Services of the Life-Boats of the National Life-Boat Institution
CADGWITH, CORNWALL.—At midnight, on the 13th January, 1868, a light being observed on or near the Vrogue Rocks, in a strong wind from the W.S.W., and a heavy ground sea, the Western Commercial Traveller life-boat was despatched to as- certain if there was a vessel in distress or danger there. On nearing the spot, the brig Ellen, of Sunderland, was found at anchor in the full run of the Lizard Race, a most dangerous position. On the life- boat crew boarding her, the master said he did not require any assistance, but on being told by the coxswain of his danger, he asked advice as to his best mode of pro- ceeding, which advice he acted on by shifting his position as soon as practicable, and the life-boat seeing no immediate danger to the vessel need then be apprehended, returned to her station.
LYME EEGIS, DORSET.—On the 17th January, during a strong breeze and foggy weather, a vessel was seen anchored in a very dangerous position to windward of the harbour, and as she appeared to be slowly driving on the rocks, the Manchester Branch life-boat, William Woodcock, was launched in a very high sea, and reached her after passing through much broken water. The captain asked for assistance, and some of the crew of the life-boat went on board and suc- ceeded in bringing the vessel, with her crew of 4 men, safely into the harbour. She proved to be the ketch Kate, of Ipswich.
CASTLETOWN, ISLE OF MAN.—On the 18th January, information was received that a dismasted vessel was dragging her anchors at Derby Haven, there being a very severe gale from S.W., and a heavy sea on.
The life-boat Commercial Traveller, No. 2, was launched, and rescued the crew of 2 men and 3 boys, who were much ex- hausted. The vessel was the schooner Maria, of Newport, Monmouthshire. She had put into the roadstead on the 17th for shelter, and on the 18th, having dragged her anchors half a mile, it was found necessary to cut away the masts. This was the first service of this life-boat, which had shortly before superseded an older one, and it was most satisfactorily performed.
MOELFRE, ANGLESEY.—On the 22nd Jan- uary, the life-boat London Sunday Schools and Charles Scare was got out in conse- quence of a message stating that 4 men were to be seen on the Dulas Rocks. The boat was launched in a heavy sea, with a strong easterly wind, and succeeded in saving all the men. They were the crew of the schooner Douglas Pennant, of Caernarvon, which had been wrecked on the Dulas Rocks about 2 o'clock that morning. The vessel went to pieces in an hour and a half, but the crew managed to get on the rocks, where they remained exposed to the weather till they could be seen from the land, and rescued by the life-boat.
On the 19th of February, the schooners March, of Liverpool, and Richard, of Ban- gor, were stranded in Moelfre Bay, during a heavy gale of wind from the N.E. Both vessels at once showed signals of distress, which were promptly responded to by the Moelfre life-boat putting off and rescuing their crews, consisting of 6 men.
On the 8th April, the smack Cymro, of Amlwch, was observed with a signal of distress flying, in Moelfre Bay, during a strong easterly wind. This life-boat put off and succeeded in saving the smack's crew of 2 men. The vessel subsequently became a total wreck.
ANSTRUTHER, N.B.—On the 24th Jan- uary, during a storm from the S.W., the schooner Edward Stonard, of Lancaster, lost her main-boom, fore-gaff, and all sails except mainsail (which was split), and the master was obliged to run her ashore to the west- ward of Anstruther Harbour, in order to save the lives of the crew. The life-boat Admiral FitzRoy was launched, and rescued the crew, 5 in number, at very great risk of life, as it was the heaviest storm experienced at Anstruther for many years.
PORTHDINLLAEN, N. WALES. — On the 24th January, the schooner Denbighsliire Lass, of Beaumaris, showed a signal of dis- tress in Porthdinllaen Bay, and the life- boat Cotton Sheppard was launched about 5.30 P.M., in a terrific gale from the S.W., with very heavy showers of rain. When the vessel was reached she was found to have parted one of her cables. The life- boat, after securing the vessel as well as possible, took off the crew of 4 men.
While returning to land, another schooner, anchored in a very dangerous place, was seen to show signals of distress. The life- boat having landed the crew of the schooner, put off to the other vessel, and, after a severe struggle, took off her crew of 5 men.
She proved' to be the Sarah Caroline, of Girvan. Both vessels rode out the gale; but without the assistance of the life-boat's crew, they would most probably have been totally wrecked.
GREAT YARMOUTH.—On the night of the 24th January, dating a heavy gale from S.S.W., guns were heard from the St.
Nicholas Light Vessel, and rockets were thrown up, indicating a vessel in distress.
The crew of the large life-boat were soon mustered, and promptly put off in the boat, and found the smack Clipper, of Great Yarmouth, riding on the edge of the Scroby Sand, with one cable only. The life-boat veered down, and, with great diffi- culty, succeeded in bringing the vessel and her crew of 6 men safely into harbour.
On the 23rd February, the ship Omega, of Newcastle, was stranded on the Cockle Sand, on the Norfolk coast, during a gale of wind. She afterwards drifted, and sank about fourteen miles S.E. of Lowestoft.
The Yarmouth and Caister life-boats—Mark Lane and Birmingham No. 2—put off in reply to the signals of distress, followed the vessel up, and succeeded in saving her crew of 7 men.
CAISTER, NORFOLK.—On the 8th March, the barque Sparkling Wave, of Sunderland, was stranded, and afterwards became a total wreck, on the South Scroby Sand. It was blowing a heavy gale of wind at the time.
The Birmingham No. 2 life-boat went quickly off, and after great difficulty suc- ceeded in rescuing 15 men and the ship's dog, and in afterwards landing them in safety.
On the 28th March, the same valuable life-boat put off and saved the schooner Wave, of Boston, and her crew of 4 men.
The vessel had stranded on the south part of the Inner Barber Sand, during a strong N.N.E. gale.
During the night of the 23rd May, the same life-boat went off and saved from de- struction the Swedish barque Balder, which had struck on the north part of the Has- borough Sands. Upon the vessel stranding, some Palling beachmen, two fishing luggers, and steam-tugs were engaged to get her off the sands, but they were quite unable to do so. As a last resource, the Swedish Consul at Yarmouth applied for the assist- ance of the crew of the Caister life-boat; and they succeeded in about two hours in getting the barque afloat, and afterwards, with the assistance of a steam-tug, in beaching her beside the Britannia Pier at Yarmouth.
HOLY ISLAND, NORTHUMBERLAND.—On the 24th January, during a tremendous hurricane from the S., accompanied by thick showers of snow, the schooner Mis- chief, of Caernarvon, struck on the Parten Stiel Rocks, about a mile and a half to the south of Holy Island. Signals of distress were immediately made, which were promptly responded to by the Grace Dar- ling life-boat going off to the rescue of the vessel's crew. After an hour and a half of laborious and gallant work, the life- boat reached the wreck, and succeeded in taking off 5 men and a boy, and in landing them in safety. A fishing coble, under close-reefed sails, 'had failed to reach the distressed 'vessel, although her crew had tried their utmost, the force of the hurricane being so great—in fact, nothing approaching it had been experienced in the neighbour- hood for many years.
IRVINE, N.B.—On the 29th January, the schooner Atkol, of Ardrossan, was observed riding heavily between Irvine and Lady's Isle. The wind was blowing from the N.W., with heavy squalls and showers of rain.
The Pringle Kidd life-boat put off and found the vessel in a disabled state, all her sails, gear, &c., being adrift. Some of the life- boat men boarded her, and her best cable just then snapping, the other was slipped, and the schooner and her crew of 3 men were taken safely into Troon harbour.
On the 10th February, the barque Kate Agnes, of St. John's, N.B., came broadside on the beach near Irvine during a strong wind from W.N.W. The same life-boat was promptly manned and launched, and in two trips brought safely ashore the vessel's crew of 14 men.
RAMSGATE.—On the night of the 24th January, the brig Britain's Pride, of Fal- mouth, went ashore on the South Brake Sand, near the Goodwin Sands. The Bradford life-boat was quickly manned and taken out in tow of the harbour steam-tug Vulcan, and the vessel and her crew of 8 men were then safely brought into harbour.
ST. IVES, CORNWALL.—On the 19th February, the schooner Gipsy, of Chepstow, was wrecked on St. Ives Ridge, during a strong northerly gale. The Moses life-boat was launched when the vessel was seen running for St. Ives, and reached her just as she grounded on the ridge. The grapnel was about to be thrown when a tremendous sea struck the boat and carried her away, washing out the coxswain and 3 men, and causing the loss of two oars. After picking up the four men the life-boat again pro- ceeded to the vessel, and then succeeded in taking off the crew of 5 men. Three pilot gigs, which were under the shelter of the new pier, were overtaken by the same sea that washed the men out of the life-boat; one of the gigs was capsized, and the crew of,7 men were thrown into the sea. With the greatest difficulty the other two gigs picked up 5 of the men. Another man clung to the boat and drifted quickly to lee- ward. The life-boat men, in returning from the ship, perceived this man and picked him up. The other poor fellow, NICHOLAS JACOBS, however, unfortunately perished.
The Institution voted 01. in aid of the fund raised at St. Ives for the benefit of the widow and orphans of JACOBS.)
FISHGUARD, SOUTH WALES.—On the 19th February, the smack Gloucester Packet, of Cardigan, was observed in the roadstead with signals of distress flying. The Sir Edward Perrott life-boat at once put off, and succeeded in bringing safely ashore the vessel's crew of 2 men. A strong gale from the N. was blowing at the time.
SOUTHWOLD, SUFFOLK.—On the 21st February, the brig Phoebe, of Scarborough, was stranded on a sand-bank near Covehithe, on this coast, during stormy weather. The Southwold large life-boat went oft', put 5 of her crew on board the vessel, and assisted in getting her off the bank and into harbour.
SOUTHPORT, LANCASHIRE.—On the 13th March, during a strong S.W. wind, the ship Nictaux, of St. John's, N.B., struck on James's Bank, about four miles from South- port. The Jessie. Knowles life-boat quickly went off, and, with the assistance of two steam-tugs, the vessel was got off the bank and towed to a place of safety.
PENMON, ANGLESEY. — On the 23rd March, the brig Jabez, of Scarborough, was stranded on the Dutchman's Bank during a fresh gale from N.W. The Penmon life- boat put off, but after rescuing 5 of the shipwrecked crew, she capsized. She soon righted herself, all the men succeeded in re- gaining her, and she afterwards picked up 3 more of the vessel's crew, who had got into the long-boat. The master, having failed to do this, had been left on board the vessel. He afterwards took to the dingy, but was unable to reach the life-boat, and unfortunately perished.
WEXFORD, IRELAND. — On the 22nd March, during a fresh gale, the ship Conway Castle, of Liverpool, was stranded on the north end of the Blackwater Bank. The Wexford and Cahore life-boats, the St.
Patrick and the Sir George Bowles, put off, boarded the vessel, and assisted the crew to throw overboard some of the cargo. Some steam-tugs also put off to her assistance, and she was ultimately got off the bank.
LIZARD, CORNWALL. — On the 27th March, the schooner Selina, of Swansea, was totally wrecked on the Outer Stag Rocks, during a strong N.N.E. wind. The Anna Maria life-boat was quickly launched, but before she could reach the vessel, the master and a boy had been unfortunately washed overboard and drowned. The life- boat succeeded, however, in saving 2 men who had taken to the rigging.
LOOE, CORNWALL.—On the 27th March, while the Oxfordshire life-boat was out for her usual quarterly exercise, she fell in with a small boat, containing 2 fishermen, belong- ing to Looe. They were in great distress, being unable to pull against the strong wind, and their boat was rapidly driving off the coast. The life-boat at once took her in tow, and brought her and the 2 men safely to land.
On the 25th Sept., the schooner Elizabeth Davy, of Goole, was observed in a dismasted state, running for the shore in tow of the Polperro, diving boat. She had a very narrow escape of striking the rocks east of Looe Island. The life-boat Oxfordshire was soon launched through a heavy sea, and assisted to save the vessel and her crew of 3 men.
BLAKENEY, NORFOLK.— On the 8th April, the sloop Richard, of Goole, was stranded, during a strong N.E. gale, on the Nest Sands, about half a mile from Blakeney Harbour. She at once showed signals of distress, which were promptly replied to by the Brightwell life-boat putting off and saving the crew of 3 men from the wreck.
PAKEFIELD, SUFFOLK.—On the 8th April, the brigantine Douglas, of Guernsey, sprung a leak, and afterwards exhibited signals of distress in Pakefield Eoads, during a very strong gale from the N.E. The Sisters life- boat put out, took off 7 of the vessel's crew, and safely landed them. She afterwards went off again, and, with the assistance of a steam-tug, freed the vessel from water, and towed her into Lowestoft.
HOWTH, DUBLIN BAY.—On the 19th April, the bngArran, of Irvine, was stranded, | during a fresh gale of wind, on the bank be- tween the Main and Ireland's Eye, off Howth. The Howth life-boat was quickly manned and launched, and succeeded in bringing the vessel and her crew of 5 men safely into port.
On the 25th Sept., the schooner Airdrie, of Stranraer, was stranded on the Baldoyle Sands, in Dublin Bay, during a gale of wind. The same life-boat went off through a heavy and dangerous sea and rescued the crew of 4 men.
BARMOUTH, NORTH WALES.—On the 21st April, the schooner Dasher, of Amlwch, went on shore near St. Patrick's Causeway, during a fresh gale of wind. The Ellen life-boat put oft' twice, and on the second occasion was able to assist the vessel safely into harbour.
AYR, KB.—On the- 29th April, the schooner John 0. Wade, of Newry, was stranded off Troon Harbour, N.B. It was blowing a heavy N.W. gale at the time.
The Glasgow Workmen's life-boat put off, and, after some difficulty, succeeded in saving the lives of the crew of 5 men.
HUNSTANTON, NORFOLK.—On the 23rd July, the yacht Foam, of Wisbeach, was observed in a very dangerous position, with the sea breaking over her, off this place. It was blowing a strong gale from the N.E. at I the time. The Licensed Victuallers life-boat was promptly manned and launched, and brought ashore a lad who had been left in charge of the yacht.
RUNSWICK, YORKSHIRE.—On the 23rd July, the schooner Margaret Cunningham, of Whitby, was seen driving towards the Kettleness Reef, off the south point of Runs- wick Bay. It was blowing a gale from the N.N.E., and a heavy sea was running at the time. The life-boat Sheffield went off and brought ashore the crew of 2 men.
Immediately after the men were landed, the vessel drove on shore and became a wreck.
COURTOWN, ARKLOW, Am CAHORE, IRE- LAND.—On the 5th August, the ship Empire Queen, of Dublin, was stranded during foggy weather on the south end of the Arldovv Bank. The life-boat Alfred and Ernest, sta- tioned at Courtown, went out, in reply to signals of distress, and at the request of the master remained by the vessel until 9 o'clock on the morning of the 7th, when she took on board 21 persons from the ship and afterwards landed them in safety. She was engaged 68 hours in this service.
The Arthur Venables life-boat, stationed at Arklow, went off three times to the same vessel. On the first occasion the life-boat was employed to bring the mate ashore in order to send to Dublin for the assistance of a steamer. On arriving alongside the ship the second time, it was found that her crew had already been saved by the Cour- town life-boat, as stated above. On the evening of the 7th August, this life-boat a third time put off, and succeeded, with two steam-tugs and a pilot-boat, in taking the vessel safely into Kingstown Harbour.
The life-boat stationed at Cahore had like- wise put off to the assistance of the same vessel.
The Courtown life-boat was also launched on the 14th August, and rendered valuable assistance to "the schooner Annie Jane, of Runcorn, which was stranded in the road- stead off Courtown, during a heavy gale from the S.S.E., and had showed signals of distress. Owing to the tremendous sea running, the life-boat failed at first to reach the vessel, and had to be beached. She was, however, quickly launched a second time, and by means of a hawser got alongside, and at the request of the master 6 of the life-boat men boarded the schooner and suc- ceeded in pumping her dry.. After remain- ing alongside some time, the life-boat returned to the shore with the captain's son.
The Cahore life-boat, the Sir George Bowles, also put off to the assistance of the same vessel.
On the 7th September, the ship R. H. Tucker, of Winconsin, U.S., struck on the Blackwater Bank, on the Irish coast, and the following day was totally destroyed by fire. The Cahore life-boat put off early in the morning, took 5 persons from the ship, and placed them on board the steam-tug Ruby. The life-boat afterwards took off 8 of the vessel's crew, landing them in safety.
The life-boat stationed at Courtown also went off, and remained by the vessel all day, and when the ship caught fire she took off the remainder of the crew, 14 in number, and brought them ashore.
On the 13th September, the Cahore life- boat again put off, in reply to signals of distress from the schooner Vivid, of Wex- ford, which was stranded about a quarter of a mile from the shore close to Poulduff Pier.
The life-boat succeeded in taking off the vessel's crew of 5 men and landing them in safety.
PADSTOW, CORNWALL.—On the 22nd August, the French smack Jules Josephine, of Reyneville, was totally wrecked on the Doom Bar Sands. It was blowing a heavy gale from W.N.W. at the time. The City of Bristol life-boat, Albert Edward, so named after H.K.H. the Prince of Wales, went off and rescued the crew of 4 men.
TENBY, SOUTH WALES.—On the 22nd August, the brigantine Nameless, of Cork and the schooner Emily Ann, of Carnarvon, were observed in distress off Tenby during a strong gale of wind. The Florence life- boat put off twice and saved the wrecked crews, consisting of 20 men. Ten of the rescued men, taken from the Emily Ann, formed the crews of the brigantine Helen Anna, of Cork, the brig Peregrine, of Cork, and the schooner Sarah Pringle, of Liver- pool, they having taken shelter on board the Emily Ann, their own vessels having been previously wrecked.
On the 29th September, the same valuable life-boat put off and rescued the crew of 4 men from the schooner Carnsew, of Hayle, which was observed at anchor in a very dangerous position off the east end of Caldy Island, during a heavy south-westerly gale.
ST. ANDREW'S, N.B.—On the 19th Sep- tember, the brig Oscar, of Tonsberg, was stranded, and afterwards became a total wreck amongst the rocks a short distance from St. Andrew's Harbour, during a strong easterly gale. The St. Andrew's life-boat was quickly launched, and rescued with some difficulty the vessel's crew of 8 men.
They had to drop, one by one, into the sea, whence they were hauled into the life-boat.
REDCAR, YORKSHIRE.—On the 25th Sep- tember, the fishing coble Sybil, of Redcar, was seen in great danger in the roadstead in a fresh wind and heavy sea. The life-boat Burton-on-Trent went out and brought ashore the vessel's crew of 2 men.
The same valuable life-boat had, previous to performing the above service, gone off and brought ashore the crew of 3 men of the fishing-coble Gentle Annie, which was lying at anchor in a dangerous position under the lee of the Salt Scar Rocks.
LLANELLY, SOUTH WALES. — On the 26th September, the ketch Garside, of Bridge- water, was wrecked during a gale of wind off Pembrey. The life-boat City of Bath was at once launched, and saved 2 out of 3 of the crew. The mate of the vessel had previously endeavoured to swim ashore, and was unfortunately drowned in the attempt.
BUCKIE, KB.—A little before nightfall on the 29th September, several fishing- boats belonging to this place were over- taken by a heavy gale of wind. They were seen from the shore making for Craigenrow Bay, ten miles east of Buckie, where they took shelter, though they could not land on account of the heavy sea on the shore.
There being a number of women and chil- dren on board, an effort was made to land them in a small boat, as, apart from their very perilous position, with an increasing gale and night fast approaching, the weakest of them could not be expected to survive many hours more of exposure to such weather. Only three persons, however, were landed, when the experiment was found to be too dangerous to be repeated, and a message was despatched for the Miriam life-boat, and in about ten minutes after the arrival of the messenger, she was on her way to the spot, the boat on her carriage being dragged by two horses and a hundred willing hands at a rapid pace. The darkness was increased by the torrents of rain that fell, and this, along with the immense breakers that thundered on the beach, made the launching both dangerous and difficult. At length, by united and resolute efforts, this was effected.
Another moment, and the darkness enveloped the boat. An occasional gleam of her lan- tern alone discovered her movements, until after half an hour's anxious waiting on the part of the multitude on shore, the noble boat was again seen to emerge from the breakers, bearing 20 rescued lives, most of whom were women and children. As soon as these were safely landed, she returned for the rest, bringing back about 15 ; but part of the crews persisted on remaining in the boats, with the view, if possible, of saving them from drifting to the lee-shore. In the morning, however, it was discovered that one of the boats (in which there were no men) had drifted and gone to pieces; and the storm having rather increased than abated, the men who had braved the storm in the boats all the night were seen to hoist signals for rescue. The life-boat was then manned a second time, and the remaining 10 men were safely landed, making in all 45 lives saved. The boat behaved splendidly, and the crew were everything that could be desired.