LIFEBOAT MAGAZINE ARCHIVE

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

ROSSLARE, Co. WEXFORD.—On the 14th January, during a gale of wind from the N.W., a vessel was seen making for Wexford Harbour with ensign flying half-mast high. At the entrance of the harbour the vessel missed stays, and her only remaining anchor was let go; but the chain immediately parted, and she drifted on the Dogger Bank. The sea soon made a breach over her, and the crew were placed in great danger. The Rosslare life-boat was launched without delay, and remained by the wreck an hour, watching for an opportunity to board her. She ultimately succeeded in taking off the crew of 4 men and a pilot, and after a severe pull reached the shore in safety.

On the morning of the 20th March the Rosslare life-boat again went out to the rescue of the crew of the schooner Teazer, of Goole, which had struck on the North Bar. It was blowing a gale from the E.N.E., and there was a heavy sea on at the time. The life-boat proceeded to the vessel, and the men, when within hail, instructed the crew to get on the jibboom; bub this request was not attended to, and the tide going with great force in the contrary direction to the sea, the life-boat was swept round broadside on, filling, and apparently being about to capsize several times. The crew pulled the boat a second time close to the vessel's jibboom, made a rope fast, and every exertion was used to rescue the shipwrecked crew; but they could not be induced to get on the jibboom, whence they might easily have been taken into the lifeboat.

The rope suddenly parted, and the boat was again swept away, and 5 of her crew refusing to peril their lives in any further attempts to save persons who apparently did not appreciate their efforts, she returned to the shore. A third attempt was however resolved upon, and the lifeboat, with 5 fresh hands again went out in tow of the steam-tug Ruby ; and the tide having ceased running, the mate of the vessel was safely taken off—unhappily, however, in the interval, the master, his wife, a female servant, and 3 men had got into their own boat, which was almost immediately capsized, and they all unfortunately perished.

On the morning of the 21st April the services of this life-boat were again called into requisition. The lugger Peep o'Day, of Wexford, was totally wrecked on the north end of the Dogger Bank, during a strong breeze from the E.N.E. The lifeboat went out, and after making every possible exertion to save the vessel without effect, the crew of 6 men were taken oft' and safely brought ashore in the life-boat.

HOLYHEAD.—On the 14th January the schooner Henry Holman, of Plymouth, was observed in a dangerous position between the Clipera Rocks and Penrhyn Point, Anglesey, while the wind was blowing a very heavy gale from W.N.W. The Holyhead life-boat was at once despatched to her assistance, and after 4 of the life-boatmen had boarded the vessel, and had taken her to a place of safety, the life-boat was returning to the shore thus short-handed, when the gale increased to a hurricane, and broke the clamp of her mainmast, which caused the mast to hang over to leeward, and the boat to fall off the wind, when she suddenly upset, from the joint action of the wind and sea and the weight of the men on her leeside getting in the mast and sail. The lifeboat immediately self-righted, her coxswain going round inside her, and 6 of her crew immediately getting into her. The remain- • ing 4 were carried away by the sea, and 3 of them were picked up, at great risk, by the steam-tug Constitution, of Liverpool; but the fourth man unhappily perished from exhaustion. It was afterwards found that this poor man had been suffering from rupture; and that he ought not to have gone off in the life-boat. With, however, a devotion which is characteristic of our sea-coast population generally, he could not see his fellow-creatures in peril of their lives, without making an effort in the life-boat to save them. All honour to the memories of such men as WILLIAM HUGHES, who gallantly perish in so noble a cause.

PENZANCE.—On the 29th January the brig Willie Ridley, of Plymouth, was seen to drag her anchor and drive a considerable distance towards the shore, until she was within a cable's length of the reef of rocks off the Western Beach, the wind blowing a strong gale from the south, with a heavy-breaking sea. The Penzance lifeboat, under the command of Captain T. H.

FELLOWES, K.N., Inspecting Commander of the Coastguard, in the unavoidable absence of the coxswain, was first launched from the beach, and the crew endeavoured to pull her through the passage near Lariggar Rocks ; but the force of the sea was such that, after breaking four or five oars, she was driven back broadside on; spare oars were got out, and a second attempt made; but again she was beaten back and driven bodily on the rocks. The life-boat was then got on her carriage and transported to Newlyn, when she was again launched, and after some hard rowing, succeeded in getting alongside the brig, and throwing the hand-grapnel on board. The captain and crew fearing to remain on board the vessel in her perilous position, with rising wind and sea, and night coming on, requested to be taken ashore, which was accordingly done by their being lowered over the mainboom of the vessel into the life-boat, and afterwards they were landed safely on the beach. The wind having moderated during the night, the vessel held to her anchor, and her crew having been put on board, she proceeded on her voyage.

FOWEY, CORNWALL.—At daybreak on the 29th January, the French lugger La Maria Franyois, Le Pere Samson, was observed in a perilous position in St. Austell's Bay, with a flag of distress flying, the wind blowing a gale from S. by W. The Fowey life-boat was quickly launched, and the crew having boarded the lugger, assisted some fishermen in slipping the cable, and afterwards got her safely into Par Harbour.

NEWCASTLE, IRELAND.—On the 31st January the schooner Susan, of Dublin, drove ashore in Dundrum Bay during a strong gale from S.S.E. The Newcastle life-boat went out, and succeeded in saving the vessel's crew of 4 men, afterwards landing them in safety.

THORPE, SUFFOLK.—On the 4th February the smack Leader, of Harwich, was wrecked off Thorpeness in a very heavy sea. The Ipswich life-boat was soon launched and taken alongside the vessel. All the crew had abandoned her except the master, and had been picked up by a large yawl. Owing to the heavy sea, the life-boat was unable to get alongside the smack. The master was, however, hauled on board by means of a rope made fast round his body, and was safely landed.

BLACKPOOL, LANCASHIRE.—Early on the morning of the 7th February a large vessel was seen on the Salthouse Bank with flag of distress flying, and in a very perilous position. The wind was very strong from S.W., and the weather thick. The Blackpool life-boat was soon launched and taken alongside the vessel, which proved to be the barque Lexington, of Nassau, bound from that port to Liverpool with a cargo of cotton valued at 80.000Z. The captain of the vessel gave his crew leave to abandon the ship, but said that he himself would stick to her while a plank remained, if the life-boat would stay by her. The crew of the boat therefore undertook to remain by the barque, whose crew, thereupon, also kept by their vessel, and ultimately, on the weather moderating, by using very great exertions, the ship was got off the bank, and finally taken into Liverpool in tow of a steam-tug. The captain of the Lexington heartily thanked the life-boatmen for their services, and his crew cheered them when their vessel was got off the sandbank. The life-boat was away 28 hours, and the crew looked much worn when they came ashore.

For these important services the life-boat's crew received from the owners of the barque the large sum of SQL The Southport and Lytham life-boats also went off to the stranded vessel, but finding the Blackpool life-boat already there, they returned to the shore.

FISHGUARD, SOUTH WALES. — On the 20th February, the schooners Albion, of Teignmouth, and Emma, of Barrow, anchored in Fishguard Bay. Being strangers, the vessels came to anchor rather too far out in the bay, and the wind having suddenly shifted to the N.N.E., and considerably increased in violence, with a tremendous sea running, both vessels were in imminent danger. The gale being on the increase, with every prospect of a terrible night, the Sir Edward Permit life-boat was sent out, and her appearance alongside the distressed vessels, which were labouring very heavily, was hailed with the greatest joy. After having carefully secured thsir vessels, both crews, consisting of 11 men, were but too glad to be brought ashore in the life-boat, which behaved admirably on the occasion, notwithstanding the hfavy sea and broken water that she had to go through.

The next morning the Albion parted both chains, rapidly drifted on the rocks, and in a few minutes became a total wreck. Had the crew been on board, every soul must have perished.

NORTH BERWICK.—At daylight, on the 20th February, a pilot-boat was observed at anchor under Craig Leith Island, with the sea breaking very heavily all round her, and the wind blowing a gale from N.N.W. with severe frost. The North Berwick life-boat was launched through a very heavy surf, and brought on shore from the boat 3 pilots, who had been exposed in their small open boat for 28 hours, and were almost perishing with cold and hunger. They had been unable to roach the shore on account of the heavy surf.

DUNDALK, IRELAND.—On the 19th March, the schooner Delila, of Nantes, went ashore on the Blackrock Strand, in Dundalk Bay, the wind blowing a heavy gale from E.S.E.

at the time. The crew of seven men took to their own boat, and were picked up by the Dundalk life-boat and safely landed.

TYNEMOUTH, NORTHUMBERLAND. — On the 19th March, as the brig Border Chieftain, of Hartlepool, was coming into the Tyne under charge of a pilot, a sea struck her steering wheel, injuring the man at the helm, and she was driven on the Stones south of the North Pier, Tynemouth. The Constance life-boat was instantly launched in a very heavy sea, in charge of the coxswain, JAMES GILBERT ; she approached the brig and took off the captain, crew, and pilot, including the injured man, in all eight men, and brought them safely ashore.

About half-past 4 o'clock in the afternoon of the same day, the brigantine Burton, of Colchester, was entering the Tyne, rather too far north, close by another vessel to windward, which apparently took the wind from the sails of the Burton; at the same time the latter was struck by a heavy sea, and driven on to the Stones at the end of the North Pier near the staging. The vessel turned round after striking, with her head to the north, and the crew took to the rigging. A rocket was fired successfully from the pier, but the men on board were unable to get hold of it: indeed if they had done so it would have been useless, for the vessel heeled over and broke up within seven minutes of the time she struck. The Constance life-boat was launched within five minutes after the Burton had struck ; but, with every possible effort, could not reach the vessel before she broke up ; after which the life-boat was much impeded by the wreck entangling the oars of the crew.

They, however, succeeded in rescuing the mate of the vessel, who was clinging to a spar from the wreck. The rest of the unfortunate crew, 5 in number, unhappily perished before the life-boat could reach them, although the boat was on the spot within 10 or 12 minutes after the vessel had struck.

LOWESTOFT, SUFFOLK.—About 8 A.M., on the 20th March, during a strong gale from the eastward, a schooner was seen to run on .the Newcome Sands. The sea at once broke over her, and the crew hoisted her ensign in the rigging as a signal of distress.

The Lowestoft life-boat was immediately launched, and, with the assistance of the steam-tug Rainbow, was enabled quickly to close with her, and took out the crew of 7 men, and brought them safely into Lowestoft harbour. The vessel proved to be the Danish schooner Pfeil, of Blankanesse.

On the 15th August the Lowestoft lifeboat again went off', in reply to signals of distress from the brigantine Light of the Harem, of Whitstable, which had struck on Gorton Spit during a strong gale of wind and heavy sea. The life-boat took off 4 men from the vessel, and brought them safely ashore. Two of the crew had gone adrift in the ship's boat, and were picked np by a Gorton yawl. The vessel ultimately floated off and was brought into Lowestoft harbour by the life-boat and the steam-tug Sailor, of Yarmouth, the crew of the life-boat working at the pumps.

FILEY, YORKSHIRE.—On the 26th March the schooner Kate, of Lynn, was observed about 2 miles off this place drifting towards the land during a strong easterly gale. The Filey life-boat was at once launched, and took off the crew of 4 men, landing them in safety. The vessel afterwards became a total wreck on Filey Beach.

WHITBY, YORKSHIRE.—About 1-30 A.M., on the 19th April, the weather being thick and foggy, signals of distress were observed from a vessel on the rocks off this place.

The Whitby life-boat Lucy was soon launched through a heavy surf, and succeeded in reaching the vessel, which proved to be the screw-steamer Ocean Queen, of Newcastle. The life-boat took off 15 persons, including the captain's wife, and brought them safely ashore. The sea was so heavy at the time that, although the , steamer had a life-boat on board, the captain did not consider it safe for himself and crew to leave the steamer in her.

Soon after midnight on the 9th May, the Lucy life-boat again went out, in reply to signals of distress from a large vessel which had struck on Whitby rocks. Several cobles had previously attempted to get the vessel off the rocks, but the sea increasing, they were compelled to abandon her. The life-boat afterwards took off the crew of 19 men, and landed them in safety. The vessel proved to be the barque Maria Somes, of London, coal laden.

CAHORE, IRELAND.—On the 9th May, the schooner Speed, of Wexford, was observed anchored close to the rocks off this place, during a strong gale of wind and heavy sea.

The captain, fearing that his vessel would drive on the rocks, hoisted signals of distress, and the Cahore life-boat immediately went off, and brought the crew of 6 men ashore. Fortunately, the vessel rode out the gale, and the crew subsequently took charge of her again, and proceeded on their voyage.

MOELFRE, ANGLESEY.'—On the 16th May a sailor-boy, while endeavouring to reach his vessel, in Redwharf Bay, in a boat from the shore, was driven out to sea by the strong ebb and high wind. The Moelfre life-boat was launched as soon as possible, and, after a long pull against wind and tide, succeeded in rescuing the lad from the boat, which was then at least 5 miles out at sea.

GROOMSPORT, IRELAND.—Early on the morning of the 30th May, the smack Agnes and Mary, of Glasgow, struck on the rocks off this place, during a strong northerly wind and heavy surf. The Groomsport life-boat put off, and brought the master of the smack safely ashore. The crew of 2 men had previously succeeded in reaching the shore in the vessel's boat.

RHYL, NORTH WALES.—On the 11th June, during a fresh gale of wind from the north, the sloop Catherine, of Liverpool, was observed in a dismasted state, with signals of distress flying, about 4 miles off this place. The Rhyl tubular life-boat went off, and succeeded, in conjunction with a steam-tug, in bringing the vessel and her crew of 4 men safely into harbour.