LIFEBOAT MAGAZINE ARCHIVE

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Summary of the Meetings of the Committee

THURSDAY, 8th May, 1902.

Sir EDWARD BIRKBECK, Bart., V.P., in the Chair.

Read and confirmed the minutes of the previous meeting.

Also read those of the Building, Finance and Correspondence, Wreck and Reward and other Sub-Committees and ordered that their recommendations be carried into effect.

Also read the minutes of the last meeting of the Central Committee of the Life-boat Saturday Fund, and ordered that their recommendations be carried into effect.

Read the reports of the District Inspectors of Life-boats on their recent visits to the following stations:— Northern District—Newburgh, Whitelink Bay, Fraserburgh. Peterhead, Port Erroll, Stonehaven, Gourdon, Johnshaven, Montrose (two boats), Banff, Buckie, Stromness, Long- hope, Huna, Thurso, Wick and Ackergill.

Eastern District — Margate (two boats), Staithes, Runswick, Upgang, Whitby (two boats), Robin Hood's Bay, Scarborough, Filey, Flamborough (two boats), Bridlington, With- ernsea and Hornsea.

Irish District — Wicklow, Clogher Head, Southport (two boats) and Blackpool.

Reported the receipt of the following special contributions since the last meeting:— £. s. d.

"S.C.G. In Memoriam" for a Charles Deere James Life-boat for any station, but preferably for Devonshire 1,000 - - The Thorngate Trustees (annual subscription) 80 - - The late Huddersfield and District Shipowners' Association, per J. T. KILNER, Esq 57 - - T. S. WHITAKER, Esq. (additional) 50 - - Trustees of Berman's Charity (ad- ditional) 10 10 - —To be severally thanked.

Also the receipt of the following legacies:— &. s. d.

The late FREDERICK FLOOD, Esq., of Dorking 300 - - The late T. GRAHAM YOUNG, Esq., of West Calder, per Glasgow Branch (balance and interest) . 252 11 4 : The late G. W. HAMILTON, Esq., of Helensburgh, per Glasgow I Branch (with interest) ... 25 5 3 i The late GEORGE SACH, Esq., of Elmstead 132 19 6 The late CHARLES CLEAVES, Esq., of Southport (to endowment fund) 100 - - The late Mrs. GIBSON, of Dublin . 89 5 6 The late EDWARD M. HENRIQUES, Esq., of Broughton Park, Man- chester 45 - - I The late Mrs. F. E. THOMAS, of ' Nunney, Somerset (additional). 1 17 - ! Reported that Colonel the Hon. CHARLES E. EDGCUMBE, a Member of the Committee of Management of the Institution, was raising from private friends a fund to supply one of the Institution's house-flags to each of the 18 Life-boat Stations on the Cornish Coast.

Reported the transmission to their stations of the Poolbeg and Torquay new Life-boats.

Appointed Lieutenant HOWARD F. 3. ROWLEY, R.N., a District Inspector of Life- boats of the Institution, vice Lieutenant EUSTACE W, 0. STRACEY CLITHEROW, B.N., resigned.

Paid 2,831Z. for sundry charges on various Life-boat establishments.

Lives saved.

Voted 70J. 2s. 6d. to pay the expenses of the following Life-boat services :— Vessel.

Life-boat.

Clovelly . . Pilot cutter Tantalus, of Newport, saved vessel and .... 2 Gorleston No. 2 Steam Trawler Notus, of Great Yarmouth, stood by vessel.

Scarborough Two fishing cobles. Ren- dered assistance, Stromness . A fishing boat saved boat and .... 3 Whitby No. 1 Fishing cobles. Stood by boats.

The Broadstairs and Dungeness No. 1 Life- boats respectively saved the ketch Meteor, of London and four men, and rendered assist- ance to the four-masted barque Crown of India, of Liverpool.

Voted also 1067. Os. id. to pay for watching or launches of the Aldeburgh, Dungarvan, Filey, Gorleston No. 1, Newburgh, Palling No. 2, Peterhead and Southend-on-Sea Life- boats, with the view of assisting vessels in distress.

Voted 21. to four fishermen for saving the crew of fifteen men from the s.s. Loch Leven, of Aberdeen, which stranded and sunk on the Knavestone Bock, one of the Fame Islands group, in a moderate S.E, breeze and a rough sea with a heavy swell, on the 15th April.

Also 51. 5s. to seven men for putting off in the Institution's boarding boat at New Brighton, and standing by the fishing boat Ellen, of Liverpool, which had stranded in a moderate N.W. gale and a very heavy sea on the 25th March. 6s. was also given to a man who assisted to get the boat off.

Also £6 15s. to six men for putting off in the Institution's New Brighton boarding boat, with the view of assisting the crew of the cutter Mosquito, which had been capsized in a strong W. breeze and a rough sea on the 28th March. 11s. was paid to two other men engaged on the occasion.

Also 15s. to three men for wading into the sea and rescuing one of the crew of a small boat which had been capsized off Seaton Garew, Durham, in a somewhat rough sea on the 26th April.Y, 12th June, 1902. Sir EDWARD BIRKBECK, Bart., V.P., | ,in the Chair.

read and confirmed the minutes of the previous meeting. Also read those of the Building, Finance and Correspondence and Wreck and Reward Sub-Committees and ordered that their recom-mendations be carried into effect. j Bead the report of the Chief Inspector of Life-boats on his recent visits to the Burnham, St. Mary's and St. Agnes (Scilly Islands) Life- boat Stations.

Also the report of the Deputy Chief Inspector of Life-boats on his visits to the Bull Bay, Cemaes, Cemlyn, Rhosneigir, Penmen, Porth Bhuffydd and Holyhead Life-boat Stations.

Also the reports of the District Inspectors of Life-boats on their recent visits to the following Life-boat Stations:— Northern District—Dornoch Firth, Nairn, Lossiemouth, Stornoway, North Berwick, Anstruther, Buckhaven, Berwick-on-Tweed, Troon, Irvine, Ayr, Girvan, Ballantrae, Port Patrick and Port Logan.

Eastern District — Hasborough, Palling (two boats),Wells, Brancaster, Blakeney, Hun- stanton, Mablethorpe, Donna Nook, Button, I Skegness, Grimsby, Cromer and Sheringham.

Southern District—Exmouth, Plymouth, Looe, Yealm River, Teignmouth, Hope Cove, Salcombe, Brixham, Torquay and Selsey.

Western District—Angle, Littlehaven, St.

David's, Fishguard (two boats), Cardigan, New Quay (Cardiganshire), Penarth, Rhyl, Llanddulas, Point of Ayr, Moelfre, Cemlyn, Cemaes, Bull Bay, Rhosneigir, Penmon, Holyhead (two boats) and Porth Bhuffydd.

Irish District—St. Anne's (two boats), Lytham, Castletown, Port Erin, Port St. Mary, Peel, Bainsey, Douglas, Poolbeg and Portrush.

Reported the receipt of the following special j contributions since the last meeting:— I £. s. d. I Colonel F. C. T. GASCOIGNE (add.) 500 - - I Collected on board the B.M.S. j Orizaba, per Capt. ARCHER . 10 - - ; Balance of the Scarborough ' Memorial Fund to the late EARL OF LONPESBOBOUGH, per S. ARTHUR NICHOLLS, Esq. . 9 19 6 Collected on board the S.S.

Canada, Dominion Line, per Captain E. MADDOX .... 627 Collection in John Street Baptist Church. Sabbath School, Glas- gow, per ROBERT COATS, Esq. . 3 5 - —To be severally thanked.

Also the receipt of the following legacies:— The late FRANCIS JOHN FREEMAN, £. s. d. Esq., of Abbey Road, St. John's Wood, N.W., for establishing a Life-boat to be named the Brothers Freeman .... 2,000 - The late Miss MARTHA BROWN, of Waterhaugh, Ayr, the yearly income to be applied towards establishing and maintaining Life-boats on the coasts and western islands of Scotland . 2,000 - £. s. a.

The late Misses J. J. and C. A. WINGATE, of Edinburgh, for a Life-boat station on the coast of the United Kingdom, the boat to be called the Olive . . 1,500 - - The late WILLIAM BROCKSOPP, Esq., of Holloway, N., for a Life-boat, with her equipment and transporting carriage, the Life-boat to be named the William Brochsopp .... 700 - - The late A. B. FLEMING, Esq., of Corstophine 456 The late Miss ANN C. CARLOS, of Wandsworth Road, S.W. . . 247 3 1 The late Miss HELENA ELIZABETH Cooper of Clapham Park, S.W. 200 - - The late Mrs. HARRIET O. CARN- LEY, of Kjngston-upon-Hull. . 150 - - The late ROBERT PEARSON, Esq., of Newcastle-on-Tyne, per New- castle and Tynemouth Bank . 120 6 7 The late Miss ANN BEATRICE MILES, of Highgate .... 100 - - The late JOHN WARNE, Esq., of King Henry's Road, N.W. . . 100 - - The late W. H. DEAN, Esq., of Stratford (additional) . .

74 12 2 Deep regret was expressed at the decease of the Hon. CLAUDE HAMILTON VIVIAN and Major A. E. BALDWIN, Honorary Secretaries respectively of the Moelfre and Southend-on- Sea branches of the Institution, and it was decided to send letters of condolence to their families.

Reported the transmission to their stations of the Looe and Porthdinllaen new Life-boats.

Paid 6,5942. for sundry charges on various Life-boat establishments.

Voted 98/. 8s. 6d. to pay the expenses of the following Life-boat services:— Lives Life-boat. Vessel. saved.

Berwick - on-1 Barque Demetra, of Tweed / 8 Christiana .

Newbiggin ". 7 Fishing-cobles. Stood by boats.

Sennen Cove . H.M.S. Recruit. Stood by vessel.

Staithes . . Fishing - cobles. Stood by boats.

Upgang . . S.S.Ben Corlic, of North Shields. 5 Wexford . . Pilot boat, of Wexford.

Saved vessel and . . 5 The Whitby No. 2 Life-boat rendered assist- ance to the schooner Frier, of Poole.

Voted 129Z. 13s. 2d. to pay for launches of Life-boats at the following stations, or watch- ing with the view of assisting distressed vessels: Ballycotton, Broadstairs, Clacton-on- Sea, Dunbar, Dungarvan, Fraserburgh, Mar- gate No. 1, New Brighton (steam Life-boat), Peterhead, Whitby No. 2 and Whitelink Bay.

Read letter from the Board of Trade, trans- mitting a gold medal of the second class for EDWARD TOMS, coxswain of the Looe Life- boat, and silver medals of the second class for each of the other twelve members of the crew, accompanied in each case with a diploma awarded by the Government of the French Republic, in recognition of their services in saving the crew of nineteen men of the ship Gipsy, of Nantes, which ran on to the rocks near Downderry coastguard station on the 7th December last.

In addition to rescuing the crew from their perilous position, the Life-boat also lauded three Chilian kittens from the wreck.

Voted the sum of 1252. to the invalid widow and dependent daughter of JOHN DUNN, the late bowman of the Clovelly Life-boat, the money being handed to the local committee for them to distribute to the greatest advantage of the recipients.

Dunn had been a member of the crew for thirty-two years—ever since the Life-boat had been stationed at Clovelly—and had held the position of bowman since 1892. He was out in the Life-boat on the 28th April when he contracted a chill, which developed into pleurisy and ultimately caused his death. On this occasion the Life-boat succeeded in saving a pilot cutter of Newport, which had sprung a leak oft Trevose Head, and her crew of two men.

Voted 11. 4s. to John Dent, one of the launchers of the Newbiggin Life-boat, injured while on Life-boat service.

Thanks were accorded to Dr. C. L. FRASER, Honorary Secretary of the Berwick-on-Tweed Branch for going out in the Life-boat on the occasion of her saving the crew of the barque Demetra, of Christiana.

Also the thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum and framed, together with 15s. each, to Messrs. ROBERT and RICHARD POCKLEY for gallantly assisting, at great risk of their own lives, two fishermen who were clinging to some oars, their boat when near the Smithie Sands, off Flamborough, having filled with water in a whole gale from W. and a very rough sea on the 4th April; but for the timely and skilful assistance of the salvors, their lives would have been lost.

Also 31. to six coastguardmen for putting off in their boat and rescuing the crew of 8 men of the lugger Self-Reliance, of Howth, which was totally wrecked off Ballinacourty on the 27th May. A strong W.S.W. breeze was blowing at the time, the sea was moderate, and the weather thick and squally.

Also II. to THOMAS VEALE, ferry-boat pro- prietor, for putting off in a boat and rescuing two boys from a punt off Dungarvan, on the 5th April. One of them had fallen overboard and was holding on to the punt, and the other one was unable to help him, as the boat, a very unsafe one, would not bear his weight on her side.

Also 3Z. to six men, four of whom were coastguardmen, for their promptitude in putting off in two boats and rescuing three out of the crew of five of the boat Star of the Sea, of Howth. While tacking, the boat was thrown on her beam ends and her five occupants pitched overboard, when about three-quarters of a mile N.B. of Howth Harbour, in squally weather and a choppy sea on the 4th May. One of the boats succeeded in picking up the two men, who lost their lives, but in spite of every effort to resuscitate them on the part of two of the coastguardsmen, they never recovered. An additional 2s. 6 J. each was awarded to these men for their humane efforts.

Bead letter from the Secretary of the Admiralty stating that the Admiral Super- intendent of Naval Reserves had issued orders to all under his command: (1) That Coast- guard officers, as Receivers of Wreck, are, if they think it necessary in the interests of Life-saving, to order the Life-boat out, but only in such cases where the Institution's Local Secretary has failed to take the proper steps. (2) That if the Coastguard officer is asked by the Life-boat authorities for his advice and opinion, he is to give it.

THURSDAY, 10th July, 1902.

Sir EDWARD BIRKBECK, Bart., V.P., in the Chair.

Read and confirmed the minutes of the previous meeting.

Also read those of the Building, Finance and Correspondence, and Wreck and Reward Sub-Committees, and ordered that their recommendations be carried into effect.

Read the report of the Deputy Chief Inspector of Life-boats on his recent visits to Aberdovey, Swansea, Porthcawl, Grimsby and Spurn Point.

Also the reports of the District Inspectors of Life-boats on their recent visits to the following stations:— Northern District—Whitehaven, Working- ton, Dunbar, Ardrossan, Southend (Cantyre), Campbeltown, Boulmer, Alnmouth, Berwick- on-Tweed and Hauxley.

Eastern District—Winterton (two boats), Caister, Yarmouth, Harwich (two boats), Dungeness (two boats), New Romney, Folke- stone, Hythe, Dover, Walmer, Kingsdowne, North Deal, Ramsgate, Broadstairs, Margate (two boats), Southend-on-Sea, Walton-on-the- Naze and Clacton-on-Sea.

Southern District — Littlehampton, Hay- ling, Southsea, Atherfield, Brighstone Grange, Brooke, Bembridge, Sidmouth, Lyme Regis and Weymouth.

Western District—Rhoscolyn, Llanddwyn, Llaududno, Pwllheli, Abersoch, Porthdinllaen, Criccieth, Aberdovey, Barmouth, Aberystwith, Minehead, Lynmouth Clovelly, Ilfracombe and Appledore (two boats).

Irish District — Greencastle, Culdafi, Groomsport, Carrickfergus, Ballywalter, Cloughey, Newcastle (Dundrum), Killough, Giles Quay, Blackrock and Greenore.

Also the receipt of the following special contributions since the last meeting:— HENRY W. LUCY, Esq., J.P., for &. s. d.

the Caister No. 2 new Life-boat, the Nancy Lucy 1,000 - - EDWARD F. WHITE, Esq. (annual subscription) 50 - - Miss S. E. WHITE (annual sub- scription) 25 - - Collected on board H.M.S. War- spite, per Lieut. H. B. LE FAKN, R.N. 5 - - —To be severally thanked. Also the receipt of the following legacies:— £. s. d.

The late CHARLES BARRACLOUGH, Esq., of Rochdale . . . 1,000 - - The late Miss HARRIET CARELEY, of Shepherd's Bush .... 270 - - The late WILLIAM McLAREN, Esq., of Dunfermline ...... 79 15 - The late Mrs. ANNA WARREN, of East Dereham 50 - - The late CHARLES LINGHAM, Esq., of Worcester 20 - - Reported the transmission to their stations of the Appledore No. 2 and Llandudno new Life-boats.

Decided that the Porthcawl Life-boat Station be discontinued.

Paid 9,5142. for sundry charges on various Life-boat establishments.

Voted 511.19s. Qd. to pay the expenses of the following Life-boat services:— Lives Life-boat. Vessel. saved.

Clacton-on-Sea Brigantine Hilda, of Abo. Stood by vessel.

Palling No. 1 s.s. Holdemess, of Glas- gow. Stood by vessel.

Winterton No. 2 s.s. Holderness, ot Glas- gow. Stood by vessel.

Wexford . . Yawl Swcm, of Wexford. 4 Also 201. Is. Gd. to pay for launches of Life- boats at the following stations with the view of assisting distressed vessels:— Bude, Margate No. 1, and Peterhead.

Voted a further sum of il. 10s. to the crew of the Berwick-on-Tweed Life-boat on account of their long and arduous work on the occa- sion of their saving the crew of seven from the barque Demetra, of Christiania, on 1st June.

Read letter from the Board of Trade, for- warding 51. for the coxswain, 11. for the assistant coxswain, and 32. for each of the crew of the No. 3 Life-boat Cyclist, stationed at Hartlepool, awarded by H.I.M. the German Emperor in recognition of their services in saving the crew of four men from the galliot Catharina, of Barssel, on 14th November last.

Voted the Institution's Silver Medal, ac- companied by a copy of the vote inscribed on vellum and framed, to HENRY BRITTON, in recognition of his gallant services. He has been coxswain of the Walton-on-the-Naze Life-boat since 1884, and assisted to save 132 lives, going out in the Life-boat eighty-nine times; four of the services were very gallant ones.

Also the sum of 102. to G. HATCHER, a member of the same Life-boat's crew, aged seventy, who has been out in the boat on service eighty times, and assisted to save nearly as many lives as the coxswain.

Also 15s. to the coxswain of the Boulmer Life-boat, to pay for damage done to his coble when attempting to render assistance to a vessel in distress on the 12th November, 1901.

Voted 10s. to SAMUEL ASHTON (coxswain of the Polkerris and Fowey Life-boat) and his son Harry, for putting off in a boat and rescu- | ing four boys who were in danger in an un- seaworthy boat in Par Bay on the 9th June.

Also 21. to DAVID RUDALL and HENRY MORGAN, two fishermen, for promptly putting off in a boat and rescuing five of the occupants of a boat which was swamped, and foundered ofi Llanelly on the evening of the 27th of May.

The salvors, who saw the accident, imme- diately got into their boat and pulled to the spot. Unfortunately four of the men had already disappeared, and it was only owing to the resource displayed by Rudall that the other five were rescued, the sea at the time being rough and the wind fresh and squally.

THURSDAY, 14th August, 1902.

Colonel FITZROY CLAYTON, V.P., in the Chair.

Read and confirmed the minutes of the previous meeting.

Also read those of the Building, Finance and Correspondence, and Wreck and Reward Sub-Committees, and ordered that their re- commendations be carried into effect.

Read the reports of the District Inspectors of Life-boats on then- recent visits to the fol- lowing Life-boat stations:— Northern District—Kirkcudbright, Balcary, Whithorn and Maryport.

Eastern District — Aldeburgh, Dunwich, Southwold (two boats), Lowestoft (two boats), Gorleston (three boats), Pakefield and Kes- singland (two boats).

Southern District—Swanage, Poole, Worth- ing, Shoreham, Hastings, Folkestone, Dover, Hythe, Broadstairs, Ramsgate, Newhaven, Winchelsea, New Romney, Brighton, and Eastbourne.

Western District—Bude, Port Isaac, Pad- stow (two boats), New Quay (Cornwall), Penzance, Hayle, St. Ives, Sennen Cove, St. Agnes, St. Mary's, Porthleven, Porthous- tock.Mullion, Coverack, Cadgwith and Lizard.

Irish District—Kingstown (two boats), Piel (Barrow) and Formby.

Reported the receipt of the following special contributions since the last meeting:— & s. d.

S. D. R. S. D." (additional). . 50 - - Worshipful Company of Merchant Taylors (additional) .... 10 10 - "World Travel," per HENRY S. LONN, Esq., M.D 419 —To be severally thanked.

Also the receipt of the following legacies:— £. s. d.

The late J. C. MADGE, Esq., of Southampton, for a Life-boat to be named the J. C. Madge . 2,000 - - The late Miss MARY BOYS MASTER, of Leiuster Gardens, "W. . . 2,000 - - The late Mrs. LAURA C. HOTCHIN- SON, of Lancaster (and interest thereon) 1,019 10 10 The late Miss ELIZA DAVIDSON, - j, of Portswood, Southampton . 450 - -The late BENJAMIN BUCK GREENE, Esq., of Kensington Palace Gardens . 100 - - The late WILLIAM RICHARDSON, Esq., of Sheffield 50 - - The late Mrs. H. CLARKE, of Ellhoughton, Yorkshire . . 19 19 - Voted the thanks of the Committee to Captain KENDALL, RICHARD AMBROSE, Esq., and W. C. GLOVER, Esq., in recognition of their past valuable services as Honorary Secretaries, respectively, of the Holyhead, Grangemouth, and Hoylake and Hilbre Island Branches of the Institution, which offices they had just resigned.

Reported the transmission to their Stations of the Aranmore, Drogheda, Greencastle and Portrush new Life-boats.

The Committee expressed their deep regret at the sudden death from apoplexy of Mr. HUBERT W. PULLAN, Inspector of Life-boats for the Irish District, which occurred on the 11th inst., shortly after his return to the shore at Clogher Head, where he had been exercising the Life-boat.

Paid 5,1362. for sundry charges on various Life-boat establishments.

Voted 621. 19s. 6d. to pay the expenses of the following Life-boat services:— Live saved Life-boat.

Gourdon .

Vessel.

Stood Fishing-boats, by boats.

Hilbre Island Flat Livadia, of Liver- pool. Stood by vessel.

Moelfre . . Schooner Eliza Bond, of Lancaster .... 3 Montrose No. 2 Fishing - boats. Re- mained in attendance.

New Romney Barque Assyria, of Christiania. Stood by vessel.

Also 1252. 5s, to pay for launches, or assemblies of the crews of Life-boats at the following stations, with a view of assisting vessels in distress:—Aranmore, Broadstairs, Cemlyn, Dungeness No. 1, Hilbre Island, Mar- gate No. 2, Port Erin and Port St. Mary.

Voted the sum of 52., as compensation recommended by the Local Committee at Worthing, to the Contractor who supplies horses for use with the Life-boat; one of his animals having been injured while helping to draw the Life-boat in March, 1901.

Voted 42. to four fishermen for their valu- able services in rescuing the crew of four per- sons from a salmon yawl, which was capsized in a moderate gale and very heavy sea about two miles off Knockadoon Head (Youghal) on 19th June.

Resolved to dismiss the coxswain of the Cemaes Life-boat, on account of his having launched that boat quite unnecessarily on 7th July, payment to the crew also being withheld, as recommended by the Local Com- mittee who fully went into the case.

Voted 4:1. to four fishermen for saving four of the crew of the fishing-boat Mayflower on the 17th July. There was a strong N. breeze at the time and a heavy sea, and when the boat was about three miles off Glengad Head she suddenly capsized. The sailors, seeing the accident, immediately went to the spot and succeeded in rescuing three men who were clinging to the keel of the up-turned boat, and another who was supporting himself by an oar. All were in an exhausted condition.

The fifth member of the crew was unfortu- nately washed away and drowned before help could reach him. A further sum of 32.10s. was awarded to the crew of two other fishing-boats which also put off with a view to saving life.

Also 12. 2s. &d. to three men saving two men from a boat which was swamped, on the 27th July, in a rough sea and strong breeze, off Redcar, Yorkshire.