THE services rendered in connexion with the wreck of the hospital ship Rohilla have added another splendid page to the annals of heroism and humanity which make up the story of the Life-boat during the ninety years since the foundation of the Institution, and such conspicuous bravery was displayed that the Committee of Management marked their sense of the exceptional nature of the case by awarding three gold medals on this occasion, as well as other rewards.

The circumstances were as follows :— On Friday, the 30th October, 1914, the steamer Itohilla, registered at Glasgow, and belonging to the British India Line, was wrecked, with a sad loss of life, at Saltwick Nab, near Whitby. The vessel, which was 7,400 tons burden, had been taken over by the Government for use as a hospital ship, and was on her way from Queensferry to Dunkirk, to bring some of the wounded to this country. She had on board 229 souls, including a medical staff and five nurses, the latter being fortunately among the saved.

It was shortly after four o'clock in the morning, during a terrific E.S.E. gale, that the vessel ran oa to the dangerous reef of rocks and lay at the mercy of a furious sea. Pounded by mountainous waves she quickly broke in half, and many of those on the after part of the ship were washed away at once and perished. As soon as she struck, signals of distress were made, and Coxswain Thomas Langlands was promptly called.

The sea was far too heavy to attempt to launch the No. 1 Life-boat, and he decided that at daybreak he would take the No. 2 Life-boat, John Fielden, which lay at moorings in the harbour, and haul her on skids under the Spa Ladder—a gangway from the East pier to the cliff—and along the rocky scaur to the scene of the wreck. This necessitated getting the boat over a sea-wall, eight feet in height, a most formidable j task—indeed, it was declared to be impossible by many who were well able to form an opinion. But owing to the indomitable perseverance of Coxswain Langlands it was accomplished, with the help of many willing hands working under his direction.

In transporting the boat she was stove in in two places. She was, nevertheless, launched, and succeeded in reaching the wreck, which lay about a quarter of a mile from the shore, surrounded by a mass of rocks. Twelve men and five women were saved and brought ashore. The boat was then again launched, and, after a fearful struggle, got to the vessel and saved eighteen more, the heavy seas which swept through the ship or broke over her deck filling the Life-boat time after time. Unfortunately the boat, after her second journey, soon became unfit for further service owing to repeated bumping on the rocks. Captain John Milburn, a member of the local committee, then sent for the Upgang Life-boat and, in spite of the difficulties involved in transporting the boat through the town and over the fields to the top of the cliffs in the vicinity of the wreck, this was successfully accomplished with the assistance of horses and an enormous number of helpers.

By means of ropes the boat was then lowered down the almost precipitous cliffs, and preparations were made for her launch. At about 2.30 P.M. it was hoped that when the tide had receded it would be possible for the Upgang Boat to reach the RoJiilla under oars, but by that time the Coxswain and the Life-boatmen were reluctantly forced to the decision that nothing could be done in the tremendous seas running. All question of launching was, therefore, abandoned for the time being, the men remaining assembled in readiness until darkness set in. In the meantime the Teesmouth Motor Life-boat and the Life-boat stationed at Scarborough had been called by telephone to come to the assistance of those still on the wreck.

When the message calling for help reached Scarborough, such a wild sea was making that neither the Life-boat nor a tug could get out of harbour, but the Hon. Secretary sent a hopeful message stating that if the weather moderated help would be seat. At 3.30 P.M. a start was made by the Lifeboat Queensbury, in tow of the steam trawler Morning Star. They arrived on the scene about 6 P.M. It was then quite dark, and in the gale it was hopeless to establish communication with the wreck. Both craft, however, remained at hand through the night, and the endurance of the Life-boatmen was severely tested during their long vigil, in the course of which they were buffeted by wind and waves. At daybreak, finding that it was still impossible to get near the wreck they returned to Scarborough.

Meanwhile the Life-boat Authorities had not been idle at Teesniouth, and at 2.30 P.M. on the Friday the crew were ready to start. As it was realised, however, that the boat could not reach Whitby in daylight the Hon. Secretary consulted those competent to judge (including the Harbour Master and the Coastguard) as to the expediency of starting that afternoon. In view of the tremendous seas making up the river they were unanimously of opinion that to attempt to cross the bar and proceed in the darkness, with all the coast lights extinguished, would be courting disaster; and it was decided to despatch the boat at daybreak next morning, accompanied by the Tees Commissioners' tug. This decision was conveyed to Whitby by telephone, and at 5 A.M. next morning the crew left Redcar for Teesmouth.

In crossing the bar the Life-boat encountered tremendous ssas and, as a result of falling into the trough of a mountainous wave, she sprang such a serious leak that she became disabled, and it was necessary for the tug to take the crew on board and tow the Life-boat back to Middlesbrough.

At Whitby a watch had been, set on the cliffs, and at 6 A.M. on Saturday the Upgang crew were in readiness to make a further attempt to rescue the survivors, who were huddled together on one small portion of the wreck. A tremendous sea was still running, and it was felt that nothing could be done until low water. The boat was hauled over the rocks into the best position possible for launching, and at 9 A.M.

she started. The crew struggled manfully for over an hour to reach the wreck, but the sea and strong current running between the " Nab" and the wreck was too strong for them, and time after time the boat was thrown back. Eventually the men became totally exhausted, and had to give up their hopeless task. On one occasion they got within fifty yards of the wreck, and when the unfortunate men who had held on so bravely throughout the night saw the hope of being rescued diminishing some of them decided to jump overboard and attempt to swim ashore.

As they did so a number of the onlookers, with heroic disregard for their own safety, rushed into the boiling surf and succeeded in dragging many to the shore. Others, however, were beyond help before they could reach them. The work done by these men from the shore is described as " magnificent." At 7 A.M. the Whitby No. 1 Lifeboat proceeded out of the harbour and waited for a steam trawler, which had been summoned by telegram from Hartlepool. The trawler, named the Mayfly, arrived about 8 A.M. and at once took the boat in tow. They got within half a mile of the wreck, but in the opinion of Coxswain Langlands, who was in command of the Life-boat, and also of James Hastings, Coxswain of the Hartlepool No. 2 Life-boat, who was on board the trawler, the sea was too heavy for them to approach any nearer to the wreck, and the boat therefore | reluctantly returned to harbour.

It now became apparent that only a motor Life-boat would be able to render effective help, owing to the position of the wreck, which was constantly washed by overpowering seas, and lay surrounded by rocks which gave no anchorage by means of which a boat could have veered down upon her. The Tynemouth motor Life-boat was therefore summoned by telegram. The message reached Tynemouth at 4.15 on the Saturday afternoon, and within ! a quarter of an hour the gallant crew, I under the command of Coxswain Robert Smith, and accompanied by Captain I H. E. Burton, R.E., Hon. Superintendent of the motor Life-boa t started on their perilous journey. To reach Whitby they were obliged to travel a distance of forty-four miles through the night and storm of the 31st October, unaided by any coast lights, which were all extinguished on account of the war. Thanks, however, to Captain Burton's intimate knowledge of the Yorkshire coast, their gallant exertions met with the success which they deserved, and at 1 A.M. on Sunday morning, 1st November, the boat was skilfully brought into Whitby harbour.

When news of the disaster reached London on the Saturday, Lieut. Basil Hall, R.N., Inspector of Life-boats for the Southern District, was instructed to proceed to Whitby. He arrived late that night and arranged to make a further attempt at daybreak on the Sunday morning in the Upgang boat, hoping, with the aid of a supply of oil, to lessen the effect of the heavy seas breaking over the vessel.

At 5 A.M., finding that the Tynemouth motor Life-boat had arrived and was in harbour, Lieut. Hall had the oil j transferred to her, and then embarked, Richard Eglon, Second Coxswain at Whitby, also going out to act as pilot. I As regards the rescue of those who I had survived the terrible ordeal for fifty hours, the following description is given by the representative of the Yorkshire Post, who witnessed the scene :— "The light was just rising over the sea at half-past six o'clock when I saw the boat creep out of the harbour again and breast the breakers like a sea bird as she headed straight out into calmer water. Hastening, with others, to the top of the cliffs south of the town, I rejoined the crowd of watchers there, who gazed with eager intensity as the Life-boat, looking fearfully small and frail, rode easily on the waves and throbbed her way towards the wreck.

Nearer and nearer she got; and then, when within 200 yards of the Rohilla, she turned seawards. ! j "Was she unable to face the current ; I running at four knots an hour and the j curling seas, still fierce and strong, though of diminished size ? ' She'll never get there,' declared one of the watchers. But a burly fisherman remarked, ' Just wait; she knows what she's about,' Presently, when she had passed a few fathoms beyond and away from the wreck, she stopped dead, and discharged over the boiling sea gallons and gallons of oil. It seemed that the ocean must laugh at these puny drops, yet the effect was remarkable ; within a few seconds, as the oil spread over the surface of the water and was carried by the current towards the wreck, the waves appeared suddenly to be flattened down as by a miracle, all round the vessel's bridge, leaving a gently undulating sea. In the meantime the Lifeboat turned about, raced at full speed outside the line of breakers, past the stern of the wreck, and then turned directly towards the shore. The most dangerous moment came when she was inside the surf and broadside on to the waves; but, guided with splendid ski)} and courage, she moved forward steadily, and a cheer of relief went out from the shore when she reached the lee of the wreck, immediately beneath the crowded bridge. The feelings of those on board as they saw salvation at hand can only be imagined.

" But there was not a moment to be lost, for already the effects of the oil were beginning to pass off, and the waves were noticeably higher. Quicker than thought a rope was let down to the Life-boat, and immediately figures could be discerned scrambling down into the boat with a quickness and agility that seemed extraordinary in men one presumed to be exhausted almost to death. In less than a quarter of an hour more than forty men had been taken into the boat. It was then, while the rest were preparing to leave the wreck, that two enormous wares were seen rolling up from the sea at tremendous speed. One after the other they swept over the bridge and across each end of the remnants of the deck on to the Life-boat at the other side, enveloping it fore and aft. Each time the tough little craft disappeared for a moment beneath the spray, reappeared, tottered, and righted herself gamely.

Indeed, not a man was lost, not a splinter broken. Closer still she hugged the vessel's side till every man aboard— fifty of them in all—had been hauled into the rescuing boat.

" The last man to leave his lost ship was the captain, and as he slipped into the Life-boat the crew of the latter gave a rousing cheer that was echoed again and again by the people ashore.

" But the peril was not yet over; another crisis had to be met before anxiety was allayed. As the Life-boat shot past the wreck on her return journey she was struck broadside on by a great wave that threatened to throw her on her beam ends ; but once more she manfully withstood the shock, and swept gaily out to sea in a wide semi-circle that brought her safely to the harbour mouth.

" News of the rescue had spread like wildfire, and hundreds of townspeople, many only half-dressed, rushed to the quayside on the western pier with blankets and tea and other comforts.

But the medical men of the town, who had laboured magnificently during the week-end, were there before them, with ambulance men, motor-cars and stretchers. Aa the Life-boat slipped smoothly through the calm waters of the harbour the music of her engine was sweet to the ear. Cheer after cheer rent the air from the people on the quayside, and these were answered by the boat's crew and by many of the survivors. When the boat drew up alongside the quay men ran down the steps to assist the rescued; and the pathetic procession up the steps moved men as well as women to tears. Only a single man was so utterly exhausted, or so badly hurt, that he had to be carried up, but many tottered giddily as they leaned on the arms of their supporters, and most of them looked pale, hollow-eyed and gaunt. Some were bleeding from severe cuts on the limbs, and one man was seriously lacerated in the feet and legs through a fall from the rigging. Nearly all were barefooted and poorly clad, some only in their pyjama suits. Two days and two nights in pyjamas on a seaswept wreck in an October gale without drink or food, and yet they walked and talked.

" On one sailor's shoulders was perched a little black kitten, looking little the worse for wear. Dr. Lomas, the chief of the medical staff on board, though he bore himself bravely, was evidently very greatly exhausted, but the captain seemed to be a man of iron. Unassisted; he walked firmly up the steps, wearing his great overcoat and pincenez, and looking as unperturbed as if he were returning from a pleasure trip." The Committee decided to make the following awards in connection with this splendid service.

Rewards in addition to the ordinary scale of pay :— WHITBY No. 2.

Coxswain Thomas Langlands. Gold Medal of the Institution.

Second Coxswain Richard Eglon.

Silver Medal of the Institution.

Each of the crew. '21. extra.

Captain John Milburn. Telescope and special letter of thanks.

UPGANG.

Coxswain R. P. Robinson. Thanks inscribed on vellum.

Second Coxswain T. Kelly. Thanks inscribed on vellum.

Each of the crew. II. extra.

TYNEMOUTH.

Coxswain Robert Smith. Gold Medal of the Institution.

Captain H. Burton, R.E. Gold Medal of the Institution.

Second Coxswain James S. Brownlee.

Silver Medal of the Institution.

Each of the crew. 21. 12s. Qd. extra.

Permanent Motor Mechanic. Gratuity of 31.

Lieut. Basil Hall, R.N. Silver Medal of the Institution.

SCARBOROUGH.

Each of the crew. 10s. extra.

Captain William Smalley, of the trawler Morning Star. A. binocular glass.

The Master and crew of trawler Morning Star. 101.

Compensation for two warps broken when towing. 51.

Owners of the trawler. A special letter of thanks.

TEESMOUTH.

Each of the crew. 10s. extra.

Permanent Motor Mechanic. Gratuity of II.

Mr. C. D. Bacon, Hon. Secretary. A binocular glass and a special letter of thanks.

River Tees Commissioners' Tug.

Special letter of thanks to owners.

Master and crew of the tug'. 10Z. O HARTLEPOOL.

Coxswain of the No. 2 Boat, who went to Whitby in the steam trawler • Mayfly, which towed the Whitby No. 1 Life-boat on the 31st October, 1914. 21.

The Master and crew of the steam trawler. 10/.

Owners. A letter of thanks.

George Peart, who behaved with conspicuous bravery in going into the sea and saving many of those who were washed or jumped overboard from the wreck. The Silver Medal of the Institution and 10?.

Superintendent T. Robinson and men of the Whitby Police. A letter of thanks and 10Z.

Twenty other men who also saved many persons by personal efforts from the shore. '21. each. j Also eleven other men. 11. each. j A few days after the service Captain j Burton received the following telegram I from the Admiralty :— "O.H.M.S. Admiralty, 6.52 A.M., to Captain Burton, R.E.

" Admiralty have received through the Senior Naval Officer present, account of your services in proceeding in Lifeboat to Whitby in heavy gale, and then I going alongside Bohilla. The skill and j courage shown call for highest praise, and their Lordships desire me to express on behalf of Naval Medical Service their grateful thanks to you and whole Lifeboat's crew for their gallant action. j —Admiralty." To this Captain Burton replied :— "The Tynemouth Life-boat crew and I feel greatly honoured by their Lordships' expression of appreciation on the services rendered on the wreck of the Rohilla.—From Captain Burton, R.E., Tynemouth." Coxswain Robert Smith also published the following notice in the Press.

" Coxswain Robert Smith desires to acknowledge the valuable assistance he received from Lieut. Basil Hall, R.N., Inspector of Life-boats, and Mr. Richard Eglon, Second Coxswain of the Whitby Life-boat, in manoeuvring the boat alongside the wreck of the Bohilla at Whitby, and in helping in the rescue of the shipwrecked men." As there was some criticism from irresponsible persons respecting the life lost, and the action of the Whitby men, the following statement made by Mr.

Michael McCormack, Chief Stoker on board s.s. BoJtilla, is of interest:— " DEAR SIRS, " Being accosted at different periods by citizens resident at Whitby, and asked for an explanation as to how the Life-boatmen acted in connexion with the rescue of those who were surviving on board the s.s. BohiUa, my statement (and I defy contradiction) is that while aboard the above-named, I was watching the heroic attempts made by the Lifeboatmen to render all possible human assistance to extract from the above all life. But owing to the exceptionally heavy weather, and rocky conditions of the inshore, I consider that human aid was impossible, and, from my point of view, it would have taken steam-power to approach us, with very grave risk at that, and to the men of the Life-boat.

All honour is due to them, and to the community of Whitby at large, including the women. I cannot find words to express my gratitude to them.

" Yours fraternally, " MICHAEL McCoRMACK, " Chief Stoker." At a time when the nation has daily to deplore the loss, on the field of honour, of gallant men fighting heroically for a great cause, the Committee of Management feel sure that the country will not forget those equally brave men who are prepared, day and night, in war no less than in peace, to face another enemy, the angry elements, in defence of the lives of their fellow men in peril on the sea; and the Committee appeal to the public generously to support a charity which provides and administers the Life-boat Service of the United Kingdom, and is thus the means of maintaining, among our maritime population, the qualities of courage, endurance and humanity which are among the best and most cherished characteristics of our race..