THE LIFE-BOAT.J O U R N A L

OP THB

IRo^al Bational %ffe*Boat Jnstitutfcm.(ISSUED QUABTERLY.)

VOL. XXI.—No. 244.] IST MAY, 1912. [PRICE 3d.

THE WORD "NATIONAL" IN OUR TITLE.AT first sight it might seem quiteunnecessary to explain the meaning ofa word which is so descriptive and soobvious in its application to the work ofthe Institution as the word " National."

The operations of the Life-boat extendto the whole of the coasts of the UnitedKingdom, while the organization whichenables us to reach the generous heartsof men aad women in towns and villagesremote from the sea, covers the wholecountry with a network of Branches—English, Scottish, Irish and Welsh—allcontributing to the common funds whichenable us to fulfil our national purpose.

National the Institution is, too, inthe fact that it is tmsectarian, non-partyand purely humanitarian in its aim. Itis as a national body, moreover, that weappeal to all classes of the inhabitantsof these islands in our plea for theservice of mankind. And it is peculiarlyfitting that a nation, which claims thecommand of the sea as a necessary con-dition of its existence and of the freemovement of its vast shipping, shouldhave been the first to institute a publicand fnlly organized system of Life-boatservice.

These considerations are obvious, andwill occur to anyone who gives a moment'sthought to the subject.

But there is another aspect of thesignificance of the word " national"which, while directly resulting from theabove considerations, is not so readilyseen, and may easily be lost sight ofowing to the prominence which localinterests are apt to take with all of us.

There may be, here and there, atendency to regard the work of a

Life-boat as purely local, and relatedessentially to the particular region inwhich she is placed. Where the workof the station is taken up with so muchenthusiasm and sense of responsibilityas we so often see, such a result isnot unnatural. It would be a realmisfortune, however, if such a mis-conception were to prevail, for it wouldstrike at the very root of the nationalcharacter and scope of our work.

That a local view of the functions ofany Life-boat station rests upon amisconception will be evident if we puta few simple questions. Does anyonethink that Lancashire Life-boats go outto save Lancashire men alone ? Do themen of Dunbar and St. Abbs only seekto save the lives of their fellow-fisher-men 1 Who are the people whose livesare saved by the Life-boatmen in theStraits of Dover and in Devon, orCornwall? Questions like these mightbe asked with regard to every stretchof the coast; and the answer throwsa clear light on the subject underdiscussion.

The Life-boats in the Straits of Doversave far more people from Lancashireand other distant ports than from Kent;the Life-boatmen of Devon and Cornwallwould probably find little to do if theirexertions were limited to the saving oftheir own people; and it would not begoing too far to say that there aremany stations around the coast, doingexcellent work, which might be closedaltogether if local needs alone werekept in view. Indeed, one mightalmost say that, if we except a fewstations where the Life-boat happens to

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be frequently placed at the service oflocal fishing-cobles, the last people -whoare likely to be in need of the servicesof the Life-boatmen at any given stationare the residents in that particularlocality.

There is, in fact, no institution inthe country whose objects are less localand more truly national. In one sense,indeed, it reaches out beyond the con-fines of these islands, and becomesinternational, since its object is toserve humanity, regardless of creed,nation or colour. Let us take, forthe sake of illustration, a part ofthe coast at haphazard, and make ananalysis of the wrecks which haveoccurred on the coast of Cornwallduring the past winter, in so far asthey have come within the purview ofthe Life-boat service. The result pro-vides an interesting confirmation of theviews here put forward. Of the twenty-four vessels wrecked on the Cornishcoast, three were Norwegian, oneDanish, one Belgian, four French, oneGerman, and two Russian. As for theBritish vessels, they came from variousports, including Liverpool, Fleetwood,Belfast, and the coast of Devon; but'only one single vessel came from aCornish port. So that the brave Life-boatmen who did such splendid servicein connexion with these wrecks—therescue of twenty-eight men from theGerman barque Pindos by the Coverackcrew during a terrible storm on thenight of February 10th, will be freshin the minds of our readers—may wellfeel that they answered the call ofdistress, not in the smaller spirit whichresponds to the claims of privateaffection or local solidarity, but in thegrand spirit which is alive to the callof humanity itself.

It will be seen, therefore, that not oneof theLife-boat stations of the Institutionconfines its efforts to the saving of itsown people, or lives to itself ; and thatfor this reason the service is, and mustbe, national.

Such considerations will show withhow much wisdom and foresight theInstitution was designed, its manage-ment being committed to a centralbody, who can watch the requirementsof the service from a general point of

view and see that no danger-spot isneglected; who can. make contracts onadvantageous terms, provide for theinspection and testing of materials, andmaintain a Depot, whence the needs ofany station can be promptly met; whocan employ the best experts to helpthem in the solution of fresh problemsand advise them in regard to newinventions.

If, then, the Institution is, both inits objects and in its constitution, essen-tially national in character, it is clearthat the contributions of the public canbest be made to fulfil those objects ifthey are placed without restriction atthe disposal of the central body. It iseasy to understand how a benevolentperson visiting some Life-boat station,and being struck with the bravery ofthe crew and the value of the serviceswhich they have rendered to humanity,may be moved to give or leave to theInstitution a sum of money to bedevoted to that particular station. Itis the natural impulse of a generousheart. But we would point out to anysuch benefactor that the brave crew inwhom he or she takes such an interestmay very likely, when in pursuit oftheir lawful calling, have to be savedfrom death, not by their own Life-boat,but by a Life-boat from another station ;that the station known to the bene-factor may not be in need of any specialgift or legacy while the other may; andthat changes in maritime trade or inother matters which can only be fullygauged by a central body knowing allthe facts of the case, may render un-necessary the maintenance of onestation, while making it desirable tostrengthen the other.

In this connexion it seems not out ofplace to draw attention to the curiousfact that the Institution is sometimesembarrassed by a generous gift orlegacy to which are attached conditionsrequiring it to be applied in a particularmanner or in a particular locality;so that it is sometimes difficult togive effect to the wishes of the donoror testator. Yet, at the very sametime, the Committee of Managementmay be in real and urgent need offunds for some important work inanother direction. It would, for instance,

IST MAY, 1912.] THE LIFE-BOAT. 649

be impossible to station a boat at someplaces unless a slipway were providedand, while a comparatively small summay be given for the boat, and allottedby the testator to a particular placewhich would require the constructionof a slipway to make it suitable forLife - boat purposes, the Committeeof Management might find that theinterests of the Life-boat service wouldbe much.better met by placing a boatat some other spot where a costly slip-way would not be required.

It is no mere matter of sentiment,therefore, when the Committee ofManagement beg intending benefactorsof the Institution to refrain from im-posing conditions which limit the appli-cation of their gifts or legacies. The

request is practical, and proceeds fromthe earnest desire to make the best useof the funds placed at their disposal.The Committee gratefully recognise thenational spirit in which, as a whole,the work of the Branch Committees iscarried out in every part of the UnitedKingdom, not only at station branchesbut also in inland towns; and they feelsure that a careful consideration of thenational character of the Institution, asindicated in this article, will convinceall true friends of the cause that thesystem of management and administra-tion which is laid down in the Charter,is the one best calculated to secure thatcharacter and to maintain the efficiencyof a service of which we, as a nation,may well feel proud.

THE LIFE-BOAT SERVICE ABROAD.

WE think it will be of interest to ourreaders to have a brief survey of theLife-boat services of the world, so far asthe recent statistics of their activitiesare available. We have, therefore, com-piled the following notes from theannual reports or returns received fromour oversea Dominions, the UnitedStates, France, Germany, Holland, Den-mark, Sweden, Norway, and Portugal:—

BRITISH OVEESEA DOMINIONS.The small population of Australia and

the vast extent of its coast line makesI it practically impossible to organise a

complete Life-boat service. Hence mostof the arrangements in Australia, aswell as in Tasmania, are confined to theprovision of life-saving apparatus otherthan Life-boats. There is, however, aLife-boat station maintained by theMarine Board at Macquarie Heads inTasmania. In South Australia Life-boats are kept at four ports, and sixstations in Victoria are provided withthem.

In Canada there are 41 life-savingstations, but very few are provided withLife-boats, or are maintained all theyear round. Three stations have motorboats, and it is announced that sevenmotor boats are to be placed at differentstations shortly, while five new stationsare to be established.

Six Life-boats are maintained on thecoast by the Union of South Africa.

UNITED STATES.The United States Life-saving service

is a Government organization, estab-lished by Act of Congress in 1878. Thereare 281 stations on the sea coast and onthe coasts of the great lakes, the dis-tribution being as follows :On the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico

coasts, 205 stations.On the Pacific coasts, 18 stations.On the coasts of Lakes Ontario,

Erie, Huron, Superior, Michigan,58 stations.It will be seen that there is thus

practically the same number of stationsas there are Life-boats maintained bythe ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTI-TUTION, but each station is provided withtwo surf-boats, and with two sets ofbreeches buoy apparatus.

The United States at present have 68motor Life-boats of the McLellan type(36 ft. by 8 ft. 7 • 5 in. S.R., with 35H.P.). There are also thirty convertedsailing boats with 20 to 25 H.P. engines.The most interesting feature about these" surf-boats " is that the shafts of theirtwin-screws are jointed just outside theirboxes, and fitted with folding struts, sothat, when they are being launchedthrough the surf, the propellers fold upagainst the hull under each quarter,thus preventing any contact with theground.

2

650 THE LIFE-BOAT. [1ST MAY, 1912.

In the year 1910, 664 persons were" succoured " ; it is not clear from thisterm whether all these persons wereactually saved from shipwreck or not.The United States annual reports donot show the number of persons savedsince the establishment of the service.

It is interesting to note that the costof this, the only extensive Life-boatservice carried out entirely by theGovernment of the country, was in 1910,£468,000; but, as shown above, thisincludes the whole cost of the mainten-ance of the Life-saving service, includinga large number of motor-boats.

FKANCE.The Societe Centrale de Sauvetage

des Naufrages was founded in 1865.In 1911 there were 110 Life-boat

stations, all of them provided with therocket life-saving apparatus, as well asLife-boats. But there are, besides, manystations where no crew can be obtainedfor a Life-boat, but where posts forrocket apparatus, or line-throwingmachinery are provided.

The Society also provides for thewatching of the coast in the areacovered by its operations.

In 1910 398 lives were saved, 147 byLife-boats, 29 by life-saving apparatus,and 221 by other means.

The total number of lives saved up toDecember 1st, 1910, was 18,590, ofwhich 15,109 were saved by Life-boats,and 3,481 by shore boats, life-savingapparatus, and other means.

The above figures refer to theoperations of the Societe Centrale deSauvetage des Naufrages only. There aretwo other and smaller societies, of whichthe annual reports have not beenreceived. All three societies receive jconsiderable assistance from the FrenchMinistry of Marine.

GERMANY.The Gesellschaft zur Rettung Schiffs-

briichiger was founded in 1865. Thereare 129 stations, 61 of which areprovided with both Life-boats and rocketapparatus. Fifty-one have Life-boatsonly (one of these is a motor-boat).Seventeen are provided with rocketapparatus only.

In 1910, 57 lives were saved, of which53 were saved by Life-boats, and four

by rocket apparatus. The total numberof lives saved since 1865 is 3,676, ofwhich 3,146 were saved by Life-boatsand 530 by rocket apparatus.

The Society is supported entirely byvoluntary contributions, although itreceives the patronage of the Emperorand other members of the Imperialfamily.

THE NETHERLANDS.There are three societies engaged in

the active work of life-saving. Thechief of these is the " Noord-en-Zuid-hollandsche Reddingmaatschappy " (TheNorth and South Holland RescueCompany), which was founded, like theROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITU-TION, in 1824. It maintains 32 stations,of which 24 are provided with Life-boats(two of these are motor-boats), whileall are supplied with rocket or otherlife-saving apparatus. Eight lives weresaved in 1910. The total number savedsince the foundation of the Society is4,324.

The Society enjoys the patronage ofthe Prince of the Netherlands, but isentirely supported by voluntary con-tributions.

The operations of the " ZmdhoUand-sche Maatschappy tot Redding vanSchipbreukelingen" (South HollandCompany for Rescuing ShipwreckedPersons), and of two minor societies, aredirected to assisting persons who havebeen rescued from shipwreck. Theirwork corresponds, in fact, broadly tothat done in Great Britain by theShipwrecked Mariners' Society. Theirannual reports have not been received.

DENMARK.The service Was established by the

State in 1852.There are 56 stations, with 57 boats.In 1910 128 were saved by Life-boats.

The total number saved by Life-boatsand rocket apparatus was 134. The totalnumber saved by both means since the1st January, 1852, is 8,837,

SWEDEN.The Swedish Society was founded

with its present organization in 1907,but Life-boat stations appear to havebeen established shortly after 1854, andthese stations were taken over by the

IST MAY, 1912.] THE LIFE-BOAT. 651

present Society. There are 16 stations,of which seven are provided with Life-boats and rocket apparatus, while fiveare Life-boat stations only, and four arerocket apparatus stations only.

The total number of lives saved since1856 is 1,854. Of these, 830 weresaved by Life-boats, 131 by rocketapparatus, and 893 by other means(probably chiefly by shore boats).

The Society is supported entirely byvoluntary contributions.

NORWAY.The Norsk Selskab til Skibbrudnes

Redning was founded in 1893. It

ANNUALThe eighty-eighth Annual General

Meeting of the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION was held in theWhitehall Rooms on Thursday, March14th, 1912. His Grace the Duke ofNorthumberland, K.G., presided, andamongst those present were: — TheRight Hon. the Earl "Waldegrave, P.O.,V.P. (Chairman of the Committee ofManagement), Sir John Cameron Lamb,C.B., C.M.G., V.P. (Deputy-Chairman),Admiral John Halliday Cave, C.B.,V.P., Sir Godfrey Baring, Bart., M.P.,Mr. Harold D. Clayton, the Hon.George C. Colville, Colonel the Hon.Charles E. Edgcumbe, Mr. John BevillFortescue, Lieut. H. T. Gartside-Tipping, R.N., Mr. Harry Hargood,Mr. Eugene F. Noel, Captain RobertPitman, C.M.G., R.N., Captain GeorgeB. Preston, Sir Boverton Redwood,Bart., Rear-Admiral Hector B. Stewart,the Deputy - Master of the TrinityHouse, the Hydrographer of theAdmiralty, Mr. Alfred G. Topham, SirAllen W. Young, C.V.O., C.B., theRight Hon. Sir George Houston Reid,G.C.M.G., P.O., Sir Henry Craik,K.C.B., M.P., Mr. John Last Sayer,Commander St. Vincent Nepean,M.V.O., R.N., Mr. George F. Shee,M.A. (Secretary of the Institution),Commander Thomas Holmes, R.N.(Chief Inspector of Life-boats), Mr.William Spicer (Assistant Secretary),Captain Sir F. Hervey-Bathurst, Bart.,and Capt. A. C. Gust.

The CHAIRMAN, in opening the proceedings,said: The first duty I have to perform on this

maintains 23 boats. In 1910 74 liveswere saved, the total since the founda-tion of the Society being 1,610. TheSociety is supported entirely by voluntarycontributions.

PORTUGAL.The service is carried on by a private

Society which controls both the Life-boat and the life-saving apparatus.There are 31 Life-boats, two of whichare equipped with auxiliary motors.The total number of persons saved byevery means during 1910 was 785. Thetotal number saved since the formationof the Society is 4,872.

MEETING.occasion is the presentation of the AnnualReport. I do not know that there is verymuch in the Report which makes it necessaryfor me to detain you at any length, hut it ifisatisfactory to note that the work of thisInstitution goes on steadily, and that in thepast year our awrage successes in the savingof life have been normal; we have done verymuch the same as in former years, and thereis no striking difference in any direction.

Perhaps the best criterion of the value ofour-work is afforded by a comparison betweenthe number of lives lost on our coasts andthe number that the Life-boat service succeedsin rescuing from a watery grave. Here theBoard of Trade figures provide us with thenecessary data. In the year ending 30th June,1910, the total number of lives lost in casualtieson the coasts of the United Kingdom was 350.In the same period the Life-boats of the In-stitution saved 427 lives, while 188 were savedby shore-boats and were rewarded by the In-stitution. If we go further back and take whatwe have done since the year 1861 we findthat, while on an average 600 lives were lostannually, the Institution has been instru-mental in saving an average of 700 lives a year.No less than 50,081 lives had been saved bythe Institution sines it was first started inthe year 1824 up to the 31st December last,and if we remember that for a good numberof years after 1824 the Institution was in verylow water, I think its work in later years con-stitutes a very creditable record. (Hear, hear.)

Eight new Life-boats were sent to the coastlost year, and three of these were motorboats. The efforts of the Committee are now,as always, directed to taking advantage of thelatest scientific improvements in every possi-ble way, and I am sure that we shall all agreeon one thing—that if we expect men to risktheir lives in this Life-boat service it is ourbounden duty to spare no expense and notrouble in making their efforts as litble dan-gerous as the conditions of the case renderpossible.

Now, I should Mke to say one word aboutour position as regards other countries. Youknow we Englishmen are rather apt to crab

652 THE LIFE-BOAT. [1ST MAF, 1912.

ourselves. We perhaps boast a little when wetalk to our neighbours, but when we talkamongst ourselves we are very apt to say wedon't do things half as well as other nationsdo. As regards this Life-boat service, let mesay this: that it has been the Life-boat ser-vice of the United Kingdom which has spurredon other nations to adopt our methods, andwhich gave an example for other nations toimitate as far as they could. There are nowLife-boat services in France, Germany, Russia,Italy, Spain, Portugal, Denmark, Norway,Sweden, and Turkey, as well as in our overseaDominions, Australia, Canada, and SouthAfrica. And we do all we can to give allthese countries the advantage of our longexperience in order to assist the efforts whichthey are making in their endeavours to savelife at sea. But there is one country whichI think presents a very useful lesson to us.You have heard, I am sure, from time to timeproposals that the Life-boat service should betaken over by the Government of the country.There is a sort of idea in some people's mindsthat that abstract thing called the Govern-ment can do things so very much better thanprivate people, and that idea has been ex-tended to the Life-boat service. People havesaid, "Why should it not be a NationalService instead of being carried on by a privateInstitution ? " Well, in the United States itis carried on, and carried on very efficiently,by the Government of the day; and althoughtheir sea-coast is vastly more extensive thanours yet it is possible to compare the twobecause, curiously enough, they have 281stations provided with Life-boats, while wehave 283 Life-boats on our coasts. The costof that service to the United States is468,OOOZ. a year, and the service of our Insti-tution is carried on at 100,0002. Now, thesefigures are useful, I think, in two ways. Firstof all, it shows the vast economy which iseffected by private effort as compared withthe effort of the State; and, secondly, it is agoad reply to some of those—I trust thefeeling has died down now, but I remember itwas rather rife some years ago—who say thatwe spend a very large amount of money eachyear. As I have said before, it is very neces-sary that we should secure the absolutely bestappliances if we are to expect men to risktheir lives in the service, and I do not believewe should be justified in cheeseparing. But.after all, I do not think we can be said to beextravagant. We spend less than a quarterof the sum the United States finds it neces-sary to spend for practically the same numberof Life-boats.

I don't think there is anything more todetain you with. But there is one matter ofgreat congratulation. You will rememberthat recently the Life-boat Saturday Fundwas absorbed by the Institution. That Fundwas a very useful auxiliary in spurring peopleforward to subscribe and to contribute to theLife-boat service, and it might have beenthought that when that stimulus was removedthere might have been a falling off in thesubscriptions. But I am happy to be ableto remind you that the revenue from Sub-scriptions, Donations, and remittances from

Branches was somewhat larger last year thanit has been for some years post. (Applause.)We want all the money we can get, however.You must remember that the Legacies whichare left us are largely spent in providing thenecessary expenditure of the Institution, andwe certainly do want a very large guaranteefund, as I might call it, behind us for payingour way, so that we may be able to investmost Legacies. One regrets to have to spendLegacies as income, so that, although we arefortunate in the support that we get, we wanta great deal more.

I now present the Report to you. If anylady or gentleman wishes to make any obser-vations we shall be very glad to hear them.(Applause.)

As no one wishes to make any remarks Iwill ask the Secretary to read the names ofthose proposed to fill the offices of President,Vice-Presidents, members of the Committeeof Management, and Auditors.

The SECBETABY read the names of theCommittee of Management as follows:—

President.The Duke of Northumberland.

Vice-Presidents.The Archbishop of Canterbury.The Duke of Leeds.The Duke of Portland.The Duke of Abercorn.The Marquis of Ailsa.The Earl of Rosebery.The Earl Waldegrave.The Earl Brassey.The Viscount Clifden.Colonel Sir FitzRoy Clayton.Sir John Cameron Lamb.Admiral John Halliday Cave.

Treasurer.The Earl of Harrowby.

Other Members of the Committee ofManagement.

The Rt. Hon. the Earl of Albemarle, K.C.V.O.,C.B., A.D.C.

Major-Gen. Edward A. Altham, C.B., C.M.G.Sir Godfrey Baring, Bart., M.P.Admiral the Right Hon. Lord Charles W. de la

Poor Berestord, G.C.B., G.C.V.O., M.P.Robert Birkbeok, Esq.Admiral Claude E. Buckle.Charles J. P. Cave, Esq.Kenneth M. Clark, Esq.Harold D. Clayton, Esq.The Hon. George C. Colville.Sir William Conry, Bart.William 0. Dawes, Esq.The Rt. Hon. the Earl of Derby, G.C.V.O., C.B.Sir George Doughty, M,P.Admiral Sir William Montagu Dowell, G.C.B.Colonel the Hon. Charles E. Edgcumbe.Sir Robert Uniaofce Penrose FitzGerald, Bart.John Bevill Fortescue, Esq.Lieut. H. T. Gartside-Tipping, R.N.Admiral Sir Richard Vesey Hamilton, G.C.B.Harry Hargood, Esq.The Right Hon. Arnold Morley.Eugene F. Noel, Esq.Admiral of the Fleet Sir Gerard H. U. Noel

K.C.B., K.O.M.G.

IST MAT, 1912.] THE LIFE-BOAT. 653

Captain Robert Pitman, O.M.G., R.N.Captain George B. Preston.Sir Boverton Redwood, Bart.Colonel the Right Hon. John E. Bernard

Seely, D.S.O., M.P.The Hon. W. P. D. Smith.Rear-Admiral Hector B. Stewart.Sir Thomas Sutherland, G.C.M.G.The Admiral Commanding Coast Guard and

Reserves.The Deputy-Master of the Trinity House.The Hydrographer of the Admiralty.J. Herbert Thewlis, Esq.Alfred G. Topham, Esq.Francis FitzPaMck Tower, Esq.Sir William Henry White, K.C.B., F.R.S.Sir Richard Henry Williams-Bulkeley, Bart.Sir Allen W. Young, C.B., C.V.O.

Auditors.Messrs. Price, Waterhouse and Co.

The CHAIRMAN then called upon the RightHon. Sir George Houston Reid, G.C.M.G.,P.O., to move the first Resolution.

Sir GEORGE REID said:—When I receivedan invitation to come to this meeting andmove a Resolution, my first feeling was oneof surprise that a man from Australia shouldbe asked to undertake this duty. But mynext feeling was one of very great pride to beidentified with the proceedings of an Insti-tution whose fame has spread over the wholeface of the earth. Now in Australia we area very young people scattered over a greatcontinent—J think we have about 10,000miles of coast line—but we are among thecommunities which have followed the splendidexample set by this noble Life-boat Insti-tution so many years ago. Our Life-boatsare under the Government, but you can quiteunderstand that in a new country there aremany useful and noble undertakings whichthe Government is compelled to undertake.But I confess I admire infinitely more thebasis upon which this Royal NationalLife-boat Institution rests. There is inthe voluntary effort, the voluntary liberality,and the voluntary zeal which has animatedthis body in its various Committees for somany years—there is in that a great dealwhich helps to diffuse good influences, whichI think were never more wanted than theyare now. This country is a very small onegeographically, but its trade is somethingstupendous. The trade of the United Kingdomis now somewhere about twelve-hundred-and-fifty millions sterling a year, and that is one-huudred-and-forty millions a year more thanthe combined trade of Germany and France.Then in the Empire there are nineteenmillions of tons under the Red Ensign. Isnot that a stupendous thought ?

The noble Chairman referred to the factthat English people still love to disparagethings in the family circle. I think there isa great deal too much of that. On the otherhand there is some good to be got out of it,because complacency in these days of incessantstruggle and rivalry is perhaps the worst sortof luxury we can indulge in. Personally Ifeel grateful to the pessimists for the gruel

they give us so often. But I decline to makeit a staple article of food. (Laughter.) Itis very good as a medicine, but not as anourishment.

Now the extensive nature of the operationsof this Life-boat Institution strike me verymuch; 283 Life-boats are managed under thevarious Committees of this national Institu-tion. The number of lives that have beensaved, over 50,000, since this Institution wasfounded is a noble record. At present everyyear 600 lives are lost around our coasts.Just think what a great fight this Institutionmakes when out of 1,300 lives in deadly perilat least 700 every year are saved b/ the menwho man the Life-boats of this Institution I

I am asked to move :—" That this meeting,fully recognising the important services ofthe Royal National Life-boat Institution inits national work of life-saving, desires torecord its hearty appreciation of the gallantryof the Coxswains and Crews of the Institu-tion's Life-boats, and gratefully to acknow-ledge the valuable help rendered to thecause by the Local Committees, HonorarySecretaries, Honorary Treasurers, and Ladies'Auxiliaries."

I am sure that this is a motion which youwill carry with very great gratitude. ThisInstitution's operations extend over a greatarea, they involve a number of difficultmatters of detail, and I fancy the manage-ment of the Institution is remarkable in itssmooth and efficient working. So we wantto thank the Committees. I see there areLadies' Auxiliary Committees. I think thatis a great thing. The enthusiasm of theladies is priceless, almost always. (Laughter.)But above all we do feel unbounded gratitudeto the men who take these Life-boats out,the men who hold their lives at hazard forevery storm that breaks upon the coasts ofthe British Isles. In these days there is agreat deal of pleasure seeking, there is a greatdeal of money making. There is also a greatdeal of charity and benevolence. But allthese things, what are they compared to thematter-of-fact, unobtrusive heroism, thesublime unselfishness of these men who,although their lives are mainly spent onshore, hold them in sacred trust always forthose in peril on the sea ? (Cheers.)

Sir HENRY CRAIK, K.C.B., M.P., in second-ing the Resolution, said:—It gives me thevery greatest pleasure to be present here at thesuggestion of jour able Secretary.

The record of the work of this Institutionas performed from the time it was foundedsome 90 years ago is really a wonderful onewhen we come to think of it. More especiallyis it when we contrast it, as some of us wholook back must, with the fact that withinthe memory of those who were living whenthis Institution was founded a wreck upon thecoast was counted a gift of Providence out ofwhich the inhabitants ought to make the bestthey could. But you have brought out anotherspirit and another aspect of the matter. We,as a maritime nation, into whose hands thegreat mercantile interests of the world aremainly entrusted, find it our duty, above

654 THE LIFE-BOAT. [1ST MAY, 1912.

all other nations, to perform the servicesrendered by this Institution to the shipwrecked mariner. To many it would appearthat this was a national duty to be taken upby national machinery. I am glad above althings, Mr. Chairman, that you have steppeoin. and continued that work without comingwithin the fetters of State organization anoState control. Nothing can be better thanthat what can be done by citizens for them-selves should be done by themselves, and notby any State agency. It is absolutely certainthat under State agency methods would becramped, you would be forced to run incertain fixed channels, energy, originality,and enterprise which you get from individualswould be lost, and another considerablematter, not, perhaps, the greatest, yourexpense, would he enormously increased. Ihave worked the greater part of my life inState administration; but not its best friendswill say that, whatever its virtues, economyis one. (Laughter.)

Well, I do not want to occupy.your attentiononce more with celebrating the self-sacrifice,comradeship and heroism of those who atthese 283 centres, all of which have a Life-boat, are showing themselves capable as yourcrews. But I wish to call attention to thathumbler band of sturdy beggars who areworking on your behalf. Your work wouldnot go on without the great unseen work, notin the limelight and not celebrated for itsheroism, of those who from day to day aredoing the spade work, getting the materialsfor your great enterprise, and bringing thegrist to the mill, which would be uselesswithout it. (Hear, hear.)

In seconding this motion I would ask youto remember with gratitude, and to stir up byyour encouragement, those who, in everycorner of this land, are working on yourbehalf, interesting their neighbours in yourcause, and gathering for you those subscrip-tions that are so essential for your purpose.(Applause.)

The CHAIBMAN then put the Resolution tothe meeting, and it was carried unanimously.

The Bt. Hon. the EARL WALDEGBAVE, P.O.,in moving a vote of thanks to the Chairman,said: Before proposing the vote which I amgoing to speak to you about, I should like toexpress, on my own behalf and, as Chairmanof the Institution, on behalf of my colleagueson the Committee of Management, my greatregret that my predecessor in the Chair, ColonelSir FitzRoy Clayton, is unable through illnessto be here to-day. For a great many yearshe devoted himself most heartily to this work,and we all wish he was here with us. I feelsure that you will all join heartily with me inwishing him better health and in expressingregret that he is not able to be here to-day.(Hear, hear.) It is now my great pleasure toask you to give a vote of thanks to His Gracethe Duke of Northumberland for presidingover this meeting to-day. It is most appro-priate that he should be in the Chair, notonly because he is at this moment ourPresident, but because of the very importantfact that his family have been connected

with this Institution almost from its infancy.In 1851 the Fourth Duke of Northumberlandbecame second President of the Institutionand devoted himself most heartily to thework. He offered a prize of one hundredguineas for the best model of a Life-boat,and a further hundred guineas for a Boat builtto the approved model selected. This Boat,which was built, I think, by Mr. Beeching,was the first self-righting Life-boat ever built,and may roughly be said to be the origin ofthe Life-boats of the present day. Ever sincethis great predecessor, who wan the secondPresident, the family of the Nocthumberlandshas shown the greatest interest in the workof this Institution, and we are very glad tohave the present Grace as our President andto have him in the Chair to-day. I would askyou all to give him a hearty vote of thanks.

The motion I have the honour to move is :" That the best thanks of this Meeting begiven to his Grace the Duke of Northumber-land, K.G., for presiding over this the Eighty^eighth Annual General Meeting of the ROYALNATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION."

Mr. JOHN LAST SATEB, in seconding themotion, said : It is a very great honour to becalled upon to second this Resolution. Icommenced work for th« City of LondonBranch under Sir Edward Birkbeck, the lateChairman ot the Institution. In. those daysthe collections from that Branch onlyamounted to about 5002. a year. But lastyear we got about 7,OOW. (Applause.) Wehope and trust we shall be able to reach10,0001. (Applause.) That is our aim, andwhen we see gentlemen like our Chairman ofto-day devoting their time to assisting anInstitution whose object is the saving of life,it is very gratifying and encouraging to us, asit must be to all those who are working for thecause. Our work could not go on without theexample of out noble leaders, and I have verymuch pleasure in seconding the Resolution.

The EABL WALDEQBAVE put the motionand it was carried with acclamation.

His Grace the DUKE OF NOBTHUMBEBLAND,K.G., in replying, said: I cordially thank Lord"Waldegrave and Mr. Sayer for putting thisResolution to you, and you, ladies and gentle-men, for the way you have received it. Itjives me very great pleasure to do any workit any time I can for our National Institution.As Lord Waldegrave said, I have almost aHereditary interest in the Institution, and Iaave been a member of the Committee, though[ am afraid a very idle one, for a considerablenumber of years. I cannot sit down withoutsaying how cordially I endorse what LordWaldegrave has said of our regret that ColonelSir FitzRoy Clayton cannot be here this after-noon. As long as my memory carries mejack in connexion with the Institution Icannot remember a time when Sir FitzRoyClayton was not a leading spirit in its work,iaking the most strenuous and lively interestn its welfare; and I believe there is no one

connected with the Royal National Life->oat Institution to whom we owe more than

we do to him for its successful position at the'resent time. (Applause.)

IST MAY, 1912.] THE LIFE-BOAT. 655

VISIT OF THE DEPUTY-CHAIRMAN AND SIR GERARD NOELTO ST. ABBS, DUNBAR AND SKATERAW.

THE management and the practicalworking of a great national servicelike that of the Life-boat demand theconstant attention of the technicalofficers of the Institution ; and these,under the direction of the Chief In-spector of Life-boats, are daily engagedin visiting all the Life-boat Stations intheir respective areas, inspecting theboats, boathouses, slipways, etc., exer-cising the crews and conferring with

St. Abbs, to which Station a motorLife-boat was sent in April, 1911.The difficulty is a peculiar one, andthough in one respect due to purelynatural causes, viz., to the terrible rushof the sea in north-easterly gales at thenarrow entrance of the harbour, inanother it may be said to be due to thebravery, promptness and efficiency of thecrew. This may appear paradoxical, butit will be readily understood by readers

THE MOTOR LIFE-BOAT, 8T. ABBS.

those public-spirited persons who aregood enough to look after the interestsof the Institution in an honorarycapacity.

Notwithstanding this permanent pro-vision, however, it occurs from time totime that some difficult and knottyquestion arises which requires the directintervention of the Committee ofManagement. In such cases the Com-mittee depute some of their number tomake an investigation on the spot.

A case of this kind recently aroseat the newly - established Station at

' who realise, first, that in the conditions: which would involve the maximum of! danger to a boat attempting to make toI sea a wreck would be very likely to| occur, and, second, that a Coxswainj and crew full of that pluck and spiriti of humanity which are so characteristicof the typical Life-boatman could noteasily be restrained from going out byany consideration of danger.

Such are the conditions at St. Abbs,and it was with a view to seeing whatmeasures, if any, could be taken toguard against undue risk of disaster

2 Q 3

656 THE LIFE-BOAT. [1ST MAY, 1912.

(risk there must always be) that theDeputy-Chairman of the Institutionand Admiral of the Fleet Sir GerardNoel visited St. Abbs in February last.The Deputy-Chairman devotes most ofhis time to the Life-boat Institution,and is the author of "The Life-boatand Its Work." Sir Gerard Noel'stitle is sufficient to indicate the ex-perience and knowledge of the sea -withwhich he would approach the problemwe have indicated. These two membersof the Committee were accompanied by

j Commander Thomas Holmes, R.N., theChief Inspector of Life-boats, and werejoined by Lieutenant Forbes, B.N., theDistrict Inspector; and in their en-quiries they had the advantage of thecordial co-operation and hospitality ofMiss Hay, the Honorary Secretary ofthe St, Abbs Station, as well as theconstant and valuable assistance of Mr.Bertram, the Honorary Secretary ofthe Dunbar and Skateraw Stations andthe Joint Honorary Secretary forSt. Abbs.

They made a careful examination ofthe coast to the south of the harbour atSt. Abbs and confirmed the view of thetechnical officers that an alternativelaunching place in that direction fromeither the Jiarbour or Coldingham Baycould not be recommended. They thenvisited Petticoe Wick, which had beensuggested as a possible position for theLife-boat, as there is fairly good pro-tection from north-easterly gales. Thecrew would, however, have to be con-veyed from St. Abbs either along afootpath or by a road which is littlebetter than a cart-track. The footpathwould be dangerous if not impossibleon a dark stormy night, being a seriesof steep and slippery ascents anddescents. The cart-road is also veryrough, and it would be difficult to drivea crew and helpers along it in thedark. Moreover, if the motor boatwere stationed at Petticoe Wick, itcould not be properly attended to unlessa mechanic were stationed there to lookafter it, in which case a cottage wouldhave to be built for him, and he wouldbe quite isolated and very lonely. Theconclusion they arrived at, therefore,

was adverse to the Life - boat beingstationed at Petticoe Wick.

They ascertained that on the occasionof the loss with all hands of thes.s. Alfred Hrlandsen, which led theCommittee of Management to establisha Station at St. Abbs, a motor boatcould have got out of the harbour withsafety and might have saved the un-fortunate crew; also, that within thememory of the oldest fishermen therehad never been an accident to thefishing boats at the entrance to theharbour.

In their report, which was approvedby the Committee of Management atthe monthly meeting in March, theDeputy-Chairman and Sir Gerard Noelrecommended that the motor boat beallowed to remain at St. Abbs oncertain stringent conditions, to theeffect that, in galea from any quarterbetween north by #ast and easfc bynorth-east), the fisher members of theCommittee must be consulted, and thatthe boat is not to go out except withtheir concurrence and the express ap-proval of the Honorary Secretary and(or) the Chairman.

They also recommended that a per-manent motor mechanic should bestationed at St. Abbs in order to securethat the motor may be constantlyexercised and her machinery kept inperfect condition.

The Deputy-Chairman and Sir GerardNoel took the opportunity to inspectthe Stations at Dunbar and Skateraw,and found both in excellent condition,with efficient and well-organized arrange-ments for launching the boats. Thereare conditions when it is difficult forthe Dunbar boat to go out to sea, butin that case the Skateraw boat canalways launch, and the arrangementsfor conveying the crew to Skaterawwork very well. The position of Skate-raw is undoubtedly better than. anyother in the neighbourhood.

This account may be of interest toour readers as showing how the Com-mittee of Management keep in touchwith the practical working of the Life-boat service and endeavour to meet anydifficulty which may arise.

IST MAY, 1912.] THE LIFE-BOAT. 657

SERVICES OF THE LIFE-BOATS OF THE EOYAL NATIONALLIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION.

BKOADSTAIHS, KENT. — The ketchTrojan, of Jersey, bound from Londonto Morlaix, Brittany, was wrecked onthe Goodwin Sands on the 14th Julysoon after 2 A.M. The Life-boat FrancisForbes Barton was launched in responseto signals, and on reaching the ketchthe master engaged the Life-boatmento save the vessel. A motor-boat fromthe shore also proceeded to the ketchand put two men on board. As aheavy sea was running on the sandsthe motor-boat was obliged to seekshelter in smooth water and later toreturn ashore, leaving her two men onthe vessel. All the men on board madestrenuous efforts to save the ketch;fifteen tons of cargo were jettisoned totry and lighten the vessel, but as thetide rose the sea made and the vesselbecame a total wreck. As soon as itwas seen that there was no hope ofsaving the craft the Life-boat rescuedthe crew of four hands and the twomen belonging to the motor-boat. Inaddition to the men the Life-boatbrought ashore two canaries, and, ac-cording to the accounts which sub-sequently appeared in the press, thehen bird never left her nest.

MINEHEAD, SOMERSET. — A strongS.E. gale sprang up on the 29th July,and at 5 P.M. information was receivedby telephone from Hurlstone signal-station that a boat was in distress. Thecrew of the Life-boat George Leicesterwere summoned and in seven minutesthe Life-boat was afloat. Shortly after-wards another message was receivedstating the boat in distress had beenpicked up by a yacht, and that theservices of the Life-boat would not berequired. Signals were made to recallthe boat, but about this time the cox-swain observed a small yacht—thePastime, of Bristol—flying signals ofdistress. The Life-boat proceeded toher, took her in tow and brought herinto safety. Another message was thenreceived reporting that the yacht whichwas towing the first mentioned boat hadhad her mast carried away. The Life-boat was at ou.ce sent to their assistance,

but before she reached them a passengersteamer took them in tow for Minehead.The Life-boat returned under canvasand on the way picked up and towed ina small pleasure boat that was unableto make the harbour.

' RUNSWICK, YOBKSHIBB. — The s.s.Onslow, of London, carrying crew oftwenty-six hands, stranded at Kettle-ness Point during a dense fog on 12thAugust. She was loaded with coal atthe time. Information of the accidentreached Bunswick at 8 A.M. and theLife-boat Hester Rothschild was des-patched to their assistance. The seawas calm everywhere except close tothe rocks. The mea on board declinedto leave their vessel, but the Life-boat,at the request of the captain, stood bythe ship all day until the sea on therocks moderated.

MONTROSE, FORFARSHIRE. — On themorning of the 24th August, the weatherbeing fine, the fishing fleet put to sea, butthe S.S.E. wind freshened and caused thesea on the bar to rise, until about 10 A.M.,when it had become so heavy that itwas considered unsafe for the smallboats not already in harbour to attemptto cross the bar. At 10.45 A.M. the Life-boat Sarah Jane Turner was launchedand proceeded to sea, the boats Betsyand Meggie being in danger. The sixmen forming the crews were asked ifthey would come into the Life-boat, butthey preferred to remain on board theirboats, asking the Life-boat to keepclose to them over the bar in case ofdisaster. The boat did so accordingly,and was able to return to her houseat 12.30 P.M.

YARMOUTH, NORFOLK. —At 7.15 P.M.on 19th September, when a fresh breezewas blowing from the S.W. accom-panied by a rough sea, the St. Nicholaslight-vessel fired signals denoting thata vessel was in distress, and about thesame time a vessel was observed3 appar-ently ashore, on the inside part of theScroby Sands. The Life-boat John Burchwas launched and proceeded to the

658 THE LIFE-BOAT. [1ST MAT, 1912.

vessel, •which proved to be the fishing-smack Soy Sen, of Lowestoft, boundfor the North Sea fishing-grounds.Before the Life-boat arrived she hadgot off the sands, but she had no sailsset with the exception of the mizzen,and her anchor was hanging in thewater. As the vessel was drifting, theLife-boat stood by her until sail hadbeen set; she then returned to herstation.

COURTOWN, WEXFOED. — On 22ndSeptember, during a strong S.S.E. gale,the Bobert FitzStephens Life-boat waslaunched in answer to signals of distressfrom the schooner Violet, of Arklow,which was at anchor off Oourtown. Onarrival alongside, the coxswain foundthat owing to the gale and heavy seaone of the vessel's cables had carriedaway and that the remaining anchorwas dragging. There were three menon board, and as they feared the schoonerwould be driven ashore and wrecked,they were taken into the Life-boat andlanded. The vessel fortunately rodeout the gale.

BARMOUTH, MERIONETHSHIRE. — At5.30 P.M. on 25th September it wasreported to the Honorary Secretarythat the little fishing smack Dobell, ofCarnarvon, was out in Barmouth Bayand was making for port, the weatherhaving suddenly become squally andboisterous, and blowing strong fromS. S. W. The Honorary Secretary took his" glass " and went to see how the smackwas faring. He found that she wasalmost on the bar ; and the next momentshe stranded in heavy seas, havingcarried away some of her sails. Realis-ing that if help was not promptly forth-coming the smack would be wreckedand her two occupants perish, theHonorary Secretary called out the Life-boat Jones-Gibb with all speed. In lessthan half an hour the Life-boat reachedthe Dohell and brought both the menand the boat into the harbour safely.

GORLESTON, SUFFOLK,—At 1.5 A.M.on the 26th September signals wereobserved from a vessel to the north-eastward of the station. They wereduly reported to the Coxswain, who

promptly summoned his crew. TheMark Lane was launched, and found asmall steamer bumping heavily on theScoby Sands. The master of the vesselstated that he was not desirous ofleaving her ; he wished, if possible, toget the vessel clear of the sand at highwater. The Life-boat, therefore, stoodby until 8 A.M., when the vessel wasworked clear. No further service beingrequired, the boat returned to herstation, arriving at 8.45 A.M. Thevessel was the steamer Elsie, of Hull,and had a crew of five men on board.

PENMON, ANGLESEY. —On the morn-ing of the 26th September the fishing-boat Margaret and Alice, of Liverpool,grounded on the rocks on the east endof Puffin Island, and made signals ofdistress for assistance: The crew ofthe Life-boat Christopher Brown 'weresummoned from Beaumaris, and theboat launched to her assistance. Onreaching the vessel it was found thatthe crew of four hands wished to belanded as they feared their vessel wouldbecome a total wreck. The weatherwas very unsettled at the time, andif- the wind had freshened the menwould have been in considerabledanger. They were accordingly takeninto the boat and brought to Penmon,where they were landed at 4 P.M.

CLOVELLY, N. DEVON.—At 11.35 A.M.on the 30th September a telephonemessage was received at the coastguard'sstation, Clovelly, from the coastguard atHartland Point, to the effect that aketch was showing signals of distress.The Coxswain of the Life-boat ElinorRoget was immediately informed andthe boat promptly launched. She pro-ceeded at once to the vessel, which wasabout four miles distant. The ketchproved to be the Dew-i-wyn of Bideford.She had had her headsails blown awayin the moderate gale which then pre-vailed, and in addition to making a lotof water, was unmanageable, as thesteering gear was out of order. Thecrew of three hands were rescued in anexhausted condition, and the boat landedthem at Clovelly in a very heavy sea.This was a very expeditious service andwas carried out in a very creditable

IST MAY, 1912.] THE LIFE-BOAT. 659

manner. At the time of the casualtythe ketch was bound from Plymouth toPembroke with a cargo of bricks. Shesubsequently foundered at her anchors.

BEMBRIDGB, ISLE OF WIGHT.—In theearly morning of the 30th Septemberthe ketch Energy, of Gloucester, strandedon Bembridge Ledge, and some of thelocal fishermen went off to her in alarge fishing-boat. On arriving at thevessel the captain stated that he wouldremain on board, and as the weatherwas improving the boat returned ashore.The captain told them that should herequire any assistance he would makefurther signals. At about 11.30 A.M.the wind flew into the north and in-creased to a gale, and about the sametime signals were hoisted on the vessel.The Life - boat Queen Victoria waspromptly launched and proceeded tothe ketch. Five men were placed onboard, who assisted to stow the sails,but it was found that nothing furthercould be done, as the water came in asfast as the tide flowed. As it wasevident the vessel would become a totalwreck, the crew of three hands wererescued and conveyed to Bembridge.

SOUTHEND-ON-SEA, ESSEX.—At 5 A.M.on the 30th September the Coxswainof the Life-boat James Stevens No. 9,received a message from the pier-headthat a ketch was driving down on tothe pier. The Coxswain assembled hiscrew and proceeded to the assistance ofthe vessel, and on reaching her, the mateengaged the men to salve the vessel ifpossible. She proved to be the Invicta,bound to Hull with a general cargo.At the time of the accident a moderateS.W. gale prevailed, but with the assist-ance of the Life-boatmen the vessel was jgot clear of the pier, and was taken to |Gravesend. •

SOUTHEND-ON-SEA, ESSEX. — At 8.30P.M. on the 30th September the Life-boat James Stevens No. 9 was called outin answer to rockets from the Norelight-vessel. On reaching the " Nore,"the Master reported that he had beenrepeating signals made from the Mouselight-vessel. The boat, therefore, atonce proceeded there, and ascertained

that flares had been seen to the north-eastward. The Life-boat at oncesailed in the direction and found thebarge Audacious, of Colchester, in asinking condition. As it was notpossible to do anything to save thebarge the two men, who were on board,together with their dog, were taken intothe boat. The Life-boat then proceededto search for another vessel which hadshown a flare while the men on thebarge were being rescued. No vessel,however, could be found, and the Life-boat made for home, arriving at hermoorings at 3.30 A.M., after a veryrough passage, as a strong gale wasblowing, accompanied by a very heavysea. As soon as the men and their dogwere landed they were taken to theVictoria Coffee 'Palace, where theyreceived every attention and kindness.

WALTON-ON-NAZE, ESSEX.—At 9 P.M.on the 30th September distress rocketswere seen in the direction of the SwinMiddle light-vessel. The informationwas conveyed to the Coxswain of theLife-boat James Stevens No. 14, androckets were fired to assemble thecrew. The crew responded promptlyand the boat at once put to sea. Onreaching the Swin Middle light-vesselthey found that they were answeringsignals from the Mouse light-ship. Onreaching that light-ship the boat ascer-tained that a vessel was in distressnear the Maplin Sands. The boatmade for the Sands, and found thesunken barge, from which the crew hadalready been rescued by the Soutliendboat; they then proceeded down theSands towards the Maplin light-house,where signals of distress were beingmade. At the same time a flare wasobserved from a vessel on the BarrowSands. The boat immediately made forher and found she was the barge Peace,of Colchester. She was in a water-logged condition and driving on to theSands. The crew of two men and awoman were taken from the barge, and,the woman being in a prostrate con-dition, the Coxswain ran for the nearestport, namely, Sheerness, where theyarrived about 11 A.M. next morning.While making for Sheerness the motor,with which the boat is fitted, failed, owing

660 THE LIFE-BOAT. [1ST MAY, 1912.

to water getting into the hatch. As itwas Sunday morning when the boatarrived at Sheerness, she remained thereuntil the following day, and the motorhaving been put in order, she returnedto her station, arriving at 12.30 P.M.

RAMSGATE, KENT.—The barge Envoy,of Dover, was overtaken by a wholeN.N.W. gale and very heavy sea whennear the Brake Sands, on the 30thSeptember. The Life-boat Charles andSusanna Stephens was despatched to herassistance a few minutes after midnight,and stood by the barge whilst effortswere made by the harbour tug to saveher. Some considerable difficulty wasexperienced in rendering assistance, buteventually the tug was able to get thebarge into safety.

HILBBE ISLAND, CHESHIRE.—Duringa moderate N.N.E. gale on the night of30th September, the Bar light-ship brokeloose from her moorings and commencedto drift towards the banks. Her positionwas one of considerable danger, andsignals of distress attracted the attentionof the Life-boats in the vicinity. TheLife-boat Admiral Briggs was launchedfrom Hilbre Island. On reaching thelight-ship, the crew passed a warp to theboat, and the captain requested theCoxswain to stand by. He accordinglydid so until 8 A.M. Other Life-boatsalso came to the assistance of those onboard the light-ship, but their serviceswere not required. At 8 A.M. theMersey Dock Board's tender took thelight-ship in tow and, the services of theLife-boat being no longer required, shereturned to Hilbre Pool. The Coxswainmade an attempt to re-house the boat,but, owing to the state of the weather,had to leave her afloat until the weathermoderated.

MARGATE, KENT.—At 7.45 P.M. on the1st October the Life-boat Civil ServiceNo. 1 was called out by flares androckets which had been seen in a north-easterly direction. About two milesfrom the east Margate buoy they foundthe schooner Celestina, of Portsmouth,in a dismasted condition, with a steamerin attendance. The Life-boat went toher, and the captain requested the

Coxswain to stand by him, while thesteamer made an effort to tow her to aplace of safety. Several attempts weremade, but the tow ropes carried awayeach time and, as the vessel was drivingtowards the Goodwin Sands, the steamerwas obliged to give up all idea of savingher. The Life-boat then, with verygreat difficulty, rescued the crew, fivein number, who were in a very exhaustedcondition. Owing to the wreckage inthe vicinity of the vessel and the heavysea running, the Life-boat was consider-ably damaged.

SOUTHWOLD, SUFFOLK.—At 6.15 P.M.on the 4th October, it was reported tothe Coxswain of the No. 1 Life-boatAlfred Carry, that a small boat wasdriving south in front of the town withtwo persons on board. As a fresheasterly wind was blowing and therewas too much sea for the boat to getashore, the Life-boat was launched andpicked up the boat about half a mile tothe south of the harbour. The two menin her were rescued and the boat towedinto safety. She was a small fishing-boat named the Boy Arthur, belongingto Kessingland. When the men wererescued the boat was half-filled withwater, and the men were exhaustedfrom baling, and, had it not been forthe timely assistance of the Life-boat,they would in all probability have losttheir lives.

NEWBIGGIN, NORTHUMBERLAND.—TheS.S. Karuma, of Hamburg, ran on to therocks about half a mile north of New-biggin Point, during a very thick fog,on 13th October, whilst bound fromHamburg to the Tyne. The Life-boatAda Lewis was immediately launchedand proceeded to the vessel, but owingto the fog and the darkness thenapproaching it was impossible to ascer-tain whether the vessel was in dangeror not. At the request of the captainthe Life-boat stood by the vessel through-out the night until 6 A.M., when, with the.assistance of tugs, she was refloated onthe flowing tide.

NEWLYN, CORNWALL.—During a thickfog on the night of the 13th Octobera large steamer named the Hammershus,

IST MAY, 1912.] THE LIFE-BOAT. 661

belonging to Copenhagen, stranded inLamorna Cove. At the time a moderateS.S.E. wind was blowing with a roughsea. The Life-boat Elizabeth and Blanchewas launched shortly after 11 P.M., andreached the vessel at about midnight.She found the steamer right under thecliffs, and the captain engaged the crewto salve the vessel. The steamer wasrefloated about 6 A.M. on the 14thOctober, the Life-boat rendering valu-able assistance in the work of salving her.

ARKLOW, Co. WICKLOW.—At 1 A.M.on the 15th October it was reportedthat a schooner was ashore on the northbeach. The rocket apparatus turned outand endeavoured to effect communicationfrom the shore, but the vessel was toofar off, and they failed to reach her.As the men on board were in danger,owing to the heavy sea then prevailing,the Life-boat Frances and Charlotte waslaunched. Whilst proceeding to thevessel she was continually filled byheavy seas, but freed herself readily.On nearing the wreck she was anchoredand veered down to her, and succeededin getting a line on board. Two menforming the crew were taken into theLife-boat, but the master, before hecould be rescued, cut the line which washolding the Life-boat, leaving him aloneon board the vessel. His two comradesdid their best to persuade him toleave, but without avail, and, after atime, the Coxswain decided to take thetwo men ashore, as they were verywet and somewhat exhausted. Whenday dawned the boat again put off tothe wreck, and after some difficultysucceeded in getting alongside. At firstno answer could be obtained fromthe man on board, but, the grapplingshaving been made secure, the two menbelonging to the vessel again proceededon board, and with trouble succeededin persuading the man to come ashore.The vessel, which was the schoonerChampion of th« Seas, belonging to Ar-drossan, eventually became a totalwreck.

WEXFORD, Co. WEXFORD.—In a strongsouth-easterly gale, on 26th October,the ketch Mabel, of Bideford, wentashore on the Dogger Bank, in Wexford

Bay. The vessel, which was loaded withsalt, was bound from Gloucester toWexford. The casualty occurred soonafter 6 A.M., and the crew at oncehoisted signals of distress. The Life-boat James Stevens No. 15 was launchedto her assistance, and in tow of a tugproceeded, against the gale and veryheavy sea, to the sand banks. Shefound the vessel labouring heavily, andthe seas making a clean breach over her.The Life-boat was anchored and veereddown to the wreck, but it was a con-siderable time before the four men, whocomprised the crew, could be rescued,and whilst the boat was alongside shewas frequently filled to the gunwale.As soon as the men were rescued, sailwas made and the boat beat throughthe broken water; she was then againtaken in tow by the tug, which took herand the shipwrecked men to Wexford.This was a very excellent service. Thecrew of the Mabel were taken off afterstrenuous efforts lasting about threehours. There was a very heavy sea onthe Bank at the time, and it was withthe greatest difficulty that the four menwere saved. The vessel very shortlyafter they had been taken off became atotal wreck.

The Committee of Management, inappreciation of the good work done,accorded the crew an additional reward.

RAMSEY, ISLE OF MAN.—At about4 P.M. on the 29th October, during agale of wind from the S.S.E., a ketch,riding about one mile north-east of theharbour, was observed flying signals ofdistress. In response, the crew of theLife-boat Mary Isabella were quicklymustered and the boat launched. Thisproved a very difficult task owing tothe soft sand which was silted up at theend of the slipway. The boat, however,was eventually got afloat, and on reach-ing the ketch, which proved to be theX. L., of Castletown, she took off thefour men on board, and brought themashore.

HARWICH, ESSEX.—In response tosignals of distress fired by the Corklight-vessel on the 30th October, theSteam Life-boat City of Glasgow wassent to sea. On reaching the light-

662 THE LIFE-BOAT. [!ST MAY, 1912.

vessel, the master reported that a vesselwas burning flares to the north-eastward.The boat proceeded in that direction,and found the barge Antje ashore on theFelixstowe beach. As the seas werebreaking heavily over the vessel, the•master determined to abandon her.She was bound at the time from Hullto Harwich with a cargo of coal. Heand his crew of two men, together withtheir dog, were taken into the Life-boat,which conveyed them to Harwich Pier.It was shortly before 4 A.M. when thecrew were landed : as it was felt by themaster that an effort should be made totry to save the vessel, the Life-boatagain proceeded to her, and got a lineon board. The Life-boat succeeded ingetting the barge afloat, but shefoundered a few minutes afterwards.

LLANDUDNO, CARNARVONSHIRE. —Shortly after noon on the 30th Octobera telephone message was receivedstating that a ship was showing signalsof distress in Bhos Bay. The assemblysignal was fired for the crew of the Life-boat, and the boat Theodore Price waspromptly launched. She proceeded undercanvas to the vessel and found her tobe the schooner Jane and Ann, of Car-narvon, laden with coal, and bound fromLiverpool to Fishguard. The masterstated that he required assistance to getup his anchors and help to get toChester. As the wind was blowing amoderate gale from the north-west,accompanied by a heavy sea, six men ofthe Life-boat's crew were placed onboard and rendered the necessary assist-ance ; the boat then returned to herstation, where she arrived at 6.30 P.M.

WALMEE, KENT.—On the morning ofthe 30th October information was re-ceived from the coastguard, that a bargewas driving off St. Margaret's Bay in adismasted condition, and making signalsof distress. The crew of the Life-boatCivil Service No. 4 were summoned,and the boat launched. She proceededto the barge, which proved to be theBirthday, of London, bound from Ports-mouth to Dunkirk. Three Life-boatmenwere put on board the barge and, withthe assistance of a tug, both she and hercrew of three men were saved.

WITHERNSEA, YORKSHIRE. — In theafternoon of 1st November it was foundnecessary to launch the Life-boat to goto the assistance of a small fishing-boatwhich had put off earlier in the daywith a crew of three men. A very heavyground sea had set in, and the sea wasbreaking a long way out from the beach.For the boat to have come ashore wouldcertainly have resulted in her beingswamped, and possibly in loss of life,and as there was no place where theycould land in safety within twelve miles,the Life-boat was despatched to theirassistance and succeeded in rescuing thethree men.

THE LIZARD, CORNWALL.—At about3 o'clock on the 3rd November theNorwegian ship Hansy, of about 1,500tons, bound for Sydney with a cargo oftimber, was wrecked at Penolver, owingto a south-west gale and heavy sea.The coastguard with the rocket appara-tus quickly proceeded to the cliffs justabove the wreck, and with the first shotthey were successful in gettingaline ontothe wreck, and very soon the life-savingapparatus was fixed up and in workingorder. At about the same time theLizard Life-boat, Admiral Sir GeorgeBack, was successfully launched, thisbeing a matter of no little difficulty,owing to the very heavy sea thenrunning. The majority of the crew,together with the captain's wife andchild, were saved by the rocket apparatus,while the captain, one of the officers andone of the crew were saved by theLife-boat.The rescues were accomplished about4.30 P.M. Owing to the very heavy seait was thought best to take the Life-boatto Church Cove. She therefore madefor that place, and was taken back toher station the next day. After theship struck, she speedily filled andsettled down, so that her decks wereawash, and the seas dashed right overher, while her cargo of timber washedout of her and covered the rocks in thevicinity.

ST. ANNE'S, LANCASHIRE.—At 7.30 P.M.on the 5th November signals of distresswere observed from a vessel on Salter'sBank. The wind was blowing with theforce of a whole gale from the south-

IST MAY, 1912.] THE LIFE-BOAT. 663

west, and there was a very heavy sea.The Life-boat James Scarlet waspromptly launched, but until the tideturned at about 11 o'clock all efforts toreach the vessel proved unavailing. Atthat time a further effort was madewhich proved successful. The vesselwas found to be the steamer Bosaleen,of Cardiff, bound from Dublin to Gastonin ballast. The master of the vesselstated that they had left Dublin theprevious afternoon in a moderate gale,which quickly increased to a hurricane.The engines broke down, the stokeholebecame flooded, and" the vessel becamequite unmanageable. She drifted thewhole of the following day, which wasSunday, and finally grounded on Salter'sBank. The crew of eleven hands weretaken into the Life-boat, which arrivedback at St. Anne's at midnight. Themaster of the vessel was loud in hispraises of the St. Anne's Life-boatmen,and expressed his gratitude for thetimely rescue. The shipwrecked men,who were quite destitute, were, on beinglanded, at once provided with food andshelter.

PORT LOGAN, KIRKCUDBRIGHTSHIRE.—The Life-boat Thomas McCunn wassummoned on the morning of the 5thNovember to the assistance of a vesselin distress and wanting help offDrummore. The boat was transportedon her carriage to the vicinity of thedistressed vessel and launched in ahurricane of wind. She succeeded inrescuing the crew of three men andbrought them into safety. The vesselwas the schooner Glide, of Belfast, andwas bound from Maryport to PortLogan with a cargo of coal.

GROOMSPORT AND DONAGHADEE, Co.DOWN.—The schooner Mary, of New-bridge, Cornwall, made signals of dis-tress on the afternoon of the 5thNovember. A strong W.N.W. galewas raging, and the Carrickfergus Life-boat put off to her assistance, but theirhelp was declined. About 3.30 P.M.,when the vessel was in the neighbourhoodof Bangor, it was seen that she was thendragging her anchors, and the Grooms-port Life-boat Chapman was launched jto her assistance. She rescued the crew i

of five hands, and landed them at 7 P.M.About 7.30 A.M. next morning thevessel was observed drifting downchannel, and the information was con-veyed to the Coxswain of the motor Life-boat William and Mary, stationed atDonaghadee. The boat promptly putout to her assistance, and finding noone on board, placed six of the Life-boat's crew on the schooner, and withthe assistance of the boat they succeededin working the vessel into harbour.During this service a whole north-westerly gale prevailed, accompanied bya very heavy sea.

HOLYHEAD, ANGLESEY.—At 7 A.M. onthe 5th November, during a strongW.S.W. gale and very heavy sea.signals of distress were seen on board asmall schooner which was in a verydangerous position and dragging heranchors. The steam Life-boat Dukeof Northumberland proceeded to herassistance and rescued the four men onboard. After the men had been takenout of her the anchors held, but itwould have been impossible for any-body to remain on the vessel in safety.Next morning it was seen that thevessel was still at her anchors ; permis-sion was, therefore, given for the Life-boat to again go out to her. Thecrew of the vessel were replaced onboard, together with some of the crewof the Life-boat, and the ship under herown sails was brought into harbour.The schooner was the Kinnaird, ofLiverpool, bound from Parr to WesternPoint, with a cargo of china clay.

The rescue of the crew of the Kinnairdwas accomplished a few minutes after8 o'clock on the morning of the 5thNovember, and later in the day, atabout 4 P.M.V signals were seen on theschooner Lizzie Ellen, of Cardigan, whichwas at anchor in the outer roads. It wasblowing a strong gale at the time. TheLife-boat was therefore sent to her assist-ance, and took the crew of four men andthe captain's wife on board. The vesselwas dragging her anchors, and nightwas coming on. They were landed insafety in Holyhead, and next day asmall steamer was able to tow theschooner into safety.

On the 7th November, the schooner

664 THE LIFE-BOAT. [1ST MAY, 1912.

Ell-wood, of Dublin, bound from Wicklowto Gaston with a cargo of timber, alsogot into difficulties when in the outerroads Holyhead Bay. In response toher signals the Duke of Northumberlandput off and took the crew of four menashore. Although the vessel was in avery dangerous position her anchorsheld, and next day the Life-boat againproceeded to the vessel and assisted totake her into a safe anchorage.

BBOUGHTY FERRY, FIFESHIRE.—During the evening of 3rd November,in a terrific S.W. gale, the s.s. GlausHorn, of Lubeck, wag driven ashore onthe Gaa Bank at the mouth of the riverTay. A telephone message was sent tothe Coxswain of the Life-boat Maria,stating that a large steamer was ashoreand burning signals of distress. TheLife-boat was promptly launched, andproceeded to the vessel in the heavy searunning. The vessel was reached about9.50 P.M., and it was found that thewaves were constantly sweeping overher. The captain of the steamer in-formed the Coxswain that he did notwish to leave his ship, but asked theLife-boat to stand by, in case anyfurther assistance should be required.The boat therefore remained near thevessel until 2 A.M. on 4th November,when the captain signified that he didnot require any further assistance, as hehoped to float his vessel again on theflood tide.

ANGLE, PEMBROKESHIRE.—At 4 P.M.on 7th November, during a whole N.W.gale and rough sea, it was reported tothe chief engineer of the steam Life-boatthat a boat belonging to the ketchTrebisMn, of Padstow, with one man inher, was drifting; and that another ship'sboat belonging to the steamer Florence,manned by four men, had gone to heraid, but that both boats were in difficultyon a lee-shore. The steam Life-boattherefore went to their assistance andrescued them. As it was impossible forthe men to pull against the wind, theLife-boat took the two boats in tow andput the men on board their respectivevessels.

RAMSEY, ISLE OF MAN.—On 12thNovember, in response to signals of

distress which were observed in the baysoon after 1 A.M., the Life-boat MaryIsabella put to sea, and, after a severebuffeting, found the sailing trawlerFaithful, of Ramsey, with her tillerbroken off short at the rudder head.The ketch was got to an anchorage, butas the crew did not deem it wise to re-main on board in the prevailing E.S.E.gale, they were taken into the Life-boat,which landed them at 3.30 A.M.

PADSTOW, CORNWALL.—On the after-noon of 12th November, two vessels,the schooner Island Maid, of Belfast,and the brigantine Angele, of Brest,while endeavouring to enter PadstowHarbour, in a strong "W.N.W. galeaccompanied by a heavy sea, struckon the Doom Bar, and became totalwrecks. The Life-boat Arab waslaunched at 4.45 P.M. and proceeded tothe schooner. She successfully rescuedthe crew of five men and landed themat about 5.50 P.M. While this rescuewas being carried out the other un-fortunate vessel struck the bar.

As soon as the shipwrecked men fromthe Island Maid had been landed, theboat at once put off again with the samecrew, and the Coxswain did his best toencourage the men to make an effortto reach the brigantine. But in thegathering darkness and the terrible seawhich was breaking over the bar in thevicinity of the wreck, they failed in theattempt and the boat returned ashore.As soon as he reached the land the Cox-swain called for volunteers to aid himin the noble work of rescue, the regularcrew being unfit to make any furtherexertions. As long as there were livesin danger on the vessel the Coxswain,with a dogged determination whichstamps him as a real leader in the hourof danger, resolved that, if possible,those lives should be saved. A largecrowd had gathered where the Life-boatcame ashore; but in spite of the call forhelp, little assistance was at first receivedfrom the spectators. The' fine spirit ofunselfishness and the manly couragewhich the Coxswain showed, however,inspired some of those around him, •and on the arrival of Captain Martin,of the Institution steam-tug, and apolice constable named Turner, the

IST MAY, 1912.] THE LIFE-BOAT. 665

necessary number of men were obtained,and the Coxswain and his gallant crew ofvolunteers put off in the terrible seawhich was running. By a desperate effortthey succeeded in reaching the wreck,which by now was completely submerged,the rigging alone remaining above water.One man only was to be seen, and hewas rescued and conveyed ashore. Thesurvivor was found to be the captain ofthe brigantine, the four other menconstituting the crew having beenwashed overboard by the tremendousseas shortly after the vessel had struck ;so that no lives were actually lost owingto the failure of the first attempt toreach the ship.

The following account of the wreckappeared in the Western Morning Newstwo days later:—

" The Island Maid was bound fromLlanelly to Cherbourg with 220 tonsof coal, and the Angele was laden withcoal and bricks from Swansea toL'Orient. The latter left Swansea onFriday, and all went well until abouteleven o'clock on Sunday morning, whenthe vessel was off the Longships. Thecaptain states that the sea was veryheavy, and the fact that the vessel hadsustained some damage prompted himto put back before the wind. The crew,however, insisted on the vessel beingrun for shore in some port or cove.They refused to go up channel, and hethereupon made for Padstow. Theyhad noticed that the Island Maid wasin the same difficulty as themselves, andwas also making for Padstow. Thevessels struck the Doom Bar about5.30. Half an hour from the time thelights were put up the whole of thecrew of five, including the captain, werewashed off the French ship by a hugewave. The skipper, however, managedto grasp a rope and pull himself backaboard his vessel. He had served outKfe-belts to the crew some hours before,and, in addition, the members of thecrew had made a raft of barrels. Thecaptain also placed the ship's papers ina keg, and they have been washedashore and picked up by the coastguard.

" Life-boat Coxswain's Story." To the Coxswain of the Arab (Life-

boat) praise is due for his gallant efforts.

He lives at the Cove Station, and hetold a representative of the WesternMorning News yesterday that at 5 o'clockon Sunday afternoon he received amessage from England, the signalmanat Mawgan Porth, that a vessel, appa-rently in distress, was being driventowards Padstow. ' Of course,' he said,' if T think anything is in distress Imust go at once, whether they are flyingsignals of distress or not.' As soon ashe received the information he fired therocket calling the crew, and got off tothe Island Maid as soon as possible.They rescued her crew, and just at thattime the Angele struck. The Arab putback and landed the rescued men—allresidents of Arklow. The Arab thenput out to the French vessel, but failedto get near her, and returned at 6.30 toreport the unsuccessful attempt. Then,aftei; a consultation. . . . the Cox-swain. . . . fired a rocket for a voluntarycrew, which was obtained. It com-prised, in addition to Baker, P.O. Turner,Messrs. W. Jermyn, J. Fuller, and C.Brinham (fishermen), CoastguardsmanColes, Messrs. A. Mitchell, J, Pope, W..Watson, and Joe Atkinson (of the steam-tug Helen Peele), and Messrs. F. Rey-nolds, J. Horst, and W. 5 Cook (of theMilford steam-drifter Chanticleer).

"This crew with difficulty reachedthe French vessel, and the captain divedinto the water and swam towards therescuers.

" The bodies of the four unfortunatemen have been picked up on St. Minversands, across the harbour from Padstow.Three were found on Sunday night andone yesterday morning.

" Wm. Jermyn, one of the volunteercrew, told our reporter yesterday thatif the skippers of the vessels had beenacquainted with the harbour he thoughtthey could easily have avoided the DoomBar, but they were strangers, and knewlittle or nothing of the coast. The bodyof the poor fellow who was found yester-day morning was devoid of clothing,which had apparently been stripped off bythe action of the waves. From the time ofthe completion of the volunteer crewuntil the rescue of the French captainwas effected only forty minutes elapsed.

"Another prominent member of thevolunteer crew stated that the steam

666 THE LIFE-BOAT. [1ST MAY, 1912.

Life-boat James Stevens went down witheight of the crew on the occasion of thePeace and Plenty disaster. Several ofthe crew of the Arab were also membersof the crew of the James Stevens, andthey said if they got over it would bedifficult to get back. Baker then sentfor volunteers, and the Milford steam-drifter offered seven men. Townsmenwere forthcoming, however, and onlythree of the Milford crew were accepted.The French captain jumped off andswam towards the Life-boat, and ex-plained as best he could that the othermembers of the crew had been washedoverboard. . . . Everyone speakshighly in praise of the behaviour of thevolunteer crew."

The Committee of Management, attheir following meeting, expressed theirhigh appreciation of the gallant con-duct of Coxswain Baker and his volun-teer crew, and awarded him theSilver Medal of the Institution, and toeach member of the crew the thanks ofthe Institution engrossed on vellum, inaddition to a monetary reward. Theyalso decided to bring the gallant actionof Police Constable Turner to the specialnotice of the Chief Constable of thecounty of Cornwall. Also to report tothe Admiral Commanding the Coast-guard and Reserves the gallant conductof coastguard T. Coles, who formed oneof the crew of this occasion.

POBT ST. MARY, ISLE OP MAN.—At7.15 A.M. on the 13th November theCoxswain of the Life - boat, JamesStevens No. 1, sighted a dismastedvessel about three miles to the southof Port St. Mary. He immediatelyassembled his crew, and very promptlylaunched the boat. A strong N.N.W.breeze was blowing, and under sail theLife-boat reached the vessel in thirty-fiveminutes. She proved to be the ketchAlexandra, of Chester, bound forBelfast with a cargo of bricks and tiles.At the request of the master the Life-boat stood by, and afterwards Life-boabinen were put on board, and, accom-panied by the boat, they succeeded ingetting the vessel safely into DouglasHarbour.

CLACTON-ON-SEA.—The Clacton Life-boat was launched at 12.20 P.M. on

13th November to a barge which wasashore on the West Gunfleet Sands.The vessel was the barge Jumbo, ofLondon, bound from Sheerness toIpswich with a cargo of cement. TheLife-boat stood by the barge -until shefloated on the rising tide, and thenproceeded with her for some littledistance on her passage. When it wasascertained that the barge was notmaking water, the Life-boat left herand returned to Clacton, where shearrived at 2.50 P.M.

BALLYCOTTON, Co. CORK.—At 2 A.M.| on 15th November, during a strong S.E.! gale and very heavy sea, signals of| distress were observed from a vesselI about five miles from Ballycotton. The| alarm was given, and the Life-boat,

T. P. Hearne, was immediately launched.Mr. P. Driscoll, a member of the localcommittee, and the Rev. E. F. Duncan,the hon. secretary of the branch, goingout in her. When some little distancefrom the land, the Life-boat hailed asteam trawler, which was sheltering inthe bay, and she towed the boat towardthe vessel. She proved to be thesteamer Tadorna, of Cork, a vessel of2,600 register, bound from Rotterdamto Cork, with a general cargo. Onreaching the scene of the wreck it wasfound impossible to board her, owing tothe darkness and the very heavy

I breakers on the ledge of rooks to sea-i ward of her. It was only when dawnappeared that anything could be done.

! The boat was then safely taken throughi the opening in the reef, after having] been continually swept by heavy seas.i The steamer was successfully boarded,j and nine of her crew rescued. Shej then made her way back to Ballycotton,j only getting clear of the reef of rockswith the greatest difficulty owing to thedangerous character of the seas whichshe had to pass through. - The re-mainder of the crew of the vessel,twelve in number, were rescued by therocket apparatus.

The following letter from the masterof the steamer appeared in the localpress a few days later :—

"SiB,—On behalf of the entire crewof the s.s. Tadorna, it affords me thegreatest pleasure to return our heartfelt

IST MAY, 1912.] THE LIFE-BOAT. 667

thanks for the invaluable and promptaction taken both by the BallycottonLife-boat crew and the Coasfcguardsmenwith the rocket apparatus, in rescuingus from our perilous position on Wed-nesday morning last.

"The brave and gallant manner inwhich they rendered these servicesunder most trying conditions is beyondall praise. The officers and myselfwould also like to thank Mrs. Pom-phrett, of Ballycrenane, for the greatkindness shown to us, and the hospitablemanner in which we were treated byher on our arrival on shore.

" Yours truly," HBNRY H. GREGORY,

" Master." Sea View Hotel, Ballycotton,

" Nov. 17, 1911."The Committee of Management, in

appreciation of the excellent services ofthe boat, bestowed the Institution SilverMedal upon the Coxswain, RichardHarding; to the Rev. Buncan theypresented the thanks of the Institutionon vellum, and to him and to Mr.Driscoll gave a binocular glass suitablyinscribed. To each of the other mem-bers of the crew they presented anadditional pecuniary reward.

HYTHB, KENT.—During a strongeasterly gale on 23rd November a signalof distress was observed on the bargeAmy, of London, which was draggingher anchor off Hythe. The Life-boatMeyer de Rothschild was launched withconsiderable difficulty, owing to the veryheavy sea which was running. Thecrew of two hands were taken off thebarge and she was left with the seawashing right over her. Later in theday an attempt was made by a tug totow the barge into safety, but owing tothe heavy sea they were unsuccessful.The Life-boat was reported to havebehaved splendidly, and she was skil-fully handled by the Coxswain whileperforming the service.

DONAGHADEE, Co. DOWN.—At 1.15A.M. on 23rd November a telephonemessage was received stating that thelights of a vessel ashore off BallyfrenisPoint were seen. As this is a verydangerous part of the coast, the Motor

Life-boat William and Mary proceededto her assistance. They found thes.s. May, of Belfast, on the rocks, butcould not approach her on account ofthe low tide. The boat remained in thevicinity of the vessel until daylight, butnothing could be done until high water.The boat then put back to her stationand returned later in the morning, andat high water rendered assistance ingetting the vessel clear of the rocks.

PALLING, NORFOLK.—At 10.15 P.M.on 23rd November, during an easterlygale, a vessel was reported ashore atWaxham. The No. 1 Life-boat 5ithWest Norfolk Regiment was transportedon her carriage to the vicinity of thedistressed vessel and launched. Shesucceeded in rescuing the crew of sevenmen and landed them at 3 A.M. nextmorning. The vessel was the schoonerArcturus, of Riga, bound to Woodberry,timber laden.

YOUGHAS, Co. CORK.—Shortly after5 A.M. on 24th November a vessel wasobserved in the bay in dangerous prox-imity to the shore. The crew of theLife-boat Marianne L. Say were sum-moned and the boat launched. Thewreck was reached at 6.30 A.M. andproved to be the ketch Queen, of Glou-cester, over which the seas were break-ing, and the vessel was rolling andbumping heavily. As soon as the Life-boat got alongside, the crew of fourhands jumped into her. The rescue wassuccessfully carried out, the boat beinghandled ably by the Coxswain, andalthough the crew were called fromtheir beds to man her, she was on herway to the wreck fifteen minutes afterthe men reached the boat-house.

TYNEMOUTH, NORTHUMBERLAND.—Thebarque Trosvik, of Brevik, was observedmaking for the harbour at 9.30 A.M. on27th November. The seas were break-ing heavily on the bar, and for somedistance up the river. The vessel wasin a water-logged condition and whennear the " Black Middens " became un-manageable. It subsequently provedthat her steering-gear was out of order,she having struck on the rocks. Themotor Life-boat Henry Vernon proceeded

668 THE LIFE-BOAT. [1st MAY, 1912.

to her assistance and stood by untiltugs were able to tow her into safety.

BOULMBE, NORTHUMBERLAND. — At4.15 A.M. on 24th November a telephonemessage was- received stating that atrawler was ashore in Hawick Bay.The Life-boat Arthur B. Dawes pro-ceeded to her, and by request took offone of the crew, but the remainderelected to remain on board. The vesselwas the steam trawler Wild Rose, ofNorth Shields, returning to port fromthe fishing grounds. Shortly after thoboat returned, she was again called outto another vessel, but her services werefortunately not required.

MONTEOSE, FOEFARSHIEE. — On themorning of the 28th of November thes.s. Leelite, of Aberdeen, left the harbourintending to go to sea, but as there wasa very heavy sea on the bar, the Cox-swain of the Life-boat was on the lookout, as he was apprehensive of the greatrisk which the vessel incurred in at-tempting to cross the bar. At 6.45distress rockets were fired, and it wasseen from the shore that the steamerhad stranded on the Annat Bank. TheNo. 2 Life-boat Marianne Atherstone waslaunched and, with considerable difficultyowing to the heavy seas, got as nearto the vessel as was deemed safe. Asthere was considerable danger of theboat being dashed against the hull ofthe vessel, the Coxswain determined towait, and for two hours the boat stoodby, the sea all this time washing overthe boat. It was then seen that therewas no chance of getting alongside, andlines were thrown on board. The crewof the vessel, nine in number, thenjumped into the sea one by one andwere drawn into the boat. The master,however, declined at that time to leavehis vessel. The boat therefore returnedashore and landed the nine men whomthey had rescued. Later in the day, asthe sea continued heavy and it was con-sidered unsafe for the master to remainany longer on the steamer, the Life-boatagain proceeded to her, and by means ofa line round him, r