LIFEBOAT MAGAZINE ARCHIVE

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Services of the Life-Boats of the Royal National Life-Boat Institution

CLACTON-ON-SEA.—At about 6.80 A.M. on the 3rd October, 1890, the second coxswain of the Life-boat reported to the coxswain superintendent that a barque had stranded on the S.W. Gunfleet sand, and on looking at the vessel with a telescope it was seen that she was showing signals of distress. The usual soundsignals were fired to summon the crew of the Life-boat Albert Edward; the boat was launched in a rough sea, a strong gale blowing from the W.S.W., and with all possible speed sailed to the scene of the wreck. She went across the Wallet to the Gunfleet West Buoy, experiencing some difficulty in crossing the sands, the tide being low, and then proceeded down the Swin towards the stranded barque.

Whilst she was making for the wreck, two boats were seen to leave and go in the direction of the Gunfleet Lighthouse, and on coming up with these boats, they were found to contain the vessel's crew of eight men with their baggage. The men and their effects were taken into the Lifeboat, one of the ship's boats was cut adrift, and the other, being a better one, was taken in tow. A signal was then made to the steamer Albatross, of Grimsby, to tow the Life-boat, and the master and crew very kindly did so, taking her as far as the Swin Spitway when she was cast off, after which sail was set and she returned to her station at 12 o'clock noon. Whilst in tow of the steamer the line of the ship's boat parted, owing to the heavy sea, and the boat was lost.

The wrecked vessel was the Larissa, of Blyth, 315 tons, bound from North Shields for Sheerness with a cargo of coal.

HARWICH.—It having been reported by the crew of a smack that a vessel was ashore on the Cork Sands, the new steam Life-boat Duke of Northumberland proceeded to sea at 12.30 A.M., on the 8th October, taking in tow the reserve Life-boat temporarily placed here whilst the station's own boat is being altered and fitted with the latest improvements.

The Life-boats went to the Cork Lightship, and, having ascertained the direction in which the stranded vessel laid, proceeded to her and found her to be the brigantine Ada, of Faversham, bound from Hartlepool for London, laden with gas coal, and carrying a crew of six men.

At the master's request the Boats remained by the ship until high water, when she was towed off by a steam-tug and taken to Harwich. The wind was blowing a fresh breeze from the N.E. at the time, accompanied by a moderate sea.

HARWICH and ALDEBURGH.—Signals having been fired by the Cork Lightvessel, the Harwich steam Life-boat Duke of Northumberland, with the reserve Boat in tow, went out at 4 A.M., on the 20th October, proceeded to the Light-ship, and was informed that a vessel was on the middle of the Shipwash Sand. A moderate gale was blowing from the N.W., there was a heavy sea, and the weather was clear and frosty. On nearing the sand the Life-boat men observed a tar-barrel burning on. board the vessel which had stranded, and they at once made for her; the reserve Boat was towed alongside, and the master engaged the services of the Life-boat crews to lighten the ship, which was the s.s. Achilles, of Sanderland, 913 tons, bound from Eiga for London with a cargo of railway sleepers, and having a crew of twenty-one men. A portion of the cargo was thrown overboard, and at high tide the vessel floated. The steam Life-boat and the steam-tug Harwich then took her in tow and got her clear of the sand, and she resumed her voyage to London. The Life-boat men were taken into their respective boats and returned to their station, which was reached at 6 P.M.

The Aldebnrgh Life-boat George Hounsfield also put off in response to the signals, and remained alongside the vessel until she floated and all danger was ALDEBURGH.—On the morning of the 1st November the coastguard on duty reported that guns were being fired and signal flags shown on board a vessel aground on the Shipwash Sands. A strong N.W. breeze was blowing, theTe was a moderately rough sea, and the weather was hazy. The Life-boat George Hounsfield was launched at 8.40, and on reaching the vessel found her to be the schooner Sensation, of and for Dover, coal laden from the north. The crew of a smack had been engaged to get the vessel off, and the Life-boat remained by her until she floated at high water.

HARWICH.—At about 10 A.M. on the 13th November the steam Life-boat Duke of Northumberland was called out and proceeded with the Reserve No. 3 Lifeboat in tow to the upper part of the Long Sand, where the three-masted schooner Christine Elisabeth, of Haugesund, bound from Rotterdam for Moluccas, East Indies, with a general cargo, was found stranded.

A pilot cutter and a steam-tug were Jyiag abreast of her; and the master and mate of the schooner were found to be in the tug's boat which also contained the master of the cutter and a pilot, the remainder of the ship's crew, four men, being on board the pilot cutter. The four men in the tag's boat were taken on board the steam Life-boat, The Lifeboat men then got on board the vessel, worked at the pumps, and prepared hex for towing off at the next tide. At midnight the schooner was towed off, and was taken between the Cork and Bough Buoys, when the weather became very foggy, rendering it necessary to anchor until daybreak, when the fog cleared off. The vessel was then got under weigh, and Harwich was reached at 8.80 A.M.

RHOSNEIGR ANGLESEY.—The smack Dims, of and from Carnarvon for Ehosneigir, in ballast, with a crew of two men, was driven on the rocks in a heavy sea and a moderate S.S.W. wind on the 13th October. Six men put off in a shoreboat to her assistance and tried for some hours to get her afloat. Their efforts however failed, and as the sea was becoming heavier and the wind was increasing at 7.30 P.M., they were obliged to make signals for he]p. The Bhosneigir Life-boat was thereupon launched, brought ashore the eight men, and succeeded in getting the vessel to a sheltered position.

PEEL, ISLE OF MAN.—The schooner Richard, of Buncorn, coal laden, from Whitehaven for Killough, with a crew of three men, was seen running for the harbour during a strong gale from the N.W. and a heavy sea on the morning of the 16th October. She had only a top sail which was much torn, all her other sails having apparently been carried away, and as it was feared that she would be unable to round the breakwater, and in that case would be completely wrecked, the Life-boat John Monk pnt off at 9.30, boarded her as she entered the bay, and assisted in getting out her anchor, etc.

A large fishing-boat then arrived on the scene, and took a rope from the schooner to the pier, and, with the combined help of the Life-boat men, fishermen and men on shore, the disabled vessel was got safely into port.

NORTH BERWICK.—On the morning of Sunday the 19th October, a small boat was observed in the Firth of Eorth, apparently making for the shore, and as there was a heavy sea on the coast, the chief officer of coastguard hoisted a red flag to warn, her not to attempt to land.

The Life-boat Fergus Ferguson was 'taken out, but as the tide was low the boat had to be conveyed on her transporting carriage some distance along the beach before a launch could be effected. On reaching the boat she was found to contain seven, men, the crew of the steam trawler Restless Wave, of Granton, which had foundered about four miles from May Island. They were much exhausted and were taken into the Life-boat, which then made for the harbour, arriving there at about 2 P.M.

CAISTER, NORFOLK.—At about 5.30 A.M. on the 29th October, during a strong breeze from the W.S.W.,and thick weather accompanied by rain, rockets were fired from the Cross Sand Light-vessel. The Caister No. 2 Life-boat Godsend was at once launched, sailed towards the lightship, and on her way observed a large four-masted ship, which proved to be the Nile, of Glasgow, bound from Calcutta for Hull with a cargo of wheat and linseed, and having a crew of thirty persons, stranded on the inside of the Cross Sand with a heavy sea breaking all round her.

The Life-boat men boarded her, and their services were at once engaged to assist in getting the ship afloat. Some steam-tugs afterwards arrived, the Caister No. 1 Lifeboat Covent Garden was sent for, and on the following morning at 7 o'clock, some of her cargo having been thrown overboard, the vessel was got off the sand, and anchored in Yarmouth Roads.

At about 1 P.M. on the 19th November guns were heard in the direction of the Cross Sand. The wind was blowing a moderate breeze from the W.S.W., the sea was moderate and the weather was very thick. A yawl put off and sailed to the sand where the steamer Carthagena, of and for London from Cronstadt, with a cargo of wood, was found stranded. An attempt was made to get the vessel afloat at high water but it failed, and at dusk the master requested the yawl to return to the shore and send out the Life-boat to remain by him during the night. The No. 1 Lifeboat Covent Garden was launched at 7 P.M., and laid by the vessel until at 1.30 on the following morning she was got off and was taken into Yarmouth Roads.

RUNSWICK.—At 5.30 P.M. on the 29th October three fishing cobles belonging to Staithes, which were unable to land there owing to the heavy sea, arrived at Runswick, and their crews reported that three other cobles were following them, and asked that the Life-boat might be sent out to assist them. The Life-boat Margaret and Edward was therefore launched, proceeded to the bar and accompanied the three boats to the shore.

BOULMER, NORTHUMBEBLAND. The schooner Katharine, of Banff, bound from Bo'ness for Poole with a cargo of coal, struck on the North Steel Bocks, off Boulmer, in a S.S.E. wind and a high sea, on the morning of the 2nd November, foggy weather having obscured the lights.

The Life-boat Eobin Hood of Nottingham, was launched at about 4 o'clock, proceeded to the vessel, and finding her stranded and full of •water, took off her crew of five men, aud brought them safely to land.

HOLY ISLAND.—On the night of the 6th November a tar barrel was seen burning near the shore opposite Ross Links. The wind was blowing •with, almost hurricane force from S. by E., rain and sleet were falling, and the night was intensely dark.

' The inhabitants of the village were roused by sound rockets being fired, and the No. 1 Life-boat Grace Darling was launched, but so furious was the gale that it was found to be impossible to make any headway.

Her crew therefore crossed the harbour in her, taking with them a coble containing fishermen, and hastened to man and launch the No. 2 Life-boat, the Bombay, and try whether their efforts would be effectual with that boat. With the help of the coble's crew, who had to go shoulder deep into the water, the boat was launched, reached the vessel, over which the heavy seas were making a clean sweep from stem to stern, and, with considerable difficulty, the boat being frequently dashed against the wreck and having her bow damaged thereby, rescued the crew consisting of five men. The vessel was the schooner Flower of Ross, of Inverkeithing, bound from London for Leith with a cargo of cement and whiting.

MOELFRE, ANGELSEY.—A very severe gale from the N.N.W. was experienced on the 6th and 7th November, and the Lifeboat Star of Hope put off to the assistance of five distressed vessels, and rescued their crews numbering in all seventeen men.

The boat was first called out at 7 P.M. on the 6th, and proceeded through ar heavy sea which almost continually filled her, to the assistance of the schooner Shisboy which had been in collision with another vessel. The crew of three men were, at their request, taken into the Life-boat and placed for safaty on board another vessel.

The boat returned ashore at about 11 P.M.

and at 1.20 A.M., was again launched to assist the Not Forgot, of Chester, bound from Dublin for Preston with a cargo of barley, •which was in danger of parting her cables. Her crew of four men were taken into the Life-boat and landed at about 6 A.M. At noon another call was received, and the boat again went out, and rescued the crew of three men from the schooner Henry, of Dublin, four men from the Renown, of Swansea, and three men from the John Herbert, of Carnarvon, all of which were in danger of breaking from, their moorings.

GORLESTON.—Sockets and guns were fired by the Cockle and Middle Cross Sand and St. Nicholas Light-vessels, oa the morning of the 7th November. A strong gale was then blowing from S.W. by S., the sea was very heavy and the weather was thick, accompanied by rain.

The Life-boat Mark Lane was launched at 2.20, and, on speaking the last-named Light-vessel, learned that flares had been seen in the direction of the Middle Cross Sand. Crossing the Scroby Sand at very great risk the Life-boat men sighted a vessel, which proved to be the B.B. Boldal, of Stavanger, coal laden from Methell for Gravelines. She had grounded on the outside of the sand, and had been driven over it for two hours to the spot where she was found on the inside of the sand, and had eight feet of water in her hold.

With considerable difficulty and risk, occasioned by the vessel rolling heavily, the crew, numbering twelve men, were taken into the Life-boat, and,' as there appeared a likelihood of the ship being forced into deep water, the boat remained near her in company with the Caister Life-boat, which had also arrived on the scene. As had been anticipated, the vessel floated, but, being wholly unmanageable, she drifted on to the back of the Scroby Sand, filled with water, and became a hopeless wreck. The Life-boat then made sail and stood in to windward of the Cockle Light-ship, where she was taken in tow and brought into pan by the steam-tog Express, of Yarmouth.

FLEETWOOD.—On the 7th November one of the severest storms known for years was experienced on this part of the Coast of Lancashire. "While it was at its height signals of distress were observed throe miles out at sei on "Bernard's Wharf." The Life-boat signal gun was fired, and the No. 1 Life-boat on this station, the Child of Hole, was manned and launched at 6 o'clock in the morning, and was soon proceeding on her errand of mercy in tow of the steam-tug Wardleys.

The few spectators witnessed a fine sight, the wares dashing1 furJonsly over the boat as she ploughed her -way through the water, astern of the steamer. It was almost dark at the time, and soon they were lost to sight by those on shore, who kept an eager look-out for the straaded vessel. It was not until nearly seven o'clock that the hull of the barque loomed in sight to those ashore, and it was evident that but for the galJaat services of the Life-boat men the crew would be lost. Having got well to windward the steamer let the Life-boat go, to drift gradually down on the barque. Here came the danger, and it required the most careful seamanship on the part of Coxswain Wright and MB crew to prevent the Lifeboat being dashed either against the ill-fated barque, or shooting past the mark. When within a short distance, the boat was brought to an anchor, and allowed to float within 50 and 100 yards of the wreck, which was discovered to be the barque Lobora, of Egersund, bound with logwood, for Fleetwood.

The work of rescue at once began, and as it was utterly impossible either to board the barque from the Life-boat, or the Life-boat from the barque, the only mode left was to drag the crew- through the water by ropes. A communication of this kind was established by the crew of the Labor a throwing a buoy overboard with a xope attached, and this floated to the Life-boat. All the crew, who were on deck—numbering 13 in all—were rescued in this way, the captain being the last to leave the ship. That this was accomplished without the loss of a single life is greatly to the credit of the Life-boat men, but for whose brave efforts and untiring exertions the Norwegians •would have found a watery grave.

The work of rescue lasted above two hours, during which time the boat was filled with water, as she was repeatedly deluged with the waves. The Life-boat having accomplished her object, the coxswain hoisted sail and made all speed for Fleetwood, where he landed the rescued crew amid the ringing cheers of the spectators, who, notwithstanding the gale and driving rain, had by this time assembled in hundreds along the beach.

A few hours later intelligence of another wreck reached the Life-boat Station.

Nothing daunted by their rough experience in the early morning, the crew again donned their life-belts and manned the No. 2 Life-boat Edith, which is a large self-righting sailing boat. They were again towed by the steamer Wardhys, and were much cheered by the crowd that had once more assembled. "A magnificent sight was again witnessed, as the steamer and .Life-boat dashed through the broken water in the channel, and by the time the Lighthouse was reached both were often lost to sight by the seas breaking over them. Begardless of the drenching they received they held on their way, and soon the distance of five miles was covered, and the Life-boat gradually dropped down on the stranded barque, which proved to be the New Brunswick. The crew hailed with heartfelt thankfulness the approach of the Life-boat, but some difficulty was experienced in effecting the rescue, as all the masts and rigging were still dashing alongside the ship. To avoid the wreckage striking the Lifeboat, and at the same time to get sufficiently near for the sailors to jump aboard, required great skill and judgment, as well as a cool head and steady neive.

Fortunately the crew of 11 men were eventually got into the boat, notwithstanding that the seas were breaking furiously over the stranded barque and into the Life-boat. The return journey was at once made, the Life-boat being towed part of the way and sailing the remainder. The crew were landed safely at Fleetwood, but in a most exhausted condition; it is probable that all would have been lost but for the timely arrival of the Life-boat. The Life-boats acted splendidly in the enormous seas they had to encounter, and gave the greatest satisfaction to their gallant crews.

POBTMADOO. — During a heavy gale from the N.N.W., on the morning of the 7th November, the schooner Louisa, was observed in the direction of the North Bank. At 8 o'clock the Life-boat CwdvM was launched, -went to the vessel and, at the request of the master, stood by her until 4 P.M., when a steam-tog from Poitmadoe arrived and took her in tow.

PENMOH, ANGLESEY.—On the morning of the 7th November the Life-boat Christopher Brown was called out on service, a vessel being observed in distress, but, on reaching her, assistance was declined. A whole gale was blowing at the time, the sea was rough and the weather showery and very cold, and as several disabled vessels were running into the Straits the Life-boat cruised about ready to help any of them if it became necessary. About 10 o'clock the schooner Undaunted, of Plymouth, came in with a signal flying, she having lost her anchors, and drifted to leeward on the Lavan Sands. The Life-boat bore down on her, and took off her crew of five men. The boat then tried to beat to windward, but, after several tacks, she was caught by a sudden squall and capsized; she, however, soon righted herself, her crew and those whom they had rescued regained her, and the boat was beached at Aber where all landed.

RAMSEY.—Daring a violent gale from the N. and a rough cross sea with heavy rain-squalls, a signal of distress was observed on the steam dredger Walter Bibby, of Preston, which was riding heavily at anchor a mile and a half S.E.

of the harbour on the morning of the 7th November. The Life-boat Two Sisters was promptly launched, and, after encountering some difficulty, owing to the violent gusts of wind and the rolling of the dredger, took off the crew of fifteen men and landed them in safety about a mile and a half S. of Eamsey, it being found impossible to beat back to her Station..