LIFEBOAT MAGAZINE ARCHIVE

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

NORTH SUNDEHLAND.— At 2 P.M. on the 1st January 1901 the Life-boat Thomas Bewick was launched and brought ashore the Crew of four men of the ketch Pallas, of Jersey, which had stranded on the Longstone rock, where she became a total wreck.

Her crew, with the assistance of the keepers of the Longstone light-house, safely landed on the rock and were accommodated by the light-keepers until the Life-boat arrived.

FILEY, YORKSHIRE.—While the fish- ing cobles were returning home in a heavy ground sea on the 1st January, one of them was capsized and her crew of three men thrown into the water, they were fortunately able to reach the boat and hold on to her until twoother cobles came up and took them on board. The Life-boat Hollon the Second was launched at 3 A.M. and remained afloat until the whole of the boats had safely landed, when she returned to her station, arriving at 7.15.

DUNGENESS.—The Coxswain of the Life-boat B.A.O.B., being informed by the Coastguard on the morning of the 8th January that a steamer was stranded, the crew were summoned and near Marske on the morning of the 9th January, the Life-boat Mary Batger was launched at 4.40 in a heavy sea and pulled in the direction indicated. In approaching the stranded vessel, the steam trawler Honoria, of and for Hull, returning from the Faroe Islands with fish, the Life-boat became entangled in the rocket lines and the bowman was dragged out of the boat; fortunately he was rescued, but the boat was driven ashore. She again proceeded off, and at 5.30 the * Life-boat was launched.

The wind was then blowing from the S.E., the sea was moderately rough, the weather was thick and snow was falling.

At the request of the master the Life- boat remained some time by the steamer, which proved to be the Dragon, of Falmouth, homeward bound from Rotter- dam, returning to the shore at noon.

SALTBURN, YORKSHIRE.—The Coast- guard having reported a vessel stranded in the meantime a coble which had come from Redcar to endeavour to rescue the shipwrecked men also fouled the rocket lines, was overturned and three of her crew of seven men unfortunately lost their lives. One of the men drifted past the Life-boat, and in trying to rescue him the Life-boat was again driven on shore. Once more the Life-boat put off, and this time succeeded in getting alongside the vessel, rescuing her crew of nine men. In order to ensure thesafety of the Life-boat and her crew the hawser of the rocket apparatus had to be cut.

ARBROATH, FORFARSHIEE.—On the 15th January the fishing-boat Jessie and Mary, of Arbroath, was observed, about two miles distant from the shore, making for the harbour, and as the sea was heavy it was evident that she would encounter considerable danger in crossing the bar. The Life-boat James Stevens No. 13 was launched at about 11.50 A.M., proceeded over the bar, met the fishing-boat, passed three cork- jackets to her, one for each of her crew, and remained by her until she safely entered the harbour.

SALCOMBR, SOUTH DEVON.—Signals of distress having been reported by the Coastguard on the 17th January, the Life-boat Lesty was launched at 12.10 A.M. and proceeded towards Prawle Point; when about two miles distant from there she showed three bright lights, which were answered by three rockets about ten miles S. of the point.

Proceeding in the direction in which they had been seen, it was found they had been fired by the s.s. Pinedene, of Aberystwyth, which had lost her pro- peller, having been in collision with an unknown schooner. The master re- quested the Life-boatmen to return to the shore and telegraph to Plymouth for a steam-tug. Having done this, the boat again went off to the steamer to render any further assistance required, but found that none was needed. A fresh wind blew from S.W. while the Life-boat was engaged, the weather was thick, with rain squalls, and there was a heavy ground sea.

WINCHELSEA, SUSSEX.—On the morn- ing of the 19th January, during the prevalence of a whole gale and heavy sea, the cutter Jeune Arthur, of Cher- bourg, bound from Dunkirk for Gran- ville, was observed making for the land under forestaysail and jib, her mainsail having been blown away. She was closely watched for some time, and eventually French colours were shown in the rigging. The crew of the Life- boat John William Dudley were sum- moned, horses were procured and the boat was taken on her transporting carriage along the shore towards the vessel, which ultimately stranded about a quarter of a mile E. of Rye Harbour.

The boat was launched, succeeded in taking off the crew of four men and then made for Rye Harbour, but was ] unable to weather the beach banks on [ the E. side and grounded. The rescued | men were landed in such an exhausted ! condition that some of them had to be I carried on the backs of Life-boatmen.

] When the tide ebbed the boat was again launched and was taken into the harbour, remaining there until the following morning, when she returned to her j station.

CAISTER, NORFOLK.—Flares in the direction of the "Scroby Elbow" Sand were seen by men on the look out in foggy weather on the morning of the 21st January, and they at once sum- moned the crew of the Life-boat Covent Garden. At 7 o'clock the boat was launched and on nearing the sands the schooner Bertha, of Yarmouth, was observed just floating off with the rising tide. Her crew had deserted their vessel and were seen in their boat alongside of and taking refuge on board the St. Nicholas Light-Vessel. With the assistance of steam-tugs the schooner, which had lost her rudder and had about three feet of water in her hold, was taken into Yarmouth Harbour.

ARDROSSAN, AYRSHIRE. — On Satur- day, 26th January, four men put off in a boat and proceeded to Horse Island, which is about a mile and a half distant from Ardrossan harbour, for the purpose of shooting wild fowl. While they were on the island the wind freshened, and they found it a difficult matter to get back into the boat. One of them succeeded in doing so, and tried to reach a sheltered spot in order to take off the others; the boat, however, was driven away from the island, but fortunately drifted into the harbour at Ardrossan.

Endeavours were then made to reach the island by means of a, shore boat, but they were unsuccessful, and at 3 o'clock on the Sunday morning the Coastguard reported the circumstancesto the Coxswain of the Life-boat. The wind was then blowing a strong gale from N.W., and the sea was very rough, especially at the harbour mouth and off the Horse Island, rendering it most difficult for the Life-boat to get out, and very dangerous for her to approach the island in the darkness, and as the men, although exposed to a bitter night in n practically unsheltered island, were in no actual danger, it was decided to wait until daylight. At 6.45 the Life-boat was launched, was towed by a steam-tug to the W. end of the island, when sail was hoisted, and she dropped down to the only available place from which the men could be taken off. They were got safely on board, and sails having been again set the boat ran straight into the harbour, being frequently almost buried by the heavy seas she encountered.

MARGATE.—While the wind was blow- ing from W.byN. with almost hurricane force, accompanied by a very heavy sea and terrific hail squalls, on the 27th January, the Coastguard reported flares in the Gore Channel. The crew of the Life-boat Civil Service No. 1 were called, the boat was launched at about 7.40 P.M., and reached the distressed vessel at about 2 A.M. She was the ketch Eustace, of Rochester, laden with pitch, from London for the Rhine. The Master stated that the vessel had dragged her anchor, and had touched the ground several times. At his request, the Boat stood by until after high water, when the weather improved, and he required no further assistance.

£ HOLYHEAD.—About 7.45 on the evening of Sunday, the 27th January, while a whole gale was blowing from N.W., accompanied by a very heavy sea and thick weather, a vessel was seen in the outer roads burning signals of distress. The steam Life-boat Duke of Northumberland proceeded to her assist- j ance and found she was the barque ' Royal, of Arendal, bound from Savanna for Liverpool, with turpentine and resin.

She had dragged her anchor, and had fouled a steamer lying at anchor. Six of her crew boarded the Life-boat, but a steanvtug. arriving to assist the barque, the other members of the crew remained on board their vessel.

The Steam Life-boat Duke of North- umberland left her moorings at 11.25 A.M., on the 29th January, the Coxswain having observed a schooner in the outer roads, with a signal of distress flying.

A strong gale was blowing from N.N.W., and a heavy sea was running. The vessel which made the signal was the Lizzie Edith, of Truro, bound from Penzance for Runcorn, with china clay. She had dragged her anchors, and a steam-tug had succeeded in getting a hawser on board, but was unable to get into a position for towing, on account of the heavy seas. The Master and crew of the schooner, four men in all, therefore decided to leave her and got into the Life-boat, being safely landed at 1 P.M.

BROADSTAIRS. — Flares were shown from vessels off the North Foreland while a whole gale was blowing from N.N.W., accompanied by a heavy sea and heavy squalls of hail, on the 27th January, and, in response, the Life-boat Francis Forbes Barton was launched at 8.5 P.M. It was found that the schooner Astrsea, of Dartmouth, bound from Poole for London, with a cargo of clay, had parted her cables and had fouled the ketch Alfred, of Padstow, the crew of the Alfred, four in number, taking refuge on board the Astrsea. They were taken into the Life-boat, and some of the Life-boatmen boarded the schooner, at the request of the Master, and found her bows were damaged, besides which she had lost her anchors, chains, and some of her sails, and was leaking. The Life-boatmen assisted to set the remaining sails, and working at the pumps during the night, managed to take her into Ramsgate Harbour. Meanwhile, the Life-boat landed the crew of the Alfred, who were suffering severely from the cold.

Having warmed and refreshed them- selves, they again boarded the Life-boat, which, at the Master's request, proceeded in search of the ketch. She was found riding at anchor; her bows and rigging were badly damaged, and she had a large quantity of water in her hold. Four of the Life-boatmen boarded her to. render assistance,, and having refitted... her rigging, sail was made, the cable slipped,and she proceeded for Ramsgate, with the Life-boat in tow, arriving thei'e at 3 P.M. The boat was slipped at the mouth of the harbour, and returned to her station.

RYDE, ISLE OF WIGHT.—The ketch, Silver Spray, of Lowestoft, laden with machinery and stone, and bound from Guernsey for the North of England, showed signals of distress when about a quarter of a mile E. of Ryde pier, on the night of the 27th January, while a strong gale was blowing from N.W., accompanied by a rough sea. The Life- boat Captain Hans Busk was launched at about 10.30, and on reaching the vessel, found that she had parted her cable and was aground on the sand. At the request of the Master, the Life-boat stood by the ketch during the night.

About 3.30 A.M. she floated, and two hours later the Life-boat returned to her station, the gale having moderated.

her jibboom, which were hanging over her side. As she was fast drifting to leeward, her anchor was let go, but it did not hold, and seeing there was no probability of being able to save the vessel, her crew of six men, taking with them a little dog, got into the Life-boat, and were safely landed. The brigaatine soon afterwards stranded on Porth- minster beach, and became a total wreck, her mainmast going by the board when she struck the ground.

PETERHEA.D. — The steam trawler Boslin, of Aberdeen, returning home with several boxes of fish, stranded at Scotston Head in a moderate W.N.W.

breeze, a heavy sea and thick weather, about midnight on the 13th February.

In response to her signals of distress the Life-boat George Pickard proceeded to her assistance and found her full of water. Communication with the vessel had been obtained with the rocket apparatus, and her small boat was lying alongside, but the sea was so heavy that WEXFORD, IRELAND,—A whole gale from W.N.W., suddenly sprung up on j the crew were afraid to avail themselves the evening of the 31st January, and the I of either of those means of leaving the yawl Love Lane, which was seeking the shelter of the harbour, grounded on the N. side of the bar. She signalled for assistance, and at 6.30 the Life-boat James Stevens No. 15 put off, and remained by her until she beat over the bar and was out of danger. The Life- boat then proceeded in search of three other fishing-boats which had not returned, but found they were safely riding at anchor in the North bay, and were therefore not in need of any assistance.

ST. IVES, CORNWALL.—The Life-boat James Stevens No. 10 was launched at 5.15 A.M., on the 5th February, while a strong gale was blowing from N.N.E., and proceeded to the brigantine, Julien Marie, of Auray, coal-laden from Swansea, bound for Bordeaux, which had shown signals for assistance. 6he was carrying very little canvas, having only her mainsail and lower topsail set, and tried to make the harbour, but failed to do so owing to the heavy breakers she encountered, and being in addition encumbered by the wreckage of her foretopmast, with yards and sails and steamer, and on seeing the Life-boat approaching called to the Coxswain to come alongside and take them off. The men, nine in number, got into the Life- boat and were safely landed at 4.40 A.M.

WHITBURN, DURHAM.—The steam-tug Hook van Holland left Emden on the llth February at midday, having in tow the damaged s.s. Treneglos, of St.

Ives, intending to take her to South Shields, but early on the morning of the 14th February both vessels stranded on the S. end of Whitburn White Stile in hazy weather. The tug floated with- out any assistance, having apparently sustained little if any damage, but the Treneglos was found to be leaking badly.

With the assistance of five tugs and the crew of the Life-boat William and Charles she was taken into dock at Sunderland where she almost immedi- ately settled down.

CROMER, NORFOLK.—A message by telephone having been received from Mundesley stating that the services of the Life-boat were required, on the 17th February, the Life-boat Benjamin Bond Cabbell was launched at 9 P.M. and found the s.s. Celerity, of Yarmouth, laden with cement, from Rochester for Leith, and carrying a crew of seven men, in a disabled condition. A gale was blowing from the E.N.E. and she had shipped a quantity of water which had extinguished her fires, so that becoming unmanageable she anchored off Mundesley. Her anchor dragged, and when only about half a mile from the shore she burnt a flare to denote that she was in need of help.

The Life-boat stood by her during the night, but the Life-boatmen were unable to board her owing to the bad weather and the heavy rolling of the vessel.

The vessel's crew baled some of the water out by means of buckets, the pumps being choked, and ultimately fires were lighted and steam was got up. The Life-boatmen then assisted in weighing the anchor, and the boat proceeded-with her to Yarmouth, which was reached at 2.15 P.M., the Life-boat's crew having endured nearly eighteen hours' exposure to terrible weather.

They returned to their station at 5 P.M. the following day.