LIFEBOAT MAGAZINE ARCHIVE

Advanced search

Britannia, of North Shields

On the night of the 12th January the barque Britannia, of North Shields, bound from Mauritius to Greenock, got on shore, in moderate weather, on the north side of Port Logan Bay; the crew saving them- selves by climbing over the rocks at low water. On the day following fourteen men were hired to "strip" the ship. While the men were aloft a heavy storm came on, the sea swept over the deck of the stranded vessel, and the men had to cling to the swaying masts and rigging as best they might. Luckily, the coastguard, observ- ing the danger, despatched an express to Port Logan. JAMES BBOWN, the coxswain of the Life-boat Edinburgh and R. M.

Ballantyne, at once summoned his crew, and, after an. anxious struggle, succeeded in carrying his boat to the side of the barque. The process of clearing away the rigging having been commenced before the storm came on, everything was blow- ing about in the wildest confusion, and each moment it was expected the masts would fall. Getting the 14 men extricated from their perilous position was a work of great difficulty, but was at length accom- plished, and the Life-boat regained Port Logan in safety before dark, with the rescued men on board..