September
Launches 75 Lives rescued 31
SEPTEMBER 1ST. - HELVICK HEAD, CO. WATERFORD. At 4.45 in the afternoon the sailing boat, St. Brendon, of Dungarvan, was sailing round the Black Rock in Dungarvan harbour. She had five on board. A north-westerly breeze was blowing and the sea was choppy. Her mast broke and she anchored. She was lying only about a hundred feet from the Rock. It was seen from the shore and the motor life-boat H. F. Bailey was launched at 4.55. She towed the boat to Dungarvan, and arrived back at her station at seven that evening. - Rewards, £4 16s. 6d.
SEPTEMBER 2ND. - NORTH SUNDERLAND, NORTHUMBERLAND. At 3.59 in the afternoon information was received from the coastguard that a fishing coble was on fire two miles east of Cullernose Point. A light southerly wind was blowing and the sea was smooth. The motor life-boat W.R.A. was launched at 4.8 and found the Silver Scale, of North Sunderland, with four on board. Shewas not on fire, but her engine had broken down and she had burned a flare to attract the attention of another fishing boat. The life-boat towed her home, arriving at 6.30.- Rewards, £10 17s.
SEPTEMBER 5TH. - ST. PETER PORT, GUERNSEY. At 9.30 in the morning a yacht was reported off the west coast in a dangerous position, but she was not showing any signal of distress. A south-west breeze was blowing, with a slight sea. A fisherman had been on board the yacht, and found that she was the Elinor, with a crew of eight, that her sails were damaged, and her engine broken down. She was on the shore. He was unable to tow her off with his motor boat, and at 11.46 came in to St. Peter Port and asked for the motor life-boat to go out. The motor life-boat Queen Victoria was launched at 12.22.
She met the yacht in Little Rossel. By this time the yacht had started her engines again and was moving slowly. The life-boat escorted her to St. Peter Port, arriving at 1.20.
- Rewards, £4 12s.
SEPTEMBER 6TH. - TORBAY, DEVON.
At 12.15 in the afternoon a message came from Dolphin Camp, Brixham, that there had been a cliff accident at Sharkham Point, Brixham, and at 12.25 the motor life-boat George Shee was launched, manned by a skeleton crew. She took a small boat in tow.
A west-south-west wind was blowing, with a moderate sea. At Sharkham Point three lifeboatmen went ashore in the small boat. Two men had been climbing the cliff where it was most precipitous. When about fifty feet up the one above had lost his grip and fallen bodily on the other, just below him. Together they had crashed to the shore. Both were seriously injured. A doctor, coastguards, and police had gone to their help.
The two men were placed on stretchers ; transferred to the life-boat ; landed at Brixham about two o’clock, and sent by ambulance to hospital. - Rewards, £3 7s.
SEPTEMBER 7TH. - STROMNESS, ORKNEYS.
At two in the morning the Kirkwall coastguard telephoned that a motor launch was ashore in Hoy Sound one hundred yards north-east of Ness Beacon and in need of help.
A light east-south-east wind was blowing and the sea was smooth. As the weather was fine and there was no immediate danger, the life-boat coxswain went to Hoy Sound by road; and spoke to the three people on the launch. They asked for help as their propeller shaft was bent, and they thought the launch might be making water. The motor life-boat J.J.K.S.W. was launched at 3.10 and towed the launch to Stromness, arriving at 3.40. - Rewards, £8 8s.
SEPTEMBER 10TH. - RAMSEY, ISLE OF MAN. At 5.12 in the afternoon the coastguard reported that the Ramsey fishing smack Majestic had not returned from the fishing grounds. A southerly gale was blowing, with a rough sea. A further message was received at 5.27 that a small fishing boat could be seen to the north-east flying a squareflag. The motor life-boat Lady Harrison was launched at 6.12 and found the fishing boat about two miles north-east of the life-boat station. Her sails had blown away, her engine broken down, and she was shipping water. She had four on board. The life-boat took them off, and reached her station again at 7.15. The owner of the smack made a donation to the Institution. - Rewards, £13 18s. 6d.
SEPTEMBER 10TH . - GIRVAN, AYRSHIRE.
At 6.15 in the evening the coastguard reported a sailing yacht approaching from the north. The River Girvan was very full of water, which was pouring through the harbour, and he thought that the yacht might find it very difficult to enter harbour.
At 6.30 the motor life-boat Lily Glen - Glasgow was launched and found that the yacht was the Irian, of Girvan. She had three on board.
The life-boat escorted her into harbour, but as she crossed the bar the yacht was struck by the river current and the men found it very difficult to control her. The life-boat passed a rope to them and towed the yacht to her berth. - Rewards, £6 19s. 9d.
SEPTEMBER 12TH - 14TH. - WALMER, KENT. At 2.8 in the afternoon the Deal coastguard telephoned that a ship was in danger of going aground on the Goodwins. A light south-east wind was blowing, but the sea was smooth. The motor life-boat Langham, on temporary duty at the station, was launched at 2.20 and found the S.S. Helena Modjeska, of New Orleans, stranded one mile south of the North West Goodwin Buoy.
She was a Liberty ship of 7,176 tons laden, and bound from the United States for Bremerhaven. She had a crew of nearly forty. The coxswain went aboard her, but her captain declined help, and the life-boat stood by. Tugs arrived from Dover and the Dover harbour master and the second coxswain went aboard the steamer. The life-boat continued to stand by until five next morning.
She then returned to her station, taking with her the captain of the steamer and the harbour master. She refuelled and arrived back at the steamer at six o’clock, stood by until ten, took off twenty of the crew, with their belongings, and landed them at 11.15.
Without delay she returned to the steamer, but the remainder of the steamer’s crew were kept on board to help with the hawsers from the tugs. The life-boat stood by for the rest of the day and the following night. At 4.15 in the morning of the 14th, having satisfied himself that the men on board the steamer were not in danger, and having arranged for the life-boat to be called again if needed, the coxswain left for his station, arriving at five o’clock, over thirty-eight hours after the lifeboat had first put out. Later in the day the Ramsgate coxswain, in his own boat, landed nineteen of the crew and four welders from the Dover Harbour Board, who had been working on board. - Rewards : first service, £36 18s. ; second service, £31 14s. 6d. (See Ramsgate, “Services by Shore-boats,” page 77.)
SEPTEMBER 14TH. - SOUTHEND - ON - SEA, ESSEX. At 5.55 in the evening a message was received from a call-box at Westcliff that men could be seen clinging to the mast of a yacht which had sunk, close to the Loway
SEPTEMBER 12TH. - THE HUMBER, YORKSHIRE. At 4.43 in the afternoon a message was received from the signal station at Spurn Point that a small sailing yacht was in difficulties on the Binks. A south-east wind was blowing, and the sea was moderate.
At five o’clock the motor life-boat City of Bradford II was launched and found the sailing yacht Lilian, with two on board. She had caught on the inner bank of the Binks, had managed to get off again, and was now trying to stem the tide. She had shipped a great deal of water and her crew were exhausted.
They were given rum and the lifeboat towed them into Grimsby. Here they were told where to go for food and clothing.
The life-boat returned to her station at eight that night. - Permanent paid crew.
SEPTEMBER 12TH. - PADSTOW, CORNWALL.
At 6.46 in the evening the Bude coastguard reported that a boat, a mile off Bude breakwater, needed help. A strong west-south-west wind was blowing, with a moderate sea. At seven o’clock the No. 1 motor life-boat Elsie, on temporary duty at the station, was launched, and on her way she saw a rocket, and then, guided by signals from a morse lamp, she found the converted fishing boat Diana III, of Appledore, with a man, his wife, and three children on board. She was reefed down and had a sea-anchor out. It was then 11.15. The lifeboat went alongside and took off the three children, but the man and woman remained on board, and the lifeboat towed the Diana III to Padstow. She returned to her station at 2.38 next morning.
The owner made gifts to the Institution and to the life-boat crew. - Rewards, £5 13s. 6d.
SEPTEMBER 13TH. - TROON, AYRSHIRE.
At eleven in the morning news was received that a man and two women who had left harbour the previous day in the auxiliary sailing boat Annie, were thought to be on Lady Isle.
Just before noon the boat was seen to be riding at anchor off the island, but at 1.10 she was seen to break adrift and the people were seen on the island. At 1.45 a request was received for the life-boat to take them off. A whole west-north-west gale was blowing, with a heavy sea. The motor life-boat Sir David Richmond of Glasgow was launched at three o’clock and, with her boarding boat in tow, made for Lady Isle. The life-boat could not get near enough to the island to take the people off, and four life-boatmen rowed the boarding boat in. They had a very hard pull, and it was only with great difficulty that they took the people off the rocks. When the boarding boat returned to the life-boat there was considerable difficulty in getting the women safely on board her, for at times the seas nearly flung the boarding boat into the life-boat. The life-boat reached her station again at five o’clock. The Annie became a total wreck. - Rewards, £5 12s.Buoy. A strong squally south-south-west wind was blowing, and the sea was rough. At 6.30 the motor life-boat Greater London (Civil Service No. 3) was launched by the coxswain, two of the pier staff and the motor-mechanic.
As the life-boat was leaving, the regular crew arrived. She went alongside the pier and took them on board. In doing it she damaged her starboard bow. She found the yacht Alexandra, of Whitstable. Two men were clinging to the mast, only a few feet above the water. They were being badly knocked about by the heavy seas and were exhausted.
The life-boat rescued them, took them to Southend, and returned to her station at 7.5.
- Rewards, £7 14s. 6d.
SEPTEMBER 14TH. - POOLBEG, CO. DUBLIN.
At 8.30 at night information was received from the Clontarf Sailing Club that a small sailing boat was in difficulties at the mouth of the river. A strong westerly gale was blowing, with a rough sea. The motor lifeboat Helen Blake was launched at 8.50 and after a search found the sailing boat drifting off Poolbeg Lighthouse. She towed her to Pigeon House Dock, and returned to her station, arriving at 10.15. - Rewards, £7 5s.
SEPTEMBER 15TH. - DOUGLAS, ISLE OF MAN. At 8.40 in the morning the Ramsey coastguard reported a steamer in need of help off Douglas Head. A south-westerly breeze was blowing, and the sea was very rough.
The motor life-boat Millie Walton was launched at 9.5 and found the S.S. Leonidas S.
Condylis, of Andros, Greece, with her engine broken down, seven miles south-east of Douglas Head. She stood by, and, when another steamer arrived, passed a tow rope from her to the Greek steamer. She did it five times and each time the rope parted. Having nothing strong enough to tow with, the second steamer went on her way and the life-boat placed the Greek steamer on anchor, to await the arrival of a tug. She then returned to her station, which she reached at 11.10 that night. - Rewards, £20 10s.
SEPTEMBER 15TH. - WESTON - SUPER.
MARE, SOMERSET. During the evening a man on Kilve Reach in Bridgwater Bay saw signals fired from a motor cruiser. He told the police who reported to the coastguard. The information reached the life-boat station at eight o’clock. A light west-south-west breeze was blowing and the sea was smooth. The motor life-boat Fifi and Charles was launched at 8.47. Her coxswain correctly estimated the drift of the boat in distress and, at eleven o’clock, found her half a mile north of Inkly Point in Bridgwater Bay. She was the Athene, with three on board. They were exhausted by their prolonged efforts to restart their engine, and they had burned their last flare. A life-boatman was put on board the Athene and the life-boat towed her to moorings in the River Axe, returning to her station at one next morning. The owner made a donation to the Institution. - Re.
wards, £8 12s.
SEPTEMBER 18TH. -PORT ERIN, AND PEEL, ISLE OF MAN. At 11.21 in the morning the Castletown coastguard reported to the Port Erin life-boat station that the Peel life-boat, had launched at eleven o’clock to search for the herring drifter Manx Lass, of Peel, which was overdue. A strong southsouth- east breeze was blowing and the sea was rough. Mist had reduced visibility to a quarter of a mile. It was thought advisable for the Port Erin motor life-boat to join in the search, and at 12.21 the Matthew Simpson was launched. She found the herring drifter half a mile north-east of the Calf of Man, with her nets foul of her propellers. She had been helpless for about fourteen hours, and had lost all her fishing tackle. The life-boat escorted her into Port Erin Bay and the lifeboatmen helped to clear her propellers. The life-boat then returned to her station at one that afternoon, and the herring drifter left for Peel at 1.30.
In the meantime the Peel life-boat was still searching and, finding nothing, she returned to her station at 7.40 that evening. - Rewards: Port Erin, £5 14s. 6d. ; Peel, £14 18s. 9d.
SEPTEMBER 18TH. - WHITBY, YORKSHIRE.
At six in the afternoon Whitby fishing boats and boats of the Scottish fishing fleets put out in moderate weather, but by nine o’clock it had worsened and the boats turned back. A strong northerly breeze was then blowing, and the sea was rough. The No. 1 motor life-boat Mary Ann Hepworth was launched at 9.15, met the fishing boats at Rock Buoy, and escorted them into the harbour. She returned to her station at 10.30.
- Rewards, £11 16s.
SEPTEMBER 20TH. - WICKLOW. At five in the morning seven local boats went out fishing three miles north of Wicklow. The weather was moderate, but by six o’clock it had worsened. Six of the boats returned, and anxiety was felt for the safety of the one that was still at sea. A strong north-easterly gale was now blowing, with a rough sea. The motor life-boat Lady Kylsant was launched at seven o’clock, and found the Mary, of Wicklow, with a crew of three, one mile north of the harbour. At the request of the skipper, she escorted her to Wicklow, arriving back at her station at 7.45. - Rewards, £6 1s.
SEPTEMBER 20TH. - YOUGHAL, CO.
CORK. At 8.55 in the morning a message came that four fishing boats in the harbour were in danger of being swamped. A northnorth- east gale was blowing, with a very rough sea. The motor life-boat Laurana Sarah Blunt was launched at 9.10, and found the four fishing boats with one man in each.
The men were unable to make the land against the wind, and were being driven seawards.
The life-boat towed each boat separately to the dock and returned to her station at 10.30.
- Rewards, £10 8s. 6d.
SEPTEMBER 20TH. - WALMER, KENT.
At 12.30 in the afternoon the sailing barge Monarch, of Rochester, hoisted a distress signal. She had anchored in the Downs, butwas dragging towards a submerged wreck. A moderate south-south-west gale was blowing, and the sea was very rough. The motor lifeboat Langham, on temporary duty at the station, was launched at 12.45 and found the barge, with two men and a woman on board.
The second-coxswain and several life-boatmen went on board. A tow-rope was passed to them and they fixed it. It held the barge’s head to windward while the life-boatmen hove up her anchor. The life-boat then towed her clear of the wreck. The barge’s sails were then set and, with the life-boat second-coxswain in charge, she sailed for Ramsgate with the lifeboat in attendance. A mile from Ramsgate the life-boat took a rope from the barge, towed her into the harbour and moored her there. She reached her station again at 4.30.
- Property salvage case.
SEPTEMBER 20TH. - TORBAY, DEVON.
A north-north-west wind of hurricane force was blowing and the sea was very rough. It was thought advisable for the life-boat to put out, as many yachts, with their crews on board, were at anchor in the outer harbour, and the anchors were dragging. The motor life-boat George Shee was launched at 2.10 in the afternoon. She stood by drifting yachts until their anchors held, and took out their crews to the yachts Memory and Western L a d y , and put them aboard. The yacht Casita foundered, but her crew was rescued by a motor launch. The life-boat patrolled the harbour for over six hours and arrived back at her station at 8.30 that evening. Donations were received from the owners of the Memory and Western Lady. - Rewards, £5 1S. 9d. (See Brixham, “Services by Shoreboats,” page 80.)
SEPTEMBER 20TH. - WEYMOUTH, DORSET.
At 4.15 in the afternoon the Wyke Regis coastguard reported two boats in distress off Grove Point, Portland. A full north-west gale was blowing, with a very heavy sea. The motor life-boat William and Clara Ryland was launched at 4.20 and found the motor boat O. B. Joyful, and another small boat two miles east of Grove Point, Portland.
They had three men on board. She towed them into Weymouth, arriving at 6.30.- Rewards, £4 12s.
SEPTEMBER. 20TH. - LOWESTOFT, SUFFOLK.
At 5.5 in the afternoon Lloyd’s agent asked, through the coastguard, if the life-boat could take out food to the S.S. Brightside, of Dundee. A south-south-west breeze was blowing, with a very heavy sea, and a tug could not get alongside the steamer, which was anchored against the Inner Shoal. The motor life-boat Mary Scott, on temporary duty at the station, was launched at 5.25 and found the Brightside in a dangerous position. Her engine and boiler were both giving trouble. Her crew had been without food for two days. The life-boat gave them food and returned to her station at 7.30. The coxswain kept a watch on the steamer. During the night the weather grew worse and tugs went out. Then the vessel began to drag anchor, and the life-boat crew were assembled at three in the morning, but later the weather moderated and the crew were dispersed. Eventually the steamer came into harbour under her own power.- Rewards, £11.
SEPTEMBER 20TH. - YARMOUTH, ISLE OF WIGHT. About 5.45 in the afternoon the harbour master reported a yacht burning red flares in Yarmouth Roads. A strong north-westerly gale was blowing, with a very rough sea. The motor life-boat S.G.E. was launched at 6.5 and found the auxiliary yacht Diadem, of Southampton. She had dragged her anchors, collided with the west side of the pier and seriously damaged herself, but her crew of seven had scrambled up the pier.
Two men boarded her from the pier and made fast a line, and the life-boat began to tow her clear. At that moment a life-boatman was knocked overboard. He was quickly rescued.
The two men on the yacht then cut her anchor cables and the life-boat towed her seawards.
During a lull in the weather she brought her into harbour, and arrived back at her station at 7.15. - Property salvage case.
SEPTEMBER 20TH. - WESTON - SUPERMARE SOMERSET. At 5.30 in the afternoon a message came from the Croyde coastguard, which he had received from the S.S. Basiris, that a steamer was ashore on Weston Sands. A north-north-west gale was blowing, with a very rough sea. No steamer could be seen and then it was found that the message should have been a ketch off Weston pier firing distress signals. She was later seen from the life-boathouse, south of Steepholme, heeling over and apparently ashore. The motor life-boat Fifi and Charles was launched at 6.25. The honorary secretary of the lifeboat station, Mr. R. J. S. Crowe, went with her. She found the auxiliary ketch Mary Stewart, of Greenock, at anchor. Her cargo had shifted, causing her to list, and her engine and sails were insufficient to make headway against the sea and wind. The coxswain assured the master that the ketch’s anchor was holding and the life-boat went to Barry to fetch a tug. The tug came and towed the ketch to Barry. Owing to the bad weather the life-boat sheltered in the River Axe until 7.45 next morning, and arrived back at her station at 8.55. - Rewards, £15 0s. 9d.
SEPTEMBER 21ST. - GREAT YARMOUTH AND GORLESTON, NORFOLK. At 3.18 in the afternoon the coastguard reported that the S.S. Freden, of Stockholm, was making for Yarmouth Roads and had asked for a doctor, as the captain was injured. A light westsouth- west breeze was blowing, with a slight sea. A few minutes later the steamer was reported approaching and at 3.59 the motor lifeboat Louise Stephens was launched, with a doctor and ambulance men on board. The captain had internal injuries and the doctor decided to leave him on board the steamer, which was entering port next day. The lifeboat returned to her station at five o’clock.
A donation was received from the owners of the steamer. - Rewards, £4 14s.
SEPTEMBER 21ST. - RAMSGATE, KENT.
At 10.32 at night a message was received through the coastguard from a tug attending on the S.S. Helena Modjeska, which had gone aground east of North West Goodwin Buoy on the 12th of September, that a motor boat anchored alongside the steamer had fouled her propeller and needed help. The water was shallow and the tug herself could not get to her. A fresh south-westerly breeze was blowing and the sea was rough. The motor life-boat Prudential was launched at 10.45 and found the motor boat King John, of Dover, with two on board. Floating cordage had become entangled round her propeller and the ebbing tide was drawing her over the sands.
The life-boatmen cleared away a mass of floating cordage and took the motor boat in tow. She was then told that there were six salvage men on the steamer, returned, took the men on board, and towed the motor boat to Ramsgate, arriving back at her station at 12.55 next morning. - Rewards, £10 14s.
SEPTEMBER 24TH. - MARGATE, KENT.
At 12.2 in the morning the coastguard reported that cries for help could be heard off the coastguard lookout. A fresh westerly breeze was blowing, with a choppy sea. The motor life-boat The Lord Southborough (Civil Service No. I) was launched at 12.30 and found a water-logged empty boat drifting off Margate jetty and a naval seaman swimming towards the shore. She picked him up exhausted, and he lost consciousness. She landed him at the pier, and when he came to he asked for his two mates The life-boat at once put out but found no one, and returned to her station at two next morning. Later it was learned that the rescued man was one of five seamen returning from the shore to a naval motor fishing vessel, and that two others had been rescued by a pilot boat.- Rewards, £7 14s. (See Margate, “Services by Shore-boats,” page 78.) SEPTEMBER 24TH. - PORTRUSH, CO. ANTRIM.
At 12.25 in the morning the Portrush coastguard telephoned that the Ballycastle coastguard had reported a small boat in difficulties between Ballycastle and Fair Head.
A fresh south-west wind was blowing, with a heavy ground swell. The motor life-boat T.B.B.H. was launched at 12.55 and at 4.30 found a motor boat at anchor in Ballycastle Bay. Her engine had broken down. She had three men on board. With the help of life-boatmen the three men got her engines running again. She then went on her way to Larne. The life-boat went with her. After a time the men said that they were now quite happy and the life-boat returned to her station, arriving at ten that morning. - Rewards, £15 3s.
SEPTEMBER 27TH. - LLANDUDNO, CAERNARVONSHIRE.
At 4.30 in the afternoon the Colwyn Bay police reported two men drifting out to sea on rubber dinghies. A southerly breeze was blowing, and the sea was choppy. The motor life-boat Thomas and Annie Wade Richards was launched at 4.45 and found the two dinghies three miles off Colwyn Bay. Both men were exhausted.
The life-boat took them and their dinghies on board and made for Colwyn Bay, but found that the tide was too low to land them, so she took them to Llandudno Bay and landed them there by rowing boat at eight that evening.
The men were both in bathing dress and the coxswain took them by car to Rhos-on-Sea.
The life-boat was re-housed at eleven o’clock.
The two men, who were brothers, sent £50 to the Institution. - Rewards, £13 13s. 6d.
SEPTEMBER 29TH. - LYTHAM-ST. ANNES, LANCASHIRE. At 11.45 in the morning the life-boat coxswain, while on the pier at Lytham, saw a sailing yacht coming up the river with her mast and sail overboard. A strong easterly wind was blowing, with a choppy sea. The motor life-boat Dunleary was launched at noon and met the yacht seven hundred yards west of Lytham Pier.
She was the Kismet, of Preston, with two on board. Besides her damaged mast, she was half full of water and her engine was flooded.
The life-boat towed her to Preston and returned to her station, at four that afternoon.
- Rewards, £5.
SEPTEMBER 29TH. - HOLYHEAD, ANGLESEY. At 1.55 in the afternoon the coastguard reported that a yacht appeared to be in difficulties and was drifting towards North Stack. An easterly gale was blowing, with a rough sea. The motor life-boat A.E.D. was launched at 2.10 and found the auxiliary yacht, Zarefa, of Brixham, under North Stack. She had three on board. Her main boom had carried away. She was unable to make any headway against wind and tide, and as she was in danger of going on the rocks the owner asked for a tow. The life-boat towed her to Holhhead, arriving back at her station at 4.30. - Property salvage case.
SEPTEMBER 29TH. - YOUGHAL, CO.CORK, AND HELVICK HEAD, CO.
WATERFORD. At four in the afternoon the Ardmore civic guards reported that a schooner, travelling west under sail, seemed to be on fire aft. A strong south-east wind was blowing, with a big ground swell. The Youghal motor life-boat Laurana Sarah Blunt was launched at 4.15 and found the schooner in the middle of Whiting Bay. She was the eighty-ton three-masted schooner Happy Harry, of Dublin, laden with salt. She had a crew of five. They had got the fire under control, but as the schooner was drifting towards rocks, the life-boat passed a line on board. It parted. It was secured again and the life-boat towed the schooner out of danger. The schooner then made for Youghal with the life-boat in attendance, and they arrived at 7.15 that evening. The information was also given by the guards to the Helvick Head life-boat station and the motor life-boat H. F. Bailey was launched at four o’clock. She came up to the schooner just as she was entering Youghal harbour, and returned to her station, arriving at 8.20.- Rewards: Helvick Head, £94s.6d.; Youghal, no expense to the Institution.
SEPTEMBER 29TH. - WALMER, KENT.
At 5.59 in the evening the Deal coastguard reported that the S.S. Fort Vermillion, of London, of over 7,000 tons, bound to Middlesbrough from Tangiers, was aground on the Goodwin Sands south of Fork Buoy. A light east-north-east breeze was blowing, and the sea was smooth, but it was foggy. The motor life-boat Langham, on temporary duty at the station, was launched at 6.5 and found the steamer. The coxswain and second coxswain went on board. At the request of the master the life-boat ran out a kedge anchor.
Lloyd’s agent, who was on the steamer, asked the coxswain to take soundings round her and to escort tugs to her as the tide flowed. This she did, but the tugs failed to move her, and the life-boat stood by until 7.30 next morning when she had trouble with her engine. She went back to her station and, when the engine had been put right, she returned to the steamer and stood by. The master eventually told the coxswain that he no longer needed the life-boat’s services and she returned to her station, arriving at 5.20 in the evening of the 30th. - Property salvage case.
SEPTEMBER 29TH. - WHITBY, YORKSHIRE.
At two in the afternoon the coastguard reported that the S.S. Torni, of Liverpool, had gone aground several miles south of Whitby Lighthouse. A fresh easterly breeze was blowing, with a moderate sea, and there was a thick fog. The No. 1 motor life-boat Mary Ann Hepworth was launched at 2.30 and found the steamer sixteen miles to the south on the north side of Hayburn Wyke. She was bound for West Hartlepool from Hamburg, loaded with timber. She had 32 on board including one passenger. The life-boat stood by her until high water. Then the coxswain went aboard and advised the master to abandon ship, but he and his crew preferred to stay on board. The life-boat took off the passenger and returned to her station at 9.30 that evening. At three in the afternoon of the 30th, the coastguard said that the owners wished the life-boat to go again to the Torni as at six o’clock tugs were to try and refloat her. The life-boat put out at 3.25 in a light south-east breeze, with a moderate sea, and reached the steamer about five o’clock.
The tugs failed to get her off and at eight o’clock the life-boat went alongside. At the captain’s request she took off nine of his crew and two tug officials and returned to Whitby, where she landed them at 10.30. - Rewards, first service, £18 0s. 6d. ; second service, £18 0s. 6d.
The following life-boats were launched, but no services were rendered for the reasons given :
SEPTEMBER 3RD. - NEW BRIGHTON, CHESHIRE. A steamer had gone aground on the Mersey revetment, but refloated with the help of tugs. - Rewards, £6 18s.
SEPTEMBER 6TH. - LOWESTOFT, SUFFOLK.
A flare had been reported and a foreign fishing boat was found, but she did not need help. - Rewards, £10.
SEPTEMBER 6TH. - RAMSGATE, KENT.
A small yacht had capsized, but a speed boat rescued the man on board. - Rewards, £4 17s.
SEPTEMBER 7TH. - YARMOUTH, ISLE OF WIGHT. Two sailing dinghies had capsized, but the crews were rescued by a boat from a pilot cutter. - Rewards, £4 7s. 6d.
SEPTEMBER 9TH. - THE MUMBLES, GLAMORGANSHIRE. A rowing boat had been reported drifting out to sea, but it was carried back by the tide. - Rewards, £5 11s.
SEPTEMBER 9TH. - SHOREHAM HARBOUR, SUSSEX. Two boys in a canoe had capsized, but they reached the shore unaided.
- Rewards, £7 1s.
SEPTEMBER 13TH. - STORNOWAY, HEBRIDES.
Red flares had been reported, but they came from naval ships on exercises.- Rewards, £13 16s.
SEPTEMBER 14TH. - SOUTIIEND - ON - SEA, ESSEX. A yacht had been reported driving before the wind, but was found at anchor and not in need of help. - Rewards, £8 19s.
SEPTEMBER 15TH. - WEYMOUTH, DORSET.
A motor boat had struck a submerged rock and sunk, but the man on board swam ashore. - Rewards, £8 15s.
SEPTEMBER 15TH. - TROON, AYRSHIRE.
A small sailing boat had got into difficulties, but her crew of four scrambled ashore.- Rewards, £4 12s.
SEPTEMBER 15TH. - MARGATE, KENT.
A yacht had been reported missing from Herne Bay, but she returned safely. - Rewards, £12 14s.
SEPTEMBER 16TH. - CLOVELLY, DEVON.
An aeroplane had crashed in the sea, but the pilot was saved by another aeroplane. - Rewards, £12 15s. 6d.
SEPTEMBER 16TH. - CAMPBELTOWN, ARGYLLSHIRE. An aeroplane had reported a ship ashore, but it was a landing craft which had gone ashore some days earlier.
- Rewards, £4 16s. 6d.
SEPTEMBER 17TH. - CROMARTY. A yacht had been seen showing red flares, but she was taken in tow by a fishing vessel.- Rewards, £6 5s. (See Burghead, “Services by Shore-boats,” page 78.)
SEPTEMBER 17TH. - GALWAY BAY. A man from the Spanish trawler Masso 18 had been carried out to sea in a small boat, but nothing could be found. - Rewards, £13 16s.
SEPTEMBER 18TH. - SOUTHEND - ON - SEA, ESSEX. A fishing boat had been seen with her mast damaged and making heavy weather,but she had no one on board. - Rewards, £6 8s. 9d.
SEPTEMBER 19TH. - GIRVAN, AYRSHIRE.
A fishing boat had run aground on a rocky shore and been wrecked, but her crew of two scrambled ashore. - Rewards, £6 19s. 9d.
SEPTEMBER 19TH. - SKEGNESS, LINCOLNSHIRE.
A light and red flares had been reported, but they came from a cooker on a fishing boat. - Rewards, £14 8s.
SEPTEMBER 20TH. - THE HUMBER, YORKSHIRE. A steamer had made distress signals, but a tug went to her help. - Permanent paid crew. Rewards, 11s. 3d.
SEPTEMBER 20TH. - HASTINGS, AND EASTBOURNE, SUSSEX. A steamer had been reported in distress, but she was taken in tow by a destroyer. - Rewards : Hastings, £29 9s. 8d. ; Eastbourne, £30 13s. 6d.
SEPTEMBER 20TH. - ST. MARY’S, ISLES OF SCILLY. The French fishing boat Henri Lucia had been driven ashore on the uninhabited island of Ganilly. Her crew of four got on to the island and the skipper stayed on board his boat, but none of them would leave in the life-boat. - Rewards, £7 14s.
SEPTEMBER 20TH. - WEYMOUTH, DORSET.
A boat had been reported overturned off Portland breakwater, but it was a dockyard pontoon and the life-boat’s help was not needed. - Rewards, £4 7s. 6d.
SEPTEMBER 20TH. - BEMBRIDGE, ISLE OF WIGHT. A yacht had dragged her anchor and gone aground, but no lives were in danger. - Rewards, £17 13s. 3d.
SEPTEMBER 20TH. - MARGATE, KENT.
A grain elevator, which was in tow of a Russian ship, had broken adrift and gone ashore, but no one was on board. - Rewards, £18 14s.
SEPTEMBER 21ST. - PADSTOW, CORNWALL.
A Firefly aeroplane had crashed in the sea, but only a dinghy and wreckage were found. - Rewards, £2 19s.
SEPTEMBER 26TH. - BUCKIE, BANFFSHIRE.
A fishing boat had been reported overdue, but she was picked up by another fishing boat. - Rewards, £10 9s.
SEPTEMBER 26TH. - RAMSGATE, AND MARGATE, KENT. A Halifax aeroplane had been reported to have crashed in the sea, but it had come down on the Belgian coast.- Rewards : Ramsgate, £12 3s. 6d. ; Margate, £17 3s. 6d.
SEPTEMBER 27TH. - RAMSGATE, AND MARGATE, KENT. A speed boat had been reported missing, but she was found by a motor boat and towed to Ramsgate. - Rewards : Ramsgate, £11 19s. ; Margate, £12 14s.
SEPTEMBER 27TH - 28TH. - SOUTHEND - ON - SEA, ESSEX. Mr. Geoffrey de Havilland was testing a new type of aeroplane, before attempting to break the world’s high speed record. It crashed in the sea. The life-boat made two searches, but failed to find Mr. de Havilland. - Rewards : first service, £8 19s. ; second service, £3 4s. 6d.
SEPTEMBER 27TH. - BUCKIE, BANFFSHIRE.
An aeroplane had crashed in the sea, but nothing was found. - Rewards, £6.
SEPTEMBER 29TH. - BEAUMARIS, ANGLESEY.
A motor cruiser had broken away from her moorings, with people on board, but was later reported to be at anchor. - Rewards, £5 19s.
SEPTEMBER 30TH. - RHYL, FLINTSHIRE.
An aeroplane had been reported crashed in the sea, but nothing was found.- Rewards, £15 16s. 6d.