LIFEBOAT MAGAZINE ARCHIVE

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

DONNA NOOK, LINCOLNSHIRE. — A fearful gale was experienced on this coast on the 30th September, 1871. In the midst of the storm an Italian barque, the Three Sisters, became a complete wreck, attended with an agonizing and consider- able loss of life. After a most noble and * We are indebted to K. M. BALLAKTTNE, Esq., Author of The Life-boat, a Tale of our Coast Heroes, for the loan of the block of the annexed illustration.

determined struggle, the Donna Nook Life-boat, North Briton, rescued from an inevitable death the captain, mate, and 4 of the crew, but, unhappily, the pilot and 8 of the crew perished. The con- duct of the Life-boat crew was very gallant, and the boat herself behaved most admirably in the midst of the immense surf. The men saved were almost past recovery, some of their companions having actually perished in the rigging before succour could reach them.

DTODALK, IRELAND.—On the 24th Aug.

the brigantine Zoe, of this place, was ob- served to be lying at anchor off Cooley Point, about nine miles from the Life-boat station, in an apparently disabled state,, she having lost both her masts. It was blowing a gale from the W.S.W. at the ; time. The Stockport Sunday Schools Life- boat went out to the distressed vessel, to the great relief of all on board, as had the wind changed one point to the southward, j their lives would have been in considerable danger, all their boats having been washed away. At the urgent request of the crew, she remained alongside until the next morning, when a steamer arrived and took the Zoe into a safe position.

ARBROATH, N.B. — The schooner Ann, of Inverness, was approaching the Harbour of Arbroath, on the evening of the 24th August, it then being an hour past high-water, and the wind blowing a strong gale from the S.W., when she struck on the rocks, about 400 yards from the Pier-head ; she remained fast there, and a very heavy cross-sea beat heavily over her.

The Dundee People's Journal Life-boat was at once got afloat, bravely taken through the high seas, and succeeded, before the vessel sank, in rescuing the crew of 5 men, and the pilot, who belonged to the port.

SOUTHPORT, LANCASHIRE.—On the 26th August, during a strong westerly gale, information was received at this Life-boat station that a large vessel was ashore about four miles distant. The Life-boat Jessie Knowles was taken along the shore on her carriage until she was abreast of the stranded ship, when she was launched and proceeded to the wreck through very heavy seas, which repeatedly broke over the boat, and which on one occasion threw her on her beam-ends, and broke six oars.

Fortunately, however, she was instrumen- tal in saving the whole of the 17 men on board the vessel, which proved to be the barque Times, of Liverpool. The coxswain and crew of the Life-boat were reported as deserving of great credit for their per- severance and gallantry in this meritorious service.

Again, on the 14th December, the barque Marseille stranded on Ted's Bank, during very thick and foggy weather, and in a heavy sea. The Life-boat proceeded out, but by the time she reached the vessel it was found she had floated with the flood- tide, and was then at anchor. The Life- boat remained alongside until the barque was under weigh, clear of the bank, and out of danger.

FRASERBURGH, N.B.—After a severe storm which was experienced here on the 24th August had somewhat abated, about 200 of the fishing-boats put to sea, but at nightfall a gale of much violence came on from the N.N.W., and those of the crews who had not cast their nets, at once made for the harbour, which they with great difficulty succeeded in reaching; others, however, trusting to an abatement of the storm, kept hanging on their nets until about two o'clock in the morning, when the severity of the wind so much increased as to necessitate their cutting the nets adrift and seeking the harbour for safety. Many others had no alternative but to bring up in the bay; and about six o'clock the Life-boat ffavelock was launched, and proceeded to two of the boats which had drifted too near the shore, and had hoisted signals of distress.

The crews of both the boats, consisting of 11 men, were happily rescued by the Life-boat, and brought safely to the harbour.