Services of the Life-Boats of the National Life-Boat Institution from the 1st April to the 30th Sept. 1877
EYEMOUTH, N.B.—After a heavy which had been blowing for some days, temporary fine weather induced several fish- ing-boats to go to sea on the 5th April. Soon afterwards heavy ground seas set in, and fishing-boats from Eyemouth and several adjacent villages bore up for that port for shelter. But on arriving off it a ridge of sea was seen to form a dangerous barrier to their entrance into the river, and the fishing-smacks, in most cases ignorant of the pilotage, "hove to," and hoisted signals of distress. The Life-boat James and Rachel Grindlay was manned, and pushed out against a heavy sea; and the nearest smack being boarded she was supplied with a Life-boatman as a pilot, and the Life-boat closely following in case of accident, she was got safely into the river. The Life-boat was then again faced outwards against the storm, and eventually twenty-one fishing vessels, car- rying crews amounting to 120 men, were safely piloted into port by men supplied by the Life-boat. The Hon. Secretary's Report states that " but for the presence and help of the Life-boat it was next to an impossibility that they could all have reached the shore in safety through such a rough piece of sea. The Life-boat's services on this occasion were of the most noble character." SUNDEELAND.—On the 14th April, at about 5.30 P.M., during stormy weather and a heavy sea, with the wind on shore, 9 lives were saved by the Life-boat John, Foulston, from the barque Victoria, of Sunderland, which vessel, while on a voyage to Stockholm, parted the tow-rope from the tug-boat which was taking her out of port, and drove ashore on the rocks on the north side of the south entrance. The Life-boat was manned and launched with great promptness, its crew thus saving the lives of all on board; for soon after the rescue was effected the vessel broke up and disappeared.
MONTROSE, N.B..—On the 11th April, at 2 P.M., when blowing hard from the N.E., the schooner Charm, of Montrose, bound from that port to Hartlepool, got ashore at the entrance of the river, and subse- quently became a total wreck. The Life- boat Mincing Lane at once proceeded to her assistance, and removed the crew of 3 men. The master, after the Life-boat had stood by the wreck for half an hour, resolved to stay by her, and subsequently escaped at great personal risk by swim- ming and climbing over the rocks.
On the 15th of April, at 10 A.M., during a heavy gale at S., the schooner George Brown, of Montrose, bound from Newcastle to that port, was wrecked on the Annat Bank. The No. 1 Life-boat, Mincing Lane, pushed out of the river through a heavy sea as speedily as possible, and got near to the wreck at 10.35. The heaving grapnels from the Life-boat caught the jib-guy at the first attempt, but the guy giving way the boat was forced astern.
On the second attempt she was dashed against the jib-boom and broke it, but the mate secured the end of the grapnel and escaped by it to the Life-boat. By the rolling of the vessel, as each sea struck her, the masts and sails repeatedly fell over on the boat, striking her and injuring some of the crew; those on board the wreck were shouted to to escape to the Life-boat at all risks, but, either because they feared or could not, none appeared to make the attempt. A tremendous sea parted the grapnel, and the Life-boat was swept astern, and had to pull across the Annat Bank again and into the river with the one rescued man. Instantly transferring him to the Establishment's small service boat, which was lying, according to orders, inside the bar, the Mincing Lane again faced the sea, and once more secured a grapnel line to the wreck, now on her beam-ends, with her lower masts dipping in the water; and the crew were urged to jump into the water or scramble into the Life-boat as she was sheered alongside, but no such effort appears to have been made, and while the Life-boat still tarried a very heavy sea broke the grapnel rope, swept the Life-boat away, and rolled the wreck clean over, till she lay bottom up on the shoal. The master only was observed by the Mincing Lane, and he was picked up by it in an exhausted condition. Mean- while the Roman Governor of Goer Hun Life-boat No. 2 had been launched, and had proceeded down the river, and on ob- serving the catastrophe, she also dashed out to sea, and was rowed three times through the broken water of the shoal, but no vestige of the crew was found.
The master and mate were thus saved, and the crew of 3 men perished. In the afternoon of the same day, the gale continuing with great violence, the schooner Wave, of Boston, bound from that port to Leith, was seen running for the river, and the No. 1 Life-boat again put to sea and was able, by signalling, to prevent the vessel from continuing on a wrong course in crossing the Annat Bank, and so piloted her safely into the river.
CARDIGAN.—At daylight on the 16th April, intelligence was received at this station that. 4 men had been blown out to sea in an open boat just before dark on the previous day,'and it was hoped they had been able to get to Cardigan Island, outside the river. It was then blowing, as it had been all night and the previous day, a gale from the E. The coxswain of the Life-boat John Stuart summoned his crew, immediately launched, and stood for the island, where he found the 4 men in a very exhausted condition. After great difficulty, he safely embarked them all and landed them at the station. These men had gained the island, bat had narrowly escaped losing their lives in landing, and as their boat had gone to pieces at the time, they would doubtless have perished before the gale abated.
At 4 P.M. the same day, the gale still continuing, "the smack Elizabeth, of Cardi- gan, riding at anchor 3 miles out in the bay, showed signals of distress. The Life- boat was again launched, and proceeded to the vessel, which was found to be labour- ing heavily. The master anticipating that the vessel would founder in the night, the Life-boat, at his request, took on board himself and the one man who formed the crew, and abandoned the vessel.
Scarcely had the Life-boat regained its station, when intelligence arrived of a vessel being at anchor in a distressed con- dition off Ceibwr Creek. Once more the John Stuart was launched, and at 11 P.M.
boarded the vessel indicated, which proved to be the schooner Mary Helen, of Fowey, bound with a cargo of pig iron, from Glas- gow to Bristol, which having sprung a leak, had been brought to an anchor and deserted by her crew. The Life-boatmen at 10.30 A.M. on the 17th brought her safely inside Cardigan bar.
NEWCASTLE, DUNDRUM BAY.—On the 17th April, at 9 A.M., the brigantine Ocean Packet No. 3, of Harlingen, was obliged by a strong wind and heavy sea following on an easterly storm, to run .from her anchor- age off St. John's Point and drive into the bay. On perceiving this the Life-boat Reigate was launched, and proceeded to her assistance. The schooner had struck the ground 2£ miles from Newcastle, be- fore the Life-boat reached her. She was leaking badly, and had been beached to give the crew a chance for their lives. The Life-boat took from her and landed safely the crew of 7 men.
ST. IVES, CORNWALL.-—At 8 A.M. on the 17th April, blowing hard from E.N.E., in consequence of signals of distress from the NOVEMBER 1, 1877.] THE LIFE-BOAT.
191 French dandy Henri et Eelene, of Nantes, the Life-boat Covent Garden went out of the river and placed a pilot and 2 men on board that vessel, by whose aid she was got under weigh, and piloted over the bar to a safe anchorage.
HORNSEA.—At noon on the 18th April, when it was blowing hard from the east- ward, the brig Fortuna, of Oster-Kisoer, was driven, ashore to the north of the town, and the Life-boat Ellen and Margaret of Settle was launched, and proceeding through a considerable sea, reached the stranded vessel and removed from her the crew, consisting of 6 persons. The Fortuna be- came a total wreck.
GORLESTON.—On the afternoon of the 15th April, the smack White Hose, of Tar- mouth, whilst endeavouring to enter Tar- mouth Harbour, inconsequence of a heavy ground swell, and a considerable sea on the bar, ran aground on it. A yawl which went to render assistance found the sea too heavy, and the Life-boat Leicester was then launched; and after two hours' hard work on the part of the Life-boat crew, the White Rose was got afloat again and safely into harbour.
DUNDALK.—At 3 P.M. on the 16th April, during a strong gale at S.E., the Jayte, of Whitehaven, and the Andromeda, of Lon- don, both schooners laden with coal, drove ashore on the Dundalk bar. The Life- boat Stockport Sunday School was launched and proceeded to render assistance, and succeeded in rescuing from the two vessels 11 persons, including the wife and daughter of the master of the Andromeda. The vessels both became total wrecks and went to pieces. The master of the Andromeda, in hopes his vessel would hold together, refused to leave in the Life-boat, and was saved with difficulty by the Coastguard, before the wreck went to pieces, as the Life-boat was about to return for him.
SKERRIES.—About 3 P.M. on the 16th April, the schooner Isabella, of Portmadoc, bound from London to Dundalk, was ob- served to part from her anchors and drive towards the rocks. A strong gale from the E.S.E. was blowing, and a heavy sea was breaking on the shore. In anticipation of this disaster, the crew of the Life-boat Laura Platt had been in readiness for some hours, and they now used every effort to get the Life-boat afloat as speedily as pos- sible, aided by numerous helpers. It was a tedious and difficult operation, owing to the low tide. The boat was fairly afloat, however, by 3.15, and closed the vessel near enough to haul the crew on board, one at a time as opportunity served, by lowering themselves from the weather quarter, the Isabella all the time driving fast towards the rocks. By 4.80 the last of the 5 men who formed the crew was thus rescued by being hauled on board the Life-boat, and in a short time after they were landed their ship was daehed to pieces.
BULL BAY.—At 10 P.M. on the 9th May, a stiff breeze blowing from the E., the Guion Company's steamer Dakota, bound from Liverpool to New Tork, was reported to be ashore close in under the cliffs, in- side the East Mouse. This vessel carried a crew and passengers numbering about 530, and the Life-boat Eleanor, in common with other boats, proceeded to render assist- ance. About 20 persons were landed by the Life-boat, when the Eocket Apparatus came into use, whiinJi, from the nearness of the wreck to the cliffs, was found to be safer and more expeditious. Some smaller shore-boats of lighter draught were also found useful, the Life-boat laying by in case of accidents. All on board were safely landed.
GROOMSPORT.—On the 19th. May, at 10 A.M., the wind blowing hard from the N.E., the smack Newland, of Kilkeel, riding to her sole remaining anchor on a lee shore, in Ballyholme Bay, hoisted a signal of dis- tress, and the Life-boat Florence having been conveyed by land to the Bay from her station at Groomsport was launched, and her crew found means to secure the distressed vessel by passing hawsers to the shore. Subsequently, after many hours of hard service, the Life-boatmen got the Newland out of danger and safely into Bangor Harbour. Difficulty was found in launching the Life-boat, from the heavy sea, on a peculiarly rough beach, the sea washing both horses and men off their legs.
SHERINGHAM.— On the 21st May the Life-boat Duncan was launched to assist several fishing-smacks which, having been caught out at sea by sudden bad weather from the N.E., were in danger of being swamped while beaching.
SOUTHPORT.—The Life-boat Eliza Fernley launched at 5 A.M. on the 28th May, during a gale, and proceeded to the assist- ance of the brigantine Pembrokeshire Lass, of Milford, which vessel had gone ashore during the night, on the Teds Bank. Those on board, 5 in number, were embarked by the Life-boat, and safely landed by 8 A.M.
The brigantine became a total wreck.
GREAT YARMOUTH.—The Life-boat Mark Lane was launched at 4 A.M. on the 19th April, in consequence of a vessel being ob- served ashore on the Scroby Sands. It was blowing hard from the E.N.E., with a con- siderable sea breaking on the shoals. The Life-boat reached the stranded vessel about 5 A.M., when she was found to be the barque Suez, of Sarpsborg, bound from that port to Roehefort. Her foremast and mainmast had been cut away, and one of the crew washed off and drowned; the sea was breaking aboard heavily. With some diffi- culty the Life-boat got near enough to rescue the remainder, of the crew, 9 in number, who were safely landed.
CASTLETOWN, ISLE OF MAN.—On the 28th May, about 1 A.M., the Castletown Life-boat Commercial Traveller, No. 2, was launched and proceeded to the Austrian barque Junak, of Spalato, which vessel had driven ashore in Castletown Bay, whilst it was blowing a gale from the S.W. The boat was off the carriage for painting, but she was got afloat with great promptness, and the coxswain being absent from severe illness, the Hon. Sec., Mr.
HOYAYLE, also proceeded in the boat, which was successful in rescuing all on board, consisting of 14 persons.
At 9 A.M. this Life-boat again put to sea to render assistance to a vessel in distress off Port St. Mary, which vessel, however, having been got out of danger, the Life- boat was recalled by signal.
At about 11 P.M. on the 13th September, lights being observed through the dark- ness, carried by some ship evidently drift- ing on the rocks, the Life-boat was launched, and on reaching the distressed vessel found that she was already ashore.
As there was no immediate likelihood of her breaking up, the master and mate deter- mined to remain by the ship, but the crew, 4 in number, were landed by the Life-boat.
A gale of wind was Wowing at the time.
The vessel was the brigantine Blanche et Louis, of Nantes, bound from Bilbao to Ardrossan.
Immediately after the Life-boat had re- turned to her station, another signal of distress was observed, and she proceeded out into the bay again, and succeeded in boarding the schooner Maggie Kelso, of Ardrossan, bound from Glandore to Inver- ness, which vessel was also ashore, and in safely removing from her all on board, 3 in number.
BROUGHTY FERRY, DUNDEE.—At 4 A.M.
on the 1st June, the Life-boat English Mechanic, of this station, proceeded out of the river to the assistance of the schooner Aurora, of Christiania, which vessel was ashore on the Coal Hill Bank, while it was blowing hard from the S.E.
Before the arrival of the Life-boat, the crew, 6 in number, had abandoned the wreck in their own boat; they were trans- ferred from it to the Life-boat, and con- veyed into the river in safety.
WORTHING.—On the 1st June, in conse- quence of a sudden gale from S.W., a very heavy sea was set up on the coast about Worthing, and a number of fishing-boats at anchor were placed in great peril—some drove from their anchors; the Life-boat Jane was launched, and after much trouble in getting through the surf into deep water, she was enabled to board the Harkaway, of Shoreham, to which vessel she took fresh hands, by which means the lugger was got into Shoreham Har- bour.
She also stayed by another lugger in distress for some hours, until that vessel was beached so as to save the lives of the crew. She ran ashore herself after being four hours jafloat, there being no further need of her services.
LLANDDWYN, ANGLESEY.—On the 25th June the Life-boat John (tray Bell was launched to the assistance of the schooner Hannah and Joseph, of Liverpool, ashore on Carnarvon bar, which vessel, after some hours' hard work on the part of the Life- boat's crew, was got afloat and carried into port. A fresh breeze was blowing from NOVEMBER 1, 1877.] THE LITE-BOAT.
193 W.S.W. at the time. The vessel had a crew of 3 men.
HOWTH, DUBLIN BAT,—The Life-boat Clara Baker was launched on the evening of the 6th August, and proceeded to the assistance of the brigantine Elizabeth Brooks, of Larne, which was ashore, with a strong breeze blowing from S.E., on the Baldoyle Bank. The Life-boat remained by the stranded vessel for some hours, until the falling tide rendered the lives of the crew safe, when she returned to her station.
SIDMOUTH.—At about 1 P.M. on the 7th August, the schooner Wave, of Guernsey, being at anchor in a dangerous position off this station, it blowing a gale from S., hoisted a signal of distress, and the Life-boat Rimington was launched, and pro- ceeding off against a heavy sea, succeeded in rescuing from the distressed vessel the whole of the crew, 6 in number.
HUNSTANTON, NORFOLK. At 4 P.M. OH the 8th August, a pleasure-boat was ob- served off this port, with masts gone and distress signals flying. The Life-boat was got to sea as soon as possible, and the 2 women and 4 men on board the boat were rescued about 5 P.M., in a very ex- hausted condition. It was blowing hard from the S.
9 NORTH BERWICK, N.B.—The Life-boat Freemason was launched about 8 P.M. on j the 14th August, to the assistance of the barque Azow, of Christiansand, which ves- sel had stranded 2 miles north of Berwick, and lost her rudder. There was a thick fog. The Life-boat found the wreck de- serted by the crew, who had put to sea in their own boat, but made in a wrong direc- tion, in ignorance of their real whereabouts, and the Life-boat was soon standing after her under sail; fortunately she fell in with '.
the boat, and conveyed it and those on board, 8 in number, safely into port. | PETERHEAD, N.B.—On the morning of the 1st August several of the fishing-boats of this port were placed in danger by a strong breeze from the N.E., and the Life- .
boat People's Journal, No. 1, put to sea to j render assistance. She was fortunate j enough to pick up and save a man who : had been washed away from one vessel! which was swamped on trying to enter the harbour.
FRASERBURGH, N.B.—In consequence of many fishing-boats having been caught at sea in bad weather on the 20th and 21st August, when blowing a strong gale from the N., the Life-boat Charlotte was kept constantly afloat, and manned, giving con- fidence to boats making the harbour, and assisting to save one boat, which had got into a dangerous position, by running out a hawser to her.
On the 28th of the same month, the schooner Fuchsia, of Goole, from. Castlehiil to South Shields, being in danger on a lee shore, with an E.N.E. gale blowing, the Life-boat proceeded off to her against a heavy sea, and succeeded in rescuing those on board, consisting of 8 persons, 4 of whom were children.
CARNSORE, Co. WEXFORD.—On the 25th August the yacht Linda, of Bray, having been caught in a gale of wind from the E.N.E. on a lee shore, with only two men on board, who had no provisions, those men remained in great peril for some time.
The Life-boat Iris was launched, and after a very hard pull against a heavy sea, the yacht was boarded and the 2 men rescued.
CLOVELLY.—On the 3rd Sept., at 10 A.M., during a strong breeze at N., the smack Ebenezer, of Bideford, being at anchor in a dangerous position off a lee shore, hoisted a signal of distress, whereupon the Life- boat Alexander and Matilda Boetefeur was promptly launched, and succeeded in rescuing all on board, 3 in number.
BROADSTAIRS.—At 6 A.M. on the 18th Sept., when it was blowing hard from the N.E., in reply to signals of distress ex- hibited from the North Sand Head light- ship, the Life-boat Samuel Morrison Collins was launched, and standing off under sail, boarded the sloop Pallas, of Jersey, ashore on the sands. Assisted by the crew of a lugger, the Life-boat got this vessel afloat and carried to a safe anchorage in the Downs. Soon after the return of the Life- boat to her station, the yacht Nelly, of London, was observed to be disabled and in distress, when she again put to sea, and succeeded in bringing the yacht safely into Ramsgate harbour.