By DON PEDRO DE NOVO Y COLSON, General Secretary of the Sociedad Espanola de Salvamento de Naufragos.

THE Society was founded in December, 1880 (under the patronage of H.M. Queen Dona Maria Cristina, its first protecting member being King Alfonso XIII.), thanks to the efforts and efficient work of Don Martin Ferreiro, with the sole object of saving the lives of ship- wrecked people on the coast and navigable rivers of Spain, and of its maritime possessions.

It was declared of public utility by the Law of 13th January, 1887, which appointed it the delegate of the Government for the assistance which the State rendered in connexion with the saving of shipwrecked people and, as a result, it took possession of the seven non-submersible boats owned by the latter, and of the annual sum provided by the Budget for their upkeep amounting to 40,000 pesetas.* The Society undertook to maintain a minimum of seven boats in active service, replacing those given by the State as might be required, in exchange for the annual subsidy.

The Society is composed of honorary members, protectors, founders, subscribers and donors. It is managed by a High Council residing in Madrid, who meet periodically, and by an Executive Committee, acting as standing directorate for the management of the Society.

Along the coast local committees are formed with their own directorate.

They are under the authority of the High Council, though autonomous as far as their administration is concerned. Their very first duty is to give assistance to the crews of shipwrecked boats, with the salvage plant they possess at their station, and with the brigades and able-bodied sailors registered.

The Madrid Central Committee, which receives the State subsidy, spends its funds in providing the plant supplied to nearly all the local committees, in assisting poor committees, in supplementing the receipts of those which do not receive enough money to render good services, in premiums in cash, in medals for lifesavers, in certificates, publications, and other general expenses.

The Central Committee's accounts are kept separate from those of the local committees. The General Meeting appoints the Auditors every year, and also, at the end of each year, the Executive Committee examines and approves the estimates for the following year, taking into account the probable receipts and specifying each separate item.

Every year (up to fifteen years ago) the Central Committee also submitted to the Ministry of Marine all the documents showing that the whole of the official subsidy had been spent in acquiring salvage plant, and, although these vouchers are not now required, the Central Committee continues to hold and file them, so that it may always be possible to prove that the State subsidy was expended, and continues to be expended, entirely in the acquisition of the said plant, its upkeep and replacement. The balance of general expenses is defrayed by the Central Committee with subscriptions, donations, etc.

The local committees have the entire use of the funds which they collect, and spend them almost absolutely independently. Under no circumstances, except when a committee is dissolved, does the Madrid Central Committee receive any of the money collected by the local committees.

The Society rewards the self-denial and heroism of the lifesavers with Gold, Silver and Bronze Medals, according to the merits of the cases, verified by means of an enquiry. It also grants rewards in cash, varying from 15 to 1,000 pesetas (12s. to £40).

Since the foundation of the Society, 16 Gold Medals, 863 Silver, 2,358 Bronze, and 147,071 pesetas (£5,883) in cash have been awarded to lifesavers.

* Equivalent to £1,600 at the pre-war rate, Among the cast premiums, both special and extraordinary, which are awarded every year, there are: one founded by H.M. the King, of 1,000 pesetas, a First Premium by M. Emile Robin, of 500, a Second by the same, of 250, and one by Garcia Martin, of 500 pesetas.

During the forty-two years of its existence, the Society has grown so rapidly and strongly that its progress may be termed astounding. According to the Law of 13th January, 1887, the Society would have strictly accomplished its duty, if it only possessed at present on active service nothing more than seven life-boats, in exchange for the annual subsidy granted for the upkeep and replacement of the said boats.

But, far from this, and as a consequence of having devoted the whole subsidy to the acquisition of material, it owns at the present time, instead of the seven boats given by the State, forty-five non-submersible boats, nearly all of the most improved type, which render services at the same number of stations.

In addition, as the boats cannot always be used for saving the crew of a boat caught on the rocks, the Society has acquired and owns at present sixty three of the Spandau, Boxer, Lyle, Dawson, Ewans and Pains, line and carrier cable-throwing apparatus, which have been found most effective in conveying the shipwrecked from stranded vessels to the shore.

As the boats and line-throwers require proper buildings for preservation and shelter, the Society has been obliged to provide these, and it has at present sixty-three spacious and strongly built sheds.

By means of its boats and line throwers, operated by its own brigades, the Society has saved from the sea in forty-two years the lives of 2,223 ship wrecked, including the entire crews of seventy boats and vessels.

Victor Rojas: "The Providence of the Shipwrecked."

The town of Arecibo, with a population of 25,000, is situated on the north coast of the island of Puerto Rico. Its roadstead is so open and exposed that practically every vessel caught in it by storms sweeping across it is torn asunder on the rocks.

Thus it is that very shortly after the Sociedad de Salvamento de Naufragos was founded in Spain, Arecibo had a first class station, the Life-boat and line-throwing apparatus of which saved from death the entire crews of a large number of vessels. This magnificent Station then passed, with the whole of the island, into the hands of the United States.

Since the year 1897 seamen and travellers entering the roadstead of Arecibo have all gazed in admiration at a monument erected in the Paseo de las Damas, which runs along the shore.

Its massive stone base supports the bronze bust of a negro in the garb of a fisherman, and below the bust we find the words Victor Rojas.

He was an extraordinary man and fisherman, born in the year 1832. He was of medium height, but his physical strength seemed to be boundless when he was fighting the waves. His only clothing consisted of a pair of shorts and a coarse calico shirt. He was never known to indulge in vice of any kind.

He did not drink, or even smoke. While still a young man he took up the sublime task, to the performance of which he was to devote his whole life—the task of saving those who were wrecked in the roadstead of Arecibo. For many years the inhabitants of that town were the spectators of a moving and terrible sight, whenever the storms from the north or the north-west caused a disaster. From their houses the inhabitants could see the negro, Victor Rojas, sitting on a rock and watching the vessels in danger, despite the fury of the hurricane and the torrential rain. It was but seldom that some vessel did not lose its anchors and drive on to the rocks, where it was held fast until the sea tore it to pieces and scattered its remains.

As soon, however, as a vessel broke its chains and was swept away to its grave, Victor Rojas used to run to the nearest part of the shore and, having driven a long iron bar into the sand, would fasten one end of a cord or rope to the bar and the other end to his belt Thus equipped, he used to jump into the sea and swim outwards in the teeth of wind and wave. From the land he could be seen constantly appearing and disappearing while slowly nearing the wrecked vessel. There were times when the brave negro took what seemed to be an eternity to cover the distance, for he had to carry and withstand also the weight of the long rope. He always succeeded, however, in reaching and climbing on board the ship, although panting and bleeding from his buffeting by the waves.

He would then unfasten the rope from his belt, and order the astonished sailors to make it fast on deck, thus establishing communications with the shore. There would be, however, none bold enough to avail himself of so perilous a means. They were all afraid of losing their hold on the rope and being swept away. Rojas would then suddenly seize one of the crew in his arms of steel and slide down with him into the water.

Prompted by the instinct of preservation the man would cling to the sturdy neck and shoulders of the negro who, proceeding hand over hand along the rope, would thus easily convey the first person taken from the wrecked vessel to the shore and safety. As soon as he had placed him on dry land, the rescuer would go out again, this time more quickly and with less risk.

His reappearance on the vessel would cause deep emotion. Those on board watched him with wonder coming up the side and receiving full in his chest the same shock of the wave which splintered the vessel's side. They watched him with stupefaction when, bruised and battered, he smilingly invited another member of the crew to take a firm hold upon his shoulders.

A moment later Victor would disappear with his new burden, taken up with or without the burden's consent, and a few minutes later he had left a second rescued man on land, and without resting had started on his third trip.

By this time, however, desolation and panic reigned on board, for, continuing its work of destruction, the sea had already torn away the vessel's bottom and flooded the compartments, compelling the crew and passengers to take refuge on deck and wait for help. The reappearance of the hero after his double feat did not therefore inspire terror, but delirious delight. All arms were stretched out towards him and, with a smile of satisfaction, he gave his assistance to the weakest first.

How often did this fish man, this powerful swimmer, go from land to ship an'd back? As often as was necessary to save all the human beings on board the stricken vessel. Frequently, however, when he had placed the last of his rescued burdens on the sand, Victor fell at his side, an exhausted and inert mass, and had to be carried to his house, and there subjected to a long course of restoration. Incredible though it may sound, we have to place on record that, according to official returns, Victor Rojas personally saved more than 200 lives during the course of more than thirty years.

He was rewarded by several countries and, among others, possessed diplomas, decorations and medals from England, France, Germany, and the United States.

The last one conferred upon him by Spain was fixed on his noble breast in the Cathedral by the Governor-General, in obedience to an express order from the Minister for the Oversea Dominions, a solemn ceremony which was attended by the whole population.

Victor Rojas, who possessed nothing, always refused with astonishing tenacity to accept even the most trifling sum as reward for the rescues he effected.

Thus it was that when they reported to their respective Governments the loss of a vessel and the rescue of the crew, thanks to the boundless daring of the poor fisherman, the Consuls were in the habit of adding the words : " Please note that all money rewards would be refused." The "Providence of the Ship-wrecked," as Victor Rojas came to be known in the town, also rescued a large number of children who had fallen into the river while playing on the bank.

It was his invariable custom, when he had pulled out a boy, to give him two or three lashes with his leather belt, and to take him by one ear to his father or his mother, to whom he said : " He was drowning; I pulled him out and gave him a few lashes. .. . Here he is for you." Victor Rojas was always a most devout worshipper of the Virgen del Carmen. Every year, commencing on the 1st July, he used to go from house to house begging for the religious celebration of the 16th of the same month, and as everybody gave him something, he succeeded in collecting from 200 to 300 pesos. When the day of the ceremony came, the respected negro dressed himself in gala garb, with shoes, trousers, and a blue jacket, to which he pinned the numerous gold crosses and medals which he had received. It was very touching to see on the breast of so lowly a man, side by side and even overlapping each other for lack of space, so many of these decorations which cannot be bought, and which testify to and acclaim the gratitude of the most powerful, cultured and civilised nations.

Proudly bearing his medals, he walked in the procession, carrying on his shoulders, with the aid of three other sailors, the image of the Virgin.

When the local committee of the Sociedad Espanola de Salvamento de Naufragos was formed in Arecibo, in the year 1884, on the initiative and with the assistance of the harbour master, D. Dario Laguna, and the fine boathouse was built and equipped, Victor Rojas examined with childish curiosity all the equipment and appliances which industry has provided for rendering assistance more efficacious.

When, shortly afterwards, the C. Hanrahan was wrecked, and Victor saw that in three minutes they brought down from the boathouse to the shore a Lyle gun which was fired in the direction of the vessel, that the projectile with the line attached fell between the latter's masts, that they took the cable on board, and that along this cable a basket was sent, in which first one member of the crew, and then another and another, until none were left, were brought high above the waves and rocks to land in little over half an hour, when Victor saw that the whole work of rescue had been so successfully completed in less time than he himself would have taken to swim half the distance out, he was stupefied and, turning to Laguna, said : " And now, what am I to do? " In fact, from then onwards Victor had few opportunities of fighting the waves.

The Sociedad de Salvamento, however, admiring the deeds of the heroic negro, and wishing to render less bitter for him the enforced retirement for which it was responsible, presented him with a fine fishing boat, which had been built in the United States, and which was presented to him on the occasion of the blessing of the Life-boat and its house, the boat itself being called after him; To induce him to accept the boat they had, however, to use the following words : " The Society rescues those who are wrecked in port, but not those who are wrecked on the open sea. You will perhaps be able to save these with your boat." This decided him.

This man, who was indeed an exceptional man, suffered bitter disappointments when he was on the threshold of old age, and his end was supremely sad.

One day when he was celebrating the festival of the Virgen del Carmen in gala dress glittering with decorations, a drunken municipal policeman tore them off, saying : " No negro must wear so many crosses." The indignant populace were loud in condemnation of the brute, and the Harbour Master and the Mayor asked the Superintendent of Police to try the man. He refused to do this, but the attitude of the inhabitants was so unanimous and energetic that he finally ordered the policeman to be arrested and then dismissed. In the midst of the acclamations with which his fellow- townsmen celebrated the reinstatement of the hero of the sea, the latter spoke to Laguna in tears, as follows : " Senor, a ' moreno ' most not have crosses . . . and yet it is no fluke ... for no one else has them . . . but . . . why did they give me them ? " Although Laguna, who had great influence with Victor, tried to console him, he could not persuade him that it was perfectly right that he should show all his medals and all his honourable rewards, which were the object of his veneration and his pride.

But if disillusionment killed in him his faith in his own merit, another terrible occurrence drove the iron into his soul. One day he had caught two large skates which he was advised to raffle. He proceeded to do so without remembering that it was first of all necessary to pay a small duty to the Custom House, and the police arrested him and handed him over to the magistrate. He was sent to prison for two months, and although the Harbour Master made energetic efforts to have him released, he did not succeed in doing so, though he did succeed in having him transferred to the infirmary. It was here that this almost holy man, whose character was stainless, served his sentence.

When he left the infirmary his mind was deranged, and a few months later he lost his reason completely. His mania was to attack the policemen whom he met. With his herculean strength he used to catch hold of them and fling them down, and eight or ten men were required to hold him. It ultimately became necessary to send Victor Rojas to the San Juan Asylum, where he only lived sixty days. His funeral was attended by the whole population of the town, the same population which today venerates his memory.

To perpetuate the figure and honour the memory of this negro one of the greatest and purest benefactors of humanity the Sociedad Espanola de Salvamento de Naufragos decided to erect the monument to which we have alluded. As it was desired to produce a work of art, the bust was modelled by the eminent sculptor, D. Elias Martin, who said that he would execute the work free. The bust was then sent to the firm of Masriera, of Barcelona, to be cast in bronze, and this firm said that it would only charge for the material.

It was conveyed to Puerto Rico by a steamer of the Trans-Atlantic Line, free of charge, and no charge was made for erecting the base.

Shortly, very shortly, afterwards, the territory in question passed into other hands, and there the statue of the Hero of Arecibo remained.

There it remained with its simple epitaph:

" VICTOR ROJAS Saver of 200 Lives."

There it remains, it may be to the end that, as the years roll on and son succeeds to father, the new owners the haughty conquerors may bare their heads respectfully before the black face of a very humble Spaniard..