LIFEBOAT MAGAZINE ARCHIVE

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

CLOUGHEY, Co. DOWN.—On the night of the 20th January the s.s. City of Lahore, belonging to Liverpool, stranded on Kearney Point. The Life-boat John was launched and proceeded to the steamer. The captain requested the boat to stand by, which she did. While the boat was in attendance, a shore boat, which had also put off to the steamer's assistance, left about midnight to return home. Shortly afterwards shouts for help were heard, and it was found that the boat had run on the rocks and had been stove in. The Life-boat at once proceeded to the assistance of the men, but on account of the rocks had considerable difficulty in rescuing them. A line was thrown from the Life-boat to the imperilled men, and they were hauled, one by one, through the sea into the boat, the Life-boat being slightly damaged on the rocks.

CAISTER, NOEFOLK. —The steam trawler Apollo of Sandefjord, Norway, was reported ashore on the Middle Barber Sands during thick weather on the 21st January. The No. 1 Life-boat Covent Garden was launched to her assistance and found the vessel riding with her anchors down. The Coxswain asked the master if he required any assistance and he replied that he wished to get into Yarmouth Harbour, as he had been ashore on the Cross Sands and his machinery had broken down. Some of the crew of the Life-boat were placed on board and they succeeded in bringing her into Yarmouth Harbour at 9 P.M. on the 22nd January.

FILEY, YORKSHIEE.—At 6 A.M. on the 31st January the fishing cobles put to sea to haul their lines, and at 9 A.M.

the wind and sea increased. Twenty- one of the cobles got into safety, but the coble Sallie was in great danger when she was still three miles to the south-east of Filey. The Life-boat Hollon the Third was launched to assist her. By this time the weather had become very bad, the wind blowing a gale from north, with heavy snow- showers. On reaching the coble the men on board were supplied with life- belts and the Life-boat brought them and their boat into safety.

FILEY, YORKSHIRE.— On the 2nd February it was blowing a whole E.N.E. gale and a very heavy sea was running in the bay, endangering a large coble which had been left at anchor, and was then in broken water. As it was not safe for the fishermen to put off to her in one of their own boats they requested the Honorary Secretary to allow them to go off in the Life-boat Hollon the Third.

Permission was granted and the boat was launched at 9.40 A.M. and brought j the coble into safety.

CASTLETOWN, ISLE OF MAN. — The Life-boat Thomas Black was launched at 6.38 P.M. on 6th February, in response to a message, stating that a vessel was quickly drifting ashore on the east side of Langness with her sails all gone.

On receipt of the message the boat was taken by road to Derbyhaven and launched in a heavy sea. The vessel proved to be the brigantine Albion of Portsmouth, bound from Poole to Elles- mere Port. It was found that she had struck the rocks and was then at anchor. As the vessel was likely to become a total wreck the crew of seven men were rescued. A strong S.E. wind was blowing which necessitated great care being exercised in getting alongside, and it was with difficulty that the rescue was carried out owing to the men being in an exhausted condition. They were landed at Derbyhaven and later the Life-boat was taken back to her station under sail.

NEWBURGH, ABERDEENSHIRE. — At 4.45 A.M. on the9th February, a telephone message was received from Collieston, stating that a vessel was ashore on Forvie Sands, about two miles to the north of Newburgh. The crew of the Life-boat James Stevens No. 19 were immediately summoned and the boat launched. The weather was thick and a very heavy sea was running. On arrival at the wreck it was found that the rocket apparatus had already ob- tained communication, but the whole of the crew, eleven in number, were still on board. The vessel was the trawler Lord Ashby of Blyth, bound for her fishing - grounds. Four of the crew were taken off, but the remainder elected to remain on board as the tide was receding quickly, and the vessel was well up on the sand. They ultimately got off at low water. The Life-boat was beached opposite the wreck, as it was not possible to row her back to her station against the tide and sea : and later in the day she was mounted on her carriage, conveyed by road to a spot opposite the station, taken across the river and re-housed.

BARRY DOCK, GLAMORGANSHIRE.— At 1.30 A.M. on the 10th February, during a moderate S.S.W. gale the Coastguard reported to the Coxswain of the Life-boat John Wesley, that rockets had been observed in Barry Roads.

The Life-boat was launched and found the Greek steamer Vasilefs Georgios of Andros, lying at anchor, having been run into by the steamer Kildonan. The Captain requested the Coxswain to stand by the ship as the fore-hold was filling. At 3 A.M. the boat returned to Barry to ascertain if the steamer could be docked. On her return to the ship the Captain again expressed a desire for the boat to stand by; she accordingly .did so until 8.30 A.M. She then pro- ceeded again to Barry with a message and was re-housed.

NEWHAVEN, SUSSEX.—A useful Life- boat service was performed by the Michael Henry Life-boat on the 10th February.

At 10 A.M. information was received that a steam trawler had stranded on the Harbour Bar, and the Life-boat was launched to her assistance. On arriving at the vessel the Coxswain asked the Captain if he could render any assistance, and at his request stood by for some time. Later the Captain asked him to return ashore and take the French Consul out to the trawler. He accord- ingly did so and put him on board, and then remained by the ship until she floated at about 2 P.M. The vessel was the steam trawler Alpha of Dieppe, bound to Newhaven. At the time of the accident there was a heavy ground swell.

STRONSAT, ORKNEYS. The motor Life- boat John Ryburn performed a very good service in the early hours of the morning of 10th February. Between 1 and 2 o'clock an urgent call came from Sanday for the Life-boat to proceed to a vessel which had stranded on the Holm of Ayre, a small uninhabited island lying off the north side of Sanday. The message stated that one man had been saved, four had been drowned, and four men were still on the wreck. The Life- boat crew were called, and the boat was quickly on her way to the vessel.

It was blowing a strong breeze from S.S.E., with a heavy sea, caused by the recent gales, and the night was cold, thick, and intensely dark. The Life- boat had a long distance to go through narrow, dangerous channels, with rapid tides and treacherous rocks, and no lights to guide the crew in any way.

The brave men, however, never hesitated for a moment, but felt their way, chiefly by the breakers on the shore, and reached the stranded vessel at 5 o'clock.

It was still very dark, and the Coxswain ventured as near as he considered safe to get an idea of the position of the vessel. There was a heavy swell, and considerable difficulty was ex- perienced in saving the boat from damage as the tide was low. The anchor was let go. The boat manoeuvred towards the trawler and a rope was made fast. By this means the Life-boat was held in position until the four men on board were saved. It then trans- pired that the loss of life had been due to the wrecked men trying to leave their vessel in the ship's small boat.

Five men had got into the boat when she broke adrift, and was driven ashore and dashed to pieces on the rocks, the four poor fellows being drowned. The fifth man was saved, but he was in a very critical condition and unable to speak for hours.

On her return journey the Life-boat had the advantage of daylight, and as soon as Stronsay was reached the ship- wrecked men were well cared for.

During this service the Life-boat be- haved splendidly, and the motor with which she is fitted worked without a hitch, giving the greatest satisfaction to the crew. The wrecked vessel was the steam fishing boat Crimond, of Aber- deen, bound for the Shetland Islands for fishing.

COVERACK, COBNWALL. — The four- masted barque Pindos, of Hamburg, carrying a crew of twenty-eight hands, put into Falmouth for orders when homeward bound from Chili with a cargo of nitrate, and shortly after noon on the 10th February again left that port in tow of a tug. Later in the day she was seen off Coverack bearing in a southerly direction. A strong south- east wind was blowing, and, owing to the weather becoming very rough, the vessel and her tug were kept under observation.

Shortly after 9 P.M. it was reported that signals were being made on the barque, and the crew of the Coverack Life-boat were assembled. As those on shore were not quite certain whether the signals made were merely between the tug and the barque, or whether the latter was in distress, it was decided not to launch until a further signal was seen. At about 9.45 P.M. further rockets were observed and the Life- boat Constance Melanie was promptly launched in a very heavy sea. By this time the wind had increased to a whole gale, and within a few minutes the Pindos was driven ashore at Mear Point, to the south-westward of Coverack.

As soon as the alarm was given the rocket apparatus was despatched to the scene of the wreck. The first rocket fired fell over the vessel, but owing to the distance from the shore and to the line fouling, no use could be made of the communication.

As soon as the Life-boat reached the vessel the work of rescue was com- menced. The seas were breaking over the barque and great anxiety was felt for the safety of those on board. Four men were successfully taken off, but the south-easterly gale, which had increased, caused the lines between the wreck and the Life-boat to break, and the Life- boatmen were so hampered in the dark- ness that it was decided to cease the life-saving operations until daylight.

In the meanwhile, however, a powerful new acetylene lamp, recently supplied to the station by the Royal National Life-boat Institution, was carried to the scene of the casualty, and, assisted by the light from the lamp, the Coxswain of the Life-boat renewed his efforts to save the men.

An endless whip was formed by lines and a life-buoy bent on. By this means the remainder of the men on board, twenty-four in number, were transferred in safety to the Life-boat.

The boat, at once made for the shore, where the shipwrecked men were landed, both the rescued and the rescuers being in an exhausted condition, and without loss of time they were provided with food and dry clothing. This rescue, which was a very fine piece of service, was carried out in a whole gale and very heavy sea. The Coxswain handled his boat with con- siderable skill, and it was much to his credit that no one was seriously hurt under the stormy conditions which pre- vailed. The Committee of Manage- ment, in recognition of the gallant con- duct displayed by the Life-boatmen, bestowed the silver medal of the In- stitution on John Corin, the Coxswain, and awarded him and each of the crew an additional monetary reward. The German Government also sent a pecuniary reward to each of the men who manned the Life-boat.

NEWLYN, COENWALL. — At about 9.40 A.M. on 11th February, during a S. by W. gale with a heavy sea, a barque was observed about three miles S.S.E. of Newlyn pierhead, running dead before the wind and right in on the land. As it was obvious that unless the master knew how to get his vessel into harbour she would very quickly run ashore and break up, the Life-boat Elizabeth and Blanche was launched and made for her. The Life- boat indicated to the vessel that she was standing into danger and to alter her course. When she was out of immediate danger the Life-boat went alongside.

Men were put on board and they got the vessel and her crew of eight men into safety. The vessel was the barque Etoile Polaire, of Fecamp, homeward bound in ballast from Liver- pool.

KINGSTOWN, co. DUBLIN.—The Life- boat Dunleary was launched a few minutes after midnight on February 14th-15th, in response to a message received from the Coastguard, stating that a pilot-boat, named the Energy, and the schooner Lapwing, of Arklow, had been in collision. The schooner lost all her gear forward, and three of her crew jumped into the pilot- boat, leaving two men on board. When the Life-boat reached the Lapwing the captain declined the help of the boat, but asked the Coxswain to procure a tug to tow him into safety. The Life-boat returned and a tug was sent for. She then went back to the vessel and remained with her until 7.30 A.M., when she was towed in by the tug, which had gone out in response to the' message sent by the Life-boatmen.

LIZARD, CORNWALL.—During foggy weather on 15th February the barque Chili, of Dunkirk, a large vessel of 1,800 tons, carrying a crew of twenty men, became embayed about one mile to the west of the Lizard and was within 150 fathoms of the shore. A messenger came for help, and the Life-boat Admiral 'Sir George Back was launched. At the request of the captain, the Life-boat stood by the vessel and put a Life- boatman on board to assist; later, on the arrival of a tug, she ran a hawser on board, and the vessel was towed to Falmouth. When the Life-boat returned ashore there was a very heavy surf and the haul-off warp was found very useful in keeping the boat head to sea while she was being beached.

NEWBURGH, ABERDEENSHIEE.—At 7.45 P.M. on 15th February a steamer's syren was heard blowing continuously, and an enquiry on the telephone elicited from the Coastguard that a vessel was showing signals off Belhelvie. The Life- boat James Stevens No. 19 was at once despatched by road to the scene, and on arrival found that the life-saving apparatus had obtained communica- tion with the ship, but as the menwere still on board the boat was launched. Unfortunately, when ap- proaching the wreck the whip-line of the apparatus fouled the boat's rudder, and the Coxswain, to save his boat, was obliged to cut the line. On reaching the vessel the crew, eight in number, were saved and the boat returned ashore, opposite the wreck; she was then mounted on her carriage and taken back to her station by road. The vessel was the trawler Faith, of Aberdeen.

At the time of the accident there was a moderate southerly breeze and heavy sea.

BUDE, CORNWALL.—On 16th February the ketch Elizabeth, of Bideford, when endeavouring to enter Bude Harbour in a heavy ground sea, got into difficulties, and was driven on to the rocks on the north side of the harbour, where seas continually broke over her, and she quickly filled with water. The crew of the Life-boat Elizabeth Moore Garden were immediately summoned, and the boat proceeded to the assistance of the men. on the vessel. Just as the Life-boat was approaching the ketch the rocket apparatus obtained commu- nication, but, as the boat was so near the men did not avail themselves of the line. The five men on board were rescued by the boat, which then returned ashore. The vessel, which was bound from Newport to Bude, with a cargo, became a total wreck.

RAMSGATE, KENT. — During fine weather on 17th February the Life- boat Charles and Susanna Stephens was called out to the assistance of a vessel making signals of distress. On arrival she found the vessel was on the sands.

She proved to be a new steamer, named the Viera-y-Clarijo, tuilt for Las Palmas, and bound for that place. The master stated that he did not then require any help, but asked that the boat and the harbour tug should stand by until high water. Later, the Life-boat, with the help of a motor-boat, laid out an anchor, and by this means, together with her own engines, the steamer was got off the sands. As no further assistance was required, the boat then returned to her station.

JOHNSHAVEN, KlNCARDINESHIRE. At 1 P.M. on 23rd February, the W.S.W. wind suddenly rose and by half-past two o'clock was blowing a strong gale.

About this time two fishing boats were seen crossing the Montrose Bay heading northwards, one under close-reefed sails, the other with bare masts, and flying a signal of distress. The Life-boat Sarah Ann Holden was promptly launched and proceeded to the boats. A pilot was put on board each one and the Life-boat stood by them as they came into harbour.

The boats were the Glad Tidings and Therisa, belonging to Montrose.

PORTRUSH, Co. ANTRIM.—At about 4.50 A.M. on 25th February a message was received from the Coastguards, stating that a vessel was ashore at the mouth of the River Bann, and that the Life-boat was wanted. The Life-boat Hopwood was launched as expeditiously as possible and proceeded to the place indicated. She found the s.s. Shilbottle, of Aberdeen, ashore and likely to become a total wreck. The nine men on board were rescued and the boat returned to her station. There was a moderate westerly breeze at the time, with a heavy ground swell, and the weather was cold.

NEWLYN AND SENNEN COVE, CORN- WALL.—Shortly before midnight on 28th- 29th February information was received through the Coastguard that a steamer had been observed about one and a half miles S.E. of Tol Pedn showing signals of distress. A whole S.W. gale was blowing, with a very heavy sea. The Life-boats Elizabeth and Blanche, from Newlyn, and the Ann Newbon, from Sennen Cove, were launched and pro- ceeded to the assistance of the vessel.

They found the vessel holding to one anchor in a position of very great danger, and remained in close attendance until daylight. Later, a wire hawser was passed to a steam drifter, and the wind having moderated, the vessel, by slipping her cable, was able to get out of a very awkward position and reach a safe anchorage in Mounts Bay. The steamer was the Northlands, of Cardiff, bound from Antwerp to Cardiff in ballast.

BROADSTAIRS, KENT.—At 4.5 A.M. on the 1st March, a message was received stating that a steamer was ashore on the north part of the Goodwin Sands.

The crew of the Life-boat Francis Forbes Barton were assembled and the boat launched. On reaching the Sands they found the s.s. Valhalla, of Christiania, aground.

The captain at once engaged the Life- boatmen to save the vessel, and they ran out an anchor and hawser by means of which the vessel was subsequently hauled clear of the Sands. When the vessel was out of danger the boat re- turned to her station. At the time of the accident the vessel was bound from the Tyne to Bayonne with a cargo of coal.

NEWLYN, CORNWALL.—The Life-boat Elizabeth and Blanche was called out at 11.25 A.M. on the 13th March, by a tele- phone message which stated that a vessel was ashore about six miles south of the station. The boat proceeded to the vessel, which was found to be the steamer South America, of London. The vessel was close in shore, and, after the vessel struck, the crew landed in their own boat, but shortly before the arrival of the Life-boat some of them had returned aboard. As a moderate W.S.W. gale was blowing and there was a nasty wash, the Coxswain considered it advisable to stand by the steamer until 11 A.M. as a matter of precaution. The vessel had thirty-eight persons on board, including the captain's wife and son, and was bound at the time from Hamburg to Cardiff in ballast.

SENNEN COVE, CORNWALL.—At about 8 P.M. on the 14th March the coast- guard reported that a sailing vessel was in a dangerous position near the Lands End. A heavy sea was running vrith a light S.W. breeze. The Life-boat Ann Newbon was launched, and on getting south of the Lands End, the Coxswain observed a sailing trawler at anchor within fifty yards of the rocks, and almost in the wash of the sea. On reaching the trawler, which was the Condor, of Brixham, the Master ex- pressed his pleasure at seeing the Life- boat, and asked the Coxswain to stand by him. He accordingly did so until about 2 A.M., when, owing to the tide slackening and the wind shifting into the north-west, the trawler was able to get clear of her dangerous position.

ST. ABBS, BERWICKSHIRE.—Four of the fishing cobles belonging to St. Abbs were overtaken by bad weather when at sea on the 19th March, and were in great stress owing to the heavy sea running. The Life-boat Helen Smitton was launched and stood by three of the boats until they got into the harbour safely, but the other one ran for Petty- cur Wick Bay for safety. The Life-boat was out for two and a half hours, and when she returned to harbour the sea was so heavy that she could not be replaced on the slipway; she was there- fore left at moorings until the weather moderated. This was the first service performed by the motor Life-boat recently placed at St. Abbs, and her sea-going qualities were spoken of highly.

EVEMOUTH, BERWICKSHIRE.—In avery light wind on the 19th March a small coble—the Grace Darling, of Burnmouth —was seen off Eyemouth. She had been warned not to attempt to enter Burnmouth Harbour on account of the sea, and was obliged, therefore, to take the risk of making Eyemouth Harbour or to remain at sea all night.

There was a heavy ground swell at Eyemouth with seas breaking in the bay. The Life-boat Anne Frances was launched and proceeded to the coble, got a rope on board and towed her into shelter. The coble then got under sails and oars and made the harbour escorted by the Life-boat.

NEWBIGGIN, NORTHUMBERLAND.—The fishing cobles belonging to the port went off to the fishing grounds early on the morning of the 19th March, in a light westerly breeze. During the forenoon the wind increased in force and the sea became very heavy, breaking across the bay. As it was obvious that the return of the boats would be attended by con- siderable danger, the Life-boat Ada Lewis proceeded to their assistance.

She stood by nine of the cobles while they came into safety. Another one, named Louisa, with four men on board, she took in tow as the mast had carried away. Considerable excitement pre- vailed at the time the service was being carried out, and the proceedings were witnessed by hundreds of people from the shore.