Services of the Life-Boats of the National Life-Boat Institution
ORMES' HEAD, LLAKDUDNO.—On the 27th February, information was received here that a vessel was in distress in the bay. The wind was blowing hard from the N.E. at the time, and the sea was very rough.
The Sisters' Memorial life-boat was immediately launched; and, proceeding to the vessel, found her sunk, the crew of 3 men clinging to the rigging. With some difficulty they succeeded in taking the poor fellows off, and afterwards in landing them safely at Llandudno. The vessel proved to be the flat Morning Star, of Carnarvon.
It is somewhat singular that, on the 7th December, 1864, this very same vessel and her crew were both rescued from a very perilous position by the same life-boat.
BERWICK-ON-TWEED.—On the 8th March a vessel was observed running in for the land, and, as it was evident she was embayed, there being a heavy sea and strong wind from E.N.E., a steam-tug went out and took her in tow. While crossing the bar the tow-rope broke, and the vessel, becoming unmanageable, drove amongst the breakers on Spittal Point. As soon as this accident was seen on shore, the Albert Victor life-boat was at once launched, and succeeded in rescuing the crew of 7 men. Tlie vessel proved to be the Norwegian galliot Johanna, of Soon, bound from that port to Aberdeen.
His Royal Highness the Prince of WALES was pleased to express, through General KNOLLYS, his extreme satisfaction on learning of this additional gallant service of the Albert Victor life-boat.
SEATON CAREW, DURHAM.—On the 8th March, a large ship, in attempting to mako the River Tees, struck heavily on the Bar, and immediately showed signals of distress.
Soon afterwards she drifted on to the North Gare Sandbank. The wind was blowing strong from E.N.E. at the time. The Charlotte life-boat was promptly manned and launched, and succeeded in taking off the crew of 13 men and the captain's wife.
The poor woman, who had only recently been married, was in a most exhausted condition when brought on shore. The vessel proved to be the ship Amsterdam, of Sunderland, in ballast.
PENARTH, GLAMORGAN.—On the night of the 23rd March, signals of distress were heard in the direction of the Cardiff Sands, the wind-blowing a strong gale from S.W.
at the time. The Baroness Windsor lifeboat was at once launched, and it was found that they proceeded from the brig Claudia, of Belfast. Owing to the severity of the weather, she had struck the ground at low water, and sprung a leak, and when the life-boat arrived alongside, the vessel had rive feet of water in her hold. The assistance of the life-boat's crew was anxiously requested and readily given. By great exertions the pump was kept working, the anchors raised, and eventually the vessel and her crew of 7 men were placed in safety on the Cardiff East Mud, near the Bute Docks.
SWANSEA, SOUTH WALES.—On the 23rd March, during a heavy squall, the brig Vesta, of Whitby, was seen to part her cable and to founder between the Mumbles and Swansea Pier. The life-boat, was quickly launched, and succeeded in taking from the vessel's rigging the crew of 7 men, afterwards landing them in safety.
REDCAR, YORKSHIRE.—On the night of the 24th March, during a heavy gale of wind from S.S.E., the sloop Gipsey, of Wisbech, struck on the Hales Rocks off Redcar. It being dark, with a heavy sea on, which completely swept the decks, the crew narrowly escaped being washed overboard.
Every .effort was made to get the vessel off again, and it was only when she rapidly began to fill that the signal lights were burned for help, and which were promptly responded to by the Crossley new life-boat, recently stationed at Redcar. With some difficulty, owing to the heavy cross seas, the life-boat succeeded in reaching the wreck, and in taking oft' the crew of 3 men and the master's wife, who were in a very exhausted condition from long exposure.
The .new life-boat behaved admirably on the occasion, and the fishermen and others had the greatest confidence in her. The cost of this life-boat was the gift to the Institution of Messrs. JOHN CKOSSLEY and SONS, of Halifax.
Early on the morning of the 17th June, signals of distress were observed from the yacht Dagmar, of Middlesborough, lying in the Roads off Redcar, in which she had taken refuge the previous evening. It was blowing fresh from the north, and there was a strong sea running at the time. The Crossley life-boat was at once launched, and took off the crew of 2 men, and brought them safely ashore. The yacht fortunately held by her anchor, and was afterwards saved.
CARDIGAN, SOUTH WALES.—On the 23rd March, during a heavy gale of wind, the smack Elizabeth, of Cardigan, got under weigh to cross the Bar, but in doing so, her jib sheet was blown away.
She then let go her two anchors; but the chains parted, and she drifted on the Bar, where she took' the ground, the sea breaking heavily over her. Signals of distress were now shown, and the John Stuart life-boat was immediately manned and launched, and brought safely ashore the vessel's crew of 6 men. The captain stated in his deposition that they had given themselves up for lost, and that, but for the lifeboat's timely arrival, they all must inevitably have perished. It was only by holding on firmly to the rigging that they saved themselves from being washed overboard, and this could not have lasted long, owing to the bitter cold, and the knocking about they received by the seas continually breaking over them.
PORTHDINLLAEN, NORTH WALKS.—On the 24th March, the smack Jenny Jones, of Barmouth, was observed in a dangerous position, with signals of distress flying, in Porthdinllaen Bay, during a gale of wind from N.W. The Cotton Sheppard life-boat was quickly launched, and succeeded in bringing the crew of 3 men and 2 hovellers in safety to the shore.
On the11lth September signals of distress were observed flying from the brigantine Columbia, of Carnarvon, off this'place during a heavy gale of wind. The Cotton Sheppard life-boat was at once launched, and, after placing the vessel in safety, brought ashore the crew of 5 men, who afterwards returned on board the next morning when,the weather had moderated.
HAYLE, CORNWALL.—On the 10th September, the brigantine Nicholas Harvey, of this port, while attempting to make the harbour during a strong gale of wind and a heavy ground sea, stranded on the eastern side of the bar. She soon afterwards filled, and the crew took to the rigging, with the sea washing over the j decks, carrying away the ship's boat and j other things. The Oxford University lifei boat the Isis was immediately manned and launched, and after some difficulty, succeeded in getting under the bows of the vessel, and in rescuing her crew of 8 men, and afterwards landing them in safety.
HOWTH, DUBLIN BAY.—Early in the morning of the 17th October, during a strong gale of wind from S.S.E., signals of distress were observed from this place.
The Sir George Bowles life-boat was at once launched, and found the lugger Favourite, of Peel (Isle of Man), stranded off'Baldoyle. She was quite disabled, the heavy sea making a complete breach over her, and the crew were in a very exhausted state. The life-boat succeeded in saving the crew of 7 men and a boy, and in bringing them safely ashore.
It was very dark, and but for the timely aid of the life-boat, the poor fellows must have perished.
The following letter was subsequently addressed by the master of the smack to the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, expressing the gratitude of himself and crew for the valuable services of the life-boat:— " Howth Harbour, 20th October, 1866.
" GENTLEMEN, " Myself and crew, consisting of seven men and a boy, do sincerely thank Almighty God, and give heartfelt thanks to the coxswain and crew of your life-boat at Howth, for saving us from perishing on the morning of the 17th October. No one but those in such a perilous position would truly appreciate the value of a life-boat. We showed signals with our flambeau until it and ourselves were exhausted, and as a last resource we burnt our beds. The night was so dark and such a raging surf, nothing but broken water to be seen, we did not think it possible any boat could live, or be able to come near us, neither did we see the life-boat until she struct us on the lee bo«". After a desperate effort made by the crew of the lifeboat, they at last succeeded in throwing a grapline on board, the coxswain calling out to us not to jump until the boat rose on a sea. Great praise is due to the coxswain and crew of the life-boat, who, under God's providence, landed us in safety at half-past five in the morning. We received every kindness from the coastguard, who supplied us with dry clothing, &c.
" I am, fee.
" JOHN GILL, " Master of the fishing-lugger favourite, of Peel.
" To the Committee of the National Life-boat Institution.".