LIFEBOAT MAGAZINE ARCHIVE

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Services of the Life-Boats of the National Life-Boat Institution from the 1st Oct. To the 31st Dec., 1876

DOUGLAS, ISLE OF MAN.—On the night j of Sunday the 1st October, 1876, the ] No. 2 Life-boat, John Turner-Turner, res- cued the crew of the brig Mary Ann, of Whitehaven, and 4 boatmen, being 10 in all, from that vessel, which had drifted on the Pollock rocks, off Douglas harbour.

HARTLEPOOL.—At 10 o'clock on the night of the 1st October, the No. 1 Life- boat, Charles Mather, gallantly rescued, in a heavy surf, 3 men, being part of the crew of the barque Auffredy, of Sunder- land, which had driven ashore 3i miles north of Hartlepool. The rest of the crew, 6 in number, had left the vessel in their own boat before she went ashore.

In two hours after the crew were taken off, the ship became a total wreck and went to pieces.

IRVINE.—On the 6th October the schooner Lady Mary, of Irvine, went ashore near the entrance of that harbour, in a strong south-westerly gale, and hoist- ing signals of distress, the Life-boat, the j Isabella crew, proceeded to her through a heavy sea, and landed her crew, consisting of 4 men.

STONEHAVEN—On the 19th October the Life-boat Star, stationed here, took off the crew of 4 men of the Prussian schooner Katerina, which had anchored in a dangerous position close to the rocks off the port.

CAISTER.—On the 4th November the small Life-boat, the Godsend, was called off to the aid of the fishing-smack Phoebe, of Yarmouth, which had got on the " Cockle1' Sand. On reaching the spot, her hull was already under water, and her crew, 6 in number, were all in the rigging. The sea was breaking heavily over them, but they were all safely hauled through the water by ropes and got into the Life-boat, which then conveyed them to the shore.

DEAL.—On the night of the 11th No- vember, at 10.30 P.M., the Deal Life-boat, the Van KooTc, was launched through a heavy surf to the aid of the barque Ton- maur, of Fowey, which was fast driving to the shore near that place. With the assistance and skill of the coxswain and crew of the Life-boat, a spring was put on the cable and sail made, and she was got safely off the land and taken into Ramsgate harbour, both the vessel and her crew, 5 in number, being saved through the instrumentality of the Life- boat.

SWANAGE.—On the llth November the Swanage Life-boat, Charlotte Mary, was the means of saving the smack Aries, of Cowes. That vessel was dragging her anchors in Swanage Bay, when the Life- boat went to her aid through a heavy sea, and placing four men on board her, they were enabled to slip her cables, make sail, and run her into shoal water. It was blowing a gale from E.S.E. at the time.

BLYTH.—On November llth the brig Camilla, of Portsmouth, parted her an- chors and drove on shore, in an E.S.E. gale, near Blyth; the Life-boat Salford was as soon as possible launched, and went to her aid, taking off and safely landing 4 of her crew, one man having been taken off by the rocket apparatus.

CASTLETOWN, ISLE OF MAN.—On the 12th November the schooner Gleaner, of Preston, was driven on shore in Castle- town Bay, in an easterly gale. The Life- boat Commercial Traveller No. 2 was speedily launched, and succeeded in res- cuing her crew of 3 men, landing them safely at Castletown.

HORNSEA.—On the 13th November the ketch Germ, of Goole, riding at anchor 1 mile south of Hornsea, was seen to hoist signals of distress. The Life-boat Ellen and Margaret of Settle was thereon sent off to her aid; but the master de- clined her services, requiring a tug- steamer only to tow him into a position of safety. The Life-boat therefore returned to the shore; but had not long done so when signals of distress were again hoisted; she was, thereupon, a second time launched, and on reaching the vessel it was found that the latter had leaked so much that the water had risen in her to the cabin floor. The master and his wife and the 2 men forming her crew were then taken off and landed in safety.

The vessel soon after parted her cable, and immediately she touched the ground was turned bottom-up; so that had the rescue of those on board been less prompt, they must inevitably have perished.

TYRELLA, COUNTY DOWN.—On the 15th November the French brigantine Sinai, of Nantes, drove on outlying rocks off Eath- mullan, in Dundrum Bay; one man got j into the ship's boat, which soon capsized, but he contrived to hold on to it until driven ashore, where he was rescued by the Coastguard. The Life-boat Memorial was quickly launched, and succeeded in saving the remainder of the crew, 6 in number, the vessel afterwards becoming a total wreck.

ABERYSTWYTH.—On the 27th November, intelligence being received that 3 young men in a fishing-boat had been blown out to sea and were in great peril, the Life- boat Lady Haberfield proceeded in search, and found the boat about 8 miles from the land, with its 3 occupants in an exhausted condition from cold and want of nourishment. They were safely landed; one of them requiring medical aid to restore him to consciousness.

BERWICK-ON-TWEED.—On the 2nd De- cember the small screw-steamer Clan Alpine, of Leith, in entering the River Tweed struck on the bar, turned broad- side to the sea, and sank. The Life-boat Albert Victor was speedily launched and rescued the crew of 4 men.

CULLERCOATS.—On the 2nd December the Life-boat Palmerston, stationed here, was the means of saving 1 man of the crew of a fishing coble which was upset in running for the shore. Three others unfortunately perished before the arrival of the Life-boat on the spot.

On the 18th October the same Life-boat was launched, and assisted the fishing coble Palestine, of Cullercoats, and her crew of 3 men and a boy, safely into harbour.

GORLESTON, SUFFOLK. — OH Sunday morning, the 12th November, the brig Vulcan, of Whitstable, during a heavy gale, parted from her anchors, and making sail to clear the pier at the entrance to Yar- mouth harbour, ran on the Gorleston beach. The Life-boat Leicester, -which had been already conveyed to the spot, was then immediately launched, and after an hour's exertion on the part of her crew, was successful in rescuing the wrecked people, 10 in number, including the master's wife and 2 children. The boat is said to have behaved very well.

FRASERBURGH.—On the 19th November the Life-boat Charlotte, in conjunction with a steam-tug, was the means of saving the barque Octavia and her crew, and conveying her safely to Cromarty. The wind was S.S.E. at the time, with a very heavy sea.

ARBROATH.—On the 15th December the Life-boat People's Journal No. 2, aided by a steam-tug, was enabled to save and get into the harbour the Norwegian schooner Adjutor, of Stavanger. There was a strong S. wind and heavy sea at the time.

BALLYWALTER, Co. DOWN.—On the night of the 15th December the brigantine Jennie Lind, of Whitehaven, coal laden, was driven on the Pladdie Rocks off Bally- waiter. A strong S.E. gale was blowing, with a very heavy sea, and the night very dark. It was therefore felt to be a very dangerous service, and for some time a sufficient number of volunteers could not be obtained to man the Life-boat Admiral Henry Meynell. After a while, however, encouraged by the Rev. HENRY WILSON, son of the Bector of Ballywalter, who accompanied them as one of the crew of the boat, she proceeded on her dangerous mission, and in a little more than an hour reached the stranded vessel, taking her crew of 5 men on board, and afterwards landed them safely at Ballywalter. This was altogether a very gallant and praise- worthy service.

SUTTON, LINCOLNSHIRE.—On the morn- ing of the 16th December the barque Beecher Stowe, laden with deals, was driven ashore off Mablethorpe. The Sutton Life- boat, the Caroline, was then drawn to the spot, 3 miles, by land, and launched to the aid of the distressed crew, 10 in number, all of whom were then taken off and landed safely at Mablethorpe.

TEIGNMOUTH.—On the 20th December the Life-boat China rescued the crew of a fishing boat, 3 in number, who had been overtaken by a high wind and sea, and were in danger of being wrecked on the bar off the port, on which a heavy sea was breaking.

SEAHAM.—On the 21st December the barque Excelsior, of Sunderland, was driven ashore in an E.N.E. gale in Bed Acres Bay, near Seaham. The Life-boat Sisters Carter of Harrogate was conveyed to the spot by land on her carriage, and launched through a heavy surf, taking off and landing in safety the crew, 11 in number,.

the vessel shortly afterwards becoming a total wreck.

CAISTER.—On the evening of the 23rd December flares were seen from a vessel ashore on the Barber Sand. The Godsend Life-boat was immediately launched, and on arriving at the sand the barque Ingle- lorough, of Hull, was found to have gone ashore there, having parted from her anchor while lying in Yarmouth Roads. Her crew of 13 men were taken into the Life-boat, and brought safely ashore; the, vessel subsequently broke up.

A strong easterly wind was blowing at the time, and the sea was heavy on the sand.

ALNMOUTH.—The John Atkinson Life- boat rescued, on the 24th December, 3 of the crew of the brig Unition, of Guernsey, which vessel had stranded on the Boulmer Rocks. Of the remainder of the ship- wrecked men, 1 was lost, and the others, 4 in number, were saved by the Boulmer rocket apparatus.

MONTROSE. — The No. 1. Life-boat, Mincing Lane, put off, and, with consider- able difficulty, rescued the crew of 6 men from the schooner Bellalie, of Nantes, which had parted from her anchors, and had gone ashore off Montrose during a strong S.E. wind and heavy sea on the morning of the 24th December.

WINTERTON.—On the morning of the 25th December signals of distress were observed from a schooner ashore about 3 miles north of Winterton. The Ann Maria Life-boat was thereupon launched, and rescued the crew, 6 in number, from the vessel, which proved to be the schooner St. Elwine, of St. Ives. She had stranded at Horsey Gap, and subsequently became a total wreck. The wind was blowing strongly from E.S.E., and a heavy sea was running at the time.

NEWCASTLE, Co. DOWN.—On the evening of the 26th December a vessel was re- ported to be ashore in Dundrum Bay.

A very severe gale was raging at the time.

The Life-boat Reigati was promptly launched, and succeeded in rescuing the crew, 4 in number, from the vessel, which proved to be the schooner Margaritta, of Newquay, South Wales. She was on a voyage from Swansea to Newry, with a cargo of coal, and had been driven ashore by the severity of the gale.

GREAT YARMOUTH.—Intelligence was re- ceived on the morning of the 27th Decem- ber that the brig Countess of Zetland, of Wells, was ashore on the beach. A strong S. by E. wind was blowing, and a heavy sea running at the time. The Abraham Thomas Life-boat was immediately launched, and proceeded to the vessel, which had gone ashore north of the Britannia Pier. A line having been passed to the brig by the rocket apparatus, the Life-boat was hauled j alongside, and the vessel's crew of 7 men j were taken into the boat and brought ; safely ashore. j BALLANTRAE.—The fishingboat J. W. E., of this port, was seen to have lost halyards j and mast, which had been broken by the violence of the gale, on the 30th December,! and it being impossible for the crew to run her ashore, the Life-boat William and Harriot, proceeded to her assistance, and brought the fishing boat and her crew of men safely to land. j PENSION.—On the 31st December, while j a strong S.W. gale was blowing, a brigantine j was observed with a signal of distress flying in her main rigging. The Life-boat Christopher Brown was launched, and, on boarding the vessel, found her to be the brigantine Florence, of Preston, bound from Liverpool to Dublin, with a cargo of iron rails. Her foremast had been carried away, her pumps were broken, and she had lost most of her sails, and was riding heavily. The master and crew of 3 men were thereupon taken into the Life-boat and safely landed at Conway, the Life-boat being unable to regain her station against the heavy seas.

HARWICH.—On the 29th December, fires having been seen in the direction of the Platters Sand, the Life-boat Spring-well was launched, and after proceeding some distance, was taken in tow by the steam- tug Liverpool. The signals were found to have been shown from the brigantine Willie, of Llanelly, which was in a posi- tion of great danger near Landguard Point. She was boarded, and, with the assistance of a pilot cutter, a tow-rope was taken to the tug, the vessel's anchors and chains were slipped, and she was towed safely into Harwich.

KESSINGLAND.—On the 22nd December, the schooner Eliza, of Sunderland, and the sloop Firm, of London, were observed showing signals of distress on Benacre Point. The No. 2 Life-boat, the Grace and Lolly, of Broad Oak, was promptly launched, and succeeded in getting both vessels afloat, and in taking them safely into harbour. The first-named vessel carried a crew of 4 men, and the latter was manned by 6 men.