LIFEBOAT MAGAZINE ARCHIVE

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County Associations (Continued from Page 12)

In continuation of the description of the Anglesea Life-boat stations, we have now to give an account of Rhoscolyn, Penmon, Llanddwyn, aud Moelfre. Before doing so, however, we have to correct a mistake as to the Holyhead boat, which, in landing 43 passengers from the Town of Wexford, Steamer, wrecked at Clipera Point, on the 4th January last, only made two trips instead of three as stafed; the name of the former coxswain, also, was given instead of WILLIAM ROWLAND, the coxswain on that occasion. We have the satisfaction, too, to be able to record some of the earlier services of the Holyhead pilots, and of the life-boat.

On the 28th April, 1829, the first year of the establishment of the Anglesea Local Institution, the pilots rescued the crews of the Harlequin and Fame, 23 in number, wrecked near Holyhead; partly by means of MANBY'S mortar. In the year 1832, the life-boat saved a man from the Iphigenia wrecked near Holyhead. On the 20th February, 1833, the life-boat saved 7 men from the brig Senhouse, stranded on the rocks outside the harbour; and in the same gale 3 men from the Martha of White- haven. On the 22nd October, 1834, she rescued 3 others from the Marys of Wick- low, which became a total wreck.

We are also enabled to give some addi- tional services of the Cemlyn or No. 1 life- boat. In the year 1830, she was useful in protecting the property on board the Active of Ipswich, wrecked on the Harry Furlong rocks. On the 24th August, 1833, the life-boat rendered good service to the sloop Mary Ann in Cemmaes Bay; also to the Jane and Mary of Truro, wrecked on the Skerries. On the 31st October, 1834, rescued 3 men from the boat of the Leeds Steamer, which had struck on a rock off Cemlyn, and the boat had drifted out to sea, where they would have perished but for the timely aid afforded by No. 1 life-boat. In 1846 saved 20 men from the ship FranMand wrecked at Cemmaes, and probably others of which we have no record.

We now proceed with the remaining stations.

3. RHOSCOLYN.—The south-western coast of Anglesea from the North Stack to Car- narvon Bay, extends about 16 miles in a south-east direction, having two life-boat stations, one at Rhoscolyn, the other at Llandwyn, 9 miles to the south-east.

As may be imagined from its position, this coast is much exposed to shipwreck; since vessels that cannot weather Holyhead or the South Stack Rock, become embayed and eventually driven on shore, which is evinced by a long list of wrecks, and espe- cially in Carnarvon Bay.

Rhoscolyn lies about 5 miles to the S.S.E. of Holyhead, and forms the western horn of the Cymmeran and Crigrll bays, about 5 miles in extent, and which, in the prevalent westerly gales, it may'be said to command.

The life-boat at this station is in charge of the Rev. JOHN WILLIAMS, who takes much interest in her, and who, it is believed, on more than one occasion, has gone out as one of the crew. She is 26 ft. long, 6 ft. wide, 3J ft. deep, has 12 inches sheer, pulls 5 oars, single-banked, and has detached side and end air-cases, after the model of Mr. PALMER'S boat, adopted by the Institution. She is said to pull fairly, but is low in the waist, has no means of freeing herself of any water that may be shipped, nor vo i d she light herself in the event of being upset. Built by HARTON, at Limehouse, in 1830.

It is said that there are not sufficient sailors or fishermen resident on the immediate spot, to form a boat's crew, but by the aid of labourers, a fair crew can usually be managed.

The boat-house, built at the expense of Captain HAMPTON LEWIS, the owner of the property, stands at the head of a small cove which faces south-west, or the most exposed quarter; it is too narrow, the doorway being only 7 ft. wide. It is said that there is great difficulty in getting the boat out of the cove in blowing weather, and it is suggested that the house should be transferred to an island immediately adjoining, called Ynys Traws; to which a lad named OWEN JONES swam on the night of the 31st December, 1845, and by means of waving a flag, induced the Alhambra to anchor, or to run into the bay; the Shipwreck Institution voted their silver medal for this gallant act.The above measure, if adopted, would in- volve the rebuilding of the boat-house, and either the filling up the Sound, or the building a slight bridge to connect the island with the Main. It Is understood that Captain HAMPTON LEWIS has liberally consented to rebuild the boat-honse ia the new position, if the necessary funds could be obtained to build the bridge, or otherwise join the island with, the main land.

Either of these works would be expensive; the cost of a bridge would hardly be less than 501., possibly more; the filling up the Sound would be much more expensive, but it would be by far the better step, as it would give good shelter to the bay within.

It is not impossible that the Trustees of Car- narvon Harbour, and those interested in shipping in the Isle of Anglesea, and others, would subscribe towards the expense. One donation of 201. has already been offered.

There is neither mortar nor rocket here.

By the Report of the Anglesea Branch Association of 18S6-8, it appears that rockets and a mortar were to be placed at Rhosneigir, about 3 miles to the south-east, but the inortar, although applied for, was never fur- nished, and the rockets were removed after 3 or 4 years to Cemlyn. The nearest mortar station is at Holyhead, at 5 miles distance, but unless everything were kept there, on a cart, in readiness, it would be difficult to transport the apparatus so far, in time to be of use.

In the year 1833 the Rhoscolyn boat was the means of bringing into safety the brig Mary of Maryport, and in 1836-7 per- formed a similar service for some vessels embayed in Carnarvon Bay. In the gale of 29tii November, 1838, the boat rendered valuable assistance to three schooners off this coast; and on the 31st December, 1845, in the case of the jtftos&ro already referred to, the boat went off, and was, we believe, the means of saving twenty-two lives.

From the want of a complete set of Reports, we cannot relate any other service, although there is no doubt the boat has proved useful • but on one or more occasions, it is said she attempted to pull out of the Cove and was driven back.

The shores of the adjoining bays are strewed with fragments of wreck, and not only each cottage ia the neighbourhood, but even a better bouse, has a store of timbers and spars of wrecked vessels Mel up as fuel, too fatally attesting the work of destruction, and demanding in unmistakeable language, an efficient life-boat and well-trained crew on this dangerous coast.

It may be worthy of consideration, seeing the exposed state of this western shore of Anglesea and its liability to wreck, whether an additional life-boat station should not be established in Cymmeran Bay, One of the best pilots in the island, HUGH WILLIAMS, and Mr. B. JONES, Lloyd's agent at Holy- head, a very experienced man, are, it is understood, of this opinion; others think it is not necessary.

4. PENMOST.—Trwyn d«, or Point Pen- man, forms the eastern extreme of the 1 Isle of Analesea at the entrance of the Menal Straits, and lies 8 miles to the east- ward of the Moelfre life-boat station. The channel here leading up to Beautnaris, is only half a mile wide between Point Peninon on the west, and the Dutchman Bank on the east. Its neighbourhood is the frequent scene of wreck; on the morning of the 29th March, 1850, no less than 36 vessels are said to have been seen on shore at one time.

A life-boat was stationed here as early as the year 1830, which is now transferred to Moelfre. The present boat is 26 feet long, 6 feet wide, 3| feet deep, has 12 inches sheer of gunwale, and pulls 6 oars single banked. It was built by COSTAIH of Liver- i pool In 1848, after a slightly modified plan of Mr. PALMEB'S model, and at the expense of the Angtessea Association. The boat has side air-cases up to the thwarts, and air-cases in the head and stern sheets, nearly up to the gunwale; they are of painted canvas stretched over a frame of wood. The boat lias no means of freeing herself of water, nor could she right herself in the event of being upset; she is said to pull fairly.

There should be no difficulty in forming a good crew, as some pilots reside on the spot, and there are fishermen in the neighbour- hood. JOHN WILLIAMS is the coxswain of the boat; and OWEN" ROBEETS, who has received the silver medal of the Institution for good services, is one of the crew.

The boat-house is in very good repair, having been rebuilt in 1848, at the expense of Sir RICHARD BULKELEY, on whose property it stands; it has a door at each end, so that the boat may be taken at once either to the north or south as occasion may require; a very wise precaution. The house stands on a cliff, near the lighthouse, and the boat has to be launched on timber " ways," over a rocky foreshore, and great care is requisite that these be not allowed to get out of order, otherwise the boat could not be launched at low water. The boat stands on a launching truck, but a light transport- ing carriage, in addition, would be of great service in case of the boat being required at a distance, which not uncommonly occurs.

There are no rockets or mortar here.

The life-boat at this station, both the former and the present, have done good service, and so have the Penmon pilots. In the year 1830 they assisted the sloop Conway Castle, which grounded on the Dutchman Bank ; on the 17th August, 1831, they saved life from the sad wreck of the Rothsay Castle, when W. H. LEWIS WALKEE, of Cickle, so distinguished him- self. On the 10th November, 1832, the old Penmon life-boat did good service in bringing into safety a brig from Redwharf Bay; and the same on the 22nd October, 1835, to the smack Providence of Faversham, and two brigs. On the 3rd March of that year she succoured 10 men, crew of the barque William, which had been run down and sunk off the Isle of Man; and put pilots on board 8 vessels. On the 12th December, 1836, the boat brought two men on shore from the Pike of Barmouth; on the 15th February, 1838, assisted the Liverpool of Waterford; on the 15th April, rescued 17 men from the Scotia of Liverpool, which grounded on the Dutchman Bank; on the 29th November, brought the crew of the Jane of Amlwch from Puffin Island; also some others, not named, on the 19th February, 1843; and the new boat was out on the disastrous night of the 29th March, 1850, when so many vessels were wrecked m this neighbourhood. These services are ample to show the value of the station, the immense advantage of having a trained crew of pilots always at hand, and the necessity for the boat, her gear and ways, being kept in an efficient working state.

5. LLANDDWYN. — Llanddwyn Island forms the extreme south point of Anglesea.

It is a rocky islet, about three-quarters of a mile long, lying at the western entrance of the Menai Strait, close off Carnarvon Bar.

Its cliffs rise from 60 feet to 80 feet above the sea, and it has three small sandy coves where boats can land. At low water it is joined to the main by a flat sand; and it is a look-out place of the Carnarvon and Menai pilots.

The life-boat stationed here was first placed in September, 1840; it was built by TAYLOK of Limehouse, after Mr. PALMER'S model, and is a light boat 26 feet long, 6 feet wide, 3J feet deep, 12 inches sheer, and pulls 6 oars single-banked; has detached side and end air-cases; has no means of freeing herself of water, nor of self-righting in case of being upset; but is said to pull fairly. The boat is in charge of the resident pilots, but is supported and kept in repair by the Carnarvon Harbour Trust, who have also two other life-boats at Carnarvon; all under the immediate superintendence of Mr. J. JACKSON, the active and zealous clerk to the Trust.

The boat-house stands in the Pilot's Cove, on the south-east side of the island; the boat is placed on a truck on timber-ways, ready for launching. The crew consists of three pilots stationed on the island, and four volunteers from Newborough; the first man who arrives after the signal is made receives 7s. 6d., the second 5s., the others 4s. each.

This boat had hardly been stationed here when she proved her value by saving 17 persons from the ship Mountaineer, wrecked on the north bank, on the 18th October, 1841.

On the 7th January, 1843, saved two men from the Monk, steamer, also wrecked on the north bank; both of these vessels went to pieces immediately. On the 17th November, 1844, rescued the crew of the Urgent, wrecked in Malltraeth Bay ; on the 21st March, 1845, saved three men from the sloop Prosperity, bilged on the rocks at Llanddwyn; on the 7th February, 1846, saved 22 men from the ship Jffeywood, with a valuable cargo from the Coast of Africa, wrecked on the north bank; besides piloting into safety, the Isiska, Tug, Heywood, Har- mony, JMy, and Maria. These are valuable services, and when we add that 100,000 tons of shipping annually use the passage of the Menai Strait, enough has been mentioned to show the importance of the station, and the necessity for keeping the boat and her crew in constant readiness, 6, MOELFKE.—Moelfre lies on the east side of Anglesea, between the life-boat stations of Cemlyn and Penmen, about 15 miles from the former, and 8 miles from the latter.

It is two miles to the southward of the dan- gerous Dates rocks, and may be considered the western boundary of the well-known Redwharf Bay, in which vessels commonly get into difficulties by being embayed, A life-boat was first stationed here in | 1848, being transferred hither from Peninon Point (where she was first placed in 1831)} on account of the wreck of the sloop Henry and Thomas at Benlleeh, two miles to the southward. The boat is 20 feet long, 6 feet wide, 2f feet deep, has 12 inches sheer of gunwale, and pulls 6 oars single-banked; built by HAKTOS of Lhnehouse, after Mr, PALMER'S model. She resembles the other boats in the island by having end and side air-cases, no means of freeing herself of water, nor power of self-righting, but is said to pull fairly, There are plenty of fishermen at hand to form a crew, anil the boat is in charge of K0WLAXB HUGHES, coxswain, The boat-house is a very good one, built in 1848 at the expense of the late Lord DnrOKBEM, the owner of the property. It stands close to the village; but the shore immediately below is rocky, and at low water there would appear a difficulty in launching the boat without " ways ** to carry her clear of the rocks.

There are no rockets or mortar here.

As already mentioned, this boat has rendered good service at Peninon, but it does not appear from any of the published Reports that she has been called into use since being placed at Moelfre. It is however an important station, and well deserving of being kept up.

It will thus be seen, that the Isle of Anglesea has six life-boats on its coasts, and that they have been the means of saving numerous lives, it is believed as many as 250 persons, since the first establishment of the Branch Association in 1828, The boats are supported by local subscriptions, and although it has been stated that three of the boats were supplied by the Shipwreck Institution in London, it is tat justice to add, that the sum of 2051. has been contributed by theLocal Committee to the Parent Fund, which was more than the cost of the three boats.

In addition, the Shipwreck Institution has given about 601., towards building the other boats, &c., and has granted a sum of 2211.

in rewards and medals for saving life in Anglesea. It is highly creditable to the Local Association to have so well laboured in the cause for nearly a quarter a century, and it may be permitted to express a hope that they will not relax in their humane exertions, being assured that they will at all times, as hitherto, meet with the ready aid of the Parent Institution, which is well aware that it can only hope to be useful in the cause by the earnest and hearty co-operation of Local Committees,.