LIFEBOAT MAGAZINE ARCHIVE

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Jasper

CAISTER, NORFOLK. — On Sunday morning, the 17th January, the Lifeboat Coven t Garden arrived at Yarmouth Harbour, bringing four of the hands of the schooner Jasper, of Fowey, and the body of one of the crew, who had died from exposure while the men were endeavouring to reach safety in their little boat.

The schooner, while bound from Plymouth to Hull with a cargo of china clay, ran aground on the Hasborough sands, and her crew in a very short time found it necessary to abandon her.

The weather was very thick and cold, with a strong W.N.W. wind blowing and a heavy sea. The men started to pull for one of the Light-vessels, but the wind and tide prevented them making any progress. Heavy seas continually broke over the boat, and it was only by constant baling she was kept afloat. For several hours they bravely struggled on, drenched to the skin and exposed to the icy wind, until numbness and exhaustion commenced to overtake them, and from this one of them succumbed.

Fortunately, the change of the tide helped them, and after nine hours' exposure they succeeded in getting to the Newarp Light-vessel. With the little strength they had left the survivors climbed on board and were kindly tended by the light-keepers, who also transferred the body of the dead man to the lightship. Early next morning signals were made, and in reply the Cooent Garden Life-boat went out. On arrival they took the shipwrecked men on board and, in tow of a tug, made for Yarmouth with all despatch, the Lifeboat subsequently returning to her station..