10 oars. occasion of the noble display of devoted courage on the part of Grace Darling, who in company with HOLY ISLAND, or Lindisfarn, on the coast of her father saved the 9 survivors from the wreck, Northumberland, is contiguous to that portion of after they had been exposed in that position in a the county marked in the maps as " part of the gale of wind for many hours. FEBRUARY 1, 1876.] THE LIFE-BOAT. 443

Insight,a few miles to the south,is the gigantic water, the boat could be conveyed along them fortified cliff of iiamborough, the stronghold of close to a wreck before launching. the Saxon kings from the beginning of their rule Two miles south of the Tenby Life-boat House in the north. ! is Caldy Island, under the lee of which is an an- | chorage known as Man-of-war Roads. Caldy Is- land is the southern extremity of Carmarthen Bay. Four miles north of the Life-boat House is XV.—TENBY. the small tidal harbour of Saundersfoot. At • Tenby there is also a small tidal harbour. The Florence, 33 feet long, 8 feet beam, 10 oars. , Immediately in front of the sandy cove into which the Life-boat usually launches, is a rocky THE next Life-boat station in Wales—westward , islet, called St. Catherine's, and this affords great from Carmarthen, of which we gave some account I protection to the launching-place as a rule; but in the number of this Journal on 1st November, from the confined space between two little rocky 18T5—is at Tenby, where a Life-boat was first headlands at certain times of the tide, a dangerous placed in 1852. i bubbling sort of sea sets into the cove. Ships find The boat-house is built close to the water's edge, ' shelter under Caldy Island with south-west gales, facing to the eastward. Behind the boat-house 1 and wait there until an opportunity offers of rise-steep cliffs, on the top of which the town is getting to sea, or running into one of the har- built. A road leads up from the boat-house bours on the north side of the Bristol Channel through a gap in the cliffs to the town, and by ; C. H. WELI.S, Esq., of Tenby House, is the able this means the boat has access to the roads for ' Hon. Sec. of this Branch. travelling along the coast. Extensive sands at The Life-boats on this station have been called the foot of the high ground extend from the boat- , out on service twenty-one times to vessels in dis- house several miles southward, and except at high , tress and have saved 56 lives.

ADDITIONAL STATIONS AND NEW LIFE-BOATS.

SWANAGE, DORSET.—In the month of taking. The gift was readily accepted, January, 1875, a shipwreck took place and a large Life-boat, 35 feet long, 9 feet on the Peveril Ledge, off this place, wide, and rowing 10 oars double-banked, and it was only with difficulty, and by was accordingly provided for this station. incurring much risk, that the crew were A substantial and commodious house has saved through the exertions of the Coast- been erected for the Life-boat on a con- guardmen in their boats—it being im- venient site, kindly granted for that practicable to convey the intelligence of purpose by the EARL OP ELDON. A stone the wreck to Poole, the nearest Life-boat launching slipway, in front of the house, Station, until some time had elapsed. has also been constructed for the use of Thereupon the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT IN- the boat. The Life-boat and its equip- STITUTION offered to form a Life-boat ment were presented to the Institution Station at Swanage, in the event of by S. J. WILDE, Esq., of London, on behalf the local residents being prepared to of his aunt, the late Miss M. K. WILDE ; extend their co-operation to the under- that lady, having requested Mr. WILDE, 444 THE LIFE-BOAT. [FEBBUABY 1,1875. as her residuary legatee, to make the gift were then tried, in conjunction with the of a Life-boat to the Society. The boat, in other two Life-boats, and the new boat accordance •with the desire of the deceased was put under a crane and capsized twice lady, is named the Charlotte Mary, after to demonstrate the powers of self-righting, two sisters who had pre-deceased her, self-ejecting water, dec. The Coastguard and with whom she had lived in close afterwards went through the usual practice affection for more than sixty years. The with the Rocket Apparatus, and showed public inauguration of the new Life-boat how it is used in saving life from ship- Station took place on the 16th Sept. last wreck. under the superintendence of Gapt. WARD, E.N., Inspector of Life-boats to the In- T.YNEMOCTH, NORTIIUMBEELASD.—The stitution, KICHARD LEWIS, Esq., Secretary No. 1 Life-boat on this station, which had to the Institution, being also present. been there thirteen years, and had saved There was a large gathering of spec- 23 lives on different occasions, had been tators on the occasion, many of whom extensively injured by coming in contact attended from Poole, Bournemouth, and with-floating wreckage when out on ser- different towns and •villages in the dis- vice, and it has been replaced by a very trict; the Life-boats from the adjoining fine Life-boat, 37 feet long, and 9 feet stations, Poole and Kimeridge, were also wide, rowing 12 oars double-banked, the present in the bay, and took part in the boat being furnished also with a new practice which followed the launch of transporting carriage. The expense of the new boat. Prior to that ceremony, the boat and equipment has been defrayed J. C. ROBINSON, Esq., Patron of the Branch, ; from the " Civil Service " Life-boat Fund, who, with G. BUKT, Esq., the President, ! and the boat is named the Charles Dibdin, and other gentlemen, had rendered every j after the well-known naval song-writer assistance in its formation, addressed and his descendant, the zealous Honorary those who had attended, and expressed \ Secretary of the Fund, which has now the satisfaction of himself and the local provided two fine Life-boats for the NA- residents at the formation of the new ,' TiosAt LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION. Their Life-boat Station, and said that he felt j first Life-boat, named the Civil Service, is sure the crew would fully perform their ' stationed at Wexford, and has done some duty with the Life-boat at all times. ! noble- services, having saved altogether Mr. WILDE having also made some re- 89 persons shipwrecked on that dan- marks, and explained the nature of the gerous coast. His Eoyal Highness the gift of the Life-boat, Mr. LEWIS and Capt. DUKE OP EcrraraGH is the Patron of the WABD returned thanks on the part of the Civil Service Life-boat Fund, and there NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTTTCTION to Mr. are upwards of 2,600 gentlemen in dif- WILDE and Ms co-exec\itor, JAMES KYDEB ferent Government departments contri- Mow ATT, Esq., Mr. LEWIS remarking that buting towards the support of their two so auspicious a day as they were then Life-boats. A very imposing demonstra- favoured with augured well for the fatnre tion took place at Tynemouth on the 12th success of the Life-boat. He also bore ,' June last, on the occasion of the public testimony to the gallantry of the Life- ; launch of the Life-boat, under the super- boatmen on our shores, who never hesi- I intendence of Capt. C. GRAY JONES, B.!N., tated for a moment in manning those ; Second Assistant-Inspector of Life-boats, boats, however furious the gale might be ' the ceremony of naming being performed and the danger they might have to en- by Miss ADAMSON, sister of the Majoi of counter in the performance of their noble Tynemouth, and Mr. DIBDIN being present work. After Mr. BXTRT had also expressed ' as the representative of the donors. A the gratification of the people of Swanage procession of boats from the men-of-war at receiving the Life-boat, the Eer. B. D. and training ships, including the Life- TBAVEKS offered up prayer on its behalf; ' boats of the Shields Life-boat Society, Mrs. WILDE then named the boat, and it ; received and followed the new boat when was at once launched in excellent style launched. On its return the boat; was amidst the cheers of the spectators, two capsized opposite the pier to demonstrate volleys being fired by the Coastguardmen ' the self-righting property, the crew re- and the Artillery Volunteer Corps. The maining in the boat and going round rowing and sailing powers of the Life-boat with it when it was upaet. The mem- FEBRUARY 1, 1876.] THE LIFE-BOAT. 445 bers of the Tynemouth Volunteer Life Order of Odd Fellows, the band of the Brigade rendered every assistance on the North Somerset Rifle Corps, and a large occasion, and after the proceedings with number of private conveyances. On the Life-boat were over they gave an arriving at Watchet, the boat was placed illustration of the mode in which the at the top of the Town Slip, and the Rocket Apparatus is used in saving life Rev. W. J. NOBLE then offered up prayer on occasions of shipwrecks close to the for its success, after which E. S. SAXTON, land; they also showed the use of the Life- I Esq., in the name of Mrs. SOMES, formally saving Dresses similar to those in which presented the Life-boat to the Institution, Capt. BOYTON crossed the. Channel, the j Capt. C. GRAY JONES, R.N., and the Rev. BOARD OF TKADE having furnished them | ROBERT POOLE, having acknowledged the with several some time since, when they ! gift in suitable terms, the usual ceremony were first brought to England by the in- j of naming was performed by Mrs. SOMES, ventor, Mr. C. S. MERHIMAN of New York, j and the boat was launched into the sea and put through various evolutions by WATCHET, SOMERSET.—The Society has | the crew. The whole proceedings were formed a Life-boat Station at this port, witnessed with much interest by a large the shipping trade of which is increasing concourse of spectators. every year, while wrecks are occasionally taking place in the neighbourhood, and CEESSWELL, NORTHUMBERLAND. — The there is a long distance between the Lyn- NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION has for- mouth and Burnham Life-boat Stations warded a new Life-boat to Cresswell, on either side of Watchet. In all pro- where the crew of a fishing coble perished bability the boat will also be able at some months since in a storm, and where times to go to the aid of vessels on the it had been suggested that a Life-boat distant banks when the Burnham Life- might advantageously be placed, as the boat could not do so. The whole expense fishermen had frequently encountered con- of the new Life-boat establishment was siderable risks in their own boats, both defrayed by Mrs. JOSEPH SOMES, of Annery by going to .vessels in distress, and House, North Devon; the boat, in accord- when overtaken by gales of wind on their ance with her desire, being named the fishing-grounds. The Life-boat is 30 feet Joseph Somes, after her late husband, who long, 8 feet wide, and rows 8 oars double- was formerly M.P. for Dartmouth. The banked; it possesses the usual valuable site for the commodious and ornamental characteristics of the self-righting boats, house built for this Life-boat was provided and is furnished with a transporting and through the liberality of the DOWAGER launching carriage, and full equipment COUNTESS OF EGREMONT. The boat is a of valuable stores. A substantial and 33-feet 10-oared one, and is furnished commodious house has been erected for with a transporting carriage. It should the boat and carriage on a convenient site be mentioned that both boat and carriage granted for that purpose by the Lord of were granted a free conveyance from the Manor, A. J. BAKEB CRESSWELL, Esq., Bristol to their station by the Bristol and who also kindly gave the dressed stone Exeter Railway Company. The inaugu- for the building. The Rev. J. E. LEEFE and ration of the new Life-boat establishment other friends also rendered every assistance took place on the 29th July last, under in the organisation of the Cresswell Life- the superintendence of the Second As- boat establishment. The whole cost of sistant-Inspector, the inhabitants giving the station was defrayed by THOMAS a very hearty reception to the boat. The HACKWOOD, Esq., of Sydenham, Kent, and town was extensively decorated with flags, the boat, at his request, is named the flowers, ornamental inscriptions, &c., Old Potter. The first launch of the Life- several triumphal arches being also erected boat took place on the 21st August last, in honour of the Life-boat; which, on its under the superintendence of the Second carriage, was drawn from Williton rail- Assistant-Inspector of Life-boats. Prayers way station through the town, by way of iaving been offered up by the Rev. J. E. Orchard Wyndham, in the midst of an LEEFE, the Assistant-Inspector, in a few imposing procession, which comprised appropriate remarks, then handed the numerous seamen, members of the Ancient boat over to the Local Committee, after Order of Foresters and the Independent which Miss CRESSWELL named it in the 44G THE LIFE-BOAT.. [FEBKXJA.BY 1,1876. customary manner. A number of willing j £. s. d. The late HENBY LIDDFU, Esq., of hands were then put to the wheels of the ! Hull 100 0 0 carriage, first and foremost amongst them ' The late Mrs. DOKOTHY KAYMENT, of being the wives of the fishermen who Dartmouth 100 0 0 The late Mr. W. D. HOOPER, of llfra- man the Life-boat, and quickly the boat combe 45 0 0 •was launched and taken for its first trip | on its native element. We may here Mr, LEWIS, the Secretary, reported that he had, during the months of August and September, briefly add that the Old Potter Life-boat I visited some of the Life-boat Stations on the has already rendered most valuable ser- , coasts of Dorset, Somerset, Devon, and Cornwall, vices in saving the crew of IS men and 3 | and some Inland Branches of the Institution. He found all the Life-boat Stations in excellent passengers from the steamer Gustaf, of \ order, and the crews of the boats continued to Gothenburg, which stranded off Cresswell ' express their entire satisfaction with their on the Gth of January last. qualities. Reported the transmission to its station of the Swanage Life-boat. The Station was publicly inaugurated, and the Boat launched on the 16th September, Captain WARD,' R.N., the Inspector of Life-boats to the OB 1KB Institution, being present on the occasion. Decided, on the application of the local resi- MEETINGS OF THE COMMITTEE. dents, and the recommendation of the Inspector of Life-boats, to form a Life-boat Station at THURSDAY, 7th October, 1875 : Torquay. THOMAS CHAPMAN, Esq., F.R.S., V.P., Chairman Paid 5,282/. 9s. lOrf. for sundry charges on of thelnstitutim, in the Chair. various Life-boat Establishments. Read and approved the Minutes of the previous Voted 5il. Is. to pay the expenses of the Meeting, and those 'of the Finance and Corre- Carnsore, Broughty Ferry, Padstow, and Wexford spondence, and Wreck and Reward Sub-Com- Life-boats in performing the following services;— mittees. Lives Also the Report of Captain 3. R. "WARD, R.N., saved. Inspector of Life-boats to the Institution, on his Brigautine Paqnete de Terra Nova ... 10 recent visits to Swanage and Torquay. Schooner Cathrina, of liiga 8 Also the Report of Captain D. ROBERTSON, R.N., Brigantine fmmacolata, of Naples .... 8 Assistant-Inspector of Life-boats, on his visits to Steamer Montagu, of Liverpool .... 32 Brighton and Shoreham. Also the report of Captain C. GRAY JONES, The Ramsgate Life-boat had also succeeded, in R.N., Second Assistant-Inspector of Life-boats, conjunction with the Harbour steam-tug Vulcan, on his recent visits to Dunbar, North Berwick, in saving the barque Bucephalus, of Shields, and Anstruther, St. Andrews, Broughty Ferry, Bnddon her crew of 20 men, when that vessel was in a Ness, Longhope, Stromness, Thurso,Lossiemouth, dangerous position near the Goodwin Sands on Buckie, Banff, Fraserburgh, Peterhead, Stone- the 22nd September. haven, Montrose, and ArDroath. [The particulars ot these various Life-boat ! services will be found detailed in pages 414-6 of Reported the receipt of the following special ! the last Number of this Journal, for the 1st contributions since the last Meeting;— 1 November, 1875.] - £. s. d. | The Committee expressed their deep sympathy The Misses HEWITT, of Lytham, per j with the families of the 3 Life-boatmen who Lytham Branch, additional . . . 100 0 0 | perished on the 27th September from tie Clevedon Life-boat Fund, per Mrs. E. i Liverpool Tubular Life-boat, which belongs to LAVINGTON, including 201. 18s. ~d. \ the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board. It will collected by her Pupils during the be remembered that the boat had capsized, after half-year ending 30th June, 1875 . 22 2 2 taking off the crew of the wrecked ship Ellen " A Gift, in the event of being lost at Southard, of Richmond, Maine, U.S., when the sea, by the late Mr. JOHN BEVEKLEY New Brighton Tubular Life-boat of the Institu- FILLET, of Boston, Lincolnshire, who tion, went to its assistance, and saved 19 perished in a Cyclone in the Gulf of f persons from the water, while 12 were unfor- Mexico,with all hands, in the schooner : tunately lost. The Committee voted 10W. in aid Cltalleagtr, on his passage from New of the local subscription on behalf of the families Orleans to Jamaica, October, 1873" 26 5 0 of the 3 men, besides granting SOI. to the crew of Amount collected on board R.M.S. ! the New Brighton Lite-boat in acknowledgment Raman during her late voyage, per { of their prompt and humane conduct and special Lieut. ALFRED "W. BROOKE-SMITH, 1 exertions on the occasion. R.N.R 15 10 0 Voted 26Z. 15s. 3d. to pay the expenses of the Offertory at the Church of St. Peter's Life-boats at Llanddwyn, Broadstairs, Arklow, in the East, Oxford, on Sunday, 29th and Newhaven, in either assembling the crews, or August, per Rev. J. R. KISG, M.A. 6 15 5 putting off with the view of rendering aid to — To be severally thanked. 1 distressed vessels, which did not ultimately re- Reported that the following legacies had been ' quire the services of the Life-boats. bequeathed to the Institution:— Voted 61. to 6 men who put off in a boat from £. « d the steamer Bohemian, of Liverpool, and assisted The late JOHN Surra, Esq., of Hull . 200 0 0 to save 5 men from another boat, which was cap- The late W. H. ROBERTS, Esq., of sized in St. Mary's Roads, Scilly Islands, on the Swansea 100 0 0 10th July. FEBRUARY 1, 1876.] THE LIFE-BOAT. 447

Also 21. each to 2 young men employed as charge on board a vessel belonging to Capt. •waiters at the Eocles Hotel, Bantry, Ireland, for RICHARD PEEK, a member of the Local Committee. putting off in a boat, and rescuing 2 of the crew — To be thanked. of the yachtCiara, of Skibbereen, whose boat had Voted the thanks of the Institution, to IX R. W. been capsized in Bantry Bay, whilst they were POKKITT, Esq., and Mr. WU.LIAM ROBINSOS, in going off from the shore to the yacht after mid- acknowledgment of their past valuable co-opera- night on the llth August. tion as the Honorary Secretaries, respectively, of Also ]/. to 3 men for going off in & small punt, the Bridlingtori Quay and Donna Nook Branches and saving 3 men from a Coastgnard boat belong- of the Institution. ing to Morris Castle (Wexford) Coastguard Also (o T. GRAY JONES, Esq., late Collector of Station, which had been capsized off that place on H.M.'s Customs at Newport, Monmouthshire, in the 7th September. acknowledgment of his zealous co-operation in collecting contributions for the Institution while holding that office. THURSDAY, 4th November: Decided that a new Life-boat be placed on the No. 1 Station at Sunderland, in lieu of the present The Chairman of the Institution, in the Chair. boat, which was seriously injured while rescuing the crew of 14 men from the stranded s.s. Altona, Head and approved the MVmites of the previous of Hamburg, on the 23rd October. Meeting, and those of the Finance and Corre- [A full account of this service will he found on spondence, and Wreck and Reward Sub-Com- p. 432 of this Journal.] mittees. Ordered that different works be carried out at Also the Report of the Inspector of Life-boats, the Hartlepool and Staithes Life-boat Stations, at on bis recent visits to BtixViam, Teignmouth, an expense of 387/. 14s. Exmouth, Sidmonth, Lyme Regi?, Salcombe, Fly- mouth, Appledore, Clovelly, Braunton, Staithes, Paid 2,44W. 2s. 9d. for sundry charges on various Hartlepool, Sundeiland, and Whitby. Life-boat Establishments. Also the Report of the Assistant-Inspector of Voted 296Z. 16». 6rf. to pay the expenses of the Life-boats, on his visits to'Worthing, Selsey, West Seaham, Scarborough, Montrose,Whitby,Broughty Wittering, Hayling Island, Brooke, Brighstone Ferry, Arklow, Holy Island, Caister, Seaton Grange, Bembridge, Southampton, Guernsey, and Carew, Sunderland No. 1, Great Yarmouth, Peter- Alderney. head, Seascale, and New Romney Life-boats in Reported the receipt of the following special performing the following services:— contributions since the last Meeting :— Lives £. *. d. saved. " In Memoriam " 100 0 0 Schooner Lucinde, of Whitstable .... 6 Proceeds of a Collection, in the Parish Fishing boat Mary Am, of Scarborough— Church of St. Cuthbert, Lytham, on assisted to save vessel and 9 the ocasion of the Harvest festival, Russian schooner Emilia; schooners Anne on the 13th October, per Kev. H. B. and Scotsman; and brig Sif— rendered as- HAWKINS, M.A., through Lytham sistance. Branch 21 19 10 Schooner Hampton, of Newcastle .... 7 Contents of Pillar and other Contribu- Barque Teazer, of Whitby « tion Boxes at Ramsgate, per Captain Schooner Leopold, of Riga ....'.. 6 RICHARD BRAISE, additional . . 13 12 0 Brig Victor, of Drammen 8 Collected on board the S.S. St. O«yth Schooner Sensitive, of Boulogne—rendered on her last voyage, per Captain assistance. R, McNAB 8 12 0 Steamer Britannia, of Leith 35 Half of Collection in Badwell Ash Barque Younff ISnoIwut, of Middlesborough . 4 Church on Harvest Thanksgiving Brigantine Porthan, of Aland 9 Day. 17th October, per Rev. HENRI Schooner Avid Ree&ie, of Middlesborough . 8 RAT 630 S.S. Altona, of Hamburg 14 Collected in Harby Church, Melton Schooner Saucy Jack, of Great Yarmouth . 4 Mowbray, on Sunday, October 3rd, Smack Nnthalin Jacob'me, of Nipe, Denmark 4 per Rev. M. O. NOBMAN .... 1 16 0 Schooner Elizabeth, ot Carlisle 3 Part of a Collection at Harvest Festival Barque Atlantic, of Grimstadt—remained by at Chilton Church, Suffolk, on Sunday, vessel. 17th October, per Rev. HERBERT SMITH 150 The Sheringham, Newbiggin,Whitby, and Bran- The "South-East Lancashire Winter caster Life-boats had also rendered the following Club" 0 15 6 services-.—Fishing smack Gleaner, of Sheringham, and fishing smack William and Mary, of Newbig- — To 1>e severally thanked. gin, rendered assistance ; barque Svadsfare, of Reported that the following legacy had been Portegrund, and brig Cuba, of Abo, assisted to bequeathed to the Institution :— save vessels. £. ». rf. [The particulars of these various services will The late BARBWGTON GAKSHAJI, Esq., be found detailed on pp. 427-435 of this Journal.] of Brighton (duty free) . . . . 50 0 0 Voted 227;. 3s. 2rf. to meet the expenses of the Life-boits at Cemaes, Penarth, Llanddwyn, Har- Reported the transmission to its station of the tlepool, West Hartlepool, Montrose, New-biggin, Guernsey new Life-boat. St. Andrew's, Blyth, Drogheda,Winterton,Whitby, The boat had been publicly launched at its Withernse», Middlesborough, Peterhead, Poolbeg, station on the 21st October, the donors of the Youghal, and Hunstanton, in either assembling Life-boat—a Liverpool lady and her. two daugh- the crews or going afloat to the help of vessels in ters—being present on the occasion. distress, their services, however, not being eventu- The London and South-Western Railway Com- ally needed. pany had kindly granted a free conveyance to the Voted the Silver Medal of the Institution to Mr. new Life-boat from London to Guernsey, and the THOMAS MONGER, of H.M.'s Coastguard, and late old boat had' been brought back to London free of coxswain of the Tenby Life-boat, in acknowledg- 443 THE LIFE-BOAT. UEBBUABY 1, 1876,

ment of his long and intrepid services in that Reported that the new Life-boat for Penartb, boat. near Cardiff, had been transmitted to its station, Also 51. to 5 men for putting off from Beati- and publicly named and launched, in the presence maris in a boat, during a S.W. gale, on the 27th of the donor, on the 10th November. The cost of September, and saving the master from the rigging the boat had been defrayed by the Hon. Mrs. of the flat Monarch, of Preston, that vessel having JOSEPH DESMAN, in memory of her late husband, pasted from her anchor and sunk on the Lavan Admiral the Hon. JOSEPH DEHMAS, after whom Sands. the boat had been named.— To ie thanked. Also 21. to 6 men of Hartlepool, for going off in Decided to replace the present Life-boat at a pilot coble and saving 2 men from another coble, Campbeltown by a new one, and that the new which had been swamped near the Heugh Break- boat be named the Princess Louise, in honour of wafer, on the 14th October. Her Royal Highness the M*RCHIOSESS of LORNE. Also \l. to the crew, 3 in number, of the trawler Also that a new Life-boat be placed at Broughty Ark, of Mevagissey, for saving the crew of 2 men Ferry, near Dundee, in lieu of the present boat of the trawler Brothers, which had been struck by on that station, which was getting unfit for farther a sudden squall and had sunk off Mevagissey service. Harbour, on the 23rd October. The cost of the new Life-boat woald be defrayed from the "English Mechanic" Life-boat Fund, which had been raised mainly through the inde- THURSDAY, 2nd December: fatigable exertions of J. PASSMOBE EDWARDS, The Chairman of the Institution, in the Chair. Esq., .through the columns of the " English Mechanic " Journal. Read and" approved the Minutes of the previous Voted the thanks of the Institution to PATRICK Meeting, and those of the Finance and Corre- ASDEBSON, Esq., JOHN HOST, Esq., and the Rev. spondence, and Wreck and Reward Sub-Com- J, PECI.EW GAZE, M.A., in acknowledgment of mittees. their past valuable co-operation, extending over Also the Report of the Inspector of Life-boats many years, in the management of the Dundee, on his recent visits to Brighton, "Worthing, Has- Dungarvan, and Brooke (Isle of Wight) Branches tings, Rye, and Hythe. of the Institution. Also the Keport of the Assistant-Inspector of Life-boats on his visits to Poole, Swanage, Chap- Paid 2.585A 17*. 10a!. for sundry charges oo man's Pool, Kimeridge, Weymoutb, Rhyl, Holy- various Life-boat Establishments. head, Dandalk, and Valentia. Voted 119?. 1*. 6d. to pay the expenses of the Also the Report of the Second Assistant-In- Appledore, Padstow, Fishguard, Hunstanton, spector of Life-boats on his recent visits to Pe- Wexford, Cardigan, and North Berwick Life- narth, Campbeltown, Southend, Ardrossan, Arran, boats in performing the following services:— Irvine, Ayr, Troon, and Girvan, Reported the receipt of 2,0001. from Miss ANNE Lives Dixos, of Holton Park, Lincolnshire, through saved. THOMAS CRUST, Esq., of Beverley, to defray ! Brigantine Waterloo, of Cork . . . . 7 ! Brig Marie Josephine, of Cherbourg . S the cost and endowment of a Life-boat Station, | Schooner Elinor and Mary, of Milford 3 either on the Lincolnshire or Yorkshire coast, in Smack Laura, of Carnarvon . . . 4 memory of her late brother, RICHARD ROAD LET Schooner Independence, of Carnarvon . 4 DIXON, Esq., the station to be called after the Schooner Princest Rnyal, of Cardigan . 5 deceased gentleman, and the boat to be named the Smack Mermaid, of Grimsby . 1 Richard, and to have painted on it also the words Brig Emily Baymimd, of St. John's, N.B, 9 " Lord save us, we perish." ft Decided that Miss Dixos be thanked for her Dutch Schooner Johanna Antoinette . munificent gift, and that her wishes in regard to Brig Lauton, of Arbroath .... 2 the Life-boat Station be complied with as early as The Kingsdowne, Broadstairs, North Deal, practicable. Selsey, Swansea, Newhaven, Caister, and Clee- Also the receipt of the following other special thorpes Life-boats had »!so rendered the folioB- contributions:— ing services:—Brig Wish, of Plymouth, assisted £. *. d. to save vessel; barque Fleetteing, of Newcastle, Miss DA COSTA 500 0 0 1 assisted to save vessel and 9 men; barque " A . K.," farther oa behalf of his Life- Monte Ca.rm.elo, of Malta, and schooner Jbsie, of boat Fund 70 New York, assisted to save vessels and crews, 21; ALEXANDER BLACK, Esq. . . » . 50 schooner Henrietta, of Truro, assisted to save Proceeds of Penny Readings at Grun- vessel and crew, 5; schooner, Ellen Beatrice, of distorgh, Suffolk, per B. f. B. PERRY, Aberystwith, rendered assistance; barque Brough* Esq. 10 0 0 ton, of Liverpool, rendered assistance; cutter Miss ENGLISH, Matron, Officers, and Alice, of Great Yarmouth, and brig Brodenes JJaab, Children of Licensed Victuallers' of Tonsberg, assisted to save vessels and crews, School, in aid of sapport of Licensed 12; and schooner Fortuna, of Nykjobing, Den- Victualler Life-boat at H nnstanton . 330 mark, saved vessel and crew, 5. Teachers and Scholars of Haverstock [The particulars of these Life-boat services Congregational Sunday School, Mait- will be found detailed on pages 433-6 of this land Park, Haverstock Hill, per Mr. Journal.] W. H. E. BESNETT, Superintendent. 268 Voted :364Z. 16s. to pay the expenses of the — To be severally thanked. Selsey, Brighton, Braucaster, Hartlepool, Lizard, Reported that the following legacies had been Broughty Ferry, Howth, Penzance, Cardigan, St. bequeathed to the Institution:— Ives, Margate, Padstow, Porthdinllaen, Sunder- £. s, d. land, North Deal, Skegness, Tynemoutb, Don- The late JOHN FIXXIE, Esq., of Altrln- na Nook, Kingsdowne, Palling, Theddlethqrpe, chum 1,030 0 0 Hornsea, Bnnstanton, Scarborough, WincAe/ses, The late Mrs. SUSAN STEAD, of Lang- Rye, and Wells Life-boats, in assembling their downe Part, Helensburgh . . . 100 crews, or going afloat with the view of rendering The late Mrs. BARBARA MARSHALL . 50 assistance to vessels in distress. FEBRUARY 1, 1876.] THE LIFE-BOAT.

Voted the Second Service Clasp of the Institu- j THE LIFE-BOAT. tion to Mr. JAS. WHITE, coxswain of the Fish- guard Life-boat; the thanks, inscribed on vellum, oar'd the rolling billows, to Mr. J. G. AHNAL, chief officer of H.M. Coast- Surging waves rose high o'erhead ; guard at Goodwick-, and thanks to Rev. J. Helpless in that hour of danger, WILLIAMS, in acknowledgment of their kind and On the gallant vessel sped. valuable co-operation on the occasion of the ser- vices rendered by the Fiahguard Life-boat an the Sails were riven,—masts were broken 14th November. By the tempest's fearful power; Also the thanks of the Institution, inscribed on Fruitless seemed all human efforts, vellum, to JOHN MORGAN, Esq., Hon. Sec, of the 'Mid the terrors of that hour. Institution's Branch at Cardigan, for his active Rocks before them, breakers, sparkling co-operation on the occasion of-the service ren- In the lightning's lurid glare; dered by that Life-boat at the wreck of the Dutch While the heavy peals of thunder schooner Antoinette, on the 19th November. Seem'd to rend the very air. Also the Silver Medal of the Institution to Mr. PHILIP GEORGE, coxswain of the Caister Life- What can save the fated seamen ? boats, and to Mr. S. BISHOP, chief boatman of Hark! that crash;—upon the rock H.M. Coastguard at that place, and Wl. to 35 Strikes the ship, she fills with water, other coastguardmen and beachmen, for saving 3 Can she stand another shock ? of the crew of the schooner Wild Wave, of Sun- God have mercy on those sailors, derland, which »'as wrecked on Caister beach, in Pale and speechless with dismay: a heavy sea, on. the 19th November. "While their sisters, wives, and children, Also 51. to 9 men of West Hartlepool for saving, Crowd the edges of the hay. \>y means of lines thrown from the North Pier, the crew, 9 in number, from the wreck of the brig " Man the life-boat! fear no danger Holden, of Brevig, on the 14th October. "Where the path of duty leads: Also 51. in aid of the local fund for rewarding British hearts are never wanting 21 Scarborough men for going off in a yawl from Courage for the noblest deeds. that place, on the 19th November, and saving " Let the waves dash still more wildly, 3 men whose boat bad been caught in a squall We will save them if we can," and who were in very great danger. Selfishness can find no lodging In a true-born Englishman. Every heart, on cliff and headland, CIVIL SERVICE LIFE-BOAT FUND. Joins in wishing them " God-speed," THE atmna.1 meeting of the committee of this fund, Heaven's best blessing rest upon them, of which H.R.H. the DUKE OP EDINBOKGH is Help them in their daring deed. patron, was held on the IHh January last To and fro upon the waters, at the General Post Office, W. H. HAIDES, Esq., At the mercy of the gale; 1 of the House of Lords, occupying the chair. Often doth the task seem hopeless ; A most satisfactory balance-sheet was laid before Still their efforts do not fail. the committee by the treasurer, CBABI/ES G. j j TURNER, Esq., of the Treasury; and the report I Now they near the sinking vessel, of the proceedings of the fund for 1875 was read I Now they seize upon a rope; by the honorary secretary, CHARLES Dmras, Esq., And the poor desponding victims F.K.G.S., of the General Post Office, from which Seem to catch & ray of hope. it appears that the names of the Earls of CAR- One by one, with tenderest caution, NARVON and BRADFORD, the Chancellor of the As a mother lifts her child, Exchequer, and the Right Hon. G. SctATEE- Pass they on the helpless women, BOOTH, M.P., have been added to the distinguished Foremost,—through the breakers wild. list of vice-patrons since the publication of the last report, and that the fund is now supported by Ere they reach the shore, they take them: almost every office and department under the Men are joining hand to hand, Ciown in the United Kingdom, having a grand I Anxious,—lest the vessel founder total of 2,613 subscribers, which is an increase of ; Ere they get them safe to land. 4'i2 on that for 1871, and of 1,192 on that for 1873. Then the Captain, when he sees them It goes on to state that during the past year the Safe upon the sandy beach, Fund has presented to the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE- Leaves the wreck, and quickly joins them BOAT INSTITUTION, at a cost of £480, another first- Where the tempests cannot reach. class Life-boat, one of the finest ever built by Messrs. FORKESTT, which has been named the Cliarles Down upon their knees they hasten; Dib-Jin, and placed at Tynemouth, Northumber- Heartfelt thanks for safety give: land, where it is thought its valuable services Slay such feelings still continue will be frequently required. The Life-boat Civil Long as they oa earth shall live. Service, presented to the Institution by the Fund And. may all those who can, contribute some time since, has been the means of saving To support the Life-boat plan. three ships, the lives of 9S persons, and been Let us, each one, do our duty present at 18 wrecks. Both the boats are kept up Help to save our fellow-man. by the Civil Service Life-boat Fund. The report concludes with an appeal from the committee JOHN RYLEY ROBISSOX. to their brother officers for increased support, to enable them to carry on and extend the operations of the Fund, which, while rendering its noble services in saving life, will continue to reflect 1TOTICE,—The next number of the " Life-boot credit on the officers of Her Majesty's Civil Journal," containing the Annual Beport, &c., Service. will be published on the 1st of May, 1876. Royal National Life-Boat Institution, For tlie Preservation of Life from Shipwreck. SUPPORTED SOLELT BY VOUJXTAKY CONTEIBCTIONS.

schooner, of Aber- Margaret Evans, barque, ofGlasgow 21 Vixen, steam-tug, of North Shields yst with—rendered assistance. Marie Josephine, brifc, of Cherbourg 4 —assisted to save vessel and.... 8 Elten ii"3ttiJftt£?*emaatU— assisted to save "vessel O&prey, sloop, of Shields 2 • Twelve Months > ^ and 5 Paguet de Terra A'ova, brigaiitine, 10 THE COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT have to state that during the past year (1375) the ROYAL RATIONAL LITE-BOAT INSTITUTION expended £30,241 on its 254 Life-boat Establishments on the Coasts of Ep^Jand, Scotland, and Ireland, in addition to having contributed to the saving of 922 persons from various shipwrecks on our Coasts, for which services it granted 30 Silver Medals and Votes of Thsmks on Vellum, and pecuniary rewards to the amount of £3,289. The number of Lives saved either by the Life-boats of the Society, or by special exertions for ^vhich it has granted rewards, since its formation, is 23,788; for which services 91 Gold Medsds, 870 Silver Medals, and £47,200 in cash have been paid in .Rewards, It is most gratifying and encouraging to know that notwithstanding the peril and exposure incurred by the gal/ant crews last year, only one life was lost from the 254 Life-boats of the Society, although about 11,000 men were out in them on all occasions during the twelve months. The expense of a Life-boat, its equipment, transportiug-carriage, and boat-house, aveiagea £800, in addition to £70 a-year needed to keep the establishment in a state of efficiency. Donations and Annual Subscriptions will be thankfully received by the Bankers of the Institution, Messrs^ WILLIS, PEBCIVAL, and Co., 76 Lombard Street; by all the other Bankers in. the United Kingdom; and by the Secretary, KICHABD LEWIS, Esq., at the Institution, 14 JOH.V STJEE.EJET, I, London, W.C.—.Fe6mary ls£, 1876.