LIFEBOAT MAGAZINE ARCHIVE

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The Tougue Lightvessel, the Princes Light Ship and The Fusiler

THE following is the Coxswain's report of the important services rendered on the night of 3rd Dec. last, by the Ramsgate life-boat, to the passengers of the emigrant ship Fusi- lier, of London; and to the crew of the ship Denierara, of Greenock. On the night in question Mr. ALDRICH, Chief Officer of the Coast-guard at Margate, proceeded with all despatch to Ramsgate to give tidings of the wrecks. The Coxswain states :— " We proceeded about 8-45 P.M., on the 3rd Dec., in tow of the Aid steam-tug, on our voyage in discovery of the distressed ship ; the night was intensely dark. We went in the direction of the Tongue light-vessel. Shortly after passing the North Foreland we could see the signals going up from both light-ships, and after a great deal of difficulty we reached the Tongue light about mid- night Having hailed her, we were told by those on board that the supposed vessel was on the high part of the Shingles, bearing north-west from the light. We proceeded in that direction, but, being unable to find her, we made our way to the Princes light-ship, the Girdler and her firing minute guns continuously. We hailed the Prince's light, and received information from them that there was a large ship on the high part of the Girdler. We again proceeded on our way, and eventually dis- covered her position by the tar-barrels she was burning. After getting into position to reach her, we slipped our cable from the tug. The wind was at this time blowing a complete hurricane from north-west by west, with a terrific sea on, the horrors of which being much increased by the darkness of the night, so that we had the greatest difficulty in getting alongside. On doing so, we found her to be the Fusilier, of London, bound from that port to Melbourne, with emigrants, and belonging to the Black Ball line. This was about 2 A.M. of the morning of the 4th. We shouted to those on board to first save the women and chil- dren, of whom there were a great number. The scene at this time was an appalling one ; the how- ling of the wind, mingled with the shrieks of the women and the rush of the waves against the sides of the ill-fated ship, used as we are to similar sights, made us doubly anxious for the safety of those whom, by God's providence, we had come to rescue. We managed in the first trip to take off 25 women and children ; these and the others whom we afterwards took off, were got into the life-boat by the aid of two of the ship's crew being lashed in bowlines and slung over the sides of the vessel, who lowered them into the boat by ropes— the ta sk being one that taxed the nerves of all, as sometimes the water was up to her mizen-chains, while at other times it was quite the other way.

The first batch having been taken to the tug, which was in the Prince's Channel, about three- quarters of a mile off, we, by her assistance, were again able to get into a position to run to the ship again, the second trip bearing off forty women and children, the latter being lowered into the boat in blankets; and in two more trips—making four in all—we got off the male passengers, and placed them on board of the tug, where they were all attended to. It was now 6 A.M., and the sea.