LIFEBOAT MAGAZINE ARCHIVE

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Services of the Life-Boats of the National Life-Boat Institution from the 1st March to the 30th June 1879

BROADSTAIRS.—On the 2nd March, in reply to signal guns from the Gull Light- ship the Samuel Morrison Collins Life-boat proceeded to the Goodwin Sands and found the three-masted schooner Ocean Queen, of Plymouth, ashore on the E. part of the Sand, with a London tug in j attendance on her. The services of the Life-boat were also accepted; and eventu- ally the vessel was got afloat and taken to Ramsgate Harbour. She had a crew of 7 men.

RAMSGATE.—On the 2nd March, at lO.10 P.M., signal guns and rockets were fired by the Gull Lightship. The Vulcan steam- tug and Bradford Life-boat went out, and were informed that a large flare light had been seen on the sands. They steered in the direction indicated for some distance, when the vessel in distress was seen, and the Life-boat was slipped and sailed to- wards her. She was the brigantine Fraternity, of Krageroe, Norway, bound from Watchet to that port in ballast, with a crew of 6 men. The master engaged the Life-boatmen's assistance to get the vessel off the sand and into a place of safety; accordingly they went on board, clewed up and furled the sails, and then signalled for the tug, which steamed up and attached her hawser, and after towing for a short time the vessel came afloat, and was taken into Ramsgate Harbour.

On the 24th March, intelligence having been received that a barque was ashore on the Kentish Knock Sand, and that a ship- wrecked crew were on board the Knock Lightship, which is about twenty-six miles from Ramsgate, the Life-boat Bradford and steam-tug Aid proceeded out to the Sand.

A fresh E. gale was blowing and the sea was heavy at the time. On arriving near, a barque was observed driving over the Long Sand. The Life-Boat was slipped and sailed towards the vessel, which was found to be waterlogged and abandoned.

She then sailed to the tug and was taken in tow to the lightship, steered alongside, and with great difficulty, on account of the heavy sea, succeeded in taking off a ship- wrecked crew of 8 men and a lad. The master stated that the barque which had been seen was their vessel, which had struck on the Galloper Sands at 8 P.M. on the previous day. They had left her at 11 o'clock on the same night, and after being 4 hours in the boat, made for the lightship, but, unfortunately, in attempt- ing to get on board, one man was drowned, their boat having been swamped alongside.

The Life-boat and tug then proceeded back to the harbour, arriving at 10 P.M.

The vessel was the barque Lina, of Tons- berg, Norway, bound from Porsgrund to London, with a cargo of deals and battens.

WHITBY.—On the 12th March, at about 1 P.M., the s.s. Lorentzen, of London, was seen to become unmanageable and to be fast drifting on to Whitby Eocks. As the crew were in great peril, the Robert Whitworth Life-boat proceeded to their aid.

With great difficulty and danger the crew of 17 men were taken off the steamer, which by that time had gone on the rocks.

She was rapidly filling with water, and shortly after the crew were landed she parted amidships, and in a very few hours was a complete wreck.

HOLY ISLAND.—On the 20th March the s.s. Darlington, of Stockton, bound from Dundee to Middlesborough in ballast, struck on the rocks at the N.E. corner of the island, called False Emmanuel Head, during a dense fog. Fortunately, her signals of distress were observed and the Grace Darling Life-boat put off to her and brought safely ashore the crew of 9 men.

The steamer afterwards became a total wreck.

The Silver Medal of the Institution was voted to Mr. MATTHEW KYLE, coxswain of the Life-boat, and to Mr. GEORGE KYLE, assistant coxswain, in recognition of their gallant services in saving life from ship- wreck on this and many other occasions.

MONTROSE and ANSTRUTHER, N.B.—On the afternoon of the 23rd March, the brig Die Manten, of Arendal, Norway, bound thence to Leith with a cargo of pit props, arrived off Lunan Bay. The captain and 2 men put off from the vessel in a boat to try to "ascertain where they were; but find- ing the sea very heavy they endeavoured to pull back again, but could not succeed. The NOVEMBER 1, 1879.] THE LIFE-BOAT.

601 Mincing Lane Life-boat thereupon put off under canvas, and rescued the 3 men, who were by that time about a hundred yards from the rocks at Usan, their boat being half full of water and the men much exhausted. As the vessel was then about seven miles distant, the men were taken to Montrose.

The Die Manten afterwards drove ashore some miles to the southward of Montrose, and on the wreck being observed among the breakers on the 25th March the Ad- miralFitzroy Life-boat stationed at Anstru- ther put off and found there was only one man on board, clinging to the wreck. The other 2 men having become benumbed had lost their hold and dropped into the sea during the night. The survivor was at once taken into the Life-boat and brought safely ashore. There was a strong S.E. wind blowing, and the sea was heavy at the time.

HARTLEPOOL.—On the 24th March the schooner Ann, of Colchester, was seen about 6 A.M. making for Hartlepool, apparently in distress. When she was within about 2 miles of the harbour the No. 3 Life-boat John Clay Barlow put off to her, and found that she was leaking badly ; she had by that time_ struck on the Beacon Shoal. The crew of 5 men were on the deck ready to leave when the Life- boat arrived alongside, and were taken on board the boat and safely landed at about 9 A.M. The schooner was bound from Seaham to Colchester, with coal.

CAISTER, NORFOLK.—On the 25th March, at 7 A.M., a man arrived at Caister from Winterton, and reported that a dismasted vessel was lying just outside Hasborough Sand, and that the sea at Winterton was so heavy that the Life-boat there could not be launched. The Caister No. 1 Life- boat— the Covent Garden — was, with much risk and labour, more than 40 men assisting, then hauled through the surf, and proceeded through a very heavy sea in the direction of Winterton.

On arriving at the wreck a large steamer was found to be lying by her, but she was unable to render any assistance. The Life-boat, with great difficulty and risk, sailed alongside and succeeded in rescuing the crew, 7 in number. The vessel was the brig Cito, of Arendal, bound thence to Calais with a cargo of deals. Her masts had been carried away, the spars, &c., hanging all about the vessel; her stern- post had been completely knocked out, and the sea was breaking heavily over her, the deck being level with, if not under, the surface of the water. On the following morning, the weather having moderated, the Life-boat again proceeded out, and with the aid of a steam-tug, the wreck was taken to Caister and beached there.

POOLE.—On the 27th March, at about 2 A.M., the Poole Life-boat proceeded out in reply to signals of distress shown by the ship Martaban, of Greenock, which had stranded on the Hook Sand, and found that 6 of her crew had left her in one of their boats. The Life-boat remained by her until about 1 P.M., when the remainder of the men, 11 in number, were taken into the boat and landed at Poole at about 2.30 P.M.

HOLYHEAD.—On the 28th March, at about 10 P.M., the Life-boat Thomas Fielden went off in reply to signals and found the 'schooner Wellington, of Carnarvon, in dis- tress near the Breakwater. She had just been run into by another vessel, her bow- sprit had been carried away, and her bows were considerably damaged. The Life- boat put 4 men on board to assist at the pumps and to slip the moorings, and with the aid of a steam-tug, the vessel was taken into the Old Harbour. She had a crew of 3 men.

GREAT YARMOUTH.—On the 9th April, at 10 P.M., during a strong N.E. wind and heavy sea, a large vessel was observed to be driving towards the beach. The Abraham Thomas Life-boat proceeded out to her, and found she was the barque Quiseppina N., of Genoa, bound from Hull to Cardiff, in ballast. The Life-boat re- mained alongside her until she eventually drove on to the beach, when the crew of 17 men' were taken into the boat and brought safely ashore, although in a very exhausted state. The seas were then breaking heavily over the barque, which afterwards became a total wreck.

CROMER.—On the 10th April the Cromer Life-boat was launched during an easterly gale and rough sea, and pro- ceeded to the sloop Hesperus, of Copen-hagen, which had shown signals of dis- tress when about three miles from the Life-boat Station. On reaching the vessel, it was found that she was leaking badly, and that she had lost her main-boom.

She was bound from Copenhagen to Hull with barley. Some of the Life-boat men boarded her, and with their assistance she was safely taken into the Humber.

In the absence of the services of the Life- boat, the vessel would in all probability have been lost.

PORTHDINLLAEN.—On the 10th April, at 9.30 P.M., during a heavy gale from E.S.E., the s.s. Baroi, of Newcastle, anchored outside the proper roadstead in Porthdinllaen Bay. The wind afterwards shifted to E.N.E., and a heavier sea sprung up, which caused her chain to part, and she then hoisted a signal of distress. The George Moore Life-boat promptly proceeded to her, and, after remaining by her for about two hours, brought the crew of 6 men ashore. The vessel, however, for- tunately rode out the gale, and on the following morning the Life-boat put the men on board again.

On the 14th May, at about 11 P.M., signals of distress were shown from a vessel in Carnarvon Bay, apparently at a distance of seven or eight miles from Porthdinllaen. The wind was blowing a strong gale from the N.N.E., and a heavy sea was running at the time. The Life-boat's crew were at once assembled, and the boat taken out, but just as she was being launched, other signals of dis- tress were shown from a vessel close at hand; she was the schooner Jane Ann, of Llanaelhaiarn, at anchor in Porthdinllaen Bay. The Life-boat went to her, and found that she was dragging her anchor.

After taking off her crew of 3 men, and having landed them at Porthdinllaen, the Life-boat proceeded in search of the other vessel, and at daybreak the Life-boat men observed a large barque which had evi- dently been embayed, and -which -was unable to beat out of the bay without assistance. A fishing boat, however, was in attendance on her, and as the services of the Life-boat were not required, she returned to her station.

PETERHEAD, N.B.—On the llth April, signals of distress were observed in the direction, of Seotstonhead, -whereupon the People's Journal No. 1 Life-boat pro- ceeded out, and found the schooner Sun- shine, of Wick, stranded on the rocks.

The crew of 3 men, the master, one of the owners, and 6 passengers, were taken into the Life-boat and brought safely to Peter- head. When the Life-boat arrived, they were contemplating making an attempt to land in their own boat, a proceeding which, owing to the heavy surf breaking on the shore, would probably have been attended with serious loss of life. At high water a steam-tug and a pilot-boat proceeded to the vessel, and succeeded in getting her afloat, after which she was taken into-Peterhead Harbour.

PALLING, NORFOLK.—On the llth April, at 4.15 A.M., during a strong gale of wind from the east, with a heavy sea, a vessel was observed stranded on the beach at Waxham. With all despatch the No. 1 Life-boat was launched and taken to the spot; with some difficulty she succeeded in getting alongside, and rescued the crew of 12 men from the vessel, which proved to be the Norwegian barque Ohristiania, bound from Frederickstadt to London, with a cargo of firewood. The ship broke up immediately after the crew had been rescued, and, out for the great promptitude displayed by the Life-boat men, the crew would in all probability have perished.

BALLYCOTTON, Co. CORK.—On the 19th April, at 3 P.M., a schooner was seen entering Ballycotton Sound with a signal of distress flying. The pilot boat was manned and went out, but the weather was too stormy,' a gale from the S.E.

blowing at the time, and she had to return without rendering assistance. The Life-boat St. Olair then put off and brought the vessel to anchor, after which she re- turned ashore. At midnight the Life- boat again proceeded to the schooner, signals having again been shown, and placed 5 men on board to assist in pump- ing her, as she had taken the ground and was leaking. The vessel was ultimately enabled to proceed on her voyage. She was the schooner Mary Lloyd, of Port- madoc, bound from Rochester to Haul- bowline, with cement.

PENZANCE.—On the 17th May, soon after 10 A.M., a mounted messenger ar- med at Penzance -with the HOTS that brig was ashore at Perran, five miles eastward of that port. The wind was blowing strongly from S., and the sea was somewhat heavy at the time. The rocket apparatus at Marazion was at once got out and taken to Perran, and several rockets were fired over the vessel, which was from 500 to 600 yards from the shore, but the crew appeared unacquainted with the method of using it, for they merely hauled in the hawser, and fastened it on board without hauling in the block. One of the men, however, got ashore over the line.

A barge manned by young fishermen put off from St. Michael's Mount and went to the vessel, but the crew refused to leave her. At Penzance it was feared that the rockets could not reach her, and therefore the Life-boat was launched and proceeded tinder sail to the spot; she went alongside, but no notice was taken of her, the master being unwilling for the crew to leave the ship. The sea however was gradually increasing, the wind veer- ing to the west, and the vessel was in a most dangerous position, she being in the breakers, full of water, and surrounded by rocks. The Life-boat remained by her for some considerable time, and finally 5 of the sailors got into the boat, leaving the master alone on board. He positively declined to leave the vessel. The boat then rowed off some distance to seaward, and after waiting some time, the wind continuing to veer to the westward, and the sea increasing, they returned to the brig, and the captain was again urged to come on board. He still refused to do so, and as the boat had been struck by several heavy seas which nearly swamped her, and three oars had been broken, it was thought advisable to return ashore with the 5 Frenchmen, The 5 rescued men were accordingly safely landed at Penzance.

Soon after the boat left the wreck, Com- missioned Boatman GOULD, of H.M. Coast- guard, who was with the rocket apparatus, volunteered to undertake the perilous drfty of going out along the rocket line with a letter from the French Vice-Consul urging the captain to leave the vessel. He suc- ceeded in getting under the bows of the brig; but the master still determined to remain where he was, and GOULD, who had been washed away from the rope by the heavy seas and nearly lost, was hauled back to shore in a most exhausted state.

Meanwhile the vessel was fast breaking up, the masts fell over the side, and the master, who had by that time taken refuge in the rigging, was hurled down and buried in the debris. For some minutes it was feared that he was lost, but he was then seen amongst the wreckage, and eventually got hold of the foreyard, the sail on which somewhat sheltered him.

The coastguard then fired more rockets over the wreck; the captain seized the line attached to one of them, with great diffi- culty he then hauled off a life-buoy from the shore, and placing himself in. it, he was hauled ashore. On his nearing the land the coastguard men formed a line hand in hand, waded as far as they could into the surf, and when he got within reach they firmly grasped him and brought him safely ashore. After landing the 5 men the Life-boat was again on her way to the wreck to make another effort to induce the master to avail himself of the services of the boat, when she was recalled by signals indicating that he had been rescued.

The vessel proved to be the French, brig Ponthieu, bound from Pomaron to Liverpool with a cargo of iron ore.

LIZARD.—On the 15th June the Life- boat proceeded to the aid of the brig Scotscraig, of Dundee, which had grounded directly below the Lizard lighthouses during a thick fog. After some hours' labour the vessel was extricated from her perilous position and was enabled to resume her voyage. She was bound from Falmouth to Greenock with rum and sugar.