THE LIFE-BOAT,...away Boat osr Rafts the, wouly bde first attended to. 9. Cork belts wit, ah buoyanc of lesy thas n 40 Ibs., will not be admissible a,s it i moss imt - portant that

THE LIFE-BOAT,OB

JOTTBNAL OF THE NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION.

QTJABTKKLY.)

VOL. XI.—No. H7.] AUGUST 2, 1880. r PBTCB 3d,|_WrrH ILLUSTRATIONS.

THE SOCIETY OF ABTS AND LIFE-SAVING APPARATUS.

THE "Society for the Encouragement ofArts, Manufactures and Commerce," com-monly known as the " Society of Arts,"as most of our readers will be aware, offersfrom time to time its Gold Medal to becompeted for by Designers, Inventors andothers in furtherance of special objectsfalling within the sphere of the Society'sfunction.

Amidst these objects it has not lostsight of the claims of our seamen and sea-voyaging countrymen for the provision ofall available means of protection from thedangers incident to all who " go down tothe sea in ships, and occupy their businessin great waters."

Thus, in the year 1871, the Societyoffered its Gold Medal for the best designfor a Ship's Life-boat, which was won byMessrs. WOOLFE and Sou, Life-boat buildersto the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION,for a Life-boat built of wood, and byMessrs. HAMILTON and Co., of the WindsorIron Works, Liverpool, for one of iron,full-sized boats, from the model selected,having been built and tested before theawards were made.

Again, when the passenger steamerPrincess Alice was sunk by collision inthe Thames on the night of the 3rd Sep-tember, 1878, and more than six hundredof those on board her perished, the Societyagain came forward and offered its GoldMedal " For the best means of saving life

at sea, when a vessel has to be abandonedsuddenly, say with only five minutes'warning; the shore, or other vessels, beingin sight."

We had intended to take earlier noticeof this praiseworthy and humane effort ofthe Society in behalf of sailors and pas-sengers by sea, but other matters led toits postponement.

As a first step, a Committee of distin-guished Naval officers and other practicalmen, under the presidency of Lord ALFREDCHURCHILL, the Chairman of the Councilof the Society, was selected to carry outits intention. That Committee consistedof the following gentlemen:—

T. BBASSEY, Esq., M.P.DONALD CTIBBIE, Esq.Admiral M. NOI&OTB.Admiral Sir EBASMTIS OMMANET, C.B.,

F.K.S.Captain G. E. PBICE, E.N., M.P.Admiral A. P. ETDEE.Admiral Sir E. SOTHEBT, K.C.B.Captain H. TOYNBEE.

After meeting several times and obtain-ing all available information on the sub-ject, the Committee drew up and issued,in April 1878, the following circular:—

The Council of the Society of Arts offers its GoldMedal for the best means of saving life at sea,when a vessel has to be abandoned suddenly, saywith only five minutes' warning; the shore orother vessels being in sight.

1. Preference -will be given to appliances to

LIFE-BOAT JOTONAL.—YOL. XI.—No. 117.

158 THE LIFE-BOAT. [AUGUST 2,1880.

which fewest objections are established, on thescore of their occupying valuable space, inter-fering with the stowage of more importantarticles, being in the way, being unsightly, notbeing ready at hand, requiring more or less" fitting " when brought into use.

2. Preference will be given to appliances towhich fewest objections are established on thepart of medical men, on the score of the appliancesbeing unhealthy.

3. Preference will be given to appliances towhich fewest objections are established on thepart of seamen, on the score of their being un-comfortable, inconvenient, &c.

4. Preference will be given to appliances whichafford a buoyancy of, at least, 40 Ibs. to eachperson on board, whether of the crew or a pas-senger.

N.B.—The cork Life-belt, usually supplied,has a weight of 5 Ibs. and a buoyancy of 20 Ibs.It will float a man of ordinary dimensions, withhis shoulders just-a-wash, provided all therest of his body is under water. The Life-belts placed in their Boats by the ROYALNATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION have abuoyancy of about 25 Ibs., but only weigh5 Ibs., owing to the superior quality of thecork.

5. Preference will be given to the means of flota-tion which utilise articles already existing on board,so that no extra space will be required.

6. Preference will be given to appliances thatare the least expensive, as to first cost and annualrepair.

7. Preference will be given to appliances bestable to stand the variations of climate, rough treat-ment, &c.

8. Neither Boats nor Rafts will be admitted tothe competition, as it is almost certain that in thecontemplated cases of abandonment neither of themcould be lowered or. cleared away in time, andbecause, even if the Boats stowed outside could becleared away, there would rarely be sufficient spaceto provide means of safety for all the crew andpassengers.

NOTB.—Of course, if there were time to clearaway Boats or Rafts, they would be firstattended to.

9. Cork belts, with a buoyancy of less than40 Ibs., will not be admissible, as it is most im-portant that the mouth and nostrils of every one inthe water be raised as far as possible above the sur-face. The ordinary Life-belt, admirably suited foruse in Boats, and to support in the water persons ac-customed to immersion in it, would frequently bequite insufficient in the cases contemplated for allnon-swimmers, especially women and children.

10. No preparation of india-rubber or gutta-percha will be admissible, as with the greatestprecautions they are not sufficiently proof againstthe effects of climate and of ill-usage.

. NOTE 1.—It is to be understood that, underthe special circumstances of the cases contem-plated, all that is aimed at is to preserve lifeuntil the shore is reached, or the immersedpersons are picked up. For this reason no pro-vision is expected to be made for food orwater.

NOTE 2.—Competitors are at liberty to drawa distinction between appliances most suitableto men-of-war, to passenger ships, to ordinarymerchant ships; also between the differentcircumstances attending the sudden abandon-ment by day and a sudden abandonment bynight.

The Gold Medal -will be awarded fox the appli-ance, or combination of appliances, which answerin the highest degree the various qualificationsnamed above; but the Council is at liberty towithhold the Medal if, in the opinion of theJudges, nothing is submitted worthy of the award.

Appliances intended for the competition must besent in not later than the 1st of August, 1878,addressed to the SECRETARY, Society of Arts,John Street, Adelphi, London, W.C., and must inevery case be accompanied by a short description.

April, 1878. (By Order.)

NOTE.—The date was extended by order.

In response to this appeal no less thanone hundred and thirty-six designs, mo-dels, and full-sized floating applianceswere sent in; of these, twenty being raftsand three being boats, were disqualifiedby the terms of the appeal. Of the re-mainder, many, as is always the case inany such competition, were valueless, theiroriginators being insufficiently acquaintedwith the ordinary circumstances and specialrequirements in cases of disaster to shipsfrom collision or wreck. Thus the Com-mittee, in their Eeport to the Council ofthe Society, state that " Having carefullyconsidered the circumstances attendingthe sudden loss, at a few minutes' warning,of various vessels of specified classes, wefound that only a very small number ofthe ' Exhibits' were qualified, under the' Instructions' in the CovmciVs Circular,to compete for the Gold Medal."

It will readily be imagined that fromthe diversity of appliances which mightbe of service to afford temporary buoyancyand safety to persons suddenly immersedin the sea there would be no slightdifficulty in selecting from amongst themthe one appliance which would be ofmore service than all others. The Com-mittee, therefore, wisely we think, avoidedthat difficulty by deciding to bestow theMedal on the competitor who would beable to exhibit the greatest number ofsuch appliances with a high standard ofmerit.

At the commencement of their delibera-tions they rightly attached much value tothe 5th clause of the Circular of theCouncil, and had, they observe, to ask, asregards each class of vessel, " Have theyany articles ready at hand with sufficient

AUGUST 2,1880.] THE LIFE-BOAT. 159

capacity, and suitable in every respect toour purpose, which are already buoyant,or if not yet made buoyant, can be durablymade so sufficiently to support one or twopersons with their shoulders out of thewater?"

They then proceeded to consider sepa-rately the circumstances and requirementsof each class of vessel, distinguishing ships-of-war from merchant vessels, and sub-dividing the former into two classes, viz.,the ordinary ship-of-war and the troop-ship, often carrying, besides its crew, athousand or more soldiers and a largenumber of women and children, and mer-chant vessels into four classes, viz., 1st,ordinary merchant ships, whether sailingor steam-ships; 2nd, emigrant and otherpassenger sea-going ships; 3rd, passengerships OH rivers; 4th, yachts, barges, &c.

SHIPS-OF-WAB.

1. Ordinary Ships-of-War.—The Com-mittee came, we believe unanimously, tothe conclusion that the most efficientmeans of floating all the crew at theshortest warning, with a reasonable pro-spect of saving them, when other ships orland might be near, would be afforded byBuoyant Hammocks.

Every man and boy in a ship-of-war isprovided with a hammock, which whennot in use is stowed on the upper-deck,and when engaged in battle would alwaysbe so; and since, without any additionalcost, every hammock may be made amplybuoyant by the substitution of a granu-lated cork mattress in lien of the ordinaryone stuffed with wool or horsehair, itfollows that no difficulty exists in the wayof providing such a source of safety forour gallant seamen, who, apart from theordinary dangers of the sea, will be likelyto need such aid in all future naval wars,when the torpedo and the ram will be thecause of many a good ship suddenly foun-dering. Admiral RYDEB, one of the mem-bers of the Committee above named, has,as is well known, for several years past,zealously given much time and attention

to this subject, and has, although as yetfruitlessly, used every effort to induce theADMIRALTY to provide buoyant mattressesfor the crews of all our ships-of-war. Asthe Russian Imperial and Danish EoyalNavies have been long since supplied withthem we may hope that ere long our ownADMIRALTY may be induced to adopt them.

In the 81st number of this Journal wepublished a Paper on the subject writtenby Admiral EYDEE, and in the 83rdnumber one by ourselves, with illustra-tions, showing the manner in whichbuoyant hammocks and berth mattressesare worn and used. We now reproducethem, pages 161 and 164.

2. Troop Ships.—The Committee re-commend that, as in an ordinary ship-of-war, the ship's company should be pro-vided with buoyant hammocks, but, as thesoldiers when embarked are not providedwith mattresses (which would occupy toomuch space), and as no article of theirkits could be utilised by being madebuoyant, they should be supplied with

j the simplest description of cork life-beltswith ample buoyancy, which might be

j stowed on narrow shelves against theship's sides, in their own messes.

I MERCHANT SHIPS.iij 1. Ordinary Merchant Ships, withouti Passengers, the Committee place in the| same category with ships-of-war, in soi far that their berth mattresses should be| buoyant, and so fitted that they could bej quickly secured round the body of thej wearer in the manner of a life-belt.

Such mattresses were fully described inthe 83rd number of the Life-boat Journal,above referred to, and we now repeatillustrations of them. Figs. 4 and 5, p. 164.

2. Passenger Sea-going Ships.—In these,as in ordinary merchant ships, the Com-mittee recommend that both the crew andpassengers should be provided withbuoyant berth mattresses. If life-beltsshould be also provided, they would beas an extra appliance; and, in addition,they consider that the chairs, stools,

M 2


benches, seats, cushions, &c., if made per-manently buoyant, would, in conjunctionwith the ordinary round life-buoys, be ofmuch service in cases of sudden emer-gency. In emigrant ships, the cork mat-tresses to be provided by the owners,under the inspection of a Governmentofficial.

3. Passenger Ships on Rivers.—Thesehave a crew of very few seamen, but fre-quently many hundred passengers. Theyhave no mattresses, but numerous chairs,stools, benches, seats and cushions, readyat hand, all of which could be made per-manently and sufficiently buoyant, whilstthe gunwale itself could be made insections of buoyant materials. TheCommittee think an Act of Parliamentmight require that the number of pas-sengers carried should not exceed thenumber of portable articles having 40 Ibs.or more buoyancy, readily available onthe upper deck; this, of.course, in addi-tion to the usual number of boats.

4. Yachts, Barges, &c.—These to standon the same footing as sea-going mer-chant ships, with passengers.

Materials.—Having laid down the abovegeneral principles, the Committee pro-ceeded to consider the relative values ofthe different materials exhibited fromwhich surplus buoyancy was derivable.Of these the most noteworthy were—

1. Cork, solid or in block, and granu-lated.

2. Air, inclosed in air-tight and water-tight covers or cases, bladders, &c.

3. Moose hair, and other deer hair.4. A pith, from South Africa.5. A seaweed, treated with a prepara-

tion to prevent absorption.6. The stems of a plant called " Sola,"

from India, very light.Of the above materials, Nos. 3, 4, 5,

and 6 are lighter than cork, before beingsaturated with water, whilst inclosed airwould be more or less so, depending onthe weight of the material inclosing it.

The Committee observe, that the sea-freight chargeable on many of thesearticles, being levied on bulk and not on

weight, would greatly enhance their cost,since they could not be compressed withoutdiminution of elasticity and buoyancy.It is questionable, also, if some of themcould be obtained in sufficient quantity tomeet the great demand there would befor them if they were generally adopted.They are mostly, also, more absorbent ofwater than cork. After submitting themto experimental trial, the Committee cameto the conclusion that cork, both granu-lated and in block, was the safest, andtherefore the best of all buoyant materialsfor saving life with which they wereacquainted. They remark: " Block corkabsorbs a little water after several hours'immersion; granulated cork absorbs moreafter the same number of hours; but cork,although its buoyancy is diminishable,retains it sufficiently for the time required,and is incompressible under any probablepressure; it is unobjectionable on sanitarygrounds; is not injured by any extremeof climate, and, in block, stands well aconsiderable amount of ill-treatment evenif left uncovered."

Mattresses stuffed with granulated corkhave been in use many years; many per-sons, it is said, prefer them to hair mat-tresses; and if one-inch thickness ofhorsehair be added on one surface of acork mattress, the comfort is all that canbe desired.

Fortunately the supply of cork in thesouth of Europe is practically inex-haustible. At the present average market-price of good block cork, buoyancy derivedfrom it can be given to any article at therate of about 8s. per 40 Ibs. of buoyancy,which might be lowered by competition.

The Committee, in making their award,then state that—

" Having arrived at the above conclu-sions regarding what articles should bemade buoyant in each class of ships, andwhat buoyant material we should recom-mend, we are of opinion that, in eachclass of ships under consideration, theseries of buoyant articles in the annexedTable, Column IV., most completely fulfilthe conditions laid down by the Council,


and entitle the exhibitor, Mr. A. W. Birt,to be recommended by us for the awardof the Gold Medal."

They likewise make " Honourable Men-tion " of several articles shown by otherexhibitors.

The following is a list of the articlesexhibited by Mr. Birt, for which the medalwas awarded, full particulars and qualitiesof which are given in the Table abovereferred to, pp. 162,163.

1. A cork mattress for hammocks, facedwith horsehair on one side. (Figs. 1, 2,and 3.)

2. A berth mattress of the same mate-rials. (Figs. 4 and 5.)

3. A waterproof sheet, which, whenplaced within a hammock, enfolds themattress and bedding, and adds 50 Ibs. ofbuoyancy to that already possessed bythe latter.

Fig. 1.—The Buoyant Hammock in use as a Life Belt.

Fig. 2.—The Buoyant Hammock secured ao as to act as a Life Belt.

Fig. 3.—Two men sharing the Buoyancy of their Hammocks.

162 THE LIFE-BOAT. [AUGUST 2, 1880.

THE SERIES OP BUOYANTCONSIDERED BY THE COMMITTEE AS DESERVING OF THE

DESCRIPTION OF VESSELS.

I.

1.— MEN-OF-WAR.

II. — MERCHANT .•

1. Ordinary, whetherIronclad or manned,rigged or not.

2. Troop Ships . .

1. Ordinary, MerchantSkip (Steam Ship orSailingShip), withoutpassengers.

2. Passenger Ships,with a large numberof passengers.

3. River PassengerBoats, with a largenumber of passengers.

4. Yachts . . . .

Articles already on Board whichcan, and should be, made Buoyant.

II.

Hammock and Berth Mat-tresses for the officers andmen.

As supplementary — The Gun-wale Mouldings.

Hammock and Berth Mat-tresses for the officers andmen.


Stools

(Hammock Mattresses for the

crew.

Berth Mattresses for the officersand crew.

'As supplementary — The Gun-wale Mouldings.

Stools . . . . . . .

Hammock and Berth Mat-tresses for the officers andcrew.

Berth mattresses for the pas-sengers.


Stools

Stools

SeatsSunwale Mouldings .Berth Mattresses . . . .

Stools .

Seats . . . .Hjunwale Mouldings . . .

Buoyant Articles whichare not at present supplied,

but should be.

III.

. . • •

Life Belts with a buoy-ancy of 40 Ibs. forevery soldier, woman,and child.

• * » •

NOTE. — When Crews,as in the case of Las-cars, have no mat-tresses, Life Beltsshould be supplied.

NOTE.— The Men's Tables in men-of-war (including Troop Ships) assumed to be 12 feet by 3 feet,buoyancy (assuming that it has none of its own) at the rate of 16 men X40 Ibs. of buoyancy =640 Ibs.a thickness of under 5 inches, but we have not included the tables in the above List, column It, asmattresses are not made buoyant, nor life-belts supplied in Troop Vessels, the tables should be made

AUGUST 2, 1880.] THE LITE-BOAT. 163

ARTICLES (SEE COLUMN IV.),GOLD MEDAL AND WORTHY OF GENERAL ADOPTION.

The series of Buoyant Articles whichbest fulfil requirements.

.IV.

The Royal Naval Cork Mattressfor the Hammocks of subordi-nate officers and the men.NOTE. — There is hair on one side.

The Cork Berth Mattress forofficers with cabins.NOTE. — .There, is. hair- on one side.

: The Gunwale Buoy . . . .

The Royal Naval Cork Mattressfor the Hammocks of subordi-nate officers and the men.NOTE. — There, is hair on one side.

The Cork Berth Mattress for theofficers who have cabins.NOTE.— There is hair, on one side.

The Soldier's Life Belt, No. I,buoyancy 40 Ibs., for each sol-dier, their wives and children.

The Gunwale Buoy . . . .

The Buoyant Stool„ Bench . . . .

The Merchant Seaman's CorkMattress for their Hammocksor Berths.

The Cork Berth Mattress for theofficers.NOTE. — There is, hair, on one side.


The Buoyant Stool . . . .„ Bench . . . .

The Cork Berth Mattress for theofficers.NOTE. — There is hair, on one side.

! The Merchant Seaman's Cork! Mattress for the crew.

The Cork Berth Mattress . .NOTE. — There is hair on one side.


The Buoyant Stool . . . .„ " Chair . . . .

The Buoyant Stool . . . .Chair . . . .

j „ Bench . . . .„ Cushion„ Seat

The Gunwale Buoy . . . .The Cork Berth Mattress . .

NOTE.— There is. hair on one side.The Buoyant Stool . . . .

„ Chair . . . .Bench . . . .

„ Cushion. . . .„ Seat. . . .


Its ownweight outof water.

V.

Ibs.18

18

85

18

18

11

85

14J5918

18

54

14J5918

18

18

54

14i151411559iOf225418

141155910J2254

Its InitialBuoyancy, viz.,the weight of

Iron it will JustBoat when firstimmersed afterAir has been

excluded.VI.

Ibs.60

75

255

60

75

43

255 '

4317075

75

170

4317075

75

75

170

43434343

1705453

17075

4343

17054.53170

SurplusBuoyancy after

six hours insmooth water,

with 40-ib.Iron weight

attached.VII.

Ibs.14

26

215

14

26

3

215

313026

26

130

313026

26

26

130

3333

1308

1313026

33

1308

13130

Buoyancy afterbeing sunk for

twenty-fcurhours in sixfeet depth of

water.

VIII.

Ibs.50

60

240

SO

SO

40

240

4016060

60

160

4016060

60

60

160

40404040

1604050

16060

4040

1604050

160

Name and Addressof the Maker ofthis series of

Articles.

IX.

A.W. Birt, ofthe firm of J.and A. W. Birt,Dock Street,London Docks,maker of Lif e-Saving Appa-ratus for theBoard of Ad-miralty, theBoard of Trade,Royal NationalLifeboat Insti-tution, etc., &c.

NOTE. — Theentries in cols.V., VI., VII.,VIII. are sup-plied by Mr.Birt. We havetested them tothe extent ofsatisfying our-selves that eacharticle has atleast 40 Ibs.buoyancy afterbeing sunk for

feet depth ofwater.

could easily be made buoyant. If block cork were attached under the table, so as to give the table aof buoyancy, about one-fourth of that weight, or 160 Ibs. of cork, would have to be attached to it, ortheir size would invite too many persons to cling to them. Nevertheless, if for any reason thebuoyant as well as the benches, &C.


4. Soldiers' cork life-belts, for troopships, with a buoyancy equal to 40 Ibs.(Figs. 6 and 7.)

5. A buoyant cushion.6. A buoyant seat.7. A buoyant camp-stool. (Figs. 8 and 9.)

Fig. 4.—Berth Mattress, with numerous partitions, to prevent the cork from moving about; also with ahinge, with or without hair. This mattress contains 15 Ibs. of Granulated Cork; buoyancy,over 60 Ibs.

Fig. 5.—Man swimming with Mattress.

Fig. 6.—The Soldier's Cork Life Belt ready for stowing.'

Fig. 7.—The Soldier's Cork Life B elt ready for putting on.

AUGUST 2, 1880.] THE LIFE-BOAT. 165

Fig. 8.—Camp Stool or Chair Life Buoy.

Fig. 9.—Camp Stool or Chair Life Buoy.

8. A buoyant bench. (Figs. 10,11, and 12.)9. A bulwark, or sectional gunwale cork

life-buoy, divided into six-feet lengths,

each having a buoyancy of over 240 Ibs.,or sufficient to readily support six men.(Figs. 13 and 14.)

Fig. 10.—Bench fitted with Solid Cork.

M 3


Fig. 11.—Bench fitted with Clarkaon's Air Cases.

Fig. 12.—Two Benches lashed together forming a raft.

Fig. 14.—Section of Bulwark showing Buoys placed so as not to interfere with the Davits.


For a detailed description of the abovearticles, together with that of some byother exhibitors which were thoughtdeserving of Honourable Mention, wemust refer the reader to the Report itself.Suffice it to say that Mr. Birt's exhibitswere considered by the Committee to befar more complete in character, as well asin number and variety, than those of anyother exhibitor.

After combating some strange objec-tions that have been made by Naval officersto the provision of means of escape fromdanger in great emergencies, such as fire,sudden foundering from collision, orassaults by the ram or torpedo, the Com-mittee state:—

The following are a few cases of vessels be-longing to some of the various classes named atpp. 4 and 5, which have been lost during the lastfew years, in some of which many hundreds oflives would, without doubt, have been saved bysuch appliances as " buoyant hammocks," &c.:—(1.) H.M.S. Bombay, line of battle ship, burnt off

Monte Video in daytime in 1864, in fineweather, when nearly all the marines andboys were drowned within sight of theremainder of the officers and crew lying offin overladen boats. Captain J.Wilson, R.N.,now Commodore in Australia, then Com-mander of the Bombay, has repeatedly statedthat had the hummocks been buoyant, all themarines and boys would have been saved.

(2.) H.M.S. Orpheus, Commodore W. Burnett,lost in fine weather in the daytime, in 1863,with nearly all hands, on a bar in NewZealand. Had the hammocks been buoyant,roost of the men would have been carried bythe current through the surf to smooth water.

(3.) H.M.S. Eurydice, capsized in a squall indaytime in 1878, near the land and othervessels. Only two men were saved, onehad secured a cork life-belt, the other acork life-buoy. Had the hammocks beenbuoyant, the men would have been orderedto draw their knives along the covers, andmany hammocks would have been freed.A buoyant hammock has much more buoy-ancy than a life-belt. If the outer part ofthe netting be " housed," it will occasion avery slight delay ; but " housing" is quiteunnecessary when the nettings are properlymade.

(4.) The ease of the German ironclad, Kurfiirst,lost by collision in 1878, was similar to thatof the Eurydice in the suddenness of thecatastrophe, the shortness of the warning ;it was in the daytime, in fine weather, andother vessels were close to; yet only a fewwere saved.

(5.) In the case of the Narthfleet, in 1873, a mer-chant ship, full of passengers, sank when atanchor, after a collision at night; the warn-ing was of about an hour, yet nearly allhands were lost.

(6.) In H.M.S. Vanguard, an ironclad, lost bycollision in 1876 in smooth water and afog; the warning was of little more than

an hour; most fortunately, her sister shipwith an ample supply of boats was close to.

(7.) In the Princess Alice, a passenger boat withover 800 passengers, the warning was ofless than five minutes; she was sunk bycollision in the Thames on a fine night in1878, and more than 600 lives were lost.

It is not a little remarkable that we have had,during the last few years, an example of almostevery conceivable description of sudden disasterto ships, involving fearful loss or risk of life, theformer of which would have been diminished byLife-saving appliances in nearly every case—(a)loss by fire, (b) on a bar, (c) by capsizing in asquall in daytime, (d~) in a squall at night, (e) bycollision in daytime, (/") by collision at night.In a future war we shall probably have not infre-quently to promptly abandon vfessels after "ram-ming •" also owing to fatal injuries from torpedoes.

Every sailor in the Russian Imperial and theDanish Royal Navy is supplied with a buoyantmattress. Our Admiralty will, it is hoped, adoptthe same course, which will materially aid theFrench, German, and Spanish Commissions latelyappointed by these Governments to decide on thebest description of Life-saving appliances. Ad-miral Porter, in an official report of the conditionof the United States navy, urges the authorities tointroduce corlc mattressesiu the Government service.

The president of the Humane Society of theUnited States has pressed the matter upon the at-tention of the authorities of the United States navy.

The Congress of the United States has passedan Act obliging all steamers and passenger vesselsto carry life-preservers under a penalty for neglectof one thousand dollars. Our Board of Tradewill, it is hoped, induce Parliament to take actionsimilar to that of Congress, as regards merchant

,li this competition of Life-saving apparatus,and our Report with the suggestions we haveventured to make should tend in any way to pro-mote the very important object the Society ofArts has in view, it will afford much satisfactionto your Committee.

"We need hardly state that we heartilyendorse the wish of the Committee, thatthe competition and award, and thesuggestions which after careful considera-tion and experiments they have proffered,may be the means of furthering the veryimportant object in view, viz., the savinglife at sea in cases of sadden disaster.

In conclusion, we will merely fartherremark, as regards our ships-of-war, thatsurely our brave seamen are deserving ofhaving every available means provided tolessen the dangers to which they arenecessarily exposed. Even if not, in justice,entitled to it, their value—even their moneyvalue, as trained seamen and gunners—would indicate its expediency, now thatthe torpedo and the ram will constitutespecial dangers, of a wholesale character,over and above those to which in time ofwar they have hitherto been exposed.

M 4


DEATH OF THE EIGHT HON. SIESTEPHEN CAVE, G.C.B.

WE lament to announce the death of theRight Hon. Sir Stephen Cave, P.O., G.C.B.,Paymaster-General and Judge Advocate-General in the late Government, andmember for Shoreham from 1859 untilthe late general election. For some yearsSir Stephen had been suffering froma painful illness. Sir Stephen Cave wasthe eldest son of the late Mr. DanielCave, J.P., of Cleve Hill, near Bristol.He was born in December, 1820, andeducated at Harrow School and at BalliolCollege, Oxford, where he graduated B.A.in 1843 (second class in classics), andproceeded to his M.A. degree in 1846.The same year he was called to the bar atthe Inner Temple, when he chose theWestern Circuit, but did not apparentlypractise. His parliamentary career com-menced in 1859, when he was electedM.P. for Shoreham. In 1862 he suc-ceeded in passing a Bill to Amend the Lawrelating to Polling Places, and in 1866one to Amend the Law in reference to theAssessment of Mines. In July of thelast-named year he was offered and ac-cepted the post of Paymaster-General andVice-President of the Board of Trade inthe third administration of Lord Derby,upon the acceptance of which office hewas sworn a member of the Privy Council.He remained in office till the resignationof the Disraeli Ministry, in December,1868, having, during the period of hisofficial tenure of the post, acted in 1866-7as Chief Commissioner in Paris for nego-tiating the revision of the French FisheryConventions of August, 1839, and May,1843. While out of office the righthon. gentleman again devoted himself tomeasures of useful legislation, and suc-ceeded in passing, in 1870, a Bill toAmend the Law of Life Assurance, andin the following year a Bill to Amend theLaws relating to the Investment of TrustFunds; and when, in February, 1874, thesecond administration of Mr. Disraeli wasformed, he again accepted the post of

Paymaster-General, combined with thatof Judge Advocate-General. The latteroffice he, however, resigned in December,1875, when he was sent on a specialmission to Egypt, in response to a requestfrom the late Khedive of Egypt to theBritish Government to provide him withsome experienced European financier toeffect a thorough reform in the financesof the country, which were then in a verycritical state. Mr. Cave, accompanied byColonel Stokes, B.E., was accordinglydespatched to Egypt. He afterwards in-formed the writer of this brief memoirthat he had never recovered from theeffects of the fever he contracted on thismission. Sir Stephen married, in 1852,Emma Jane, daughter of the late Eev.Wm. Smyth. M.A., of Elkington Hall,Louth, and Prebendary of Lincoln. SirStephen was the author of "A FewWords on the Encouragement given toSlavery and the Slave Trade by recentMeasures, and chiefly by the Sugar Billof 1846;" of "Prevention and Beforma-tion: the Duty of the State or of Indi-viduals? with some account of a Eefor-matory Institution;" of an essay " On theDistinctive Principles of Punishment andEeformation," and of papers relating tofree labour and the slave trade, with acorrected report of the debate in the Houseof Commons on the resolutions proposedby Mr. Cave for the more effectual sup-pression of the African slave trade. Hewas formerly a director of the Bank ofEngland and of the London and St.Katharine Dock Company, and was amagistrate and deputy-lieutenant for thecounty of Gloucester, a magistrate forSussex, a commissioner of lieutenancy forthe City of London, president of the WestIndia Committee, and a Fellow of theEoyal Geographical Society, of the Zoo-logical Society, and of the Society of Arts.

Sir Stephen was only recently created aKnight Grand Cross of the Bath. He tookconsiderable interest in the welfare of theNATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, both asa member of its Committee of Managementand as one of its Trustees. We believe he


spoke for the last time in public at itsannual meeting of 1879, and his eloquentand animated speech on the occasion, whilehe was evidently labouring under greatsufferings, excited much attention. Hisremarks were so cogent and appropriatethat we now publish them. He said:—" It becomes my duty to move the adoption of the

Report which you have just heard read. As repre-senting in Parliament a mercantile naval consti-tuency, I am deeply sensible of the great advantageto our naval and seafaring population of this nobleInstitution. One cannot help regretting that someinstitution of this kind had not been established ata very much earlier date, when we think of thenumber of valuable lives which in this countryalone have been lost for want of proper means forsaving life in cases of shipwreck. From the timewhen the ' White Ship' went down with the royalprince on board many centuries ago, up to thebeginning of the present century, there was notonly no adequate means for saving life, but on thecontrary those unhappy sailors and passengers whoescaped the fury of the sea and found themselveson shore, ran, probably, a still greater risk fromthe natives of the different shores of this countrythan they did when they were tossing about onthe sea itself. (Hear, hear.) And on hearing itstated in the Eeport that a Life-boat was going tobe placed on the coast of Cornwall, one can hardlyhelp thinking of the very great change that hastaken place in modern times. We know that upto the end of the last century Cornwall was theworst place for wrecking on the whole coasts ofthe United Kingdom. From the time when SirCloudesley Shovel, with all his fleet, went on shoreon the Scilly Isles, and where it is supposed thathe was murdered by the islanders for the sake ofhis gold watch, what a difference there is up tothis time, when we hear of life-boats being placed

| at every part on the coasts of Cornwall, and wherethe noblest of services in saving life are constantlyrendered, and no better crews can there be foundto man them than the hardy Cornishmen them-

| selves! (Cheers.) I believe that, besides theenormous fleet of life-boats which have beenplaced upon our shores, we have sent life-boats to foreign countries, and to the colonies—very few, but still enough to serve as specimensof what has been done in this country to induceother countries, if possible, to supplement ourexertions by institutions of a similar character tothe Life-boat Institution. But even if that wasnot so, and even if we were to supply Life-boatsfor foreign parts and to the colonies, I believe thatwe should be doing very much greater benefit toourselves thau to the inhabitants of those countries,because anybody who knows anything of thestatistics of the British Mercantile Marine knowshow enormously it outnumbers that of foreigncountries. We may therefore be assured thatwhenever there is a storm in any part of the world,our sailors form the greater number of the peoplewhose lives are risked and lost. (Hear, hear.) I

remember some years ago going through the SuezCanal from end to end. We met seventeen largesteamers, and of those seventeen large steamersall but two were British. I just mention that toshow that any Life-boat placed in any part of theworld, either by our exertion or by other peoplefollowing our example, is more likely to save theliveg of English sailors than the lives of sailorsbelonging to any other country in the world. Nowwe have had a great deal said of late years aboutthe difficulty of managing our Charities properly.We are told that charity creates half the evilwhich it relieves, but does not relieve half theevil which it creates. We have had a great manyletters in the newspapers to that effect from SirCharles Trevelyan, and from many others whohave given their attention to these subjects. Imust say that I very much agree with them.And even our hospitals have been called inquestion, because it is said that people areglad to stay as long as they can in a hospital,not only to get cured, but to get the betterfood and the better accommodation which theyhave in those hospitals, compared with whatthey get at home. And we know what malin-gering means. Any soldier or sailor here knowswhat malingering mean's. I remember that whileI was in Egypt, of my crew on the Nile therewas hardly anybody who had two eyes or twoforefingers. They got rid of them in order totry to escape service in the army or the navy.But I never heard of anybody trying to drownhimself for the sake of being saved by the Life-boats of the Institution; so that if there is aninstitution against which hardly anything can besaid, it is such an Institution as THE NATIONALLIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION. What are we doing ina country like this ? When we are always at warwe want something to fill up the gaps of thepopulation. Well, it is something that we savesix hundred or eight hundred or a thousand of theadult population in the course of the year, to fillup those gaps which have been made by war andother casualties elsewhere. I think that is some-thing to be said in favour of an institution of thiskind. And then, besides that, though we knowthat numbers of sailors every year go to thebottom of the sea and lie, as it has been said,'where pearls lie deep,' yet the disaster is notconfined to themselves. We must recollect thatalmost the whole of these men are bread-winners.They are supporting families elsewhere, and ifthese families lose their bread-winners and arenot supported, what happens ? They come uponthe community at large. There is no doubt thatthis Institution is nobly supported, but we haveon the other side a very large expenditure; and soit must be. We cannot get on without a verylarge expenditure. This is not a service that canbe stinted. Unless we keep our Life-boats infirst-rate order, and reward people well, we cannotget our Life-boats gallantly and ably manned.And a very few instances of boats being sent outin an unseaworthy state from this Institutionwould have so bad an effect that it would bealmost impossible to get the boats manned, BO


that it is the very best possible economy to giverewards freely, and to spend freely, to keep herfleet in a state of the greatest efficiency. We findthat the newspaper press, which is most discerning,is ever ready to help forward this, like every othergood and National cause. We may, however, notalways have such encouragement and such ener-getic officers as we now possess ; and therefore itis of the greatest importance that we should makehay while the sun shines, and that we should, ifwe possibly can, get a capital as well as an income,so that if the interest of the public in thisInstitution should to a certain extent be dimi-nished, I do not think its noble work can everfade away; but still, should it diminish at all, weshould have something to fall back upon—some-thing to put by for a rainy day—so that we maybe able to carry on our operations by the side ofthe income which we are now obtaining from thegenerosity of the public. (Cheers.)"

HEEOES OF SEA AND LAND.

TO THE EDITOR.

SIR,—When I was in St. Paul's Cathe-dral a few months since, I was movedafresh at the sight of the magnificentmonuments to our great naval and mili-tary heroes, particularly those of LordNelson and the Duke of Wellington; and,as I shall presently have a few words tosay concerning shipwrecked sailors andtheir preservers, I hope you will allow meto give a brief impression of my visit tothe crypts of the cathedral.

I observed that Lord Nelson's tomb isin the middle of the south crypt. He isburied in a sarcophagus which CardinalWolsey is said to have had made forHenry YIII.

Nelson's coffin is made from the main-mast of the ship IS Orient, which was pre-

• sented to Nelson by his friend CaptainHallowell, of the Swiftsure, after the battleof the Nile, accompanied by a messageto this effect—" so that when you aretired of this life you may be buried in oneof your own trophies."

Nelson's flag was to have been buried

with his coffin; but, just as it was aboutto be lowered to its last resting-place, thesailors, who had borne him to the tomb,moved as if by one impulse, rent the flagin pieces, so that each man might have acherished memorial at least of this im-mortal genius of naval warfare.

Not far from Nelson rests brave LordCollingwood, according to the latter's ownrequest.

The Duke of Wellington's tomb is inthe east crypt, and near him sleepsGeneral Picton, of Waterloo fame. Ten-nyson's beautiful lines on the burial ofthe Duke and Nelson now instinctivelyrose to my mind, prompting Nelson tomake this pathetic inquiry:

" Who is he that cometh like an honoured guest,With banner and with music, with soldiers and

with priest,With a nation weeping, and breaking on my

rest?"* * * *

" Mighty seaman this is he,Was great by land as thou by sea;Thine island loves thee well, thou famous man,The greatest sailor since the world began ;Now to the roll of muffled drumsTo thee the greatest soldier comes ;For this is he,Was great by land as thou by sea."

I will yield to no one in my admirationof these and kindred heroes of sea andland; but the thought did occur to me—When would the period arrive when na-tional trophies like these would be raisedto the memory of those who had donenoble deeds in saving human life ?

Again, we seldom hear of those savedfrom a watery grave publicly testifyingtheir gratitude; but in ancient Borne itwas not an unusual custom for the ship-wrecked sailor to hang up his garmentsin the temples of his gods, as an acknow-ledgment of his gratitude for the preser-vation of his life from shipwreck.

I am, &c.,A SUBSCRIBER.


ADDITIONAL STATIONS AND NEW LIFE-BOATS.

WHITBT AND UPGANG.—The NATIONALLITE-BOAT INSTITUTION has forwarded twonew Life-boats to these stations, in theplace of other boats. Both boats are32 feet long and 7£ feet wide, and row10 oars "double-banked. The Whitby Life-boat, like the one it replaced, is named theHarriott Forteath, after the benevolentdonor, the late Mrs. FOBTEATH of Notting-ham. The Upgang boat is named theJoseph Sykes; it was provided from thelate Mrs. A. E. SYKES' legacy, which wasbequeathed to the Institution " in gratefulremembrance of the rescue of Lieut, j.SYKES, E.N., when H.M.S. Alceste waswrecked in the year 1817." The UpgangLife-boat was taken to its station by waterfrom Whitby while a gale of wind wasblowing from the W.; it was tried underoars and sails, and gave great satisfactionto its crew.

EUNSWICK, YORKSHIBE.—A new Life-boat has also been placed on this stationby the Institution, instead of the oneformerly there; the cost of the same wasdefrayed from a contribution given by alady residing at Brighton for the purposeof placing a memorial Life-boat on thecoast. A mutual promise had been madeby the husband and wife that the sur-vivor should give, during lifetime or bywill, a Life-boat to the Institution. Thehusband having died, the widow decidedto carry out their mutual agreementduring her lifetime. With her sanctionthe contribution, which she accordingly

handed to the Institution, has been ap-propriated to the Bunswick new Life-boat,the boat being named the Margaret andEdward. It is 34 feet long, 8 feet wide,rows 10 oars double-banked, and is fur-nished with a new transporting carriage.It has already done good service since itwas placed on its station in January lastin bringing safely ashore some distressedfishing cobles and their crews.

PENSION, ANGLESEY.—The Life-boat onthis station was the smallest on the coastof Anglesey, and was found to be notpowerful enough to contend with thestrong tides that are met with in thatlocality. Accordingly it has been super-seded by a larger 10-oared boat, 34 feetlong and 8 feet wide, named, like itspredecessor, the Ohristopher Brown, afterthe zealous Honorary Secretary of theSettle Branch of the Institution, who hadnot only been successful in collecting thecost of this and another Life-boat, buthad raised a sufficient sum of moneyamongst bis friends and others for thepermanent endowment of his two boats.A new boat-hotise and an extensivelaunching slipway are now being con-structed for the Penmon Life-boat, ata large expense, and when they are com-pleted the Life-boat establishment willbe in every respect a pattern one, andcannot fail to reflect credit on the gentle-man whose name will ever be associatedwith it in conjunction with the NATIONALLIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION.


BLYTH, NOBTHTJMBEBLAND.—The No. 2Life-boat on this station, -which was builtin the locality in the year 1853, has beenreplaced by a new and lighter Life-boatof the modern type, measuring 30 feet by8 feet, and rowing 8 oars double-banked.A new Transporting Carriage accom-panied the boat. • The members of theLocal Committee and the coxswains werewell pleased with the new boat and car-riage, which they thought were moresuitable for the station than the old ones.With the consent of the donors, thegift received by the Institution from T.JONES GIBB, Esq., and Mrs. JONES G-IBB,of Tunbridge Wells, was appropriated inthe renovation of this Life-boat Establish-

ment, the boat being named, at theirrequest, the Tom and Marion. Mr. andMrs. JONES GIBB have since sent a parcelof magazines and periodicals to Blyth forthe use of the crew of the Life-boat. Itshould be mentioned that the Institutionis much indebted to Mr. JAMES DABLING,its Local Honorary Secretary, for his as-sistance in the management of the Branch,he having been connected with it forupwards of thirty years. The Committeehave recently had the satisfaction to pre-sent to him the thanks of the Institutioninscribed on vellum in acknowledgmentof his long and valuable co-operation onbehalf of the Life-boat cause.

SEEVICES OP THE LIFE-BOATS OF THE NATIONAL LIFE-BOATINSTITUTION (continued).

MONTBOSE, N.B.—On the 21st July 1879the Mincing Lane Life-boat rendered someassistance to the Dutch fishing-smackNooit Polmakt, which had gone too far tothe northward while running for theharbour, and had stranded on the Annat

Bank during a fresh E.N.E. wind andheavy sea.

FEBBYSIDE, CABMABTHEN BAY.—On the21st August, in a strong wind from theS.W. and a rough sea, the yacht T. Deryon,

AUGTOST 2, 1880.] THE LIFE-BOAT. 173

of Carmarthen, was observed to be dis-masted and in dangerous proximity tothe Langharne Sands. Tie Life-boatCity of Manchester, stationed at the Ferry-side, went out to her, and found that hermast was broken off about twelve feetabove the deck; the crew had, however,succeeded in setting a small sail to theremains of the mast, and had weatheredthe Sands. At the request of the crewof the yacht, the Life-boat then accom-panied her, and indicated the best posi-tion to take the beach, and that havingbeen safely accomplished, those on boardwere helped ashore.

BULL BAY, ANGLESEY.—On the after-noon of the 7th October the s.s. Arabian,of Liverpool, bound from Liverpool toGibraltar with a general cargo, wentashore about a mile and a half westwardof the East Mouse, near Bull Bay, duringa dense fog. The Life-boat Eleanor pro-ceeded to the vessel and remained by herat the request of the captain until shewas got afloat at about 1 o'clock on thefollowing morning. After going out tosea with the steamer, the Life-boat hadgreat difficulty in finding her way backto her station, on account of the densityof the fog.

CKOMER.—On the 20th November, dur-ing a heavy breeze from the E., rocketswere observed in the direction of Foul-ness Shoal, or Cromer Bock, about twomiles to the eastward of Cromer. TheLife-boat was launched during a heavysnowstorm, at about 5.30 A.M., and pro-ceeded in the direction of the ship'slights, which were then visible. The tiderunning to leeward, it was some timebefore the boat could reach the vessel;but on arriving alongside she was foundto be the s.s. Moidart, of Glasgow, boundfrom the North of England to Odessa withrailway iron. The steamer was fast onthe shoal, and the sea was making aclean breach over her at times. As thetide flowed, she fortunately floated off,and was brought up at anchor in deepwater, but in a disabled state, having losther rudder and part of her sternpost.The captain requested the Life-boat toremain by the steamer until a tug, orother assistance, came from Yarmouth,and the boat therefore stayed by her untilabout 12.30, when she was compelled to

leave and go ashore, on account of thestate of the tide. A good look-out waskept from the shore during the night, asthe gale increased, and at daylight theLife-boat again went off, and remained byher until steam-tugs arrived and towedher away.

CULLEBCOATS.—On the 20th Nove'mberthe Reliance fishing-coble, which had goneout at 4 A.M. for the purpose either ofpiloting or fishing, was returning to theharbour at about 9.30, by which time thesea had much increased, and it was con-sidered dangerous for her to attempt tocross the bar. The Life-boat Palmerstonwas therefore launched, and accompaniedher in.

On the 26th April, at about 9 A.M.,several of the fishing-cobles were observedrunning for the harbour. As a strongbreeze was blowing, and the sea had risenvery much, it was feared that they mightmeet with accident in crossing the bar.The Palmerston Life-boat was thereforepulled out to their aid. The first coblewhich arrived got in with difficulty; andas the sea was very heavy on the bar, andthe tide was low, the Life-boatmen per-suaded the crews of the other boats tomake for Shields, rather than run therisk of losing their boats.

PALLING-BY-THE-SEA, NOBFOLK. — Onthe 1st December, at 4 P.M., the BritishWorkman Life-boat proceeded, duringa strong E.S.E. wind and heavy sea, tothe aid of a vessel which was signallingfor assistance. She proved to be thebarque Onward, of London, bound fromHartlepool to the East Indies, with coal.As she was in a very leaky condition,having been ashore on the Leman andOwer Sands, the Life-boat, at the re-quest of the master, assisted to take herinto Yarmouth Bo%ds. She had a crewof 16 men.

At 4 A.M. on the llth April, duringa strong wind from the E.N.E., and aheavy sea, the British Workman Life-boat was launched to the aid of thebrig Betty of Tonsberg, Norway, whichhad grounded on the Hasborough Bank,and had floated off in a very damagedcondition. With the assistance of a yawlthe vessel was beached at Falling, hercrew of 8 men being landed by theLife-boat.


WHITBT.—On the 2nd December fourfishing-cobles were observed to be makingfor the harbour, and as the wind and seaincreased, the Harriott Forteafh Life-boatwent out, supplied the crews of the cobles•with life-belts, and attended each of theboats over the bar. By the time thecobles and Life-boat had got safely in,the wind and sea had risen to a greatheight.

Two fishing-cobles, with three men ineach, were observed making for thisharbour at 2.30 P.M. on the 15th April.A strong E. gale had suddenly sprung up,causing a heavy sea on the bar, and theboats were in great danger of beingswamped. The Life-boat Harriott Forteathwent to their assistance, supplied each ofthe men in the cobles with a cork life-belt, and remained by the boats untilthey were safely beached.

CABNSOBE.—On the 21st December, at2.15 A.M., a vessel was reported to bestranded in Churchtown Bay. The Life-boat Iris proceeded there promptly, andfound the barque Chevereul, of Havre,ashore there. The wind was blowingfrom the S.E., accompanied by a roughsea. The master at first refused to leavehis ship, and requested the Life-boat toremain alongside; the boat accordinglystayed by her for about two hours, but asthe sea was then getting very heavy, themaster, the crew, consisting of 12 men,and the pilot, decided to abandon her,and were brought safely ashore in theLife-boat. The barque, which was on avoyage from Africa to Glasgow with dye-wood, became a total wreck.

KINGSDOWNE.—During a strong S.W.breeze and hazy weather on the 29thDecenlber, signals of distress were shownfrom a vessel ashore on the Goodwinsands. The Kingsdowne Life-boat pro-ceeded to her, and' found she was anItalian barque, laden with bones. Someof the Life-boatmen went on board thevessel, and the Boat remained by her untilshe was towed off the sands.

NEwo.tfA-2, CARDIGANSHIRE.—On the 1stJanuary 1880 the Nelson Life-boat put offto the aid of the barque Pacific, of Swan-sea, which was in a dangerous positionnear the shoals in the bay during a1 freshW. gale and hazy weather. One of the

Life-boatmen was put on board the vesseland piloted her out of danger.

. — Early on the morning of the2nd January, during a strong W.S.W.breeze and heavy sea, large flare lightswere seen in the direction of the CrossSand, and the Lightships fired guns androckets. The No. 1 Life-boat Covent Gardenthereupon proceeded to the Middle CrossSand, and found the s.s. Amcott, of WestHartlepool, bound from London to theTyne in ballast, ashore there, in the midstof heavy breakers. The Life-boat let goher anchor, wore down under the lee ofthe steamer, and boarded her,, when thecrew were engaged by the master to assistto .get his ship off the sand. Fortu-nately their efforts were successful, andthe steamer was eventually enabled toproceed on her voyage.

On the 15th February, at 6 P.M., theNo. 2 Life-boat, the Godsend, proceeded tothe barque Orion, which had stranded onthe south side of the North Scroby Sand.A fresh S. by E. breeze was blowing atthe time, the weather was foggy, and thesea was moderate at first; but the windand sea afterwards increased very much,and the Life-boat accordingly remainedby the vessel until she fortunately floatedat about 12.30, when the boat returnedto her station. The barque was boundto London with a cargo of wood.

BAMSOATE. — During a moderate breezefrom the N.W., and in cloudy and mistyweather, on the 21st January, guns wereheard from the direction of the GoodwinSands. The steam-tug Aid and the Life-boat Bradford were at once manned, andleft the harbour at 1 2.30. On arriving nearthe N.W. spit of the Goodwin Sands, abarque and a brigantine were observedashore. The Life-boat was slipped, androwed alongside the brigantine, whichproved to be the Black Diamond, ofGuernsey, bound from Shields to St.Brieuc, France, with a cargo of coal. Themaster engaged the services of the Life-boat and tug. At the same time a luggerwas seen alongside the barque. On thetide flowing, the steamer backed in, andtowed the brigantine's anchor out in aN.W. direction ; a large hawser was thenpassed to the vessel, and the tug com-menced towing, and continued doing sofor about two hours, the crew of the Life-


boat meanwhile assisting to heave on-the windlass, and also helping at thepumps. Eventually the vessel's head wasmoved, but, the tide falling, they failedto get her afloat, and the master then re-quested them to remain and try again onthe following tide. At about 6 o'clockon the next morning, just before highwater, the tug again backed in and com-menced towing, the crew, as before, heav-ing at the windlass. They continued fortwo hours, but the tide again falling, theywere unable to move her, and the tow-rope was then slipped and hauled onboard. The master of the barque, whichwas lying near the edge of the sand, heranchor having been taken out by thelugger, then hailed the steam-tug to towhis vessel into a place of safety. Accord-ingly her tow-rope was hauled on board,and the steamer commenced towing; thebarque's anchor was hove up, and she wastaken to a safe anchorage in the Downs.She was the Karoon, of Truro, U.S.,447 tons, bound from Yarmouth to NewYork, with a part cargo of scrap iron.

The steamer then returned to thebrigantine, the Life-boat in the meantimehaving remained alongside. On the tideagain flowing, the wind and sea increased,causing the vessel to strain and leak badly,and although the pumps were kept con-stantly at work, they were unable to keepthe water under. At about 5 P.M., therebeing six feet of water in the hold,and the water still rising and gaining onthe pumps, it was decided to abandonher, and the crew, consisting of 6 men,were then taken into the Life-boat, whichproceeded, in tow of the steamer, toBamsgate Harbour, where they arrived atabout 5.30 P.M. on the 22nd January. Onthe following morning the brigantinewas seen to have sunk in the sands, hermasts alone being visible.

On the 14th March, at 3.30 A.M., duringa fresh breeze from N.E., the BradfordLife-boat and steam-tug Vulcan pro-ceeded to the Goodwin Sands in re-sponse to guns and rockets from the GullLightship, and found the barque Surinam,of Amsterdam, ashore there. The servicesof the Life-boat and tug were at onceengaged by the master to try to get thevessel off, and the steamer attached herhawser and commenced towing; but thetide was falling fast, and after trying forabout an hour it was seen that it could

not then be accomplished. The starboardanchor was, however, got ready, and thesteamer took it out a distance ofseventy-five fathoms, and on the tideflowing she once more backed in, at-tached her hawser to the starboard quarter,and again commenced towing. After tow-ing for some time, the tide forced thevessel round, when the tow-rope wasslipped and made fast to the starboardbow. Again the steamer commencedtowing, the crew heaving on the wind-lass. The vessel bumped heavily on thesand, but in about half an hour she cameafloat, and was taken to a safe anchoragein the Downs. She had a general cargoand a crew of 10 men, and was bound fromAmsterdam to Surinam, Dutch Guiana.

Again, on the 17th March, at 6.30 A.M.,during a fresh breeze from the E., theVulcan' tug and Bradford Life-boat wentto the aid of a large brig which was seenashore on the N.E. part of the GoodwinSands. On arriving alongside, the Life-boat found the crews of two Eamsgateluggers on board. The master engagedthe services of all the men to assist toget the vessel off. The deck cargo ofrough timber was thrown overboard, thepumps were manned, and the waterpumped out. On the tide flowing, theVulcan backed in and attached her hawser,and eventually the steam-tug Wanderer,which had been lying near, was alsoengaged to try to get the vessel off thesands; but the heavy seas caused her topitch so heavily that the tow ropes con-stantly parted, and further attempts hadto be suspended for a time. At 1 o'clock onthe following morning the vessel's sailswere set, to endeavour to force her over thesand, and she was moved about threelengths ahead, when the tide again felland she remained fast. At 1 P.M. thewhole of her canvas was again set, andboth of the steamers' hawsers were at-tached to her, and after towing untilabout 4 P.M., it being the top of highwater, she moved ahead, and was even-tually got afloat and towed into BamsgateHarbour, arriving at 5.30 P.M., the salvors'persevering attempts to save the vesseland crew being thus rewarded by success,after upwards of thirty hours of toil andexposure. She proved to be the brigEeroen, of Porsgrund, Norway, boundthence to Cardiff with a cargo of timber,and having a crew of 9 men.

176 THE LIFE-BOAT [AUGUST 2,1880.

REDCAR.—On the 2 2nd January thefishing-smack Temperance Star, of Redcar,was driven near the rocks during a stronggale from N.N.E., accompanied by a roughsea. On observing her perilous posi-tion, the Life-boat Burton-on- Trent waslaunched, and proceeding to her she tookthe crew of 2 men out, and then broughtthe smack into a safe position.

POBTHDINLLAEN.—Signals of distresswere shown from some vessels in Car-narvon Bay on the night of the 25thJanuary. The crew of the Life-boatGeorge Moore quickly assembled, launchedtheir boat, and proceeded in the directionof the light, when they were enabled torender assistance to two fishing-smacks,the James and the Atkins, both belongingto Liverpool, which had been in collisionabout nine miles N.E. of Porthdinllaen.

WALMEB.—On the morning of the 5thFebruary, the coxswain of the CenturionLife-boat was informed by a boat's crewthat they had seen a vessel on the GoodwinSands; but as the wind and sea were nearlycalm at the time, he did not think itnecessary to launch the Life-boat until hefound that four of the vessel's crew wereleft on board, and could not be rescued onaccount of the surf on the Sands, theremainder of the men having been takenoff by some galleys. He then returned tothe station, and, having assembled theLife-boat crew, the boat proceeded to thevessel and rescued the 4 men, who werebrought safely ashore. Their vessel wasthe barque Shannon, of London, boundfrom Shields to Leghorn with a cargo ofcoal.

PLYMOUTH. — The Life-boat Clemencyput off on the 9th February, during avery heavy S. gale, and rendered valuableassistance to the s.s. Hankow, of London,which was in a perilous position outsidePlymouth Breakwater. The Life-boatconveyed hawsers from the Governmentsteam-tug Trusty to the vessel, at theimminent risk of the men's lives, and shewas then extricated from her dangeroussituation and towed inside the Breakwaterby the Trusty and two other steamers.The sea was so heavy outside that it wouldhave been impossible, in the absence ofthe Life-boat, to have passed the towinghawsers to the endangered vessel.

CLOVELLY.—During a strong gale from"W.N.W. and a heavy sea, on the 9thFebruary, the ketch Louisa, of Bideford,bound to that port from Newport, withcoal, was at anchor off Clovelly, when sheshowed a signal of distress. The Life-boatAlexander and Matilda Boetefeur imme-diately proceeded to her, and on arrivingalongside found that she was ridingheavily at her anchors. The crew of3 men and a female passenger wereanxious to be taken ashore, and they weretherefore taken into the Life-boat andsafely landed. A few hours afterwardsthe weather moderated, and the men wenton board their vessel again, got her underweigh, and proceeded on their voyage.

GILES' QUAY (DUNDALK), Co. LOUTH.—At about 11 o'clock on the samemorning (9th February), the brigantineAndover, of Dublin, which had lost hermainsail and had become unmanageable,stranded about one mile from DundalkLighthouse, during rough weather, andshowed signals of distress. The Giles'Quay Life-boat proceeded to her, took offthe crew of 6 men, and landed them atDundalk Quay. The wind was then blow-ing strongly from the E., and the searunning high; the Life-boat thereforeremained at Dundalk until 'the weathermoderated. While on her way back toher station, on the following morning, shewas asked to try to tow the Andover offthe bank. The Life-boat crew renderedthe required assistance, and succeeded,with the aid of another boat's crew, ingetting her afloat. The coxswain of theLife-boat, who is a pilot, then took chargeof the vessel, signalled for a tug, and hadher towed up to the Quay. She was on avoyage from Limerick to Liverpool, witha cargo of bones.

RAMSEY, ISLE or MAN.—On the sameday, at 7.30 A.M., the Two Sisters Life-boat,stationed at Ramsey, went out during amoderate gale from the E. and a heavysea, and rescued the crew, numbering 5men, from the schooner John Wesley, ofAberystwith, which, while on a voyagefrom Workington to Newport with acargo of pig-iron, had missed stays andbeen driven ashore about two miles to thenorth of Eamsey Harbour.

SWANSEA.— On the 10th February,


during a strong gale from S.S.E., veeringto S.W., with a very heavy sea, signals ofdistress were shown by the barque Corea,of Boston, U.S., which had stranded onthe " Greengrounds " in Swansea Bay. TheLife-boat Wolverhampton went to her assis-tance, and on arriving alongside foundthat she was striking heavily; her falsekeel had been beaten off, and she wasdragging her anchors. The crew ofthirteen men, and one woman, had pro-posed to leave in the ship's boats, but theboats were swamped and lost. On thearrival of the Life-boat, some of her crewwent on board, and, with the assistance ofa steam-tug which just then arrived, thebarque was taken to Swansea.

NEW BRIGHTON.—A steam-tug cameto the New Brighton landing-stage at4 o'clock on the morning of the 12thFebruary, for the Life-boat, as there was'a steamer ashore on the Askew Bank. Thewind was blowing strongly from the S.,and the weather was cloudy. The StuartHay tubular Life-boat was quickly manned,and proceeded in tow of the steamer 'tothe aid of the stranded vessel. She provedto be the s.s. Anatolian, of Liverpool, boundthence to the Mediterranean with a generalcargo. The Life-boat remained by her forsome hours, and eventually transferredtwenty-six of the crew to the tug, whichtook them to Liverpool; the captain andthe pilot remained on board the Anatolian,trusting that she would not become awreck.

WEXFORD.—On the 12th February, atabout 5.30 P.M., the fishing schooner Kate,of Wexford, was seen to be running forthe harbour. The wind was blowingmoderately from the S.W., but the seawas rolling furiously in consequence of astrong gale on the previous night. Imme-diately on entering the bar she was struckby a heavy breaking sea, which completelycapsized her. Her crew, consisting offour men, succeeded in getting upon thebottom of the boat,but were instantly sweptoff by the sea. By this time the Life-boat Civil Service had put off to renderassistance; but unfortunately nothingcould be seen except some small portionsof wreckage. After cruising about for ashort time, the Life-boat picked up 1man who had drifted in, clinging to asmall piece of board. The poor fellow was

in a most exhausted state ; he was atonce landed at Eosslare, and every effortwas made to restore animation, but un-fortunately without success, and he ex-pired about an hour after being landed.The Life-boat again went out, but wasunable to find any trace of the rest of thecrew.

CEMAES, ANGLESEY. — Information wasbrought to this Life-boat Station on themorning of the 14th February of a wreckon Skerries Island. The wind was blowinghalf a gale from S.W. at the time. The Life-boat Ashtonian was immediately launchedand proceeded to the vessel, which provedto be the barque Guiding Star, of Salcombe,bound to that port from Liverpool withcoal. ;,The captain, his wife, and the crew,consisting of eight men, had succeeded ingetting on the rocks by means of ropesfrom the jib-boom end. The Life-boatstayed several hours at the island, andeventually 7 of the shipwrecked peoplewere, with great difficulty on account ofthe tremendous sea, taken into the Life-boat and landed at Cemaes. Three of thevessel's crew remained on the island, soas to be able to save anything that mightbe washed ashore. On the 17th inst. theLife-boat again went to the island andbrought them ashore.

GEEAT YARMOUTH. — On the afternoonof the 16th February, the Life-boat MarkLane was launched, and proceeded througha heavy sea to the ketch Duguesclin, ofNewcastle, which had shown a signal ofdistress while riding in the roads. Shewas found to be leaking, and the crew,consisting of 4 men, proposed to leaveher. The Life-boat crew, however, workedat the pumps, and, with the aid of asteam-tug, the ketch was taken safely intoharbour.

, KENT. — The ketch Forager,of Portsmouth, from Seaham to Chichester,with coal, with a crew of four men,stranded near Kingsgate Castle on the22nd February. A Coastguard boat pro-ceeded to her assistance, and endeavouredto get her afloat, but the tide fell beforethis could be accomplished. On the fol-lowing morning the wind blew stronglyfrom the E.N.E., and the sea was heavy,and it was therefore considered advisableto take the Life-boat Thomas Chapman


out to the vessel, the lives of the crewbeing in danger. The Life-boat proceededto her at about 6.30 A.M., and in threehours' time she was got afloat and, withthe assistance of a steam-tug, was takento Eamsgate Harbour, the Life-boat ac-companying her to assist in steering, andto be in readiness in case her services wererequired to save life, as the vessel wasleaking badly.

BLACKPOOL.—On the 26th February, at7.30 A.M., the coxswain of the Life-boatwas informed that a vessel had just beenseen on the Salthouse Bank with a signalof distress flying. The wind was blowinga gale from the N.W., and the sea wasvery heavy at the time. He at once wentdown the pier, and, finding the report tobe correct, the Eolert William Life-boatwas got out immediately, and placed inposition for launching. It was foundthat only seven of the crew had arrived,and the coxswain then selected threelandsmen whom he knew could pull prettywell, and as no time was to be lost, theboat was launched, even now under-manned, her proper complement being tenoarsmen in addition to the two coxswainsand a bowman. She proceeded under sailas near to the wreck as was possible,shipping heavy seas nearly the wholeof the time. The oars were then gotout, and after two hours' very hard pull-ing, phe got alongside. Great dangerwas incurred in approaching the vessel,as her spars were adrift and workingabout. The Life-boat was thereforehauled to within ten yards or so of therigging, and a line was passed on board,by means of which the crew were draggedone by one through the sea and into theboat; they were in a most exhausted con-dition, and almost unable to assist them-selves. Having safely got the 4 meninto the boat, the grapnel line was cut,the anchor weighed, and her head putfor the shore, which was about fourmiles away. Being close on to the bank,she was obliged to run over it, the seabeing terrific, but the drogue was gotout and put in charge of the bowman,the sub-coxswain not being on board. Onegreat sea broke right over the boat's stern,filling her completely, and driving her likean arrow for about a quarter of a mile.At last, despite all efforts, she broachedto and was thrown on her beam ends, one

man being washed overboard, and theremainder hurled to the side of the boat.The crew, however, by directions of thecoxswain, quickly sprang to the weatherside, which manoeuvre brought her al-most to an even keel, and prevented acapsize. Her head was once more gotbefore the sea, and the man who had beenthrown overboard and had held on to thelife-lines, was pulled into the boat. They,however, still had a critical time, for whenthe boat had been struck by this heavysea the bowman had been knocked over,and had lost his hold of the drogue line,and the drogue was consequently lost.The coxswain then got out the bucket,and having attached lines to it, extem-porised a drogue. At 12 o'clock at noonthe Life-boat safely landed at St. Ann's,and was rapturously received by an im-mense crowd. The vessel proved to bethe schooner Bessie Jones, of Pleetwood,bound from Glasgow to Liverpool withsteel railway metals. One of the ship-wrecked crew (the cook) had unfortu-nately been washed overboard from thevessel and drowned before the Life-boatarrived.

The Silver Medal of the Institution wasvoted to Mr. EOBEBT BICKEBSTAFFE, thecoxswain of the Life-boat, in acknowledg-ment of his general gallant exertions inthe boat, and particularly for his good ser-vices on this occasion. A double rewardwas also granted to the crew of the Life-boat, in addition to the local presentationof a special Silver Medal commemorativeof the occasion, accompanied by a sum ofmoney, amounting to nearly 51., whichwas paid into the Post Office SavingsBank to the account of each man.

An exciting scene took place off Black-pool on the 20th of May, owing to thesteamer Columbus taking the ground withthree hundred passengers on board. Everyeffort was at once made to get her out ot-her dangerous position, but without suc-

ss. The heavy seas meanwhile con-tinued to roll over the steamer as she laybroadside on to them. All this time thepassengers on board were in a terriblestate of confusion, and a good many ofthem were under no little apprehensionas to their personal safety, for almostwithout an exception they were drenchedto the skin with the sea, which found itsway on board. The captain, seeing thatthere was no chance of getting his vessel


afloat until the turn of the tide, hoisted aflag of distress, whereupon the Life-boatbell was rung by Mr. Eobert Biokerstafie,the coxswain, and the boatmen ran withall speed to the boat-house. Their zealand anxiety to get a place in the RobertWilliam Life-boat were so marked that,in their eagerness to get hold of a corkjacket, which enables him who gets it tohave an oar during the rescue, the cox-swain was hustled up to the far end ofthe boat. Four horses were stopped onthe road and attached to the Life-boatcarriage. The force supplied by theefforts of the willing horses was imme-diately augmented by literally hundredsof strong arms dragging away at theropes, so that the sands presented amost animated aspect as the Life-boatand the accompanying crowd hurriedalong under the south pier and on to thenorth, where the living freight of theColumbus were eagerly awaiting deliveryfrom their unpleasant, if not perilous,position. At about twenty minutes pastone the Life-boat was shot off her carriageand dashed into the broken surf amid thelusty cheers of the crowds of bystanders.Once afloat she was very soon alongsidethe stranded steamer. By this timeseveral sailing and rowing boats had alsogot alongside, and in half an hour all thethree hundred passengers were once moresafe on land again, to their inexpressiblesatisfaction. The Life-boat made twotrips, and brought off sixty-two passengersthe first time and seventy-one the second.The large sailing boats brought off aboutforty passengers each time. After all thepassengers were safely landed the Life-boat returned to the steamer, and remainedalongside her until she floated again atabout four o'clock in the afternoon.

BHOSNEIGIB, ANGLESEY.— A rocket wasfired from a vessel near Bhoscolyn Land-mark early on the morning of the 7thMarch. The weather was foggy, and aheavy sea was running, the wind beingS.W. The Thomas lAngham Life-boatproceeded to her assistance, and foundthat she had struck on a rock. She wasthe barque Orient, of Liverpool, boundto that port from San Francisco, with acargo of wheat. Fortunately the windshifted to the N., and aided by the adviceof the coxswain of the Life-boat, the shipwas extricated from her perilous position

and enabled to complete her voyage insafety.

BALLYW ALTER, Go. DOWN.—On the lltb.March, at midnight, signals of distresswere shown from a ship ashore on theLong Bock opposite Ballywalter, and inresponse thereto the Life-boat AdmiralHenry Meynett was promptly launchedand proceeded to the spot; but the nightbeing very dark, with a gale blowing fromthe S.E., and a heavy sea running on therocks, upon which there was not muchwater, the Boat was compelled to waitfor daybreak before going alongside thestranded vessel. During the time ofwaiting the tide fell, which rendered thetask somewhat easier. The night was avery severe one, with tremendous rainsqualls, to which the Life-boat men wereexposed for about six hours. However,they at last had the satisfaction to savethe shipwrecked crew of 5 men, arriv-ing back with them at Ballywalter atabout 7 A.M.

The thanks of the Institution, inscribedon vellum, were voted to the Bev. J.O'EEILLY BLACKWOOD, Hon. Sec. of theBallywalter Branch, who went out in theLife-boat on this occasion, and an extrareward was granted to the crew of the Boat.

LYDD, DUNGENESS. — The Life-boatDavid Hulett was launched on the llthMarch, in reply to signals of distress, andproceeded to the ship Livingstone, of Yar-mouth, N.S., which had stranded nearNo. 2 Battery, East Bay, Dungeness, dur-ing a strong wind from E.S.E. and thickfog, accompanied by a rough sea. Theboat remained by the vessel several hours,until she was got off -with the assistanceof three steam-tugs.

BBOADSTAIES.—On the 14th March, inreply to signal guns from the East Good-win Lightship, at 3.30 A.M., the SamuelMorrison Collins Life-boat proceeded to theGoodwin Sands, and found the ss. Mabel,of Hartlepool, ashore on the eastern partof the Sands. She had a crew of 22men and 2 passengers, and forty-sevenDeal and Broadstairs boatmen were onboard rendering assistance, and, as shewas in a most dangerous position, theLife-boat remained by her until 3 P.M.on the 16th, in case her services shouldbe required to save those on board, should


the weather become stormy. Fortunately,after throwing overboard 800 tons ofcargo (iron ore), she came off the sand at2 P.M. on the 18th March.

AEKLOW.—On the 30th March it wasreported by the master of a fishing smackthat a barque had grounded on the ArklowBank. The Out-Pensioner Life-boat pro-ceeded to her assistance, and found shewas the barque Pater, of Sundswall,Sweden, bound from Liverpool to NewYork with a cargo of salt. The Life-boat-men were requested to assist in throw-ing the cargo overboard or into hookersif they arrived. This work was per-severed in for six or seven hours, when aheavy breeze sprung up from the S.S.W.,accompanied by rain, and the sea rose sorapidly and so high that it was consideredadvisable to get away from the vessel assoon as possible. The Life-boat there-fore returned ashore, bringing 11 ofthe crew and the captain's wife, the re-maining three men of the crew havingpreviously been taken off by a fishing-boat. The Life-boat arrived at Arklowat about midnight, after crossing theBank, where she shipped a great quantityof water. Prior to leaving the barque,one of the seamen fell overboard; hiscries were heard from the Life-boat, whichwas pulled in that direction, and happilythey were successful in picking the manup, after he had floated some distance.Before noon the next day the vessel hadentirely disappeared.

EUNSWICK.—The Margaret and EdwardLife-boat put off to the aid of several ofthe fishing-cobles belonging to this portwhich had been overtaken by a gale onthe 2nd April. The Life-boat remainedout two hours, and rendered importantservice to the boats in assisting them toget safely ashore.

HASBoaouaH.— The ketch Rival, ofLondon, bound there from Newcastle withfire-bricks, went ashore at Ostend, abouta mile and a quarter N. of the HasboroughLife-boat Station, during a strong E.N.E.wind and a thick fog on the 8th April.A rocket was fired to her, but the linegot entangled in the wreck of anothervessel which was near, and was rendereduseless. The Life-boat Huddersfield thenput off and succeeded in rescuing the

persons on board the ketch, consisting ofthe master, his wife, and crew of 3ment

NEWBIGGIN.—While fourteen cobles wereout fishing on the 2nd April at about11 A.M. the sea suddenly rose to a greatheight, and considerable anxiety was feltfor the safety of the boats and their crews.The Newbiggin Life-boat went to theirassistance, and after some hours' exertioneleven of the cobles were brought in safetyto the shore. The other three boats wereout of sight, and as the sea was very high,and there was but little wind, it wasevident that they required assistance. TheLife-boat, therefore, proceeded in the di-rection of the fishing-ground, fell in withthe boats, and towed them into the bay,one of the boats being towed three miles.The Life-boatmen were engaged six hoursin rendering these services.

GOBLESTON.—At 11.30 P.M., on the 4thMay, guns were fired by the St. NicholasLightship, in response to which the Life-boat Leicester immediately put off and pro-ceeded to the Scroby Sand. The weatherat the time was thick, with rain; thewind was not heavy, but there was a con-siderable swell. It was found that theschooner Pride of the Isles, of Bridport, hadgone ashore on the south part of the sand.She had lost her rudder, and as she hadmore than four feet of water in her hold,her crew, consisting of 6 men, were takeninto the Life-boat and safely landed. Thevessel rolled over and sank almost imme-diately after the Life-boat had left her.

THE LIFE-BOAT STATIONS OFTHE UNITED KINGDOM.

THE ISLE OF PURBECK, AND ITS LIFE-BOATS.

XLI. — SWASAGE.— The Charlotte and Mary,35 feet by 9 feet, 10 oars.

XLII.—KIMERIDGE.—The Mary Heape, 28 feetby 6 feet 8 inches, 5 oars.

THIS S.E. portion of Dorsetshire, which is now anisland by courtesy only, doubtless had good claimto the name within the period of history. Evennow it is nearly "surrounded by water," althoughits boundary, the river Frome, with its near neigh-bour, the Piddle, have gone far to effect their own


extinction, by the masses of alluvial soil they havecarried down whilst performing their office ofdraining the neighbouring portion of the country.

Wareham, anciently a city of great importance onthe banks of the Frome, and a seaport of sufficientmagnitude to have supplied three ships for the siegeof Calais in temp. Edward III., can now only be ap-proached by barges and lighters. It is said vesselsof 150 tons conld unload here seventy years ago.The island is full of interest to the historian, theantiquarian, and the geologist, as well as to thoseinterested in the work of the RdYAL NATIONALLIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION. It was off Peveril Pointthat King Alfred gained a victory over the Danishfleet, when 120 of their ships were sunk or wreckedon Peveril Ledge, a dangerous reef now guardedby the watchful eye of the Institution's Life-boat at Swanage. In the middle of the island,guarding the mouth of the valley through whichthe principal way of approach ran, stands the nobleruin of Corfe Castle, the scene of many well-known events in English history. The names ofKings Alfred and Edgar are connected with it. Itwas here that King Edward the Martyr was foullymurdered by his stepmother Elfrida, and whosebody, according to monkish tradition, imparted tothe well into which it was thrown power to effectmiraculous cures on the infirm. It is still calledSt. Edward's Fountain. William the Conquerornext appears in connection with it, having causedthe great tower or keep to be built. Severalroyal ladies have contributed to its history. Itheld out stoutly for Queen Maude, and provedimpregnable to Stephen. It was here that KingJohn imprisoned the sister of the unfortunate Arthur—the Princess Alianor, or the Maid of Bretagne—together with the two daughters of Alexander,the King of Scotland. The ornate Tudor work, ofwhich remains are still to be seen, is probably dueto its having been the residence of the Countess ofRichmond, mother of Henry VII.; and its end isintimately connected with the noble and courageousloyalty to the cause of the Stuarts, displayed bythe wife, afterwards widow of the then owner,Lord Chief Justice Banks. Three times whilst inher hands was it invested and assaulted by theParliamentary forces, only to be repulsed withsevere loss; at last what force conld not do againstthis indomitable lady, assisted by her daughters,treachery effected, and the castle eventually fellinto its enemies' hands, to be destroyed as afortress (by gunpowder), but still to remain agrand monument to English valour and architec-tural skill in the middle ages.

The island is very rich in barrows or tumuli,which have afforded many highly-prized treasuresto antiquarians, whilst the ancient earthworks nearWhitecliff, and the many old church towers, cannotbut be of great interest. The ancient chapel on St.Adhelm's, or St. Alban's, Head, must be of thesame interest to all concerned with the preservationof life from shipwreck as to the antiquarian,having been one of the earliest efforts in thiscountry to carry out that work of charity, onepractical part of which is now virtually entrustedby ,the country to the Life-boat Institution. It con-

sists of a small square building of the earliest Saxonarchitecture, believed by some to have been builtby St. Adhelm, Bishop of Sherborne, who diedA.D. 710 ; others place the date of its constructionin the latter part of the 12th century. Whichevermay be correct, both agree as to its purpose. Thiswas to warn mariners approaching this dangerouscoast, which it is supposed was done by the priesttolling a heavy bell during dark or foggy weather,as well as by giving the earliest intelligence of awreck, and summoning to his assistance the inha-bitants of the neighbouring village of Worth. Ofcourse in addition to this (if it may be so called)civil or lay duty, he performed the priestly officeof prayer for those at sea, and for shipwreckedmariners; and the present custom of young womendropping a pin into a hole in the central pillar andwishing for a husband, or the happy consummationof whatever they had most at heart, may be a relicof the ancient custom of presenting offerings tothe priest to purchase his prayers for relations orfriends. On Whit-Thursday the villagers of Worthstill visit the chapel, dress it with flags, and dancein it, when we can readily imagine many anoffering, with accompanying wish, being made.

The island is equally interesting to the geologistboth from its formation and the numerous remainsfound in it.

The Institution has two Boats stationed on theisland, one at Swanage and the other at Kimeridge.

The first-named Boat, called the Charlotte andMary, is 35 feet long by 9 feet wide, pulling 10oars, and was given by S. J. WILDE, Esq., for thelate Miss M. WILDE.

This station was formed and the Boat placed inSeptember 1875, on the S.E. shore of the bay, avery neat and commodious Boat-house, and slipwayfor launching from, being built at the game time.The station is an important one on account of theexposed nature of the anchorage, with easterly andsouth-easterly winds, and the number of vesselsthat frequent it both for shelter and to load withstone; it also possesses the great advantage ofbeing a weatherly station from which to reachStudland Bay and the approaches to Poole Har-bour, in case of necessity, the former being a placeof considerable resort by windbound vessels.

During the four years and a-half this Boat hasbeen placed she has done good service on severaloccasions, and has saved nine lives.

Mr. HENRY HIXSON is the energetic HonorarySecretary; and a sound and gratifying local inte-rest exists in the welfare of the branch and ofthe Institution generally. A very good and ablecrew can always be depended upon, and the menhave the greatest confidence in their Boat.

The Kimeridge Boat, which is 28 feet long by6 feet 8 inches wide, pulling 5 oars, given byBENJAMIN HEAPE, Esq., of Manchester, is placedin a very advantageous position for reaching theKimeridge Ledges and otter dangers in that neigh-bourhood, which at times prove fatal to unfortu-nate vessels during S. and S.W. gales, as well asduring fogs. The danger of these reefs, whichnowhere ^extend a mile from the shore, is greatlyenhanced by an extraordinary, and probably inter-


mittent indraught or current towards them, ofwhich several interesting confirmations are re-corded. In December 1847 an American ship wasstruck by lightning off Ushant, during a freshS.W. gale, and set on fire; the crew havingescaped, she drove ashore here one mass of flame.Again, -when the unfortunate mail steamer Amazonwas burnt, one of her boats as well as many piecesof burnt wood and articles of cabin furniture weredriven on shore here about a week after the catas-trophe. Some heartrending scenes occurred in thisneighbourhood before this station was establishedby the Institution in 1868, when the present Boatwas placed here, where she has kept faithful watchand ward until this year; and, after these years ofgood service, during which she, has saved fifteenlives, she is shortly to be replaced by a moremodern and powerful Boat, with a carriage; a newand more commodious Boat-house being now incourse of erection for the same.

This Boat is under the control of the Isle ofPurbeck Local Committee, of which the Rev. 0.MANSEI/, M.A., of Church Kuowle, is the able andzealous Honorary Secretary; and she has a verygood and able crew of fishermen and Coast-guardmen.

SUMMABT OF THE

MEETINGS OF THE COMMITTEE.

THURSDAY, 1st January, 1880:

THOMAS CHAPMAN, Esq., F.R.S., V.P., Chairmanof the Institution, in the Chair.

Read and approved the Minutes of the previousMeeting, and those of the Finance and Correspond-ence, and Wreck and Reward Sub-Committees.

Also the Reports of the five District Inspectorsof Life-boats to the Institution on their visits tothe following Stations :—

No. 1 District. Capt. the Hon. H. W. CHET-WYHD, R.N., London—Dover.

No. 2 District. Commander C. LAPRIMATJDAYE,R.N., Bristol—Bade, Clovelly, Brannton, Apple-dore (two Boats), Morte Bay, Ilfracombe, Lyn-mouth, Watchet, and Bumham.

No. 3 District. Lieut H. T. G. TIPPING, R.N.,Dublin—Balbriggan, Rogerstown, Greencastle,Portrush, Groomsport, Ballywalter, Newcastle,Tyrella, and Giles' Quay.

No. 4 District. Lieut. H. A. MONTEITH, R.N.,Edinburgh—Montrose (two Boats), Gourdon,Stonehaven, Arbroath, Broughty Ferry, BuddonNess, St. Andrew's, and Anstruther.

No. 5 District. Commander ST. VINCENTNEPEAN, R.N., Hull—Thorpeness, Aldborough,Harwich, and Clacton-on-Sea.

Reported the receipt of 1,150J. from the CivilService Life-boat Fund, per CHARLES DIBDIN,Esq., F.R.G.S., Hon. Secretary, being 1,000?. forthe endowment of the Civil Service No. 1 Life-boatat Wexford, Ireland, and 150?. in aid of the generalsupport of their three Life-boats.—To be thanked.

[The other Special Contributions and Legaciesreceived by the Institution during the month ofDecember are given in the Annual Report, pub-lished on the 1st May last]

Reported that the following legacies had beenbequeathed to the Institution:—

£. f . d.The late Mrs. ELLEN HOPE, of Upper

Seymour Street 300 0 0The late Mrs. ANN STAMP, of Reading 19 19 0The late Admiral CHAELES EDMONDS,

of Worthing 19 19 0

Voted the thanks of the Committee to DAVIDDICKSON, Esq., of Edinburgh, in acknowledgmentof his long and valuable co-operation on behalf ofthe Edinburgh, Leith, and Granton Branch of theInstitution.

Decided to place new Life-boats at Eastbourne,Brighstone Grange (Isle of Wight), Ardmore, andBallycottou (Ireland), in lieu of the Boats atpresent on those Stations.

The cost of the new Life-boats had respectivelybeen presented to the Institution by the followingDonors:—Eastbourne, Friends at Manchester •,Brighstone Grange—Worcester Cadet Life-boatFund, per Capt. J. H. SMITH; Ardmore—MissANN MABIA HOOPER, of Bristol; and Ballycotton—The Oliver Goldsmith Life-boat Fund, per MissADA GOLDSMITH TULLOH.

Paid 2,223£. 2s. 11(2. for sundry charges onvarious Life-boat Establishments.

Voted 79J. 10s. to pay the expenses of the Life-boats at Carnsore, Caister, Deal and Kingsdowne,in rendering the following services:—

Livessaved.

Barque Chevereul, of Havre 13Brig Rival of Blyth 8Ship Leda, of Bremen 19An Italian barque. Remained by vessel.

The Palling Life-boat had assisted to save thabarque Onward, of London, and her crew of 16men.

[The details of most of these services will befound on page 174.]

Voted also 157/. 7s. 6d. to pay the expenses ofthe Carnsore, Sunderland, Whitby, Caister, Win-terton, Brighstone Grange, Broadstairs, Kings-downe, MuUion, Great Yarmouth, and QueenstownLife-boats, in assembling their crews, or puttingoff in reply to signals of distress exhibited fromvessels which did not eventually require the assis-tance of the boats.

The Ramsgate Life-boat had also been takenout, and the crew of the Gorleston Life-boat hadassembled with the view of launching to distressedvessels, but their services were not ultimatelyneeded.

Voted the Silver Medal of the Institution, witha copy of the vote inscribed on vellum, to theEARL of DUNMOBE, and 5?. to three fishermen, inacknowledgment of their gallant services in puttingoff in an open boat, and proceeding, at one o'clock inthe morning, a distance of eleven miles througha very heavy sea, and bringing ashore the pas-sengers of the yacht Astarte, of Glasgow, whichvessel had sunk in the Sound of Harris, N.B.,during a hurricane from the S.W., On the 22ndSeptember, V879, those on board her having to takerefuge on a small island.

Also the thanks of the Institution, inscribed onvellum, and ll., to Mr. DENIS CONNOR, ChiefOfficer H.M. Coastguard, at Rosslare, Ireland, inacknowledgment of his arduous and zealous ser-vices on the occasion of the launch of the Carn-sore Life-boat, in reply to signals of distressshown from the Tuskar lighthouse on the 28thNovember.

Also a binocular glass, with a suitable inscription,


to Mr. PHILIP JEFFERSON, late Coxswain of theNewbiggin Life-boat, in remembrance of hisformer good services in the boat in saving lifefrom shipwreck.

Also a binocular glass, with a suitable incription,and lOi, to Mr. WILLIAM GRANT, on his retire-ment from the office of Coxswain of the Institu-tion's Life-boat at Margate, which appointmenthe had held seventeen years, in which periodhe had assisted to save 98 lives from variouswrecks. He had previously received tlve SilverMedal and Second Service Clasp of the Institution.

THURSDAY, 5th February:The Chairman of the Institution in the Chair.Read and approved the Minutes of the previous

Meeting, and those of the Finance and Correspond-ence, and Wreck and Reward Sub-Committees.

Also the Reports of the five District Inspectorsof Life-boats on their visits to the followingStations:—

1. Broadstairs, Hythe, New Eomney, Selsey,Chichester Harbour, Brighstone Grange, Brooke,Bembridge, Poole, Swanagc, Chapman's Pool,Kimeridge, Weymouth, and Lyme Regis.

2. Rhyl (two Boats), Llandulas, Rhoscolyn,Penmon, Llandudno, Moelfre, Cemaes, Cemlyn,Bull Bay, Holyhead, Ehosneigir, Llanddwyn,Portmadoc, Barmouth, Aberdovey, Porthdinllaen,and Abersocn.

3. Drogheda (two stations) and Wicklow.4. Kirkcudbright^ Isle of Whithom, and Port

Logan.5. Lowestoft (two Boats), Pakefield (two Boats),

Yarmouth (two Boats), Caister (two Boats),Whitby (two Boats), and Bacton.

Reported the receipt of a contribution of 900?.from T. JONES-GIBB, Esq., and Mrs. JONES-GIBB,of Tunbridge Wells, to defray the cost of a Life-boat Station, the Boat to be named the Tom andMarion.

Decided that Mr. and Mrs. JONES-GIBB be cor-dially thanked for their munificent contribution,and that the same be applied to the renovation ofthe Blyth No. 2 Life-boat Station.

[The other Special Contributions and Legaciesreceived by the Institution during the month ofJanuary are given in the Annual Report, publishedon the 1st May last,]

Reported that the following legacies had beenbequeathed to the Institution:—

£. s. d.The late Miss MARTHA CHARTERS

SoMERViLLEjOf Florence, for a Life-boat Station, in memory of herMother, Mrs. MARY SOMKRVILLE . 2500 0 0

The Honourable Mrs. HENRIETTAMABEL BROADHURST, of Richmond 300 0 0

The late Mrs. A. K. PECK, ofPlymouth 250 0 0

The late WM. BAGLEY, Esq., ofLeicester 200 0 0

The late Miss ANN WEBB, of Brighton(duty free) 50 0 0

The Committee recorded their deep regret atthe death of Mr. J. G. WALKER, of Hanley, whohad been for many years the valued Treasurer ofthe Staffordshire Branch of the Institution.

Decided that the best thanka of the Committeebe conveyed to the following gentlemen, in acknow-ledgment of their past valuable co-operation inthe management of various branches of theInstitution:—

WILLIAM DYSON, Jan., Esq., Hull; J. HORAN,Esq., and J. LAMBTON, Esq., R.N.R., Sunderland;

and the Rev. A. H. MCCAUSLAND, Groomsport(Ireland).

Reported that Mr. Lovelock, public accountant,had examined the accounts of the Institution forthe past year, and had found the same correct.

Decided that a new Life-boat House and Slip-way be erected at Plymouth, at a cost of 325?.

Paid 1,917;. 13s. id. for sundry charges onvarious Life-boat establishments.

The Life-boats at Nevrquay (Cardiganshire),Caister, Rams^ate, and Redcar had rendered thefollowing services:—

Barque Pacific, of Swansea, and s.s. Amcott, ofWest Hartlepool, rendered assistance; brigantineBlack Diamond, of Guernsey, 6 lives saved;fishing smack, Temperance Star, of Redcar, savedboat and crew of 2 men.

Voted 13?. 5s. to pay the expenses of the Porth-dinllaen Life-boat in rendering assistance to thedistressed fishing-boats James and Atkins, ofLiverpool.

[The details of these services will be found onpages 174-6.1

Voted 138?. 11s. 6d. to pty the expenses of theClacton-on-Sea, New Romney, Kingsdowne, Deal,Walmer, Porthdinllaen, Banff, Cullercoats, Port-rush, Great Yarmouth, Holyhead, and BuckieLife-boats in assembling their crews or puttingoff in reply to signals of distress shown by vesselsnot ultimately needing the aid of the Boats.

Voted the Gold Medal of the Institution, and acopy of the vote inscribed on vellum, to Mr.WILLIAM PARTRIDGE CUBITT, Jun., in acknow-ledgment of his very brave conduct in plunging,at the peril of his life, into the sea from the BactonLife-boat in the midst of a heavy surf, after theupsetting of that boat, on the 20th January, andcutting' a rope which had entangled her rudder.By this means she was released from a veryperilous position, and was enabled to reach theshore with those on board her.

The thanks of the Institution, inscribed onvellum, and II., were also voted to Mr. WILLIAMWENN, and 6/. to six other men, for putting off ina yawl and rescuing some of the crew on theabove-named occasion.

Also the thanks of the Institution to W. E.CARVER, Esq., J.P., in acknowledgment of hiskind and valuable co-operation in taking an oar inthe Portrush Life-boat, on the occasion of herlaunch to the stranded schooner Graham, of Dum-fries, on the 29th December, 1879.

Also 1?. to Mr. JOHN BYNOW, chief boatman incharge of H.M. Coastguard at Clontarf, Dublin,and 2/. to his crew of four men^ for putting off inthe Coastguard boat, at some risk, and saving thecrew of 7 men from) the brigantine AliceWoods, of Ardrossan, which was wrecked on theNorth Bull, Clontarf, during a moderate easterlygale, on the 20th November.

THURSDAY, 4th March :His Grace the DUKE of NORTHUMBERLAND,

President of the Institution, in the Chair.Read and approved the Minutes of the previous


Also the report of Vice-Admiral J. R. WARD,the Chief Inspector of Life-boats, on his recentvisits to Blackpool and St. Ann's, and those oifour of the District Inspectors of Life-boats, ontheir visits to the following stations :—

1. Plymouth, Yealm River, Salcombe, HopeCove, Dartmouth, Brixham, Torquay, Teignmouth,Exmouth, Sidmouth, Penarth, and Swansea.

2. Ballywalter, Drogheda, Kingstown, Arklow,

184 THE LITE-BOAT. [AUGUST 2,1880.

Courtown, Cahore, Queenstown, Tralee, andValentia.

3. Port Patrick, Ballantrae, Girvan, Ayr, Troon,Irvine, Ardrossan, Kildonan, Campbeltown, andSouthend.

4. Upgang, Runswick, Staithes, Eedcar, Salt-bum, Middlesborough, Hartlepool (three boats),West Hartlepool (two boats), Seaton Carew, Sea-ham, Sunderland (four boats), and Whitburn.

Reported the receipt of 1,0002. from JAMESCHADWICK, Esq., of Prestwich, Manchester, todefray the cost of a Life-boat Station.

Decided that Mr. CHADWICK be thanked for hismunificent gift, and that the same be applied tothe formation of thS St. Anne's (Lancashire) Life-boat Station.

Also the receipt of a contribution of 1,0007. froma gentleman in Yorkshire, to defray the cost of aLife-boat to be placed on the coast of that countyafter his death.

fThe other Special Contributions and Legaciesreceived by the Institution during the month ofFebruary are given ia the Annual Report, pub-lished on the 1st of May last.]

Reported that the following Legacies had beenbequeathed to the Institution:—

£. s. d.The late Miss SARAH DEIGHTOX, of

Peckham 200 0 0The late Miss JANE PrcocK, of How-

den, York (duty free) . . . . 60 0 0The late Mrs. LOUISA EVANS, of

Chesham Street 19 19 0

Bead letter from S. J. KIMBALL, Esq., ofWashington, U.S.. the General Superintendent ofthe United States Life-saving Service, acknow-ledging the co-operation of the British NationalLife-boat Institution, and fully echoing its senti-ment--that the only future rivalry between GreatBritain and the United States of America may beone of good works in the broad interest of man-kind—works of which the Life-boat Institutionsof both countries offered no unworthy example.

Decided that the best thanks of the Committeebe given to C. M. HARRISON, Esq., Rev. W. C. L.WINGATE, and Mr. D. MEIKLEJOHN, in acknow-ledgment of their past valuable co-operation asthe Honorary Secretaries, respectively, of theGuernsey, Lydd, and Hnna Branches of the In-stitution.

Bead letter from Lieut. DA FONSECA VAZ, NavalAttache to the Portuguese Embassy in London,of the 3rd March, stating that he had been directedby the Portuguese Minister of Marine to conveyto the Institution his very best thanks for theimportant information and valuable papers whichit had furnished to him on the subject of the Life-boat work.

Ordered various works to be carried out at theCardigan and Llanddwyn Life-boat Stations, at anexpense of 2352. 12*.

Paid 1,5622. 16s. Id. for sundry charges onvarious Life-boat establishments.

Voted 942. 2s. 9d. to pay the expenses of theLife-boats atWalmer, Clovelly, Giles' Quay, NewBrighton, Cemaes, Cluster, Blackpool, and Ram-sey, in rendering the following services:—

Livessaved.

Barque Shannon, of London 4Ketch Louisa, of Bideford . . . . . . 4Brigantine Andover, of Dublin 6B.s. Anatolian, of Liverpool 26Barque Guiding Star, of S a l c o m b e . . . . 10Barque Orion. Remained by vessel.Brigantine Bessie Jones, of Fleetwood . . . 4Schooner John Wesley, of Aberystwyth . . 5

The Plymouth, Giles' Quay, Swansea, GreatYarmouth, and Kingsgate Life-boats had also ren-dered the following services:—s.s. Hankow, ofLondon, rendered assistance; brigantine Andover,of Dublin, assisted to save vessel; barque Corea,of Boston, U.S., saved vessel and 14 persons;ketch Duguescttn, of Newcastle, assisted to savevessel and crew of 4 men; ketch Forager, ofPortsmouth, assisted to save vessel and crew.[The details- of these services will be found onpages 174-8.]

Voted also 2392.13s. 6d. to pay the expenses ofthe Life-boats at Broadstairs, Deal, Kingsdowne,Drogheda, Rye, Winchelsea, Porthdinllaen, Cress-well, Great Yarmouth, Carmarthen Bay, Fowey,Mevagissey, Salcombe, Scarborough, Ardrpssan,Wexford, Whitehaven, Queenstown, and Piel, inassembling their crews or going out to the assist-ance of vessels which did not ultimately needtheir aid.

Voted the Silver Medal of the Institution, anda copy of the vote inscribed on vellum, to Mr.ROBERT BICKERSTAFFE, Coxswain of the Black-pool Life-boat, in acknowledgment of his generalgallant exertions in the Life-boat, and particularlyfor his brave and skilful services in assisting torescue the crew, consisting of 4 men, of theschooner Bessie Jones, of Fleetwood, which wastotally wrecked on Salthouse Bank, dnringa heavygale from the N.W., on the 26th February.

The Ramsgate Life-boat had proceeded to theaid of a vessel in distress, but her services werefound not to be required.

Voted a binocular glass and 102. to Mr. ED.TUPMAN, on his resignation of the office of Cox-swain of the Exmouth Life-boa^ which office hehad held for more than twenty years.

Voted also 22. to five men, for putting off in a boaton the 29th January, and saving 4 men from theboat of the schooner Vincata, of New Quay, Car-diganshire, which had sunk about twelve miles W.of Bardsey on the 28th January. The men hadbeen in the boat about twelve hours and weremuch exhausted, having been pulling all night,and the weather being intensely cold.

Also 91. to thirteen fishermen, for putting off intheir boats from Blackrpck, Co. Louth, and rescu-ing the crews, numbering in all 13 men, fromthe brigantine Parkside, of Whitehaven, brigantineStella, of Drogheda, and schooner Mary Ann, ofAnnagasson, which had stranded at Blackrockduring a gale from S.E. on the 15th and 16thFebruary.

TUESDAY, 16th March.The Annual General Meeting of the friends and

supporters of the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOATINSTITUTION took place this day at Willis'sRooms, St. James's, His Grace the DUKE ofNORTHUMBERLAND, President of the Institution,in the Chair.

The Chairman having opened the meeting withsome suitable observations on the great andnational character of the operations of the Insti-tution, its officers for the current year werechosen.

The Secretary then read the Annual Report.The meeting was then addressed by the Right

Hon. the EARL of GALLOWAY ; Captain the Hon.FRANCIS MAUDE, R.N.; GEORGE LYALL, Esq.,V.P.; Captain EVANS, R.N., F.R.S., Hydrographerto the Admiralty ; JOHN LIDDON, Esq.; CaptainMAITLAND, R.N.; ROBERT BIRKBECK, Esq.;Admiral McHARDY; THOMAS CHAPMAN, Esq.,F.R.S., V.P., Chairman; and Sir EDWARDPKRROTT, Bart., V.P.


Various resolutions were moved, seconded, andcarried unanimously, pledging the meeting torenewed exertions on behalf of the benevolent andnational objects of the Institution.

The Report of the Committee and the resolu-tions will be found in the May number of theLife-bout Journal,

THURSDAY, 1st April:The Chairman of the Institution in the Chair.Read and approved the Minutes of the previous


Elected the Members of the Sub-Committees(Sir EDWARD PERROTT, Bart., V.P., Chairman)for the ensuing year.

Also the reports of the five District Inspectorsof Life-boats, on their visits to the followingstations:—

1. Poole, Kimeridge, Chapman's Pool, Wey-mouth, Alderney, and Guernsey.

2. Porthcawl, Pembrey, Ferryside, Tenby, Mil-ford, Solva, St. David's, Aberystwith, Newquay,Cardigan, and Fishguard (two Boats).

3. Courtmacsherry, Ballycotton, Youghal, Ard-more, Dungarvan, Tramore, Duncannon, Carnsore,Wexford (two Boats), Greystones, Howth, Pool-beg, and Balbriggau.

4. Berwick, Holy Island (two Boats), NorthSunderland, Boulmer, Alnmouth, Hauxley, andCresswell.

5. Scarborough, Filey, Flamborough (twoBoats), Bridlington, Withernsea, Hornsea, Clac-ton, Harwich, Thorpe, and Aldborough.

[The Special Contributions and Legacies re-ceived by the Institution during the month ofMarch are given in the Annual Report, publishedon the 1st May last.]

Reported that the following legacies had beenbequeathed to the Institution :—

£. s. d.The late Miss MARY WOODWARD, of

Sproughton, near Ipswich . . . 1500 0 0The late Miss ELLEN SAUNDEBS (in

aid of the Irish Life-boats) . . . 23 18 1The late Mrs. LUCY JONES, of Woburn 10 0 0

Decided that the best thanks of the Committeebe presented to Sir THOMAS TOBIN ; the Rev. R.W. CRACROFT, M.A.; and Mr. W. T. QUIGLEY,in acknowledgment of their long and valuableco-operation in the management, respectively, ofthe Cork and Queenstown, Lincolnshire, andExmouth branches of the Institution.

Reported the transmission to their stations ofthe Poole and Penmon new Life-boats.

The London and South-Western Railway Com-pany had kindly brought the old Life-boat fromPoole to London, free of charge.—To be thanked.

Reported that the Green Book recently issuedby the Institution, containing instructions andinformation on the management of a Life-boatStation, had met with general approval from thevarious branches.

Copies had been supplied to the Foreign Am-bassadors in London, the Foreign and ColonialLife-boat Societies, and various Government De-partments. The Corporation of the Trinity Househad ordered copies to be forwarded to all theirlighthouses and vessels.

Read letter from Captain A. ALLIMAN, LondonAgent to the Archangel Moorman Steam Naviga-tion Company, of the 13th March, stating thatAdmiral GLASENAPP, of Archangel, had informedhim that the Naval Authorities there were aboutto establish two new Life-boat Stations on the

White Sea Coast, and requesting information ofthe system of the English Life-boat Institution.

Decided that this information be readily sup-plied.

Also that a new Life-boat be placed at Ardros-san, N.B., in lieu of the Boat at present on thatstation.

Paid 3,874?. 14s. 3d. for sundry charges onvarious Life-boat Establishments.

Voted 791. 10s. to pay the expenses of the Life-boats at Rhosneigir, Ballywalter, Ardrpssan, andArklow, in rendering the following services:—

Livessaved.

Barque Orient, of Liverpool. Renderedassistance.

Brigantine John and Mary, of Belfast . . 5Barque Matilda Hillyard, of Yarmouth, N.S.. 10Barque Pater, of Sundswall 12

The Lydd, Ramsgate, and Broadstairs Life-boatshad also rendered the following services:—

Ship Livingston, of Yarmouth, N.S., remained byvessel; barque Surinam, of Amsterdam, assistedto save vessel and 10 persons; brig Heroen, ofPorsgrund, Norway, assisted to save vessel and9 men; and s.s. Mabel, of Hartlepool, remainedby vessel.

[Detailed accounts of these Life-boat services willbe found on pages 174-9.]

Voted also 25?. 4s. to pay the expenses of theLife-boats at Porthdinllaen, Cemlyn, and Dundalk,in either assembling their crews or putting off tovessels not ultimately needing their aid.

The Ramsgate, Bude, and Southend (Essex)Lifeboats had also been taken out with the viewof assisting distressed vessels.

Voted 11. to Mr. KENEALY, Coastguard Officer,and 4?. to his crew of four men, for putting off inthe Coastguard whale-boat, and saving at somerisk the crew of 4 men from the smack Ann,of Dover, which had stranded off No. 2 Battery,Dungeness, Kent, on the evening of the llthFebruary, during a strong E. breeze.

Also 21. to two men for putting off in a boatand assisting to save 16 seamen belonging toH.M.S. HecJa, from a wherry which had been runinto by a steamer off Portsmouth, on the 27thJanuary.

THURSDAY, 6th May:The Chairman of the Institution in the Chair.Read and approved the Minutes of the previous


Also the Report of the Chief Inspector on hisvisits to the following places :—

Porthcawl, Swansea, Fishguard, Gorleston, Yar-mouth, and Harwich.

Also the Reports of the five District Inspectorson their visits to the undermentioned Life-boatStations:—

1. Worthing, Shorehain, Brighstone Grange,Brooke, Brighton, Newhaven, Chichester Harbour,Selsey, and Hayling Island.

2. Port Isaac, Padstow, Hayle, St. Ives, SennenCove, Stilly, Penzance, Porthleven, Mullion,Cadgwith, Lizard, Porthoustock, Falmouth, Port-loe, Mevagissey, and Fowey.

3. Lytham, Blackpool, Fleetwood, Piel, Sea-scale, Maryport, Silloth, Whitehaven, Ramsey,Douglas (two Boats), Castletown, Southport, aridNew Brighton.

4. Newbiggin, Blyth (two Boats), Tynemouth(two Boats), Cullercoats, Eyemouth, Dunbar,


North Berwick, Banff, Buckie, Lossiemouth, aneMoray Firth.

5. Dunwich, Southwold (two Boats), Kessing-land (two Boats), Lowestoft (two Boats), Pake-field (two Boats), Gorleston, Yarmouth (two Boats)Caister (two Boats), Winterton (two Boats)Palling (two Boats), Hasborough, Bacton, Mun-desley, Cromer, Sheringham, Blakeney, Wells.Brancaster, Hunstanton, and Cleethorpes.

Reported the receipt of a contribution of 500Zfrom HENRY TEOWEE, Esq., and friends, to placea Life-boat on the coast, in memory of the lateMr. ALFRED TKOWEB.

Decided that the donors be thanked, and thatthe new Life-boat about to be sent to Tramore,Ireland, be named the Alfred Trower.

Reported the receipt of the following otherspecial contributions since the last meeting :

£. *. d.A Well-Wisher and Regular Sub-

scriber (additional) 30 0 0Stewards of the "Covent Garden"

Life-boat Fund, per Mr. J. WEBBEK,(additional) 50 0 0

Worcester Cadet Life-boat Fund, perCaptain J. H. SMITH (additional) . 33 0 0

Trustees of Bennan's Charity (addi-tional) 10 10 0

Proceeds of a Lecture given bj' Cap-tain E. W. HOWLETT, of the GeneralSteam Navigation Company's s.s.Stork 10 0 0

—To be severally thanked.Reported the transmission to their stations of

the Blyth and Ballycotton new Life-boats.The City of Cork Steam Packet Company had

kindly granted free conveyances to the Ballycottonnew and old Life-boats between London and Cork.—To 6e thanked.

Reported also that the new Life-boat to bestationed at Brighstone Grange, Isle of Wight,presented to the Institution by the " Worcester"Cadets, had been taken to Greenhithe, where thattraining ship is stationed, when the Boat wasnamed by Mrs. SMITH, wife of the Captain-Superintendent, and experiments were conductedto demonstrate to the Cadets the valuable pro-perties of stability, self-righting, &c., possessedby the Life-boat. "

Ordered that various works be carried out at thePenmon and St. Anne's Life-boat Stations, at anexpense of 1,068?.

Decided that the thanks of the Committee begiven to the Committee of Lloyd's Register ofBritish and Foreign Shipping for their kindpresent to the Institution, through the Chairman,THOMAS CHAPMAH, Esq., F.R.S., V.P., of a copyof the Society's Yacht Register for the year1880-81.

Also to Mr. JAMES DARLING, for his long andvaluable co-operation as Honorary Secretary ofthe Blyth Branch of the Institution.

Paid 2,215/. 11s. Sd. for sundry charges onvarious Life-boat Establishments.

Voted 331.10s. to pay the expenses of the Life-boats at Hasborough and Gorleston in saving 5persons from the ketch Rival of London, and 6persons from the schooner Pride of the Isles, ofBridport.

[Detailed accounts of these services will be foundon page 180.]

The Palling and Ramsgate Life-boats had re-spectively assisted to save the brig Betty, ofTonsberg, and her crew of eight men, and thesloop Nimrod, of Jersey, and four persons.

The Newbiggin, Runswick, Berwick-on-Tweed,

Whitby, and Cullercoats Life-boats had also ren-dered important services to several fishing-boats.

Voted 129Z. 7s. 9d. to pay the expenses of theLife-boats at Broadstairs, Montrose, Palling, Solva,St. David's,Brooke, Brighstone Grange and GreatYarmouth, ha assembling their crews or puttingoff in reply to signals of distress shown fromvessels which did not ultimately require the aid ofthe boats.

Also 11. to two men for rescuing 2 Coast-guardmen, whose boat, while returning ashore fromthe Coastguard cutter Stag, had been capsized bya heavy sea in Skerries Roads, on the 12thFebruary.

Also 6?. to Mr. WILLIAM FYKES, Chief Boatmanof H.M. Coastguard, and five other men, for puttingoff in the Coastguard boat from Eingsend, Dublin,and saving 2 men from, a boat which was indistress off Pigeon House Point, during a freshwesterly gale, on the 4th April.

SHIPWBECKED FISHERMEN ANDMAEINEES' EOYAL BENEVOLENTSOCIETY.

THE forty-first anniversary of this ad-mirable society was held at the CityTerminus Hotel, Cannon Street, on the27th May, under the presidency of AdmiralSir ALEXANDER MILNE, G.C.B., Vice-President.

Amongst those present were:—AdmiralsFishbourne, C.B., and Boyle; Captains,K.N.: the Hon. Francis Maude, E. Little-aales, Orme Webb, Annesley, and A.itorrell; Captain Vincent Budd; Messrs.Scott, Balding, Eames; Eev. Canon Scarth,and a number of ladies.

The Chairman, after a few introductoryremarks commending the society, as anational institution, to the support ofevery British subject, and also, from its-cosmopolitan nature, to the countenanceand support of the representatives offoreign Governments, called upon thesecretary to read the report, which stated;hat through the benevolence of the public,and the realisation of several outstanding.egacies, the income of the society for theyear ending 31st December, 1879, hadargely increased, as also had the calls

upon it. The dividends derived from thenvestments are devoted to giving small

ual grants to the widows of members,•whilst they have young children, or whenihey themselves are over sixty years of

age, but are not sufficient for this purpose


by upwards of 5,000?., which has to beprovided for out of the general income,these annual grants now amounting toupwards of 7,OOOZ., distributed last yearamongst 2,504 widows. Three thousandnine hundred and fifty-seven shipwreckedfishermen and mariners were forwardedto their homes, and 7,906 widows andorphans of those who perished promptlyrelieved, making a total of 297,677 sincethe formation of the society in 1839.Nearly 51,000 sailors show their wish tohelp themselves by subcribing the smallsum of 3s. annually, for which they getadditional benefits.

During the past year two silver medalsand 101., besides testimonials, had beenawarded for saving thirty-four lives onthe high seas or abroad, under difficultand dangerous circumstances.

The receipt of various contributionsand legacies was thankfully acknowledged,including HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN'Sannual subscription of 25Z.

The report was then unanimouslyadopted, and the claims of the societyadvocated by several speakers.

WRECK OF THE TRAINING-SHIP" EURYDICE."

IT is the peaceful Sabbath-tide ;The sacred words have scarcely diedThat asked a guardian angel's handFor wand'rers over sea and land;Across the dancing waters brightA gallant vessel greets the sight,With every sunlit canvas spread,Old England's banner overhead—

Eurydice.She bears a throng of young and gayFrom Western islands far away ;Their task is leamt, their duty done,Dear native land is almost won:In this brief hour, this one hour more,Loud welcome on the harbour shore,Of those who watched so long in vain,Shall hail the loved ones home again—

Eurydice.

Dark storm-clouds dim the vernal sky;A sudden gale sweeps fiercely by ;Down from the heights the wind hath passed;O'er shore and sea it rusheth fast.In veil of snow is hid from viewThe stately ship, the joyous crew;'Mid gloom and mist all fade away,Like dream-raised forms at dawn of day—

Eurydice.

The tempest lulls, the sky is clear;Green hills and valleys re-appear;Glad woodland songsters sweetly sing,While sea-larks fly on eager wing;The fearless fishers sail from home,And frailest bark afar may roam ;The sun bursts forth in dazzling lightAbove our fairy Isle of Wight—

Eurydice.* * * * * *

Where a fair pageant hath so lately been,Blue waters roll—a dreary blank is seen.The sea-birds' requiem soundeth sad and shrill,Wailed round the spot where once blithe hearts

are still.That ship now lieth deep which sailed so proudly;Each merry voice is hushed that cheered so loudly;All her gay banners hoisted, her white sails out-

spread,In one short moment vanished with her early dead—

Eurydice.

How many eyes will soon be wildly weepingFor those beneath the billows calmly sleeping.Man dares not read the mysteries of Heaven ;But had one signal from the lost been given,What countless hands and hearts had sprung to

saveThat busy hive of life from yonder grave!Ah! may those dear ones strangely doomed) so

soon, to die,Have crossed to-day the 'harbour-bar far upon

high! Eurydice.

AUGUSTA A. L. MAGEA.Ventnvr, March 24,1878.

INSTRUCTIONS AND INFORMATIONON THE

MANAGEMENT OF A LIFE-BOATSTATION

OF THE

BOYAL KATIOff AI LIFE-BOAT IKSTITUTION

AS SANCTIONED FBOM TIME TO TIME BY

ITS GENEBAL COMMITTEE.

BT

THE SECRETARY AND THE CHIEF INSPECTOR.

Second Edition. Just published by Messrs.William Clowes and Sons, Limited, and to be hadby order of all booksellers. Price Two Shillings.

KOTICE.

The next number of the Life-boat Journalill be published on the 1st of November, 1880.

ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION,SCPPOBTED SOLELY BY VOLUNTARY OONTHIBUTIOjra.

t — His GBACE THE DUKE OF NORTHUHBERLAKD, P.O.

Chairman — THOMAS CHAPMAN, ESQ., F.R.S., r.p.

JSlfrtiarg — RICHARD Luwis, of the Inner Temple, Esq., Barrister-at-Law.

Services of the Life-boats of the Institution in 1879.Adroit, schooner, of Aberystwith 2Albion, schooner, of Wells—as-

sisted to save vessel and 3Alert, schooner, of Scarborough—

assisted to save vessel and .... 2Allison, brig, of Whitby 4Alpheus Marshall, barque, of

Digby,N.S 14Ann Wilmot, smack, of Lowestoft 5Ann, schooner, of Colchester .... 5Annie, barquentine, of Salcombe. 2Apollo, schooner, of Bandholm... 5Arabian, s.e., of Liverpool—re-

mained by vessel.Saroi, B.S., of Newcastle 6Bertha, schooner, of Stettin, saved

vessel and 4Blyth fishing boat—saved boat

and 6Blyth fishing boats—rendered as-

sistance.Brest, steamer, of Glasgow 40Chevereul, barque, of Havre 13Christiania, Norwegian barque.. 12Cito, brig, of Arendal 1Cleopas, barque, of South Shields 10Darlington, s.s., of Stockton .... 9Diamanten, brig, of Arendal .... 4Dolphin, lugger, of Wexford .... 5Edith Owen, steamer, of London. ftEffort, ketch, of Portsmouth 2Elizabeth, Ellen Fisher, schooner,

of Fleetwood 4Ellen, schooner, of Beaumaris... 3Elsmore, schooner, of Runcorn .. 3Esmeralda, smack, of Grimsby,

saved vessel and ,.... 5Excelsior, smack, of Grimsby.... 5Fanny Bailey, schooner, of Dun-

dalk 5Fishing cobles of Staithes—ren-

dered assistance.Fishing boats and other vessels in

distress at Montrose—renderedassistance.

Fishing boats off Scarborough—rendered assistance.

Fraternity, brigantine, of Krage-roe, assisted to save vesseland 6

General Caulfald, barque, ofNewcastle 18

Gilded Age, yacht, assisted to savevessel and 3

Guiseppina N., barque, of Genoa ITHallswell, schooner, of Bridg water

—saved vessel.H. B. Brightman, s.s,—remained

by vessel.Hebe, ship, of Frederickstadt .... 14Hermann, schooner, of Berwick-

saved vessel and crew 6Hesperus, sloop, of Copenhagen-

rendered assistance.Hester, smack, of Ipswich—saved

vessel and 3Jane and Ann, schooner, of

Llanaelhaiarn 3J. H. Lorentzen, s.s,, of London . 17John, brig, of Hartlepool—re-

mained by vessel.Lady Land, schooner, of Glasgow 6Lady LUford, brig, of Ardrossan 6Lavinia, brig, of Guernsey—as-

sisted to save vessel and 8Leda, ship, of Bremen 19Levrette, brigantine, of St. Malo—

assisted to save vessel.Liberator, lugger, of Wexford... 1Lina, barque, of Tonsberg 9iMugh Sunart, ship, of Glasgow . 55Margaret, brig, of West Hartlepool

—rendered assistance.Marian, smack 2Marie, Russian barque—assisted

to save vessel and crew 12Marie, schooner, of Rostock—as-

sisted to save vessel.Martdban, ship, of Greenock.... 11Mary Lloyd, schooner, of Port-

madoc—rendered assistance.Mary Roberts, schooner, of Nefyn 5Matin, s.s., of Dundee, remained

by vessel.Menai Packet, smack, of Carnar-

von 3Messenger, brigantine, of Exeter . 3Mia Madre E., barque, of Genoa. 21Moidart, B.S., of Glasgow, re-

mained by vessel.Newbiggin fishing-cobles—ren-

dered assistance.Kooit Polmakt, Dutch fishing

smack—rendered assistance.

Ocean Queen, schooner, of Ply-mouth—assisted to save vesseland 1

Onward, barque, of London, as-sisted to save vessel and 16

O&prey, barque, of Arendal—as-sisted to save vessel and 16

Pasithea, barque, of Liverpool .. 23Ponthieu, brig, of Vannes 5Queen of Britain, brig, of Car-

narvon 6Reliance, coble, of Cnliercoats—

rendered assistance.Richard Wittson, ketch, of London 7Rival, brig, of Blyth 8Sarah Ann, barque, of Sunderland 10Sarah Ann Dickinson, schooner,

of Fleetwood 6Scotscraig, brig, of Duiidee—

saved vessel and 9Sons of the Wear, coble, of Sun-

derland 4Sunshine, schooner, of Wick 11True, brigantine, of Faversham.. 7Union T., schooner 7Violet, smack, of Great Yarmouth

—assisted to save vessel and .. 6Weaver, schooner, of Carnarvon

—remained by vessel.Wellington, schooner, of Carnar-

von—assisted to save vessel and 3Whitby fishing-boats—rendered

assistance.William, dandy, of London 12Wisdom, cutter, of Sboreham—

saved vessel and crew 6T". Deryon, cutter, of Carmarthen

—remained by vessel.Zephyrus, barque, of Plymouth.. 14Zurich, barque, of North Shields 16

Total lives saved by Life-boats, In1879, in addition to Twenty-onevessels 637

During the same period the Insti-tution granted rewards for savinglives by fishing and other boats 218

THE COMMUTES OF MANAGEMENT have to state that during the year 1879, the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOATINSTITUTION expended £29,764 on its 269 Life-boat Establishments on the coasts of England, Scotland, andIreland, in addition to having contributed to the saving of 865 persons from various shipwrecks on our coasts,for which services it granted 12 Silver Medals and 13 Votes of Thanks on Vellum, besides pecuniary rewardsto the amount of £2,250.

The number of lives saved either by the Life-boats of the Society or by special exertions for which it hasgranted rewards, since its formation, is 26,906; for which services 93 Gold Medals, 901 Silver Medals, and£59,166 in cash have been granted as rewards.

The Committee desire to acknowledge, with gratitude, the liberal support which they have received from theBritish public during the past few years, a support which has enabled them to establish their present great Lite-saving fleet of 269 boats on the shores of the United Kingdom. Deeply sensible, however, of the great responsi-bility that rests on them to maintain the Life-boats in a thoroughly efficient state, and their crews practised in themanagement of the boats, which can only be effected by a large and permanent annual income, they earnestlyappeal to all classes of their countrymen to continue to aid them in upholding and perpetuating so great and trulynational a work.

The expense of a Life-boat, its equipment, transporting-carriage, and Boat-house, averages £1,030, in addition to£70 a year needed to keep the Establishment in a state of efficiency.

Donations and Annual Subscriptions will be thankfully received by the Bankers of the Institution, Messrs.Coons AHI> Co., 50 Strand; Messrs. HURRIES, FARQUHAR, AND Co., 16 St James's Street; Messrs. HOARK, 3) FleetStreet, London; by all the other Bankers in the United Kingdom ; by all the Life-boat Branches; and by the Secretary,at the Institution, 14 JOHN STREET, ADELFHI, London,W.C.—August 1880.

Documents

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