LIFEBOAT MAGAZINE ARCHIVE

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Services of the Life-Boats of the National Life-Boat Institution

SELSEY, SUSSEX.—On the 5th September the brig Governor Maclean, of London, was totally wrecked, during a gale of wind, on the Shold Point of the Ower's Sandbank, off Selsey. The life-boat on that station was immediately manned and launched, and took off 7 of the vessel's crew, together with the ship's papers, &c. The remainder of the crew, 5 in number, were taken off by a Deal lugger.

BLACKPOOL, LANCASHIRE.—On the 18th September, the brig St. Michael, of Havre, was observed to anchor on the Crusader Sandbank, the tide being high at the time.

The wind was blowing very strong from W.S.W., with a high sea on. The Blackpool new life-boat at once went off, through a very high surf, and assisted in rescuing the vessel from her perilous position. The life-boat, which had only been on her station a short time, was reported to have behaved admirably on the occasion. • The cost of this boat was presented to the Institution " in memory of the late R. W. HOPKINS, Esq., being the gift of his widow and daughter." ARKLOW, IRELAND.—About six o'clock on the evening of the 20th September a large vessel was observed on Arklow Bank, throwing up rockets and firing guns as signals of distress. The Arklow life-boat was quickly launched and proceeded to her aid.

She proved to be the ship Edinburgh Castle, bound from Glasgow to Singapore, with a general cargo. She subsequently floated off the bank, but making so much water that the captain requested the life-boat to remain by him, and employed her crew to assist in working the pumps. The life-boat accompanied the vessel about 10 miles outside the Arklow Light, and then returned to her station, leaving her pumped dry. The captain gave the life-boat crew 401. in gratitude for the valuable services they rendered him and his ship.

On the 19th October signals of distress were observed from the schooner Kate, of Liverpool, driving ashore in Arklow Bay during a heavy gale of wind. The Arklow life-boat was again promptly launched, and brought on shore the crew of 5 men, leaving the vessel riding with her only remaining anchor out. Fortunately the wind soon afterwards shifted, which enabled the vessel to hold on, and her crew being again put on board by the life-boat, she proceeded on her voyage. The captain gave the life-boat crew 10Z. 10s. for their valuable services.

TEIGNMOCJTH, DEVON.—On the evening of the 3rd October, a heavy gale blowing from the east, and a very high sea on the bar, a vessel was seen running for this harbour.

The Teignmouth life-boat was immediately despatched to her assistance; but before it reached her, the vessel struck on the " Sprat" Sandbank, and held on for two hours, with the sea sweeping over her.

She subsequently beat off' and got into the harbour, accompanied by the life-boat. She proved to be the schooner Victoria, bound from Newcastle to Teignmouth.

On the 11th October this life-boat again went out and rescued a fisherman from his boat, called the Hero, of Teignmouth, which had struck and afterwards sunk on the bar in a heavy sea. A Coast-guard boat had previously attempted to save the man, but could not approach the spot, owing to the heavy surf on the bar. The life-boat's crew received 13Z. from the Institution for saving the poor fellow, and the Coast-guard men also received from it a reward.

HOWTH, IRELAND.—On the 15th October, during a strong westerly breeze, the lugger Castletown, of Belfast, in working out of Howth Harbour, struck on a rock near Ireland's Eve. The tide being at the time just on the turn, her position became very perilous, which induced her crew to hoist signals of distress. The Howth life-boat was at once launched to her assistance, and succeeded in rescuing the lugger and her crew of 7 men from their dangerous position, and afterwards in bringing them safely into the harbour. The master of the lugger expressed himself as being truly thankful for the services rendered by the life-boat in saving his property from destruction.

FLEETWOOD, LANCASHIRE.—On the 20th October, during a heavy gale of wind from the westward, the bvvgantine Highland Mary, of that port, was driven on the Barnard Wharf Sandbank. The Fleetwood lifeboat went off in tow of a steam-tug, and brought safely ashore the vessel's crew of 5 men.

SOUTHPORT, LANCASHIRE.—On the 20th October the sloop Liver, of Carnarvon, was totally wrecked, during a very heavy gale of wind, on the Wharf Sandbank, about three and a half miles from Southport.

As soon as the vessel was seen in distress from the shore, the Southport life-boat was sent off. On arriving alongside, the crew, 3 in number, were found clinging to the port-bow, with every sea that came sweeping over them. The men were got into the life-boat by means of ropes, and afterwards safely landed at Southport.

LOSSIEMOUTH, N. B.—At daybreak on the morning of the 28th October, a vessel was seen stranded amongst the breakers about a mile to the eastward of this port.

The Lossiemouth life-boat was at once launched and pulled through a very heavy sea to the rescue of the crew. While making for the wreck, some of the life-boat's crew were washed overboard more than once, owing to the heavy sea on at the time, and the men became so exhausted that they could not pull the boat alongside the vessel.

They thereupon returned to the shore, when a fresh crew were shipped, who, after great exertions, succeeded in getting the life-boat alongside, and taking off' the vessel's crew of 3 men. She proved to be the schooner Agnes, bound from Thurso to Lossiemouth, with a cargo of stone.

On the 5th November the services of the same life-boat were again called into requisition to go off to the rescue of 6 labourers on board the barque Arethusa, which was wrecked about two miles west of Lossiemouth on the 1st inst. The men had gone off" to the vessel in an ordinary shore-boat, and when the weather became bad, with a very heavy sea on, they made several futile attempts to regain the shore by the same means. An express was thereupon sent for the Lossiemonth life-boat, which was soon launched, and the 6 men safely brought on shore through a heavy surf.

BLAKENEY, NORFOLK.—On the night of the 4th November a French chasse-maree, the JSleanore, of Nantes, was driven on shore on the West Sand off Blakeney, the wind blowing hard from N.N.W., and the night hazy. At daylight the vessel was seen from the shore, and the Blakeney life-boat was at once launched to the rescue of the crew.

After an hour's pull the life-boat arrived near the wreck, and found her rolling very heavily, with' the sea breaking over her.

The crew, who were overjoyed at the sight of the life-boat, were only prevented from being washed overboard by an oar lashed across the vessel's rigging. They were soon got into the life-boat, and afterwards safely landed at Blakeney. The Rev. R. H. TlLLARD, the Hon. Sec., reported that the coxswain had told him that the boat had behaved admirably in sailing before the wind, with a heavy sea following her, and in returning to the shore under canvas.

TRAMORE, IRELAND.—On the morning of the 17th November the schooner Sarah, of Waterford, was driven ashore from stress of weather in this bay. The Tramore lifeboat was immediately launched through a very heavy sea, and took off the crew of 5 men and 1 passenger, landing them in safety.

CAISTER, NORFOLK.—On Sunday, the 16th October, the steam-ship Ontario, of Liverpool, struck on the Hasborough Sand, on the Norfolk eoa,st, during a strong breeze from the W.N.W. The Caister life-boat went off to her assistance ; but her services were declined by the steamer's captain, who had previously engaged the services of a steam-tug and two fishing-yawls, and the life-boat returned to her station. On the following morning the life-boat again went off, and her crew were then engaged by the captain of the ship to assist at the pumps, and remained on board until the afternoon of Wednesday, when the wind veered more to the south, and the weather became worse, with a heavy sea on the sand. At this time there were 55 labourers on board the ship, engaged in endeavotiring to get her off the sand, and the Caister life-boat, at their request, took them off and placed them on board a steam-tug which was lying near.

The captain was then asked if he would leave the ship; but he declined, and the life-boat bore away for the shore. On Thursday morning the life-boat proceeded again, for the third time, to the vessel, with the view of taking off the remainder of those on board; but the captain again refused to leave the ship, or allow his crew to enter the life-boat, and the life-boat therefore returned to the shore. The captain and crew, in the course of the day, were compelled, however, to abandon the ship, and were brought on shore by a steam-tug. The vessel afterwards became a total wreck. She was valued at 100,00(M.

Again, on the night of the 26th October, a vessel was seen apparently in a dangerous position near the Barber Sands, off Glister.

Some of the beachmen went off in one of their yawls, and found the vessel to be the brig Richmond Packet, of Middlesborough, with a crew of 7 hands. She was fast on the safld, with the sea breaking over her.

The beachmen in the first instance found it impossible to render any assistance with the yawl. They therefore hailed the poor fellows on the wreck, and told them they would return to the shore for the life-boat.

This they accordingly did, and taking them from the wreck, brought them safely ashore.

Although the Caister life-boat had been condemned, the beachmen hesitated not to go off in her to the rescue of shipwrecked crews. A new life-boat is now being built for the Caister station.

We are compelled for want of space to postpone giving full details of the additional gallant services of the life-boats of the Institution during the fearful storm of November last. |_ The following is a general list of the services of the Life-boats of the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, during the past year (1864):— Barque King Oscar, of Norway 15 Sloop Annette Catltelina, of Groningen. . . 3 Barque Hamilton Gray, of Liverpool . . . 2 Steam Tug Bob Boy, of Sunderland . . . 7 Schooner Thetis, of London 4 Brigantine Boa Nova, of Oporto—Saved vessel and crew . • 5 Schooner Britannia—Saved vessel and crew . 4 Brig Brothers, of South Shields 7 Barque Iris, of Stavanger, Norway—Saved vessel and crew . . . . . . . . . 1 3 Ship Golden Age, of Liverpool . . . . , 13 Schooner Water Lily, of Pwllheli . . . . 4 Sloop Barbara Hopeman, of Wemyss . . . 3 Barque Corea, of Guernsey—Assisted to save vessel and crew 12 Cutter Howard, of Grimsby 1 Ship Contest, of Liverpool—Assisted to save vessel and crew 18 Fishing Boat, of Withernsea—Saved } oat and crew 3 Schooner Maria, of Milford 3 Fishing Boats, of Southwold—Two boats and their crews saved 4 Brig Governor Maclean, of London . . . . 7 Brig St. Michael, of Havre—Assisted to save vessel arid oreiv 14 Ship Edinburgh Castle, of Glasgow—Assisted to save vessel and crew 18 Schooner Victoria, of Teignmouth—Assisted to save vessel and crew 6 Sloop Liver, of Carnarvon 3 Yawl Hero, of Teignmouth 1 Schooner Kate, of Liverpool 5 Lugger Castletoum, of Belfast—Saved vessel and crew 7 Brigantine Highland Mary, of Fleetwood. . 5 Brig Richmond Packet, of Middlesbro' . . 6 Schoqner Agnes, of Lossiemouth , 3 Steam Ship Ontario, of Liverpool—Took off labourers to the number of 55 Chasse-maree Eleanore, of Nantes . . . . 6 Barque Arethusa, of Liverpool 6 Schooner Sarah, of Waterford 6 Schooner Heroine, of Milford 5 Ship far West, of Newport—Assisted to save vessel and crew 22 Sloop Active, of Carmarthen 3 j Schooner Fernand, of St. Malo 5 ] Barque Louis the Fourteenth, of Dunkirk . . 15 Barque Sea Serpent, of South Shields . . . 3 Brig John, of Hartlepool 6 Schooner David and Mm, of Montrose . . 4 Barque Devonshire, of Liverpool—Assisted to save vessel and crew 17 Fishing Boats, of Newbiggin, and their crews 40 Flat Morning Star, of Carnarvon — Saved vessel and crew 3 Brig Zorniia, of Lupine, Austria . . . . 13 Barque Jenny Lemetin, of Quebec—Assisted to save vessel and crew 9 Yawl Bravo, of Great Yarmouth . . . . 7 Smack Pearl, of Carnarvon ' . 3 Smack Speedwell, of Carnarvon 2 Schooner Idas, of Nantes 6 Total lives saved in 1864 by Life-boats . 432 We also append a statement of the services rendered by fishing and other boats, for which the Institution has granted rewards for saving 266 lives, during the same period.

Brig Arthur Leary, of London 4 Fishing Boat, of Tenby 3 Schr. Ellen, Carnarvon, crew and others . . 28 Sloop Swan, of Swansea 3 Ketch Four Brothers and Sisters, of London . 4 Pilot Coble, of Hartlepool 3 Sloop Tredeyar, of Newport 1 Fishing Boat, of Aghada, Co. Cork. . . . 1 Schooner Gleaner, of Cardigan . . . . . 5 Galliot Cornelia, of Hanover 4 Barque Fifth of May, of Stettin . . . . 14 Shore Boat Nesting, Shetland 1 Barque Barbara Campbell, of Glasgow. . 14 Schooner Harmony, of Drogheda . . . 1 Ship Royal Victoria, of Liverpool . . . 15 Galliot Anna. Maria, of Cronstadt . . . 8 Fishing Boat, of Portstewart, Co. Antrim 4 Fishing Cobles, of Staithes, Yorkshire. . 6 Barque Undaunted, of London 7 Lugger Chasseur, of Gravelines . . . . . 5 Smack Thetis, of Jersey 1 Brig Alice, of Newcastle 9 Schooner Britannia, of Newquay . . . . 2 Brig Palladium, of North Shields . . . . 7 Sloop Shamrock, of Wicklow 2 Shore Boat, of Coningsbcrg, Shetland . . . 2 Pilot Boat, of Lerwick 7 Brig Jane, of Wisbeach 6 Fishing Boat, of Portaleene 7 Sloop Ityk&en, of Stavanger, Norway . . . 5 Fishing Boat, of Hilton, N. B 3 Yawl Hose, of Ballycronhane, Ireland . . . 6 Fishing Coble, of Cullercoats 4 Shore Boat of Cahirciveen, Co. Kerry . . 1 Shore Boat, of Great Yarmouth . . . . 2 Lugger John and Ellen, of Hastings . . . 2 Shore Boat, of Weston-super-Mare. . . . 4 Cutter Phantom, of Preston 2 Fishing Boat, of Inniskeragh, Co. Donegal . 1 Boat Garibaldi, of Great Yarmouth . . . 4 Fishing Boat, of Clogherhead, Ireland. . . 3 Coastguard Boat, of Dingle, Ireland . . . 6 Shore Boat, of Shetland 8 Shore Boat, of Lyme Regis 2 Galliot Triton, of Denmark 1 Boat Blossom, of Lossiemouth 2 Fishing Boat, of Portstewart, Ireland . . . 4 Steamer Magnetic, of Liverpool 1 Schooner Forest, of Montrose 6 Brig Albatross, of Sunderland 6 Brig Eliza Hall, of Whitby 8 Steamer Vesta, of Liverpool 1 Brig Chimera, of Liverpool I Brig Oscar, of Norway 9 Total 266 Lives saved by Life-boats . . 432 Grand Total ,698 GENERAL SUMMARY.

Number of Lives rescued by Life-boats, in addition to 17 vessels saved by them Amount of Rewards to Life-boat Crews Number of Lives saved by Shore-boats, &c. . . . .

Amount of Rewards to the Crews of Shore-boats . . . .

Honorary Rewards:—Silver Medals Votes of Thanks on Vellum and Parchment Total 9 13 22 £. ». d.

432 1,288 II 4 266 256 18 0 698 £1,545 9 4 Sloop Barbara Hopeman, of Wemyss . . . 3 Barque Corea, of Guernsey—Assisted to save vessel and crew 12 Cutter Howard, of Grimsby 1 Ship Contest, of Liverpool—Assisted to save vessel and crew 18 Fishing Boat, of Withernsea—Saved } oat and crew 3 Schooner Maria, of Milford 3 Fishing Boats, of Southwold—Two boats and their crews saved 4 Brig Governor Maclean, of London . . . . 7 Brig St. Michael, of Havre—Assisted to save vessel arid oreiv 14 Ship Edinburgh Castle, of Glasgow—Assisted to save vessel and crew 18 Schooner Victoria, of Teignmouth—Assisted to save vessel and crew 6 Sloop Liver, of Carnarvon 3 Yawl Hero, of Teignmouth 1 Schooner Kate, of Liverpool 5 Lugger Castletoum, of Belfast—Saved vessel and crew 7 Brigantine Highland Mary, of Fleetwood. . 5 Brig Richmond Packet, of Middlesbro' . . 6 Schoqner Agnes, of Lossiemouth , 3 Steam Ship Ontario, of Liverpool—Took off labourers to the number of 55 Chasse-maree Eleanore, of Nantes . . . . 6 Barque Arethusa, of Liverpool 6 Schooner Sarah, of Waterford 6 Schooner Heroine, of Milford 5 Ship far West, of Newport—Assisted to save vessel and crew 22 Sloop Active, of Carmarthen 3 j Schooner Fernand, of St. Malo 5 ] Barque Louis the Fourteenth, of Dunkirk . . 15 Barque Sea Serpent, of South Shields . . . 3 Brig John, of Hartlepool 6 Schooner David and Mm, of Montrose . . 4 Barque Devonshire, of Liverpool—Assisted to save vessel and crew 17 Fishing Boats, of Newbiggin, and their crews 40 Flat Morning Star, of Carnarvon — Saved vessel and crew 3 Brig Zorniia, of Lupine, Austria . . . . 13 Barque Jenny Lemetin, of Quebec—Assisted to save vessel and crew 9 Yawl Bravo, of Great Yarmouth . . . . 7 Smack Pearl, of Carnarvon ' . 3 Smack Speedwell, of Carnarvon 2 Schooner Idas, of Nantes 6 Total lives saved in 1864 by Life-boats . 432 We also append a statement of the services rendered by fishing and other boats, for which the Institution has granted rewards for saving 266 lives, during the same period.

Brig Arthur Leary, of London 4 Fishing Boat, of Tenby 3 Schr. Ellen, Carnarvon, crew and others . . 28 Sloop Swan, of Swansea 3 Ketch Four Brothers and Sisters, of London . 4 Pilot Coble, of Hartlepool 3 Sloop Tredeyar, of Newport 1 Fishing Boat, of Aghada, Co. Cork. . . . 1 Schooner Gleaner, of Cardigan . . . . . 5 Galliot Cornelia, of Hanover 4 Barque Fifth of May, of Stettin . . . . 14 Shore Boat Nesting, Shetland 1 Barque Barbara Campbell, of Glasgow. . 14 Schooner Harmony, of Drogheda . . . 1 Ship Royal Victoria, of Liverpool . . . 15 Galliot Anna. Maria, of Cronstadt . . . 8 Fishing Boat, of Portstewart, Co. Antrim 4 Fishing Cobles, of Staithes, Yorkshire. . 6 Barque Undaunted, of London 7 Lugger Chasseur, of Gravelines . . . . . 5 Smack Thetis, of Jersey 1 Brig Alice, of Newcastle 9 Schooner Britannia, of Newquay . . . . 2 Brig Palladium, of North Shields . . . . 7 Sloop Shamrock, of Wicklow 2 Shore Boat, of Coningsbcrg, Shetland . . . 2 Pilot Boat, of Lerwick 7 Brig Jane, of Wisbeach 6 Fishing Boat, of Portaleene 7 Sloop Ityk&en, of Stavanger, Norway . . . 5 Fishing Boat, of Hilton, N. B 3 Yawl Hose, of Ballycronhane, Ireland . . . 6 Fishing Coble, of Cullercoats 4 Shore Boat of Cahirciveen, Co. Kerry . . 1 Shore Boat, of Great Yarmouth . . . . 2 Lugger John and Ellen, of Hastings . . . 2 Shore Boat, of Weston-super-Mare. . . . 4 Cutter Phantom, of Preston 2 Fishing Boat, of Inniskeragh, Co. Donegal . 1 Boat Garibaldi, of Great Yarmouth . . . 4 Fishing Boat, of Clogherhead, Ireland. . . 3 Coastguard Boat, of Dingle, Ireland . . . 6 Shore Boat, of Shetland 8 Shore Boat, of Lyme Regis 2 Galliot Triton, of Denmark 1 Boat Blossom, of Lossiemouth 2 Fishing Boat, of Portstewart, Ireland . . . 4 Steamer Magnetic, of Liverpool 1 Schooner Forest, of Montrose 6 Brig Albatross, of Sunderland 6 Brig Eliza Hall, of Whitby 8 Steamer Vesta, of Liverpool 1 Brig Chimera, of Liverpool I Brig Oscar, of Norway 9 Total 266 Lives saved by Life-boats . . 432 Grand Total ,698 GENERAL SUMMARY.

Number of Lives rescued by Life-boats, in addition to 17 vessels saved by them Amount of Rewards to Life-boat Crews Number of Lives saved by Shore-boats, &c. . . . .

Amount of Rewards to the Crews of Shore-boats . . . .

Honorary Rewards:—Silver Medals Votes of Thanks on Vellum and Parchment Total 9 13 22 £. ». d.

432 1,288 II 4 266 256 18 0 698 £1,545 9 4It may be added, that during the past twelve, months the Institution has also expended 19,531?. on its various life-boat establishments on the coasts of England, Scotland, and Ireland.

The number of lives saved either by the life-boats of the Society, or by special exertions, for which it has granted rewards since its formation, is 14,266 ; for which services 82 Gold Medals, 742 Silver Medals, and 19,397Z. in cash, have been paid in rewards. The Institution has also expended about 120,0'OOL on its One hundred and forty Life-boat establishments..