Additional Stations and New Life-Boats
GILES' QUAY, DUNDALK.—On the appli- cation of the local residents, the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION has formed a Life- boat Establishment at Giles' Quay, on the north side of Dundalk Bay, it having been considered that a Life-boat on that side of the Bay would be likely to prove of service on occasions of shipwreck, and there being plenty of competent boatmen on the spot who were-willing to work the Life-boat. The boat provided is one of the 34-feet 10-oared class, furnished with a transporting carriage. A new and com- modious boathouse and launching slipway were constructed for the use of the boat.
The expense of the new Life-boat and equipment was defrayed from a legacy left to the Institution by the late Miss LOUISA THOMAS, of Bowdon, Cheshire, the boat being named the James Thomas, in memory of her late father. The boat was taken by rail and steamer to Liverpool and Greenore, and thence to its station by the crew, under the superintendence of the District Inspector of Life-boats.
The crew expressed their great satisfac- tion with their new Life-boat.
At Black Bock, on the opposite shore of the Bay, there is also a Life-boat Establishment, the Stockport Sunday School Life-boat being stationed there.
BRAUNTON, NORTH DEVON.— A new 34-feet Life-boat, rowing 12 oars, double- banked, and provided with a transporting carriage, has been sent by the Institution to this Station in lieu of the former Boat there. The expense of the new Life-boat was defrayed by Miss LEICESTER, of London, and at her request the Boat is named the Robert and Catherine. On the occasion of the regatta at Barnstaple on the 22nd August, the ceremony of its naming and launching took place in the presence of a large number of spectators.
The Boat, mounted on its carriage, having been drawn through the principal streets of the town in a procession which com- prised the Mayor and Corporation, the Local Committee, Rifle Volunteers, fisher- men, seamen, and others, was taken along the Taw Vale Parade to the slip at the South Walk. On the Boat reaching the water's edge, the Rev. A. E. WALKER, Vicar of Barnstaple, called upon the District Inspector of Life-boats to make the presentation on behalf of the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION and the Donor. Capt. LAPRIMAUDAYE, B.N., then, in suit- able terms, handed the Boat over to the Local Committee, and stated that he { knew that the coxswain and crew would ever be ready to work the Life- j boat in the hour of danger. The Right Hon. EARL FORTESCUE, as Patron of the Barnstaple and Braunton Branch of the Institution, thankfully acknowledged the gift of the fine new Life-boat on behalf of the locality, and stated that the objects of the Institution especially com- mended themselves to Englishmen on j every ground of interest and duty. The Rev. A. E. SEYMOUR then read a portion : of Psalm cvii., and offered prayers for j God's blessing on the Life-boat, after which Lady SUSAN FORTESCUE performed ; the ceremony of naming the Boat, which was then launched amid tremendous cheering on all sides, the band of the Yeomanry playing the National Anthem.
Cheers having been given for the Donor, the Institution, and the EARL FORTESCUE and Lady SUSAN FORTESCUE, the de- monstration was brought to a close.
The Life-boat's self-righting and other powers were satisfactorily tested by the crew.
RYE, SUSSEX.—A new Life-boat has been sent by the Institution to Bye to take the place of the former boat stationed near the Camber Coastguard Station not far from the entrance to the harbour. The Boat is 34 feet long, 7f feet wide, and rows 10 oars double-banked; it is pro- vided with a transporting carriage. The expense of the new Life-boat was defrayed from the munificent legacy bequeathed to the Institution by the late JOHN STANFORD, Esq., of Regent's Park, London, for the purpose of placing and maintaining on the coast a Life-boat to be named the Mary Stanford, as a permanent memorial in honour of his late mother. The public inauguration of the Boat took place on the 8th September. The ceremony of naming was performed by Mrs. KERR, wife of General KERR, a cousin of the deceased gentleman, and his chief executor. After proceeding in procession through the town of Bye, the Boat was taken to the strand, where a large concourse had assembled, numbering some four or five thousand people. Addresses were delivered by the Mayor of Rye, General KERR, F. A. INDERWICK, Esq., M.P., and the District Inspector of Life-boats, Capt. the Hon. H. W. CHETWYND, B.N. Mr. INDER- WICK referred to the great gratification experienced by the local residents on re- ceiving such a handsome gift, and stated that he felt perfectly certain that whenever the Boat and her crew were called into action they would do their duty; and he fervently and sincerely hoped that those efforts would invariably be crowned with success. The District Inspector also bore testimony to the bravery of the men who manned the Life-boats. Deeds of devotion in the performance of self- imposed duty were recorded in the annals of the Institution as great as any performed in battle; and they showed that the boatmen of our day upheld the fair fame of the grand old British flag, which for a thousand years had withstood the battle and the breeze. The Rev. T. D. GLADSTONE then offered up a prayer for the success of the Boat; and the ceremony of naming having been performed by Mrs. KERR, the boat was launched and tried by the crew. Mr. INDERWICK afterwards entertained a numerous company at luncheon, and the Life-boat men, launchers, and others were provided with an excel- lent dinner, through the liberality of the Mayor of Bye, HENRY BURRA, Esq., who is also the Honorary Secretary of the Rye and "Winchelsea Branch of the Institution.
ST. ANNE'S-ON-THE SEA, LANCASHIRE.— The NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION has formed a Life-boat Establishment at St. Anne's-on-the-Sea, which is considered to be an excellent position whence a Life-boat can proceed to shipwrecks on the sandbanks off that part of the coast.
The Boat is 34 feet long, 8 3/4 feet wide, and rows 10 oars, double-banked. It is pro- vided with a transporting carriage, and a substantial and commodious house and a launching slipway have also been con- structed. When the boat was brought to St. Anne's some of the more enthusi- astic of the inhabitants refused to permit it to be drawn to the boathouse by horses, and dragged it along themselves. The new Life-boat Station, the whole cost of which has been borne by JAMES CHAD- WICK, Esq., of Prestwich, was publicly inaugurated on the 24th September. At the time announced for the ceremony of naming and launching the Boat, there was a large crowd on the promenade, and the sea was dotted with steamers and small craft from Blackpool and Southport.
The Life-boats belonging to the stations at Lytham, Southport, Blackpool, and Fleetwood were also present, to welcome their new comrade on her first launch.
The Boat having been manned, and placed on the slipway ready, Mr. GREENHALGH said that it devolved upon him, as Chair- man of the Local Committee, to introduce the donor of the St. Anne's Life-boat to the notice of those present. Mr. CHAD WICK, who was warmly received, expressed the pleasure he felt at being present at that ceremony, and seeing so many evidently taking interest in the proceedings of the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION.
It had been his wish for some time past that as soon as an opportunity should occur, another Life-boat should be established on the Lancashire coast. It gave him the greatest pleasure to be permitted to enable the Institution to establish the Station by the gift of the Boat they saw before them.
He did not think there could be anything more commendable than the endeavour to save human life. Mr. CHADWICK then formally presented the Boat to Lieutenant TIPPING, R.N., the Institution's District Inspector for Ireland, as one of the fleet, and to Mr. GBEENHALGH as the Boat of St. Anne's Station. The gift having been acknowledged in suitable terms, and an appropriate hymn having been sung by the scholars of the Church Sunday School, accompanied by the band of the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, prayer was offered up by the Rev. W. G. TERRY.
The boat was then named the Laura Janet by Mrs. CHADWICK, and was shortly after- wards successfully launched, amid great cheering. The combined Life-boats sub-sequently proceeded to Blackpool, under the command of the District Inspector.
ROBIN HOOD'S BAY, YORKSHIRE.—The Institution has recently renovated com- pletely the Robin Hood's Bay Life-boat Establishment—the expense of the same having been defrayed from a generous contribution, presented by " Mr. and Mrs. Fox's Children," the Life-boat being named the Ephraim and Hannah Fox. A new Life-boat and transporting- carriage, with a full equipment of stores, have been pro- vided, for the reception of which a sub- stantial and commodious house has been erected, from the designs of the Architect of the Institution, on a site kindly granted by Sir CHARLES STRICKLAND, Bart., the Lord of the Manor. The Boat is 32 feet long, 8 feet wide, and rows ten oars, double-banked. The public inauguration of the new Life-boat Station took place on the 26th September. Prior to the launch a short service was held in the parish church, an address being delivered by the Rev. J. COOPER, M.A., vicar, and Local Honorary Secretary of the Institution.
After the service a procession formed from the church down to the beach, consisting of the local friendly societies and the residents of the district, pre- ceded by the Fylingdales brass band.
On arrival at the launching place, a large company got into the Life-boat, and the assembly was addressed by Mr. GEORGE Fox, who, in the name of the children of EPHRAM and HANNAH Fox, of Dewsbury, presented the Life-boat to the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTI- TUTION. THOMAS CHAPMAN, Esq., F.E.S., 7.P., Chairman of the Society, accepted the gift. He expressed the gratitude which everyone must feel to the kind and liberal donors of that handsome boat.
This boat, he said, was given by children in testimony of the love which they bore to their departed parents. He could only say that if, unhappily, the boat should be wanted to rescue sailors -who might be stranded on that part of the coast, she, with her crew, would be immediately brought into requisition. He gave one word of advice to the Life-boat crew, which was never to go off without their life-belts, for in the experience of the Institution they had had many melan- choly accidents, which would never have occurred had the men taken the pre- caution to have put on their life-belts.
With these few observations he wished the Life-boat and the donors every possible success. Sir CHARLES STRICKLAND returned thanks on behalf of the residents of Robin Hood's Bay for the generosity of the Fox family, and to the Institution for appro- priating it to Robin Hood's Bay. The Vicar of Fylingdales then offered a short prayer, after which Mrs. HOWGATE, of Dewsbury, christened the boat the Ephraim and Hannah Fox. The boat was then launched amid the loud cheers of the vast concourse of people, and afterwards placed in the house provided for her reception.
POOLBEG, Co. DUBLIN.—It will be re- membered that, on the occasion of the gallant service rendered in the Life-boat on this station at the wreck of the schooner Robert Brown, by Lieutenant J. A. W. O'NEIL TORRENS and a volunteer crew, as fully described in the Life-boat Journal for February 1881, No. 119, p. 230, the boat was very severely damaged. The opportunity has since been taken of replacing her by a new one of the 34-feet, 10-oared class, furnished with a transporting carriage, the cost of which has been defrayed by Mrs. ELIZA- BETH S. SYMES, of Ballybrack, Co. Dublin, as an affectionate tribute to the memory of her late husband, Commander A. STARK SYMES, E.N., who was for many years during his later life in command of mail packets between England and Dublin, and was before that an able officer in Her Majesty's service. On the 1st November the new Life-boat was launched in the Custom-House Dock, Dublin, in the presence of the Lord Mayor and a large and distinguished assembly, among whom were Mr. MAURICE BROOKS, M.P.; the High Sheriff of the City, Sir J. W. MACKEY, D.L.; Mr. ABRAHAM SHACKLETON, J.P.; Sir JOHN BARRINGTON, D.L.; Alderman HARRIS; Mr. ANTHONY O'NEILL, J.P.; Mr. JOHN F. BEWLEY ; the Hon. Capt. CARPENTER, R.N.; Mr. A. H. SYMES, R.N.; Lieut. TIPPING, R.N.; Capt. HELBY, R.N.; and Mr. THOMAS EDMONDSON, Hon. Sec., Irish Auxiliary of the Life-boat Institution.
Immediately after the arrival of the Lord Mayor, Mr. A. H. SYMES, E.N., son of the deceased commander, formally an- nounced, on behalf of Mrs. SYMES, the presentation of the boat to the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION. The District Inspector, in an appropriate speech, ac- knowledged the gift in the name of the Institution. ! The Lord Mayor said it afforded him [ very great pleasure to be the medium of i receiving, on behalf of the local com- mittee, this valuable addition to the means of saving life at sea. He trusted the crew might be spared to be successful in many services such as they rendered that morning to eleven people. Mr. THOMAS EDMONDSON, in mentioning some j details of the Society's work, appealed for .
subscriptions to the whole country. The dwellers in inland counties were as much interested in it as dwellers by the sea. It ! was for the one as much as for the other, [ that our ships were ploughing the waves, bringing home the silks and teas of { China, and cotton from America; it was for one as much as the other that so many splendid steamers were engaged in carry- ing across the ocean the correspondence that linked together distant realms. Al- though they saved about one thousand lives each year, there were still about seven i hundreds of lives annually lost around i the British Islands. He hoped the in-habitants of Great Britain and Ireland ,' would, by generously subscribing, place j them in a position to greatly diminish | this annual loss of life. The captain of a foreign vessel that was wrecked on our shores once said that, had he been with- out chart or compass, and completely lost his bearings, he would have known it was on the British coasts he was wrecked by the efforts made to save him by Life- boats. This was a noble testimony, and he appealed to all who were present to aid in maintaining such an honourable distinction, by doing all that lay in their power to support the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION. The ceremony of naming the Life-boat the Aaron Stark Symes, was then performed by Miss NICHOLLS, a niece of the donor, and im- mediately after the bottle of wine had been broken against the stern, the Boat was launched into the dock, and was afterwards purposely capsized, throwing the crew into the water, but in about half a minute self-righted, and the men climbed into her again.
Cheers were given for the crew, and then for the donor of the Life-boat, also for the Lord Mayor, and the proceedings terminated. Subsequently the Lord Mayor and a select company of about fifty were entertained at luncheon by the Local Committee in the Marine Board-room at the Custom House.