THE LIFE-BOAT....tant. At all mos thet important Life-boat centre it iss no w possibl te o have...

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

OF THK

national Sttstftutfon.(ISSUED QUARTERLY.)

VOL. XVI.—No. 177.] lax AUGUST, 1895. PBICB 3d.

L I F E - B O A T CREWS.

No. III.

A CONSIDEBABLE number of the Life-boatsof the KOYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTI-TUTION are manned by "boatmen," aterm comprising men who employ severaldifferent means of obtaining their livingin boats, but chiefly applied to those whowork and let pleasure-boats, and in theoff season do a little inshore fishing.Very often these men have excellentopportunities of becoming good and ex-perienced beachmen, especially at placeslike Hastings, Eastbourne, Brighton, &c.Another description of " boatmen " is tobe found in harbours where there aredocks, and their employment is attendingon the ships in the harbour, assisting indocking operations and taking pilots outto ships in the immediate neighbourhood.These men's experience in boats is veryvaluable, chiefly as regards boarding ves-sels and the management of boats in theopen sea, but naturally their knowledgeof beach work and broken water is notgreat. However, in most places wherethere is a harbour and docks, it ispossible either to keep the Life-boatafloat or on a slipway from which shecan be launched into smooth water at alltimes, her difficulties beginning when inthe open sea.

There are at present thirty-four boatsof the BOYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTI-

TUTION the crews of which are entirelycomposed of " boatmen," and forty-sixboats in which "boatmen" partly form thecrews. So it will be seen the Institutionwould suffer greatly if it lost the co-operation of these useful and experiencedmen.

There is one great advantage which" boatmen " have in forming a Life-boatcrew over fishermen; it is that in nearlyall the boats manned by them there is aregular fixed, crew or double crew. Ofcourse this is rendered practicable by thefact that the boatman's occupation doesnot take him far from home, nor can heply it in really bad weather, and theLife-boat can always be exercised in badweather—a most important point, asopportunities for practising the crew inweather too bad for ordinary boats shouldinvariably be taken advantage of when aquarterly exercise is due. If this isneglected, it is quite impossible for thecrews to know the quality of their boat,and what is to be expected from her.Many mistakes have occurred on wreckservice through the men not having beengiven opportunities of thoroughly learningtheir boat when life was not at stake.

In seventeen of the Institution's Life-boats the crews are partly made up of local" pilots." It is unnecessary to explain

VOL. XVI.—No. 177.—LIFE-BOAT JOURNAL. s

266 THE LIFE-BOAT. [1ST AUGUST, 1895.

.

here the duties of so well-known an officeas " pilot." Suffice it to say that only themost experienced of the local seafaringmen are to be found filling this post, andthat besides having to pass examinationsin pilotage the ordinary exercise of theircalling entails a knowledge of boat workwhich renders their presence in a Life- Iboat invaluable. There is many a " branchpilot" on the coast who if drawn outcould tell of hair-breadth escapes whilstboarding or leaving some vessel in a heavyseaway, a difficult operation, as anyone whohas had to do it well knows. Not only doesthe pilot's experience in boatwork makehim a most desirable adjunct to a Life-boat's crew, but of course his professionalknowledge is of the greatest advantage.Pilots are usually to be found either ascoxswains or as one of the crew of Life-boats manned by boatmen (that class ofboatmen mentioned above as to be foundin harbours and docks) whose acquain-tance with the neighbouring coast is notalways to be depended on.

There are a few small ports on thecoast of Great Britain—for the most partthose which have a tidal harbour usedby small coasting-vessels, chiefly for thepurpose of landing coal—where sufficientresident seafaring men cannot be obtainedto form a Life-boat's crew, but where thenecessity for having a Life-boat existsbecause of the dangerous approacheswhich are BO often to be found to thisdescription of harbour. In such casesthe Life-boats' crews are frequently filledup by the men from any small coasterwhich may happen to be in port at thetime; the vague and general term of"sailors" is applied to these men, andmany times have their zeal and braverybeen displayed to the greatest advantagewhen the local Life-boat crew haverequired their assistance. A sailor'straining does not by any means ensurethat he will have much knowledge ofhandling a boat—in fact, it is quite theexception to find one who has; but as amember of a crew, under a competentcoxswain, he can be relied upon to " pull

his pound," and they are never backwardin volunteering to help.

In addition to the sources alreadymentioned from which the crews of theEOYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTIONare drawn, there are the " landsmen," Inforty of the Life-boats it will be foundthat the crews could not be completedwithout the aid of " landsmen," and thereare three Life-boats entirely manned bythem. Of course there are degrees of theseafaring knowledge of landsmen, as allthose who are to be found in the Insti-tution's beats naturally have their occu-pation within sight of the sea, and theirexperience varies from those who do alittle fishing when their own trade—which may be painter, carpenter, smallshopkeeper:—is dull, to farmers, farmlabourers, quarrymen and miners, andeven those who only go on the sea foran occasional pleasure trip, which oftenproves the reverse of pleasure; but bethat as it may, these brave fellows areready to and do man the boats when neces-sity requires, and some very good serviceshave been done by them. They religiouslyattend the quarterly exercises, and manyhave profited so much by their experiencethat it is almost a misnomer to call them" landsmen," were it not that their ordi-nary occupation is perfectly independentof salt water.

We now eome to the part taken ToyHer Majesty's Coastguard, placed last inthis article because in their relation tothe Life-boat Service they stand entirelyapart from any of those who have beenpreviously referred to. The action takenby the coastguard men in manning orassisting to man the boats of the EOYALNATIONAL LIFE - BOAT INSTITUTION isentirely a voluntary one. Their instruc-tions enjoin that they may, "with thesanction of the station officer, form partof a Life-boat's crew, but it is not in-tended that any.of the coastguard forceshould be diverted from their specialduties when a Life-boat's crew can bemade up from the neighbouring seafaringpopulation and boatmen"; also, that

IST AUGUST, 1895.] THE LIFE-BOAT. 267

" coastguard men working the life-savingapparatus are not to be employed on Life-boat duties," and "on no account aremen to be ordered on Life-boat service."That they are ever ready to help us isshown by the fact that they are regularlyto be found as forming part of the crewsof thirty-one Life-boats, while two Life-boats are entirely manned by coastguardmen, and times without number it willbe found that they have volunteered tofill the places of any of the regular crewwho may have been incapacitated fromgoing out or have arrived too late. Theirsuperior discipline is of great advantage,and their habit of working together, ac-quired in the Eoyal Navy, makes theirservices and example of the utmost value,though of course their knowledge of boatwork is not so great as that possessedby fishermen and others who have beenbrought up in boats since childhood, andwho have much better opportunities ofbecoming acquainted with the neighbour-ing coast, set of the tides, &c.

It is not only in assisting to man andwork the Life-boats that H.M. Coastguardare so important an adjunct to the Life-boat service. Just as the frigates usedto be the " eyes of the fleet," so the coast-guard are the eyes of the Institution'sfleet, for, except for a small portion of thecoast, they keep a constant look-out, andany indications of a vessel in or apparentlyin distress are at once reported to thelocal Life-boat authorities, and it is thenthat the responsibility of the ROYALNATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION begins.Since the establishment of the coast tele-phone system, which was brought aboutby the energetic action of the Life-boatInstitution, the relations between the Life-boat Service and H.M. Coastguard havebeen rendered considerably more impor-tant. At all the most important Life-boat centres it is now possible to havecomplete information not only as to theposition of the wrecks, but also as to themovements of the Life-boats; and althoughthe working of the coast communication iscomparatively in its infancy, much benefit

has already accrued from it, and muchmore is expected in the future both inrendering assistance quicker and in stop-ping unnecessary launches, which notonly mean unnecessary risk of life, butalso useless expenditure.

From the foregoing remarks it willreadily be seen that it is no wonder theInstitution cultivates the co-operation ofH.M. Coastguard, and it is most satisfac-tory to be able to state that, speakinggenerally, the very best feeling existsbetween them.

Before concluding this slight sketch,there is one most important departmentto touch on, which although not pre-cisely coming under the heading of " Life-boat Crews" is closely connected with it,for in a great many cases all the efforts ofthe crews would be helpless without it:and this is the "horsing" of the Life-boats. There are many places on thecoast, especially those with flat sandyshores, where the Life-boat often has tobe transported many miles to the scene ofa wreck, and at other places it is foundmore convenient to drag the boat into thewater by horses than by hand. Teams offrom four to as many as fourteen horsesare used for this work, according to theweight of the boat, strength of the horses,or nature of the ground. The horses aresupplied by farmers, carriers, &c., andsome of the finest are lent by the railwaycompanies. The greatest credit and grati-tude is due to those who allow theirhorses to do this splendid service, forthere is often considerable risk to thehorse. Those who have not experienced itcannot well form an idea of the difficultiesencountered in dragging a boat along anexposed shore in a howling gale of windwith the usual accompaniment of rain orsnow and spray from the sea; it is badenough in daylight, but almost indescrib-able at night. The getting the boat intodeep enough water to launch is the cul-minating point of difficulty, for an angrybreaking sea terrifies the horses, and ifthey stop before the boat is in far enoughit may mean failure to launch, and per-

s 2

268 THE LIFE-BOAT. [!ST AUGUST, 1895.

haps an hour's delay. The men who ridethe horses certainly have no sinecure; itis no uncommon thing to see a sea breakover man and horse, but yet it is not veryoften that the horses are knocked off theirlegs. Indeed, much credit is due to thehorsemen and the intelligent horses fortheir part in assisting to save life.

The interest taken in Life-boat workhas never been keener than at the presentmoment; not only are unceasing effortsbeing made to improve the different typesof boats, but the personnel is having theclosest attention of the Institution. Im-provement in discipline and greater atten-tion to the quarterly exercises by select-ing suitable rough days are, it is hoped,having the special care of the HonorarySecretaries and the Local Committees whoso generously give their time gratuitously.Life-boat work is more before the public

THEGALLANT LIFE-BOAT MEN.

WE'VE songs in praise of men of fame,Of men who've fought and bled,

Whose names still live in history,Though they themselves are dead:

But I'll not sing of heroes gone—My burthen now shall be

Our gallant British Life-boat men,Who plough the angry sea.

Chorus—Long may they live to do much good!

Long live the hardy few!The Life-boat men of Britain bold,

Of ev'ry gallant crew.

When howling winds the angry wavesBeat into mounts of foam,

And wreck a ship that's homeward bound,In sight of dear old home,

Our brave and gallant Life-boat menWill dare the dangerous wave,

And save the sinking marinersFrom out a wat'ry grave.

Chorus—Long may they live, &c.

There's many a father, I'll be bound,May thank them for a son;

And sweethearts, too—aye, not a few—May bless the rising sun

That shines on such brave, generous hearts,The daring, hardy few—

The coxswains of our Life-boats bold,And all their gallant crew.

Chorus—Long may they live, &c.Lowestoft. WILL HABEIS.

than it ever has been, one of the effects ofwhich is shown by a growing spirit offriendly rivalry between Life-boat stations—a healthy feeling bound to have a goodinfluence on the Life-boat crews.

The following is a list showing approxi-mately the composition of the crews of theLife-boats:—

Description of Men.

Beach companiesBoatmen.Coastguard . .Fishermen .Landsmen .Pilots . . .

Number ofLife-boats inwhich theyform whole

crew.

10342

1043

—

Number ofLife-boats lawhich theyform partof crew.

—4631854017

ELECTEICAL COMMUNICATIONON THE COAST.

DUBING the last three years good progresshas been made with the all-importantsystem of electrical communication onthe coast for life-saving purposes, pro-moted by the EOTAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOATINSTITUTION. The majority of the mostdangerous parts of the coast of theUnited Kingdom are now supplied withtelegraph wires and telephones connectingthe coastguard stations and postal tele-graph offices, which are always availableday and night for calling out the Life-boats and rocket apparatus. Several ofthe rock lighthouses and light-vesselshave also been telephonically connectedwith the shore, and the Third Eeport,recently published, of the Eoyal Commis-sion, appointed at the instance of theInstitution, has strongly recommendedfurther important connections in thesame direction. Many lives have alreadybeen saved by Life-boats called out bytelephone and telegraph, and there isevery reason to hope that before anotheryear or two has passed the whole scheme


will be perfected and in thorough work-ing order. The Admiral Superintendentof Naval Eeserves has at the request ofthe Institution issued admirable instruc-tions to the coastguard as to the use ofthe electrical connections placed undertheir charge, and much depends on the

careful carrying out of these instructions.Any departure from the rules laid downmust it is to be feared tend to the lossof life, besides entailing heavy and un-necessary expense on the Institutionthrough Life-boats being called out whentheir services are not required.

THE "LIFE-BOAT SATUBDAY" MOVEMENT.

ALL friends of the Life-boat cause will begratified at the announcement that H.B.H.the DUKE or YORK, our sailor prince, whohas for several years been a Vice-Patronof the Institution, has now graciouslyaccepted the post of President of theInstitution's " Life-boat Saturday " Fund,and has generously contributed to themovement. This action of His KoyalHighness is another proof of the keeninterest taken by the Eoyal Family inall movements set on foot for the well-being of the community, and will beof immense service to the "Life-boatSaturday " Fund. Successful and highlysatisfactory as was the progress madeby the movement in 1894, there isevery reason to hope and expect that itsdevelopment will be even more marked,and the proceeds secured still more largelyaugmented, during the current year. Theold saying that "nothing succeeds likesuccess " has certainly been well exempli-fied in this instance. It is but four yearssince the scheme was launched, when "thetimes" were as bad as could be almost,without much "betterment" since, yetnow it is enthusiastically supported andbeing actively worked in most of theprincipal centres of industry in theUnited Kingdom. The Institution,backed up by willing friends all overthe country, has done its utmost to pushand popularise "Life-boat Saturday,"and results would seem to have fullyjustified their action. The OrganizingSecretaries, wherever they go, receive j

a cordial reception; and should theyoccasionally find an inclination at firstto give their urgent appeals a " coldshoulder," they soon succeed in effectinga change of front and are able to leavethe apparently luke-wann city or townenthusiastic in the cause, and withpreparations in full swing for a "Life-boat Saturday" demonstration or collec-tion. In view of the spread of themovement and the large proportions ithas attained it has been decided to workit, on and from the 1st January next,from a central office in London instead offrom Manchester as hitherto, and Londonitself is to be attacked and pressed intothe work. Already preparations are beingmade for a campaign in the Metropolis in1896, and an influential Ladies' Committeehas been formed for the West End towork as an auxiliary to the "Life-boatSaturday " movement in London. Theannouncement recently made by theCommittee of the Institution that theyintend to appropriate the "Life-boatSaturday " collections, as far as possible,solely to the payment of the coxswainsand crews, etc., for services, for specialrewards and recognitions for exercisingthe Life-boats, and for grants to relativesof men lost on service and to men injuredin the service, has given general satis-faction, and will it is believed prove astrong inducement to the working classesto give a helping hand.


CONFERENCE AND CONVEESAZIONEOF "LIFE-BOAT SATURDAY"

WORKERS.

WITH a view to the interchange of ideasand suggestions as to the " Life-boatSaturday" movement, a conference tookplace in the rooms of the Society of Arts,Adelphi, on the afternoon of the 2ndMay. Kepresentatives were present fromnumerous large towns in the UnitedKingdom, and the KOTAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION was strongly repre-sented by members of the Committee andofficials.

Sir EDWAED BIBKBECK, Bart., Chairmanof the Committee of Management of theParent Institution, in opening the pro-ceedings, offered to the representatives, onbehalf of his colleagues, a most warm andhearty welcome. The conference hadbeen called with a view to having afriendly interchange of ideas with regardto the increase and development of the" Life-boat Saturday" movement. Asregarded the results already secured itwas hardly necessary for him to say oneword. Those great results had accruedfrom the splendid exertions of all thevolunteers who had assisted in what hemight almost call a great national move-ment. Speaking roundly, no less than anet sum of 21,0002. had been raised lastyear, and every one who was interestedin the movement or its life-saving workwas most grateful to those who hadworked so indefatigably in bringing itto so successful an issue. It would beimpossible to carry on the work of theInstitution in the highest possible stateof efficiency if they had not the where-withal to do it. In the past they hadhad to trench upon the capitalised funds,and they looked now to the increasedsuccess of this movement to put them inthe position of being able to carry ontheir work by means of the annual income.They appreciated most deeply what hadbeen done by one and all of the workers.Their colleague Mr. MACAEA had, underthe greatest difficulties possible (applause),given up an immense amount of time,some of which no doubt, he felt, shouldhave been given to the many undertakingswith which he was connected. To bothMr. MACAEA and Mrs. MACAEA theyoffered their most grateful thanks forwhat they had done in the past. The

extension of the movement had been themeans of removing many erroneous im-pressions with regard to the working ofthe Institution, which had everything togain from the true facts of their systemof working being known. A member ofParliament had applied for a selectcommittee to inquire into the life-savingarrangements round the coast. Asregarded the Life-boat Institution, he(the Chairman) could say, as he hadalready said to two Cabinet Ministers,that no one would welcome a selectcommittee so much as themselves, for bythat means facts would come out thatcould not possibly be brought to light inany other way, and the result would bethat the Life-boat Institution would cometo the front in a manner that it hadnever done before. With the remarkabledevelopment of the " Life-boat Saturday "movement, it had been brought to theirminds that so great a work should bedirectly represented on the Committee.There had been difficulties in the way ofcarrying out their wishes on that point,one of which was that the number ofmembers of the Committee was strictlylimited by charter, but they had seentheir way to the nomination of fourgentlemen who would share, he believed,the full confidence of every one connectedwith the "Life-boat Saturday" move-ment. They were Mr. A. B. FOEWOOD,M.P., of Liverpool; Mr. C. WILSON, M.P.,of Hull; Sir JOHN BUENS, Chairman of theCunard Line; and Mr. W. KENEICK, M.P.,of Birmingham (applause). The Com-mittee thought it desirable that thescheme of arranging a system of districtsto cover the whole country should becarried out on the lines of the admirableNorth of England district committee(applause).

Mr. J. F. PEAESON (Manchester) openedthe discussion in a speech recountingsome of the difficulties with which theManchester workers had had to contend.He spoke of the stimulus the work hadreceived from the self-denying efforts ofMr. MACAEA, and of the importance ofsecuring the assistance of the Press. Thegreat results which had been achieved inLancashire and Yorkshire were all themore satisfactory when it was remem-bered that the time had been one ofserious commercial depression. Hevalued the conference as being a means


of promoting and cementing the fullestsympathy and confidence between theParent Institution and the countrycommittees.

Mr. BBADLEY (Birmingham) suggestedthat if some scheme could be devisedwhereby a portion of the money raised at" Life-boat Saturdays " could be allocatedto the direct benefit of the men actuallyengaged in life-saving work, it wouldhave an important effect upon theirreturns.

Among those who subsequently joinedin the discussion were Mr. MACABA (Man-chester), Mr. WILSON (Aberdeen), Mr.HABBISON HOGG (Southampton), Capt.ACLAND (City of London), Mr. SHAW(Huddersfield), Mr. PBICE (Birmingham),Mr. WEBSTER (City of London), Mr.McCtTLLOCH (Glasgow), Mr. MARTIN (Edin-burgh), Mr. DYSON (Hull), Mr. DEAFER(Sheffield), Mr. LOOKING (Hull), and Mr.EAMSAY (Manchester).

Mr. 0. W. MACABA said the exchange ofviews could not fail to be beneficial. Hecould assure them that in starting the"Life-boat Saturday" movement it wasnot intended that any set line should belaid down as to how it should be carriedout. In the provinces, " Life-boat Satur-days " had proved to be the best means ofarousing the sympathies of all classes ofthe community. It did not necessarilyfollow that London should follow thesame lines, and he felt that if the metro-polis did its duty to the "Life-boatInstitution," in whatever way it was doneit must be a stimulus to the " Life-boatSaturday" movement. He expressedgreat satisfaction at the addition of"Life-boat Saturday" representatives onthe General Committee in London. Pro-vided that the district committees realisedthat they were worthily represented there,any difficulties that had arisen would belargely done away with. While fullysensible that the four new members wouldably represent the provinces, he hopedthat in the future some considerationwould be given to the claims of thosewho had more time at their disposal andwho had taken a leading part in themovement. He also endorsed the Chair-man's hope that the other district com-mittees might soon be arranged. Properlycarried on, the " Life-boat Saturday"movement must shortly become athoroughly national one. The direct

results which had been mentioned werenot the only ones arising from the move-ment. There were many indirect results,and he had personally been made ac-quainted with the intention of peopleto give testamentary assistance to theInstitution, after having had their interestawakened by " Life-boat Saturday " work,and the Chairman had once expressed thehighest opinion of the value of the publicattention being so directly drawn to theInstitution as it had been during the lastfew years (applause).

Sir EDWAED BIRKBECK, in his con-cluding remarks, alluded to the pointsmentioned by the different speakers, andpromised that the various suggestionsshould have the most attentive consider-ation. He could assure the delegatesthat they had the full and appreciativesympathy of the Committee in the workconnected with this movement. Thewhole work had their most completesympathy, and it was their wish to doeverything in their power to aid it andhelp it forward (applause). As regardedthe City of London, where Capt. AOLANDhad told them 500?. had been collectedduring the past week, he expressed thehope that that was but the prelude to abrilliant result (applause). He trusted thatthe movement might spread far and wide.

On the motion of Mr. NOBBUBY (Man-chester), seconded by Mr. STATHEES(Hull), a hearty vote of thanks wasaccorded to the Chairman.

The Business Conference was followedin the evening by a Conversazione, heldat the Galleries of the Boyal Institute ofPainters in Water Colours, Piccadilly.The Parent Committee of the Institutionreceived the invited guests, both ladiesand gentlemen. Music and refreshmentswere provided, and the workers in the" Life-boat Saturday " movement gatheredfrom all parts of the country were affordedan opportunity of talking over and con-ferring as to the interests of the greatand national cause which all had at heart.

IMPORTANT MEETING AT GROSVENORHOUSE.

AN Invitation Meeting, called by theCommittee of the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, was held at GrosvenorHouse (by the kind permission of the

272 THE LIFE-BOAT. [IST AUGUST, 1895.

DUKE OP WESTMINSTER) on the 15th Julylast, for the purpose of forming a Ladies'Committee for the West End in connec-tion with the London District of theInstitution's " Life"-boat Saturday " Fund.The meeting, which was presided over byLord TWEEDMOUTH, was a very influentialone. Amongst those present were SirEdward Birkbeck, Bart. (Chairman of theInstitution), and the Hon. Lady Birkbeck,Colonel FitzEoy Clayton (Deputy-Chair-man of the Institution), the Duchess ofBoxburgh, the Marchioness of London-derry, the Marquis and Marchioness ofOrmonde, the Earl and Countess ofStrafford, the Earl and Countess of Bom-ney, the Countess of Morley, CountessWaldegrave, Admiral Sir William Dowell,G.C.B., Lady Decies, Admiral J. HallidayCave, C.B., Lady Tweedmouth, Mrs. andMiss Stracey, Mr. W. H. Lyall, LadyCorbett, Lord de Eos, Lady Flower,Mrs. Charles Cunninghame Graham,Lady Clarke, Lady Hylton, Sir Eichardand Lady Magdalen Williams-Bulkeley,Mr. Bevill Fortescue, Lady de Gex,Mrs. Charles Dibdin, Mrs. Mayne andMr. Charles Dibdin (Secretary of theInstitution).

Lord TWEEDMOUTH moved the followingresolution, which was seconded by theMABQUIS or OBMONDE and carriedunanimously:—

" That this Meeting recommends that thefollowing ladies, with power to add to their

number, be invited to form a Ladies' Committeefor the West End of London as an auxiliary tothe London District of the Institution's ' Life-Boat Saturday' Fund:—The Duchesses ofAbercorn, Buccleuch, Portland, Eoxburghand Westminster; Georgiana, Marchioness ofDownshire; the Marchionesses of Ailsa, Hamil-ton, Lansdowne, Londonderry, Ormonde andSalisbury; the Countesses of Albemarle, An-nesley, Caledon, Cork, Crawford, Dartmouth,Derby, Dudley, Duuraven, Galloway, Gosforth,Grey, Ilch ester, Jersey, Leven and Melville,Londesborough, Lonsdale, Morley, Percy,Bomney, Spencer, Waldegrave and Warwick;the Baroness Burdett-Coutts; Hon. LadiesBirkbeck and Cotterell; Ladies Charles Beres-ford, Blythwood, Margaret Boscawen, Brassey,Campbell-Bannerman, Margaret CharterisCorbett, Decies, Dunleath, Flower, CynthiaGraham; George Hamilton, Hylton, Iveagh,Jeune, Algernon Lennox, Agneta, Montagu,Montagu of Beaulieu, Dorothy Neville, Sotheby,Adelaide Taylour, Tweedmouth and Mag-dalen Williams-Bulkeley; Mrs. Smith Barry,Mrs. Robert Birkbeck, Mrs. Kodney Blane,Hon. Mrs. Albert Brassey, Mrs. Cator, Mrs.J. Halliday Cave, Mrs. Laurence Cave, Hon.Mrs. Chichester, Hon. Mrs. Cecil Duncombe,Mrs. Goschen, Mrs. Hoare, Hon. Mrs. W.Lowther, Mrs. Mayne, Mrs. Savile, Mrs.Stracey, Mrs. Upton-Cottrell Dormer and Mrs.Cornwallis West.

It was afterwards moved by SirEDWAED BIBEBEOE, Bart., seconded byColonel FiizEoY CLAYTON, and resolved,nem. con.'.

" That the best thanks of this Meeting betendered to The Bight Hon. LOED TWEEDMOUTHfor kindly presiding over it, and to his Gracethe DUKE OF WESTMINSTEB for lending hishouse for the Meeting."

SEEVICES OF THE LIFE-BOATS OF THE KOYAL NATIONALLIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION.

GOBLESTON. — On the 1st January,1895, the steamers Sent, of London, andKirkstall, of Shields, which had beendetained in the roadstead by stress ofweather, ran short of provisions and eachsent a boat ashore to obtain supplies. Amoderate gale was blowing, the sea wasvery rough and the weather very cold,with snow. When some distance fromthe vessels a heavy squall caught theboais, one of which lost two of her oars,while the other boat was half filled by aheavy sea. The Life-boat Mark Laneput off to their assistance, succeeded inreaching them before they drifted into the

breakers, and with the help of a steam-tug, which also came to the rescue, theboats, in one of which were five men andin the other four, were brought safelyinto the harbour.

On the 24th March the barquentineIsabella, of Swansea, coal - laden, fromSunderland for Southampton, ran intoYarmouth Eoads for shelter in a severegale from W.S.W. and a very heavysea, Her two anchors were let go butboth chains parted, and she then signalledfor help. Meanwhile her lower topsail,mizen and fore staysail were set, but thetwo latter were blown clean from the bolt-


ropes. The Mark Lane Life-boat waslaunched, proceeded under close reefedstorm sails to the vessel and succeeded intaking off her crew of nine men beforeshe grounded on the sand, and landedthem at Gorleston. The Life-boat wasconsiderably damaged in rendering thisservice, and her crew described the stormas the heaviest they bad ever experienced.Nothing could be seen beyond fifty yardsof the boat owing to the spoon-drift, andthe roar of the wind and waves was sodeafening that it was with the utmost

foundered about half a mile from theGorton Light Vessel.

POET ISAAC and PABSTOW, CORNWALL.—Oa the morning of the 2ad January abarque, which proved to be the Antoinette,of St. John, New Brunswick, bound fromNewport for Santos with coals, was ob-served about eight miles distant from PortIsaac. She was drifting towards theshore, and with the aid of a powerfulglass it was saen that her bowsprit,fore and main topmasts and nearly all

difficulty that they could make each otherunderstand what was said or ordered.

In the evening the weather moderatedand the Life-boat again went out, takingthe master and mate of the Isabelle to tryto save the vessel which had drivenover the Scroby Sand into the Pikle, andreached her when within a mile and ahalf S.E. of the South Cross Sand buoy.A steam-tug, which had been sent forprevious to the Life-boat starting, arrivedand the schooner was taken in tow, butshe was leaking so badly that she had tobe abandonee!, and shortly afterwards

her working gear had been carried away.The Port Isaac Life-boat Richard andSarah was launched and proceeded to-wards the vessel, the crew having a hardpull against wind and sea until fairlyclear of the land when sail was set andby alternately rowing and sailing the shipwas reached. Just before the Life-boatcame up a steam-tug arrived alongside,took the vessel in tow and made forPadstow. The Life-boat accompaniedthem, and on nearing Padstow the Life-boat Arab stationed there, which had alsoput off on receipt of news of there being

s 3


a vessel in distress, arrived on the scene.All went well until the entrance of theharbour was reached, when the tide beinglow and the vessel not being under propercontrol, she struck on the Doom BarSand. The tow-rope broke and the shipremained fast, broadside-on to the sea.It then became necessary for the crew toleave her; accordingly ten of them weretaken into the Fort Isaac Life-boat andthe remaining four men into the PadstowLife-boat. They were all safely landedat Padstow at 3 P.M., and the Port IsaacLife-boat men, after obtaining refresh-ments, then made the return journey totheir station, which was reached afterencountering very heavy weather at 7.30P.M.; the crew, who had been engagedin the boat about eleven hours, being bythat time thoroughly wet, cold andexhausted.

During the afternoon five men put offin a boat from Padstow with the intentionof trying to save the Antoinette, but aheavy ground sea suddenly sprang up,and as they were in considerable dangerthe Padstow Life-boat went to their as-sistance and rescued them from theirperilous position. The vessel was thenfilling with water, and soon afterwardsshe became a total wreck.

CULLEBCOATS.—At 8.30 P.M. on the 5thJanuary, the Life-boat Go-operator No. Iwas launched and proceeded to the assist-ance of the Danish s.s. Niord, bound fromCopenhagen for the Tyne with a generalcargo, which had stranded on a rockknown as the Bear's Back, at Cullercoats,and was rolling heavily. The masterhaving engaged the services of the Life-boat men to get the vessel afloat, they laidout a kedge anchor about a hundredfathoms aft with wire rope fast to thesteam-winch, and by this means thevessel's stern was hauled off into deepwater; but she still held fast forward.At the request of the master, who fearedthat the propeller had been lost, theservices of a steam-tug were obtainedbefore .further efforts were made to getthe ship afloat, and at about 10.15 P.M.the steamer was towed off the rock. Thecoxswain of the Life-boat boarded her,and she was taken into the Tyne andlaid on the mud at Salmon's Quay, SouthShields, as she was leaking badly.

THUESO. — The schooner Clarence G.

Sinclair, of Wick, coal laden from theTyne for Thurso, while lying at anchorin Scrabster Roadstead, signalled for help,as a strong gale was blowing from theN.E., there was a heavy sea to which thevessel was fully exposed, and she was inimminent danger of driving ashore. TheLife-boat Co-operator No. 3 proceeded toher assistance and took off her crew offive men. The boat then went to theschooner Isabella Stuart, which had sig-nalled, took off her crew of three men,and afterwards made for Scrabster, whereall the men were landed.

BOULMEB, CULLEBOOATS, NORTH SUNDEB-LAND, SCABBOEOUGH, and TYNEMOUTH.—On the 7th January a sudden gale sprungup accompanied by a high sea, and be-tween 9.30 A.M. and 4.45 P.M. five Life-boats—the Meliscent, stationed at Boulmer,the Go-operator No. 1, at Cullercoats, theThomas Bewick, of North Sunderland,the Queensbury, of Scarborough, and theCharles Dibdin, of Tynemouth (No. 1station) were launched and rendered helpto many fishing boats which had beenovertaken by the storm and were inconsiderable danger. In some cases theboats were assisted into harbour and inother instances the Life-boats remainedin attendance, giving confidence to thefishermen in the knowledge that help wasat hand should any casualty befall themwhile making for port.

WEXFOBD.—While a strong gale wasblowing from the S.S.E., on the llthJanuary, a pilot wherry which was in towof a steamer was observed to let go thetow-rope and come to an anchor, beingunable to tow any further in such a heavysea as was then running. The Life-boatAndrew Pickard was promptly manned,and at 4.45 P.M. proceeded to the spotwhere the boat had been seen; but, as itwas then dark, failed to find her. Lightswere burned, the Life - boat cruisedabout for a considerable time and even-tually discovered her lying astern of aschooner, full of water. The four men,who were in an exhausted condition, weretaken into the Life-boat and broughtashore.

FBASEBBUEGH.—The Life-boat AnnaMaria Lee was launched at 1 P.M. on the12th January, a telegram having been


received from Pitullie stating that fourfishing yawls which had left that placein the morning were unable to returnowing to a strong S.E. gale which wasthen blowing, accompanied by a heavysea, and were therefore making forFraserburgh. The Life-boat stood by theboats until they had entered the harbour.Great fears had been entertained for theirsafety, for had they been caught by thelarge waves which were breaking, theywould inevitably have foundered.

POOLE.—The barque Brilliant, of Grim-stadt, while on a voyage from Cuba toBremen with a cargo of cedar logs, wentaground on the Hook Sands, at themouth of Poole harbour, in a heavy galefrom S.E. by E. and a very high sea onthe 12th January. The Life-boat Boy'sOwn No. 2, was launched at 1.40 P.M.and was towed by the steam-tag Telegraphto Poole bar when she was slipped fromthe steamer and proceeded under oars tothe barque. Owing to the high searunning, it was a work of considerabledifficulty to rescue the vessel's crewand this was not accomplished withoutaccident. The captain, who had pre-viously broken one of his ribs, fell intothe water while sliding down a ropefrom the ship's stern to the Life-boat, butwas got safely into the boat; and one ofthe crew had one of his legs broken bybecoming entangled in the rope. Ulti-mately the ten men were got into theboat, which then pulled to the steamerand was towed to Poole harbour in ablinding snowstorm.

FISHOTJABD.—While a heavy gale wasblowing from the S.E. with a rough seaand snow on the afternoon of the 12thJanuary, signals of distress were shownby the smack Prosperity and ketch Mercy,both of Carnarvon, which were riding atanchor in the roadstead. The crews ofboth vessels, six men in all, were takeninto the Life-boat and landed at Fish guardas a precautionary measure, there being adanger of the craft parting their cablesor meeting with other casualty in thestorm then raging.

ABEESOCH.—Signals ot distress wereseen in the vicinity of St. Tudwall'sSound and rockets were fired from St.Tudwall's Lighthouse on the morningof the 13th January. The Life-boat

Oldham was launched at 6 o'clock in aheavy sea, the wind blowing a stronggale from E.S.E. with heavy snowstorms,and rescued the crew of three menfrom the ketch Peter Varkevisser, ofMilford, bound from Portmadoc for Car-diff with slates, which foundered nearPenrhyn du Point.

SouTflwoLD.—On the morning of the13th January information was receivedthat a vessel was on the outer shoal abouta mile N.E. of the town. The No. 1Life-boat Alfred Oorry put off at 7.30and found that the vessel was the brigJames and Eleanor, of Shields. A wholegale of wind was blowing from the S.E.by S., and a terrific sea was breaking onthe shoal where she was lying, her crewhaving taken refuge in the fore-rigging.The Life-boat let go her anchor, and whilesheering alongside the vessel the latter'sforemast broke off close to the deck,throwing the crew into the sea. One ofthe men, who was swimming, was takeninto the boat, which then went amongstthe wreckage and rescued another man,but before any others could be savedthe boat was driven broadside on to thebeach. Two of the shipwrecked crew wererescued by men wading from the shoreinto the surf with lines, but the masterand two men unhappily lost their lives.

DEOGHEDA.—The barque Emanuele Ac-came, of Genoa, bound from Bremerhavenfor Swansea, in ballast, was riding atanchor in a dangerous position, about twomiles N. of the Boyne bar, having lost threeof her four masts, on the 13th January.The No. 2 Life-boat Charity was launchedabout 10.30 A.M., but the strong gale,which was dead against the boat, and thestrong tide rendered it impossible for herthen to cross the bar. Another attemptwas made shortly after 12 o'clock, butshe was again unable to effect a crossing.At about 2.30 a third attempt was made,the weather having moderated, when theLife-boat succeeded in reaching the vesseland brought ashore eighteen of her crew.

ST. IVES, CORNWALL.—Early on themorning of the 21st January severalfishing-boats left the harbour, and whilstthey were in the bay the wind suddenlyincreased to a very heavy gale from theN.N.E., with a tremendous sea on theridge. At about 8 A.M. it was seen that

276 THE LIFE-BOAT. [lei AUGUST, 1895.

one of the boats, the W. T., would incurgreat danger in crossing the ridge,and the Life-boat Exeter was thereforepromptly launched and proceeded to herassistance, but unfortunately the boatupset before she could be reached, andtwo of her crew were drowned, the thirdman being washed ashore on Porthminsterbeach. The Life-boat then proceeded tothe assistance of the gigs Robert Henryand Children's friend, took out of theformer the crew of, fire men and from thelatter six men, and landed them at theExtension Pier. A fresh crew thenmanned the Life-boat and went to thehelp of the gig Soy Willie, which had acrew of six hands on board, and accom-panied the boat safely into the harbour.

EOKKE.—The Life-boat William Hedleyput off at 12.20 P.M. on the 21st Januaryto the assistance of the s.s. Manhattan, ofLondon, bound from Hull for SunderJandwith oil, which had stranded betweenEoker Pier and the North Pier in a strongN.E. wind and a high sea. The masterand three other men were brought ashoreby the Life-boat, observation was kept onthe vessel, the remainder of the crewhaving stayed on board, and at 7 P.M. theboat again went to her, taking the captainback to the ship with a pilot.

PWLLHBLI, CABNABVONSHIBE. — Aschooner was seen to be dragging heranchors and drifting rapidly towards St.Patrick's Causeway, while a moderate galewas blowing from the N.W., with terrificsqualls and a heavy sea, on the 24thJanuary. She was showing signals ofdistress1. The crew of the Life-boatMargaret flatt of Staleybridge were, im-mediately summoned and the boat waslaunched at 3.45 P.M., proceeded to the

| vessel and found she was the Alnwick,of Beaumaris, in ballast, from Balbriggan,bound for Amlwch. Her sails had beenblown away, she had lost some of herspars, and as it was evident that anyattempt to weigh her anchor would resultin her going ashore, the crew of threemen decided to leave her and were takeninto the Life-boat. On the following daythe schooner was towed into safety by asteam-tug.

HATLE, CORNWALL. — The Life-boatK F. Harrison was called out to theassistance of the s.s. Escurial, of Glasgow, |

which, having been disabled in a heavygale, drifted ashore off Portieath. on the25th January. The boat was taken onher carriage to Portreath, a distance ofabout eleven miles, and was launchedwith considerable difficulty, the waterbeing low and the beach being soft. Astrong gale was blowing from N.N.W.with a terrific sea. She had got aboutfifty yards from the beach when she wasstruck by a sea on the port bow. At thatcritical time one of the ship's crew wasseen in the water, and while rescuing himthe boat was thrown broadside-on; allendeavours to get her head again to thesea failed,- and she drifted broadside-onto the beach. An attempt was made tolaunch her again, but the soft state ofthe sand, into which one of the wheels ofthe carriage sunk, rendered it of no avail.Every assistance was rendered by thoseon shore by rushing into the snrf torescue the shipwrecked men, who wereseen swimming from the ship, and bythese means seven of them were saved,but unhappily eleven others lost theirlives in attempting to reach the land.

HOLYHEAD.—Signals of distress beingseen in the bay, the No. 1 Life-boatThomas Fielden was launched at 9.10 P.M.on the 25th January, while a strong galefrom N.E. was blowing with severe squalls,a heavy sea, and snow. The boat sailedin the direction in which the signals hadbeen observed, and found they were shownby the schooner Miss Hunt. As the vesselwas dragging her anchors and driftingtowards the shore, her crew of four menwere taken into the Life-boat and landedin the Old Harbour, where the boat wasmoored for the night, the sea being tooheavy to return her to the Life-boat house.

WINTEETON.—At the termination of avery heavy snowstorm at about 5 P.M. onthe 25th January a light and rockets wereshown by a vessel which had stranded onthe beach about three-quarters of a mileS. of the light-house. The No. 1 Life-boatEdward Sirkbeck was launched, proceededto her assistance, and found she was alarge screw steamer, the Quantock, of andfrom London for Newcastle, in ballast.The No. 2 Life-boat Margaret afterwardswent to assist, and with the joint help ofthe Life-boatmen and four steam-tugs,the vessel was got afloat at about 7.30 onthe following evening.


On the 24th April an intimation bytelephone was received that a large vesselwas aground on the North Leman Sand.The No. 2 Life - boat Margaret waslaunched, and after sailing about seven-teen miles, fell in with the Yarmouthsteam-tug Meteor which took her intow to the Sand, where the barqueChipperkyle, of Liverpool, bound fromHamburg for Melbourne with a generalcargo, was found stranded. With thehelp of two steam-tugs the vessel wasgot off the sand and was taken towardsYarmouth. When about five miles fromWinterton a dense fog rendered it im-perative to bring the barque to an anchor;but when the weather cleared the tugswere again made fast and she was takeninto Yarmouth Roads, arriving there atabout 6 P.M. on the following day. TheLife-boat then returned to her station,which was reached at 8.30 P.M.

MONTROSE.—At about 9.30 A.M. on the27th January a smack was seen turningtowards the river, and when a little wayfrom Scurdyness Lighthouse she missedstays and drifted on to the Annat Bank.The No. 1 Life-boat Robert Henderson waslaunched, but when about a hundredyards from the smack, a pilot boat whichhad been lying at the harbour entrance,went alongside her and took off her crewof two men. The Life-boatmen thereforeturned their attention to saving the vessel,and having ran out a kedge, hove on thewarp, but failed to move her. Theysignalled for further help, and ultimatelythe smack was got afloat, and was towednp the river to the Old Harbour, whereshe was safely moored. She was the PolarStar, belonging to Montrose, and ladenwith oil from Newcastle.

On the 31st January, two rockets, in-dicating that the services of the Life-boatwere required, were fired from Scurdyness.The No. 1 Life-boat Robert Henderson waslaunched at 2.45 P.M., and rendered assist-ance to the fishing-boats Bed Jacket andEbenezer, and the steam-trawlers Southeskand Mare, which had been overtaken bya very heavy sea, and would probablyhave been unable to cross the bar in theabsence of the Life-boat.

On the 28th March a message by tele-phone was received stating that a schoonerwas close in shore evidently making forMont rose. As a strong gale was blowing ;

from the E. and there was a very heavysea on the bar, the Life-boat RobertHenderson was launched and proceeded tothe assistance of the vessel, which provedto be the Wagrien, of Aberdeen, boundfrom Middlesbrough for Fraserburgh.In sailing into Montrose she had takenthe ground on the tail of the Annat Bank,but in consequence of the strong windshe bumped over and was safely mooredat the jetty. She was leaking badly.

On the 8th May, at about half-pastfive o'clock in the afternoon, the light-keeper at Scurdyness telephoned that aboat was in danger on the Annat Bank.The Life-boat Robert Henderson waslaunched and on nearing the boat itcould be seen that there were four menon board, and that the sea was breakingover her. When the Life-boat came upone of the men had been washed over-board and the boat was full of water.The man in the water was first picked up,and ropes were then thrown to the others,by means of which they were draggedinto the Life-boat, which promptly re-turned ashore with them, as they were allgreatly exhausted. The boat was apleasure one and had been hired by thefour men who rowed down the river, butthe strong ebb tide carried her into thebroken water and on to the Annat Bank,and in the absence of the Life-boat thetrip would in all probability have hada fatal termination.

BEIXHAM, SOUTH DEVON.—The ketchNellie, of Littlehampton, bound fromPortsmouth for Falmouth in ballast, wasseen in the bay riding at anchor andflying her ensign, union down, in hermizen rigging, on the afternoon of the30th January. The Life-boat BetseyNewbon was launched at 2.25, and whenabout half way to the vessel the flag wastaken down and a trawler's boat withfive men in her was seen proceeding toher. When the Life-boat reached her,the master stated that he wanted helpto get his vessel into safety. Two of theLife-boatmen therefore went on board,and with the assistance of the five fisher-men, who had already boarded her, theanchors were got up and the ketch wastaken into the outer harbour and safelymoored. A moderate gale was blowingfrom E. at the time, and there was aheavy sea.


POBTHOUSTOCK, CoBNWALL.—The Life-boat Charlotte was launched at 8.15 P.M.on the 30th January in a heavy sea,the wind blowing a strong gale from N.E.and the weather bitterly cold, a largevessel having stranded on the Curraclugerocks, inside the Manacles. In the un-avoidable absence of the two coxswainsthe Life-boat was taken charge of by thebowman, who acted as coxswain, thecoxswain's son acting as second coxswain.The stranded vessel proved to be the shipAndola, of Liverpool, bound from Tacomafor Hull with a cargo of wheat. Hercrew of twenty-eight men were takeninto the Life-boat and safely landed atPorthoustock, amid the cheers of acrowd of people who in spite of thedarkness of the night and the inclemency

of the weather had awaited the return ofthe Boat. The ship afterwards broke upand became a total wreck, the shore beingstrewn with wreckage. The Life-boatwas admirably managed and was at onetime in considerable danger, for whilepassing through a very narrow passagewith rocks on either side she shipped twovery heavy seas; her crew, however, weresmart, and before the next sea came onthe rocks had been passed. The ship-wrecked crew, some of whom were injured—two being hurt by an explosion in the

magazine—-were taking to their boatswhen the Life-boat arrived, and in allprobability some of them would havebeen drowned, the boats being half fullof water and surrounded by sunkenrocks.

UNITED STATES LIFE-SAVING SERVICE.

Ir appears from the Annual Eeport of theoperations of the United States Life-SavingService for the year ended the 30th June,1893, issued a few months since from theGovernment Printing Office at Washington,that there are now 243 life-saving stationsin the States, 182 being on the Atlanticand Gulf coasts, 48 on the coasts of theGreat Lakes, 12 on the Pacific, and 1 atthe Tails of the Ohio, Louisville, Kentucky.Since the last Eeport three new stationshave been formed, viz., at Brant Bock,Massachusetts; Port Niagara, New York;and Kewaunee, Wisconsin.

During the year there had been 427disasters to vessels coming within thefield of station operations, this numberbeing 90 more than in the previous twelvemonths. There were 3,565 persons onboard these vessels, of whom 23 werelost. The number of vessels totally lostwas 88, being an increase of 28 as com-pared with the previous year. In additionthere were, during the year reported on,154 disasters to smaller craft, such assail-boate, row-boats, &c., which had 327persons on board, only 6 of whom werelost, not including two accidents tolife - saving boats, with loss of life,referred to later on. The total number

of 'persons succoured at the stationswas 663.

Besides the lives saved from vessels,the life-saving crews were instrumentalin rescuing 47 persons who had fallenfrom wharves, &c., and would have pro-bably perished had it not been for theprompt aid given.

In accordance with the usual custom, acareful investigation was held in the four-teen cases where life was lost, and it wassatisfactorily demonstrated that in no casewas the disaster attributable to any lackof promptness, courage or skill on thepart of the members of the Life-savingService.

Unfortunately on two occasions whilegallant efforts were being made to renderassistance to the crews of vessels in dis-tress, the salvors themselves met withdisaster. In one case only did the menbelong to the United States Life-SavingService; in the other they were in theemploy of the Humane Society of Massa-chusetts, a voluntary organisation whichwas founded many years before theGovernment Life-Saving Service cameinto existence. The first accident resultedin the loss of four out of six men who hadlaunched their surf boat at Cleveland


(Ohio) during a gale of wind to theassistance of two young men whose boathad become unmanageable and was beingswept out into Lake Erie from the BiverCuyahoga which was in a swollen conditionfrom heavy rains and was running intothe lake with irresistible force. Beforethe small boat could be overtaken it wasupset and those on board perished, whilethe rescuing craft was also capsized whenit reached the spot where the " turmoil ofcontention " between the waters of the lakeand the river was fiercest and, as alreadyindicated, four of the gallant crew perished,the remaining two men being saved by asteam-tug which put off to their help.

The second fatality occurred to thecrew of a Life-boat of the MassachusettsHumane Society which was promptlylaunched from Cuttyhunk when theBritish brig Aquatic was seen to be indistress. From the time when theystarted, soon after 9 P.M., until the dawnof the next day nothing whatever wasseen or heard of them from the shore, andthe first intimation of the disaster waswhen the dead body of one of her crewwas found on the beach. It afterwardsappeared that when they were nearingthe stranded ship their boat was upset androlled over and over. Only one out of thesix men in her was saved, and curiouslyenough he was the only one who could notswim; he was drifted towards the vesseland getting alongside was hauled on boardand he and the shipwrecked crew wererescued the next day by the boat from thenearest U.S. Life-saving Station, assistedby a steam-tug and a lighter engaged forthe service.

There was also a fatal shipwreck duringthe time when the adjacent life-savingstation was closed for the four summermonths in accordance with the usualcustom on the Atlantic seaboard, only thekeeper being left in charge. This is donefor the sake of economy, as the men in thisservice receive regular weekly pay. Thekeeper used all possible expedition ingetting volunteers to help him, but onthat sparsely populated coast valuable time

was necessarily lost in getting a crewtogether, and unhappily the four ship-wrecked men perished before they couldbe succoured.

The Service had to mourn the loss bydeath during the year of three of itsofficers, viz., Captain JOHN W. WHITE, ofthe U.S. Eevenue Cutter Service, detailedfor special duty in the life-saving serviceas Assistant Inspector to No. 12 Districtand Superintendent of Construction atthe Stations on the Pacific Coast; CaptainDAVID P. DOBBINS, late Superintendent ofthe 9th Life-saving District, comprisingLakes Erie and Ontario; and CaptainJOSIAH W. ETHEEIDGE, Superintendent ofNo. 6 District, embracing the NorthCarolina coast and the shore of Virginiasouth of Cape Henry.

The telephone lines provided for theservice had been maintained in goodorder and several new connections andminor extensions had been made. TheEeport adds that " the value of thisimportant feature of the Service, both asan aid to the efficiency of the life-savingcrews, and incidentally as a means ofaffording early and desirable informationto the maritime interests of the country,is constantly being demonstrated oncritical occasions along the coast, andhas attracted the marked attention ofofficers of life - saving institutions inforeign countries."

The station which Congress, in the Actauthorising the World's Columbian Expo-sition, directed to be placed on exhibitionin the grounds allotted for the purpose,fully equipped with the apparatus, furni-ture and appliances used in theLife-saving Service, and subsequentlyprovided should be continued as apermanent station, was duly established,equipped and manned, and during thefair was visited by great numbers andexamined with marked interest by therepresentatives of kindred institutions ofother countries. The tri-weekly drills,illustrating the methods of rescue, were aspecial attraction, and never failed togather upon the lake shore enormous


crowds of interested spectators. Whilethus satisfactorily serving its originalpurpose, it had opportunity also onseveral occasions to prove its practicalutility by effecting rescues from actualshipwrecks which occurred within thescope of its operations. The old stationat the mouth of the Chicago Kiver,erected in the earlier days of the Service,was utilised during the continuance ofthe " Exposition " as an outpost of thenew station, to which two of the crew

were detailed as a constant guard to lookout for such accidents as might occurat the immediate harbour entrance, beingconnected with the main station by tele-phone. The continuance of this plan hassince been regarded as necessary.

In conclusion the Report bears emphatictestimony to the fidelity with which theofficers and employes of the Service haddischarged their duties, always arduous,and often involving personal hardship andperil.

SUMMAKY OF THE MEETINGS OP THE COMMITTEE.

THURSDAY, 13th December, 1894.

Sir EDWARD BIRKBECK, Bart., V.P., inthe Chair.

Bead and confirmed the Minutes of the pre-vious meeting.

Also read those of the Finance and Corre-spondence, Building and Wreck and RewardSub-Committees and ordered that their recom-mendations be carried into effect.

Bead the report of the Deputy Chief Inspec-tor of Life-boats on his recent visits to Harwich,Seascale, Silloth and Barrow.

Also the Beports of the District Inspectors ofLife-boats on their visits to the followingstations:—

Northern District—Bamburgh Castle, Cress-well, North Sunderland and Cullercoats.

Eastern District — Bridlington, Hornsea,Withernsea, Poole, Brighton, Shoreham,Worthing, Littlehampton, Selsey (two boats),Hayling, Southsea and Swanage.

Western District — Falmouth, Port Isaac,Padstow, Teignmouth, Burnham, Polkerris,New Quay (Cornwall), Mevagissey, Hayle,Sennen Cove, Penzance, St. Agnes and St.Mary's (Scilly Islands).

Irish District—Wieklow.Also the reports of the Organising Secretaries

on their visits to Bradford, Wakefield, Dews-bury, Batley, Halifax, St. Anne's, Leeds,Derby, Burton-on-Trent, Nottingham, Stockton,Thornaby, Middlesbrough, Manchester, Pres-ton, Liverpool, Warrington, Wigan, Chorley,Chester, Crewe, Macclesfield, Dundee, Londonand Edinburgh.

Reported the receipt of the following specialcontributions since the last meeting:—

H. G. POWELL, Esq., Wolver- £ *' d'hampton, for a new Life-boat,transporting-carriage and equip-ment for the Point of Ayr Station,per Wolverhampton Branch . . 700 - -

Collected in the town of Wolver-hampton, and to be appropriatedto a new Life-boat house for thePoint of Ayr Station, per Wolver-hampton Branch 350 - -

£ s. d.CHABLES DENNY, Esq 50 - -" A. 0." 50 - -Independent Order of Odd Fellows

(M. U.)Ann. Sub. . 50 - -Ditto, Donation. . 27 - C

7 7 - 6Collected in Grangemouth, per F.

QUIN, Esq., H.M. Customs . . 36 8 10Colonel VEHNON 25 - -Trustees of the late Mrs. MARTHA

NORTON 25 - -The Misses SUGDEN 25 - -Euncorn Cycling Club Lantern

Parade and Cycling Carnival (halfproceeds), per H. WRIGHT, Esq. . 11 7 1

Collected on board the B. M.S.Tantallon Castle, per Captain J.C. BOBINSON 10 - -

Collected in Newport (Mon.) Mer-cantile Marine Office, per W.POWELL, Esq 7 10 -

Contents of Contribution Box oaboard H.M.S. Swift . . . . 2 - -

Life-boat Saturday Collections.Belfast, per A. NORMAN CHARLEY,

Esq 1059 8 -Bradford, per J. H. LINOET, Esq. . 500 - -Plymouth, Devonport and Stone-

liouse, per JOHN CCMMING, Esq. . 276 - 5Teignmouth Annual Life-boat Day,

per W. J. BOBDEN, Esq. . . . 75 - -Barnet, Enfield, Southgate, Friern

Barnet and New Southgate, perT. BBANDRETH GIBBS, Esq. . . 50 - -

Proceeds of" Sons of Phoenix " Life-boat Demonstration at Brighton,on 22nd September . . . . 24 7 1

Life-boat Sunday Collections.St. Alban's, Sunninghill, per C. D.

KEMP-WELCH, Esq 10 19 2Hadnall, Salop, per the Eev. J.

BROOKE MORTIMER, M . A . . . . 9 3 6Blundell's School Chapel, per the

Rev. P . L . HUNT, B.A. . . . 3 9 6Cawthorne, Barnsley, Children's

Collection, per the Rev. C. T.PRATT, M.A 2 10 10


£ s. d.Peckham.—Linden Grove Sunday

School Teachers and Scholars,per E. A. HOTCHINSON, Esq. . . 2 10 -

H.M.S. Cambridge, Offertory onboard, per the Eev. F. 0. STEB-BING, B.N., M.A 1 - -

—To be severally thanked.

Also the receipt of the following legacies :—£ i. d.

The late ST. JOHN TIPTON, Esq., ofWellington, Salop 500 - -

The late Miss M. A. BECK, ofFulham 225 - -

The late E. H. PENFOLD, Esq., ofWinchester 210 - -

The late CHABLES GIBSON, Esq., ofEdinburgh 200 - -

The late WILLIAM MUTTHEWSON,Esq., of Calcutta 150 - -

The late H. M. ABTHUB, Esq., ofLeytonstone 100 - -

The late Mrs. JANK BONNER, ofBrockley 100 - -

The late JOHN WHITEHEAD, Esq., ofHale, Bowdon 40 - -

The late L. F. H. SHOBT, Esq., ofQueensland, New South Wales . 27 - -

The late Mrs. FEBNIE, of Stirling . 20 - -The late Mrs. H. W. HOOPPELL, of

Plymouth 5 - -

Deep regret was expressed at the death ofMr. E. MADELBT, who had been HonorarySecretary of the Burton-on-Trent Branch ofthe Institution for twenty-five years, and it wasdecided to send a letter of sympathy to hisfamily.

Voted the thanks of the Committee toCaptain E. P. STOKES, in recognition of hisvaluable co-operation during the long periodof twenty-four years in which he held the officeof Honorary Secretary of the Barrow Branchof the Institution. j

The Committee also suitably recognised the |good services of Mr. JAMBS THOENTON whilstserving as Coxswain of the Hope Cove Life-boat for seventeen years.

Keported the transmission to their stations ofthe Dungeness No. 1, Greenore and Sunderland(South Outlet) new Life-boats.

The South Eastern Eailway Company granteda free conveyance to the Dungeness boat andbrought back the old boat to London free ofcharge.—To be thanked.

Also that the Aberystwith, Aldeburgh, Hoy-lake and Lytham Life-boats had been returnedto their stations, after having been altered andfitted with all modern improvements.

Decided that the Seascale Life-boat Stationbe abolished, it being considered unnecessaryany longer to maintain a Life-boat at that place.

Paid 4.300Z. for sundry charges on variousLife-boat establishments.

Voted 209L 7s. to pay the expenses of thefollowing Life-boat services:—

Lite-boat. Vessel.Cullercoats

Livessaved.

2

Two fishing-cobles. Ben-dered assistance.

Livessaved.

Life-boat. Vessel.

Eastbourne . Steam yacht Bay, of DoverGorleston No. 1 Schooner Jane Duff, of

London. Assisted tosave vessel and . . . 4

Lowestoft No. 1 Brigantine Alf, of Mandal 8Port Patrick . S.S. Strathspey, of Glas-

gow 12Porthoustock . Brig Dryad, of White-

haven 7Pwllheli . . Smack Alpha, of Pwllheli 2Totland Bay . Schooner Samson, of

Kjerteminde. Renderedassistance.

Tramore . . S.S. Scott Harley, of Cork 12Wexford No. 1 Smack Brothers, of Wex-

ford. Kend. assistance.„ S.S. Gilberto. Remained

by vessel.

The Arklow, Hasborough, Holyhead No. 1,Kingsdowne, Kirkcudbright, Lowestoft, New-burgh, North Deal, Palling, Bamsgate, Walmerand Great Yarmouth Life-boats rendered thefollowing- services:—Schooner Jilt, of Douglassaved vessel; s.s. Mula, of South Shields,assisted to save vessel; schooner Pride of theDee, rendered assistance; s.s. Llanihewy, ofNewport, assisted to save vessel; brigantineSultan, of Portsmouth, assisted to save vesseland crew (5); steam trawler Lionel, of SouthShields, rendered assistance; ketch Arid, ofCarnarvon, assisted to save vessel and 3;brigantine Alf, of Mandal, assisted to savevessel; schooner Clacton, of Harwich, assistedto save vessel and 8; brigantine Cypress, ofFolkestone, rendered assistance; sloop Rival,of Bye, assisted to save vessel and 4; s.s.Albertina, of Newcastle, remained by vessel.

Voted 14Z. 14s., in addition to medicalcharges, to one of the crew of the GorlestonNo. 1 Life-boat, who was injured while onservice in the boat.

Also 1Z. to a man injured at a launch of theDungeness Life-boat on service.

Also 783?. 17s. Id. to pay the expenses ofassemblies of crews or launches to distressedvessels by the undermentioned Life-boats:—Aldeburgh, Broadstairs, Caister No. 2, Cemaes,Cemlyn, Dover, Dungeness, Formby, GorlestonNo. 1, Harwich, Holyhead No. 1, Hoylake,Hunstanton, Kessiuglaud No. 1, Kingsdowne,New Brighton (steam Life-boat), New Bomney,North Sunderland, Padstow, Pakefield No. 1,Palling No. 2, Port Logan, Skegness, WintertonNo. 2 and Great Yarmouth.

The Bamsgate Life-boat was also taken outof harbour on several occasions to the help ofvessels in distress, which however did notrequire her services.

Voted 21. to four men for saving the crew offour men from the fishing-boat Sea Belle, ofDerryoge, co. Down, which was sinking off" thatplace in a strong N.E. breeze with heavysqualls, a rough sea and thick weather on the14th October.

Also II. 17s. 6d. to five men for saving bymeans of lines the crew of seven men from thebrig May, of Christiania, which had strandedon the Harkess Bocks, near Bamburgh Castle,

282 THE LIFE-BOAT. [1ST AUGUST, 1895-

Northumberland, in a strong gale and a heavysea on the 21st October.

Also 10s. to two men for saving the crew oftwo men of the fishing-boat Ethel, of Hallsanda,which was capsized off Start Point in a squallon the 19th November.

THURSDAY, 10th January, 1895.

Sir EDWABD BIRKBEOK, Bart., V.P.,in the Chair.

Bead and confirmed the Minutes of the pre-vious meeting.

Also read those of the Finance and Corre-spondence, Building and Wreck and RewardSub-Committees and ordered that their recom-mendations be carried into effect.

Bead the reports of the District Inspectors ofLife-boats on their recent visits to the followingstations:—

Northern District—Boulmer and Alnmouth.Eastern District — Kimeridge, Brooke,

Brighstone Grange, Totland Bay, Atherfield,Bembridge, Ryde, Mablethorpe, Donna Nook,Button, Grimsby, Skegness, Chapel, Hunstantonand Brancaster.

Western District—Weston-super-Mare, Bude,Mbrthoe, Appledore (three boats) and Ilfracombe.

Irish District — Fethard, Dunmore East,Point of Ayr, Kingstown, Wexford (two boats),Carnsore, Kilmore, Tramore, Dungarvan, Ard-inore, Ballycottou and Youghal.

Also the reports of the Organising Secretarieson their visits to Wakefield, Barnsley, Leeds,York, Doncaster, Northampton, Cambridge,Ipswich, Norwich, Middlesbrough, Stockton-on-Tees, Sunderland, Shields, Bradford, Liverpool,Nelson, Accrington, Preston, Clitheroe, Dar-wen, Haslingden, Manchester, Stoke, Burslem,Hanley, Leek, Walsall, Wolverhampton,Wednesbnry, West Bromwich, Dudley, Bilston,Stafford, Longton, Newcastle - under -Lyme,Crewe, Millom, Seascale, Whitehaven, Work-ington, Maryport, Carlisle, Silloth, St. Anne's,Bacup, Heywood, Goole, Beverley, Selby,Harrogate, Kuaresborough, Patley Bridge,Ripon, Atherton, Church, Oswaldtwistle,Castleton, Perth and Dundee.

Reported the receipt of 8081. 11s. Id. fromthe Civil Service Life-boat Fund, per CHARLESDIBDIN, Esq., Honorary Secretary, to recoupthe Institution the total amount expended by itduring the year 1894 in the maintenance of theseven stations at which the seven Life-boatspresented and endowed by the fund are placed.The total sum thus contributed to the Insti-tution by gentlemen in Her Majesty's CivilService has been 17,1051. 17s. Id.

Decided that the cordial thanks of the Com-mittee be given to the contributors, and par-ticularly to Mr. DIBDIN, for their continuedvaluable assistance to the Life-boat cause.

Also the receipt of the following other specialcontributions since the last meeting :—

£ s. d.Licensed Victuallers Life-boat Fund

per A. L. ANNETT, Esq., in aidof the support of the LicensedVictualler Life-boat at Hunstanton(additional) 50 - -

£ «. d.JOHN BENTLEY, Esq. (additional) . 31 10 -JAMES FLEMINO, Esq 25 - -Loyal Order of Ancient Shepherds

(A. IT.) per D. KENNEDY, Esq. . 10 - -Worshipful Company of Saddlers

(additional) 5 - -Life-boat Saturday Collections.

North of England District Com-mittee, per A. Mum, Esq.,Treasurer, proceeds of variouscollections in all parts of thecountry 15,418 8 2

Warrington, per J. L. LYONWHITTLE, Esq 65 - -

Life-boat Sunday Collections.Bmsledon, Southampton, per the

Rev. LOBAINJ; ESTBHXJE, M.A. . 4 4 4Offley, Hitcbin, per the Rev. C. R.

HARDY, M.A 1 10 -Holloway, Junction Road Congrega-

tional Sunday School, per J.FOKDBB, Esq 1 1 5

Denny, U. P. Church Bible Class,per the Rev. D. MACKELLEB . . 1 - -

Chilton, Sudbury, per the Rev. H.Smith, M.A - 15 -

Church Collections on Christmas Day.Brockdish, Norfolk, per J. H.

WHITE, Esq 2 19 11Elvetham, Winchfield, per the Rev.

WM. GILL, L.Th 4 5 -Woodstock, per the Rev. ABTHUB

MAJENDIE, A.K.C.L 4 8 1—To 6e severally thanked.

Also the receipt of the following Legacies:—£ t. d.

The late Mrs. MABY SCALES, ofArmley, Leeds 1,000 - -

The late HENRY DANSON, Esq.,M.D.,of St. John's Wood 100 - -

The late Mrs. ANNA McOASKY, ofDublin 50 - -

The late Mrs. ANNIE TUBTILL . . 10 - -

The Committee expressed great regret at thedeath of Mr. J. B. RISLEY, who had beenHonorary Secretary of the Ferryside (Car-marthen Bay) Branch of the Institution fortwenty-three years, and decided to send a letterof condolence to his family.

Voted the thanks of the Committee to Mr.K. G. A. HUTCHINSON, in recognition of hislong and valuable co-operation whilst acting asHonorary Secretary of the Bamburgh CastleBranch of the Institution.

Also to Miss MEYRICK, of Bodorgan Hall,Anglesey, for kindly presenting a suit of oil-skin clothing to each member of the crew of

1 the Rhosneigir Life-boat.The Committtee also specially recognised the

good services of Mr. EDWABD COUDBON and Mr.FRANK CARTER whilst respectively serving ascoxswains of the Wicklowand Weymouth Life-boats.

Decided, that the Mundesley Life-boat stationbe abolished.

Reported that the Padstow Life-boat had

IST AUGUST, 1895.] THE LIFE-BOAT, 283

been returned to its station after having beenaltered and fitted with modern improvements.

Paid 8,933Z. for sundry charges on variousLife-boat Establishments.

Voted the Silver Medal of the Institution toMr. DAVID SINCLAIR, Coxswain of the IrvineLife-boat, in recognition of his services on theoccasion of the rescue, under dangerous circum-stances, of the crew of the ship Frey, ofTonsberg, on the 28th December last.

Also the Silver Medal to Mr. A. SIMMONS,Chief Engineer of the Steam Life-boat Duke ofNorthumberland, who had been in charge ofthe engines on each of the twenty-eightoccasions when the boat had been on service,and had thus contributed to the saving of fifty-one lives.

Voted 1,029Z. 15s. Gd. to pay the expenses ofthe following Life-boat services:—

Life-boat.

Berwick-on-Tweed

Blackpool

Vessel. Livessaved.

> Steamer Broolc, of Dundee 5Barque Abana, of Farsund 17

. Smack Petrel, of Fleet-wood. Crew saved byLife-boat men.

Castletown . Schooner Mary Jane, ofRamsey 3

Cromer . t . Schooner Fair City, ofGloucester. Uemainedby vessel.

Cullercoats . Fishing-cobles. Assistedboats.

Dungarvan . Smack St. Margaret, ofWaterford . . . . 4

„ . Smack Favourite, of Ark-low. Landed 5 men.

Filey . . . Fishing-cobles. Remainedby boats.

Fleetwood . Schooner Annie Park, ofBarrow. Rend, assist.

Fonnby . . Barquentine Cosmo, ofCharlotte Town, P.E.I.Landed 6 men.

Fraserburgh . Schooner Roseneath, ofHull 4

Gorleston No. 1 Ketch Eesolule. Assistedto save vessel and . . 4

„ ' ' S.S. Kent, of London.Saved a boat and . . . 5

„ S.S. KirTcstall, of Shields.Saved a boat and . . 4

Holyhead No. 1 Norwegian barquentineValhalla . . . . 1 0

„ No. 2 Norwegian barque Titania 11Irvine . . . Ship Frey, of Tonsberg . 15Moelfre . . Schooner John Wignall, of

Fleetwood . . . . 5„ . . Schooner Christiana

Davies, of Barrow.Landed 4 men.

New Brighton 1 Schooner Faith, of Beau-(Steam Life-boat) j maris 3Newbiggin . Coble Edward Shortt, of

Newbiggin. Renderedassistance.

Newburgh . S S. Sonito, of Aberdeen.Landed crew (8).

Newhaven , Lugger Mackerel, ofShoreham . . . . 3

Life-boat.

Orme's Head .Padstow . .

Palling No. 2 .

Peel . . .

Point of Ayr .

Port Eynon .

Port Isaac .

Port Logan .

Porthdiullaen

Ramsey . .

„ . .

Sennen Cove .Southport No. 1

Staithes . .

Thurso . .

Totland Bay .

"Wexford No. 1

Whithorn . .

Vessel.

Ketch Scotian, of Hoy lakeBarque Antoinette, of St.

John, N.B .....Schooner Fair City, of

Gloucester . . . .Barque Agnes, of Frede-

ricks vaern . . . .Schooner City of Chester,

of Chester . . . .Smack United Friends, of

Plymouth . . . .Barque Antoinette, of St.

John, N.B .....Schooner Industry, of

Belfast .....Smack Dauntless, of

Jersey. Saved vtssel andSchooner Margaret Jones,

of Carnarvon . . .Schooner Excelsior, of

Chester .....H.M.S. Lynx. Rend, assist.Schooner James and Mary,

of Fleetwood . . .S.S. Progress, of Glasgow.

Landed 4 men.Schooner Isabella Stuart,

of Greenock. . . .Schooner Marian, of Pad-

stow. Rem. by vessel.Yawl Gannet, of Wexford.

Rendered assistance.Brigantine Mary Holland,

of Maryport . . . .

11

10

The Ramsgate Life-boat rescued the crew offour men from the stranded schooner Union, ofSunderland.

The Aldeburgh, Broadstairs and CullercoatsLife- boats rendered the following services: —Schooner Coila, of Faversham, assisted to savevessel; schooners Jubilee, of Harwich, andSallinbreich Castle, of Padstow, rendered assist-ance ; Danish schooner Niord, saved vessel.

Voted also 1.283Z. 10s. 9cJ. for assemblies ofthe crews or launches to distressed vessels bythe following Life-boats : — Aberdovey, Ard-rossan, Barmouth, Buckie, Caister Nos. 1 and 2,Clacton, Cloughey, Donna Nook, Douglas No. 2,Bungeness No. 1, Gorleston No. 1, Greencastle,Harwich, Holyhead Nos. 1 and 2, Hoylake,Lowestoft No. 1, Lytham, Mablethorpe, Mar-

f ate, Nairn, New Brighton No. 1, New Brightonteam Life-boat, North Deal, North Sunder-

land, Padstow, Palling Nos. 1 and 2, Penarth,Port Logan, PorthdiBllaen, Forth Rhuffydd,Ramsey, Rhoscolyn, Rhosneigir, Rhyl, Ryde,Saltburn, Southport No. 2, St. Anne's, Thurso,Troon, Waltou-on-the-Naze, Whithorn, "Winter-ton Nos. 1 and 2 and Great Yarmouth.

Also 11. to two men, with thanks to one ofthem, for saving the crew of three men froma coastguard boat which was capsized offShanagan Point, co. Antrim, in a squall on the8th November.

Also SI. 10s. to seven men for saving thetrawler Catherine, of Courtmacsherry, and hercrew of four men, which was disabled in amoderate gale from the S.W. and a rough seaon the 21st December.

284 THE LIFE-BOAT. [IST AUGUST, 1895.

Also SI. 10s. to seventeen men for renderingassistance to the crew of the schooner Seamew,of Belfast, which broke from her moorings offPort Patrick, Wigtownshire, in 'a whole galefrom N. by W. and a very heavy sea on the22nd December.

Also 81. to sixteen men for wading into thesurf and assisting the crew of the schoonerTyrconnel, of Glasgow, which stranded in WardBay, Wigtownshire, in a whole gale from N.by W. and a very heavy sea on the 22ndDecember.

Also 91. to six men for saving three of thecrew of the brig Loven, of Christiania, whichsunk at Horse Island, off Ardrossan, in astorm from N.W. and a rough sea on the 22ndDecember.

Also 51. 12s. 6d. to fifteen men for saving thecrew of five men from the schooner Kate, ofWick, which was totally wrecked off Nairn ina whole gale from N. by E. and a very heavyeea on the 22nd December.

The sum of 2Z. 2s. was also paid for trans-porting and launching the boat used by thesalvors.

THTJBSDAY, 14th February, 1895.

Sir EDWAKD BIEKBECK, Bart., V.P., in theChair.

Bead and confirmed the Minutes of theprevious meeting.

Also read those of the Finance and Corre-spondence, Building and Wreck and KewardSub-Committees and ordered that their recom-mendations be carried into effect.

Bead the report of the Deputy Chief In-spector of Life-boats on his recent visits toArdrossan, Irvine, Girvan, Dunmore Kast,Dungarvan, Ballycotton, Ardmore, Youghal,New Quay (Cornwall), Hayle, Portreath andSt. Ives.

Also the reports of the District Inspectorsof Life-boats on their recent visits to the fol-lowing stations:—

Northern District — Irvine, Girvan, Ayr,Balcary, Kirkcudbright, Troon, Ballantrae,Port Patrick, Port Logan and Whithorn.

Eastern District—blakeney, Wells, Mundes-ley, Cromer, Palling (two boats), Hasboroughand Sheringham.

Western District — Aberdovey, Criccieth,Llanaelhaiam, Pwllheli, Portlidinllaen, Aber-soch, Barmouth, Aberystwyth, St. Helier's(Jersey) and St. Peter's (Guernsey).

Irish District — Howth, Dunmore East,Douglas (two boats), Castletown, Port Erin,Bamsey, Bhyl (two boats) and Kingstown.

Also the reports of the Organising Secretarieson their visits to Barrow-in-Furness, Lincoln,Bradford, London, Brighton, Portsmouth,Darlington, Newcastle-on-Tyne, Bury, Wigan,Warrington, Chester, Shefiield, Burton-on-Trent, Manchester, Carlisle, Kidderminster,Leamington, Wellingborough, Kettering,Belper, Chesterfield, Loughborough, Newark,Peterborough, Wisbech, Darwen, Harrogate,Beverley, Beckenham, Brighton, Portsmouth,Merthyr Tydvil, Swansea, Cardiff, Barry,Southampton, Plymouth, Beading, Eastbourne,

Ilkley, Otley, Todmorden, Goole, Morley,Sowerby Bridge, Littleborough, Hyde, Hey-wood, Hindley, Ince, Bedford, Leigh, Cleek-heaton, Heckmondwike, Mirfield, Liversidge,Keighley, Perth, Dundee, Glasgow andCarmunock.

Beported the receipt of the following specialcontributions since the last meeting:—

£ «. d."In memoriam, Bev. WILLIAM

HEYOATE BENN " 300 - -Trustees of the late WILLIAM

THORNGATE, Esq. — annual sub-scription 80 - —

Miss BIBKBECK 50 - -W. W. SHAW, Esq 25 - -W. INGHAM WHITAKER, Esq. . . 25 - -Worshipful Company of Armourers

and Brasiers 10.10 —Principals and Workmen of Messrs.

WILLIAM WHITMABSH and Co.,South Street Brewery, Sheffield . 3 10 6

Life-boat Sunday Collections.Paisley, St. James's United Presby-

terian Congregation, per JAMESUBE, Esq 26 11 6

Saul, Gloucestershire, per the Bev.B . HALL M . A 4 4 5

Sudbourne, Suffolk, per the Bev. E.M. SCOTT - 15 10

Orford, per the Bev. E. M. SCOTT . 2 1 2Hackney, Mare Street Sunday

School, per J. F. SOBRELL, Esq. . 1 5 8—To be severally thanked.

Also the receipt of the following legacies:—£ s. d.

The late HENRY CABNLEY, Esq., M.D.,of Kingston-upon-Hull . . . 300 - -

The late Bight Hon. Lord DDN-SANDLE and CLANCONAL- . . . 180 - -

The late JAMES LAWSON, Esq., ofPeckham 100 - -

The late T. B. D. GARDNER, Esq., ofWoodGieen 19 16 -

The late W. W. BLAKEY, Esq., ofNewcastle-on-Tyne . . . . 10 - -

The late Miss ANNA COWPEB, ofHythe, Kent 9 - -

The Committee expressed deep regret at thedeath of the Bev. J. F. NOOTT, B.A., who hadbeen the much-esteemed Honorary Secretary ofthe Dunwich Branch of the Institution fortwenty-one years.

Voted the thanks of the Committee to JOHNCRAIG, Esq.; B. L. ALPINE, Esq.; E. B. LOYNIS,Esq.; DAVID HAVABD, Esq. J.P., M.D.; and E.G. DAVIES, Esq., in recognition of their pastvaluable services whilst serving as HonorarySecretaries respectively of the Ardrossan,Wells, Newport (Pembrokeshire) and PakefieldBranches of the Institution.

The Committee also specially recognised thegood services rendered by Mr. HORACE HTNSON,Mr. THOMAS McGuFFiE and Mr. WILLIAM JAMES,whilst acting as coxswains of the Wells, Isle ofWhithorn and Newport (Pembrokeshire) Life-boats.

Decided, that the Ardmore (Ireland) Life-boat Station be discontinued.

IST AUGUST, 1895.] THE LITE-BOAT. 285

Paid 4,200?. for sundry charges on variousLife-boat Establishments.

Voted 6671. 7s. 6d. to pay the expenses of thefollowing Life-boat services : —

Life-boat. Vessel. Liv?saved.Abersoch . . Ketch Peter Varkevisser,

f Tllfjlp WJ Qot Minord . . . . o_ . , , Fishing-cobles. GenderedBerwick-on- j aasistence on two

Tweed / occasions.Boulmer . . Two fishing - cobles.

Gendered assistance.Brixham . . Ketch Nellie, of Little-

hampton. Gend. assist.Castletown . S.S. Vigilant, of Liverpool 6Drogheda No. 2 Barque Emanwele Accame,

of Genoa. Lauded 18men.

Eyemouth . Fishing-boats. Remainedby vessels.

Falmouth . . Schooner Aneurin, of Car-

Fishguard No. 2 Smack Prosperity, of Car-narvon. Landed 3 men.

„ Ketch Mercy, of Car-narvon. Landed 3 men.

Fraserburgh . Fishing-boats, of Pitullie.Remained by vessels.

Girvan . . Fishing-boat Twins, ofGirvan. Gend. assist.

Hayle . . . S.S. Eseurial, of Glasgow 1Holyhead No. 1 Schooner Miss Hunt . . 4Holy Island \ Fishing-boats. Gendered

No. 1 / assistance.Johnshaven . Fishing-boats, of Gourdon.

Montrose No. 1 Fishing - vessels. Gen-dered assistance.

w ., , Fishing-boats. Rendered£ * i j \ assistance on threeSunderland ) noraairma' occasions.

Poole . . . Barque Brilliant, ofGrimstad . . . . 10

Porthoustock . Ship Andola, of Liverpool 28Pwllheli . . Schooner Alnwick, of

.Deaumaris . . . . oGamsey . . Schooner Margaret and

Elizabeth, of Liverpool 2Goker . . . S.S.Manhattan, of London.

Landed 4 men and ren-dered other assistance.

Scarborough . Fishing - cobles. Gen-dered assistance.

Southwold No. 1 Brig James and Eleanor,of North Shields . . 2

St. Ives . . Gig Bobert Henry, of St.~r e

„ . . Gig Children's Friend, ofSt. Ives 6

„ . . Gig Boy Willie, of St.Ives. Gend. assistance.

Thurso . . Schooners Clarence G.Sinclair, of Wick, andIsabella Stuart. Landed8 men.

Tynemouth \ Fishing-cobles, of Culler-No. 1 / coats. Rend, assist.

Wexford No. 1 A pilot wherry, of Wex-ford. Rend, assistance.

Whitby No. 2 Fishing-cobles. Renderedassistance.

The Montrose No. 1, Gamsgate and Winter-ton Nos. 1 and 2 Life-boats rendered thefollowing services : — Smack Polar Star, ofMontrose, assisted to save vessel ; s.s. BeaconLight, of Liverpool, assisted to save vessel ; ands.s. Quantock, of London, assisted to save vessel.

Voted also 1,0692. 19«. 4d. for launches orassemblies of crews on service by the under-mentioned Life-boats: — Abersoch, Aldeburgh,Aranmore, Bamburgh Castle, Blyth No 1,Bridlington, Broadstairs, Caister No. 2, Clacton,Cloughey, Cromer, Donna Nook, Douglas No. 1,Drogheda No. l.Dunbar, Eyemouth, Falmouth,Filey, Flamborough No. 2, Girvan, GorlestonNo. 1, Gourdon, Grimsby, Harwich, Harwichsteam Life-bo it, Hasborough, Holy Island No.1, Hythe, Lowestoft No. 1, Mablethorpe,Montrose No. 1, New Brighton (steam Life-boat), New Quay (Cornwall), North Deal, NorthStmderland, Padstow, Palling Nos. 1 and 2,Peterhead, Poolbeg, Port Patrick, Gobin Hood'sBay, Gunswick, St. Ives, Saltburn, Staithes,Swanage, Tenby, Upgang, Walton-on-the-Naze,Weymouth, Whitby No. 1 and Wintertonxrft oJ.1 U. £i,

Voted 2751. in aid of the fund for the reliefof the widow and children of WILLIAM BKOWN,the Coxswain of the Swanage Life-boat, wholost his life while on service on the 12thJanuary. The expenses of the funeral, &c.,were also defrayed by the Institution.

Also 301. to the parents of a lad who diedfrom the effects of injuries received by beingrun over by the Rhosneigir Life-boat carriagewhile assisting at the launch of the Life-boatfor service on the 28th December last. Thesum of 872. 5s. lOd. for medical attendance,nursing, funeral and other expenses was alsopaid by the Institution.

Also 41. to two men injured while engaged onservice with the Orme's Head and SouthwoldNo. 1 Life-boats.

Also the Silver Medal of the Institution and11. each to E. W. GOLDSMITH, THOMAS H. PALMERand ALFHED TOOK for swimming out through avery heavy sea and broken water in a wholegale from S.E. by S. at great risk, and savingfour of the crew, one of whom was dead andanother only lived a few seconds after beinglanded, of the James and Eleanor, of NorthShields, which was totally wrecked off South-wold, Suffolk, on the 13th January.

Also 101. to ten men for rescuing the crew ofeleven men of the barque Uller, of Tvedestrand,which went ashore off Killough, co. Down, in astrong S.E. by S. gale and a heavy sea on the13th January.

Also 61. 10s. to seven men for saving the crewof four men from the trawler Betsy, of Liverpool,which stranded at Hoylake, Cheshire, in astrong W.N.W. gale and a very heavy sea onthe 22nd Decembfir.

An Aneroid Barometer was presented toanother salvor who assisted to effect the rescuein question.

Also 62. to six men for saving the crews,numbering in all eleven men, from the schoonersLark, of Aberdeen, and Clarence J. Sinclair, ofThurso, which had stranded off Burghead,Morayshire, in a gale from N N.W. and a veryheavy sea on the 22nd December.

286 THE LIFE-BOAT. [lei AUGUST, 1895.

Also SI. 15«. to five men for saving one of twomen from the fishing-boat Provider,oC Peterhead,which had been capsized off that port, ina moderate N.N.W. gale and a rough sea on the17th October.

Also 'Al. to six men for bringing ashore thecrew of the smack Polar Star, of Montrose.which had struck on the Annat bank, offMontrose, in a moderate N.W. wind on the 27thJanuary.

Also 21. 10s. to five men for landing the crewof the schoo_ner Isabella Stuart, of Ardrossan,which was in danger in Scrabster roadstead,Caithness-shire, in a N.N.W. gale and a heavysea on the 22nd December.

THURSDAY, 7th March, 1895.At a special meeting of the Committee held

this day, Sir EDWARD BIRKBECK, Bart., V.P., inthe chair, a deputation from the Committee ofthe Manchester and Salford " Life-boat Satur-day " fund, consisting of Messrs. P. J. RAMSEYand A. P. SMITH, attended, and a conferencetook place relative to various matters connectedwith the movement, including proposals thatdelegates from the various Local Committeesshould proceed to London to confer with repre-sentatives of the Parent Institution and that theorganisation should be adequately representedon the Committee of management of theInstitution.

THURSDAY, 14th March, 1895.

Sir EDWARD BIBKBECK, Bart., V.P., inthe Chair.

Head and confirmed the Minutes of theprevious meeting.

Also read those of the Finance and Corre-'spondence, Building and Wreck and RewardSub-Committees and ordered that their recom-mendations be carried into effect.

Head the reports of the District Inspectors ofLife-boats on their recent visits to the followingstations :—

Northern District—Redcar, Saltburn, Middles-brough, Berwick-on-Tweed, Sunderland (twoboats), Roker, Whitbum, West Hartlepool,Seaton Carew and Seaham.

Eastern District—Folkestone, Dover, Hythe,Walmer, Kingsdowne, North Deal, Margate,Eamsgate, Dungeness (two boats), Rye, Win-chelsea and New Eomney.

Western District—Exmouth, Teignmouth,Torquay, Brixham, Dartmouth, Watchet andBurnham.

Also the reports of the Organising Secre-taries on their visits to York, Dewsbury, Bury,Heywood, Accrington, Wigan, Liverpool,Birkenhead, Chester, Derby, Bradford, Lincoln,Darwen, Beverley, Wellingbrough, Harrogate,Manchester, Peterborough, Leamington, Don-caster, Chesterfield, Kettering, Grantham,Saddleworth, Glossop, Brighouse, Hastings,Brighton, Croydon, Rochester, Chatham,Dudley, Wolverhampton, Walsall, Chingford,Gloucester, Cheltenham, Selby, Ripon, Otley,Ilkley, Heckmondwike, Oswaldtwistle, Mirfield,Sowerby Bridge, Todmorden, Cleckheaton,Keighley, Liversidge, Littlebrough, Castleton,

Morley, Atherton, Leigh, Bedford, Hyde,Tyldesley, Dundee, Dumbarton, Edinburgh,Perth, Glasgow and Belfast.

Eeported the receipt of the following specialcontributions since the last meeting:—

£ i. d.HUB MAJESTY THE QUEEN (annual

subscription) 50 - -THOMAS F. MARSON, Esq. . . . 105 - -

Ditto, in aid of Samaritan Fund 31 10 -R. A. B. PBESTON, Esq. (annual

subscription in aid of CornishLife-boats) 50 - -

Worshipful Company of Leather-sellers 21 - -

Proceeds of Concert in Drill Hall,Colchester, per G. WOODTHOBPE,Esq., through Colchester Branch 2 19 10

Life-boat Sunday Collections.Mexbrough.—Congregational Church,

Pleasant Sunday Afternoon Meet-ing, per W. E. HUDSON, Esq., andJ . W, HATTEBSLEY, Esq. . . . 4 3 -

Midhurst, Sussex. — SS. MaryMagdalene and Denis, per theRev. S. M. CAMPBELL, L.Th.. . 1 10 8

Maer, Staffordshire, per the Rev. J.A. SOBBY, M.A 1 - -

H.M.S. Calypso, per the Rev. T.KANE, E.N - 17 8

—To be severally thanked.

Also the receipt of a legacy of 450Z. be-queathed to the Institution by the late HENRYELLIS, Esq. of Clevedon.

Voted the thanks of the Committee to theRev. JOHN WDLUAMS and DAVID BRUCE, Esq.,in acknowledgment of their past long andvaluable services whilst acting respectively asHonorary Secretary and Treasurer of theAberystwith and Dundee Branches of theInstitution.

The Committee also specially recognised thevaluable services, extending over many years, ofMr. HABRY HABGOOD, as chairman of theWorthing Branch and of the following HonorarySecretaries:—GEORGE PIGGOTT, Esq., Worthing;Mr. W. AULD, Littlehampton; Mr. J. G.BOYES, Balcary; Mr. GAVIN THOMSON,Campbeltown and Southend; the Rev. J. H.SEYMOUR, M.A., Newcastle (Dundrum); E.CATHCABT DOBBS, Esq., Greystones; and theHonourable GEORGE STOPFOKD, Courtown.

Also the good services of Mr. ALEXANDERSTEPHEN during the period he served as cox-swain of the Whitelink Bay Life-Boat.

Decided, that the Middlesbrough Life-boatStation be abolished.

Paid 2,1731. for sundry charges on variousLife-boat Establishments.

Voted 103Z. 15«. 6d. to defray the expenses ofthe following Life-boat services:—

Life-boat. Vessel. M e d

Brighton . . Barque Sruddey Castle, ofGlasgow. Eemained byvessel.

Dunbar . . Boat of the brig Johan, ofChristiania. Assisted3 men.


Life-boat.

Dungeness

Vessel. LivesBayed.

} Schooner Sen Aigen, ofHull 4

Guernsey. . Schooner Isabella Helen.Assisted to save vesseland 5

Padstow . . Ketch Tavy, of Plymouth 4

Voted also 35H/lls. 6d. to pay the expensesof assemblies of crews or launches for serviceby the following Life-boats:—Ardmore, Ayr,Barmouth, Cadgwitb, Clacton, Cresswell,Drogheda No. 2, Dungarvan, Harwich, Kil-donan, Margate, Plymouth, Polpear, PortPatrick, Southend (Essex), Walton-on-the-Naze and Whitehaveu.

The Kamsgate Life-boat also proceeded outto sea in reply to signals of distress, but herservices were not eventually needed.

Voted 181. to the crew of the Walton-on-the-Naze private Life-boat True to the Core forsaving the crew of four men from the ketchForest Oak, of Sunderland, which was sinkingin the East Swin in a whole gale from N.N.E.,a heavy sea and snow squalls on the 23rdJanuary.

Also 4!. to six men for saving six of thecrew of the s.s. Vigilant, of Liverpool, whichstranded near Port St. Mary, Isle of Man, in awhole gale from S.E., a very heavy sea andblizzard of snow on the 7th February. Areward of 1Z. 7«. 6d. was granted to other menwho also put off in a boat with the view ofrendering help.

Also 21.12«. 6d. to seven men for saving twomen whose boats had sunk, being overladenwith sea-weed, off Looe, Cornwall, in a strongE.N.E. breeze and a rough sea on the 25thFebruarv.

FBIDAT, 22nd March, 1895.A conference of Life-boat Saturday workers

and others took place in the rooms of theSociety of Arts, Adelphi, this afternoon.Representatives were present from numerouslarge towns in the United Kingdom, and theROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION wasrepresented by members of the Committee andthe officials.

The business Conference was followed in theevening by a Conversazione, held at theGalleries of the Royal Institute of Paintersin Water Colours, Piccadilly. — Vide alsopp. 270-271.

SATURDAY, 23rd March, 1895.The Annual General Meeting of the friends

and supporters of the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION took place this day at St.Martin's Town Hall, Charing Cross Road.In the absence, through influenza, of the RightHon. the EABL OF DERBY, G.C.B., the Chairwas occupied by the Right Hon. LORD TWEED-

MOUTH, Lord Privy Seal and Chancellor of theDuchy of Lancaster.

His Lordship having made some suitableobservations on the great and national characterof the operations of the Institution, the AnnualReport (which will be found in the May numberof The Life-boat Journal) was presented to themeeting.

The meeting was also addressed by SirEDWARD BIBKBJECK, Bart., V.P., Chairman ofthe Institution; Sir RICHARD WEBSTER, Q.C.,M.P.; CHARLES W. MACARA, Esq., J.P.; JOHNPENN, Esq., M.P.; Sir T. FOWELL BUXTON,Bart.; Colonel FmzRoY CLAYTON, V.P., DeputyChairman of the Institution; and Admiral SirWILLIAM DOWELL, K.C.B.

The officers for the current year were chosen,and various resolutions were moved, secondedand carried unanimously, pledging the meetingto renewed exertions on behalf of the benevo-lent and national objects of the Institution.

The officers' names and the resolutions willbe found in the May number of The Life-boatJournal.

OUR LIFE-BOAT MEN.

Steady, brave and earnest,See them as they stand,

Waiting for the signalThat bids them leave the land.

Out upon the waters,Lashed to fury now,

Each man and youth is workingWith a grave and anxious brow.

They have left their home and loved onesFor the sake of those at sea,

Though they Isnew the awful dangerThat would round about them be.

For they heard above the tempestThe booming of a gun,

And they quickly manned the Life-boatEre the wild waves should have won.

Then they fought the angry billows,And they reached the sinking wreck,

Bearing hope, and life and safetyTo those gathered on the deck.

Again they cross the waters—There are still some lives to save;

And they strain each nerve and muscleAs they breast the angry wave.

The vessel now is sinking,With a shiver and a sigh,

As the Life-boat men are greetedWith a cheer that's rising high.

They have saved the lives of others;They are pleading now with you;

Are they not our friends and brothers?Will you help the Life-boat crew?

Blackburn, July IGth, 1894.M. H.

NOTICE.The next number of the LIFE-BOAT JOUBNAL will be published on the

1st November.

ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION,SUPPORTED SOLELY BT VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS.

; — |jtr gost (Stations tyutm.HIS ROYii BlOHKESS THB PBINCE OP WALES, K.G.

HER ROYAL HIGHNESS THB PRINCESS OF WALES.H.K.H. THE DUKE OP SAXE-COBURO AND GOTHA, DUXB OP EDINBURGH, K.G.CAPTAIN His ROYAL HIQHNESS THE DUKE op YOBK, R.N , K.G.

Jrtsibtnt — His GBACE THE DUKE o» NORTHUMBERLAND, K.G.EDWARD BIRKBECK, BART., V.P. Jtpntg-®^silinatt — Colonel Frrz-Kor CLAYTON, Y.P.

Smrtiag — CHARLES DraDra, ESQ., F.R.G.S.

APPEAL.THB COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT have to state that during the past year (1894) the

ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION expended £64,069 on its 804 Life-boat Establishments.

GENERAL SUMMABY or THB WOBK or THB INSTITUTION. DUBINS 1894.

£Number of Lives rescued by Life-boats, in addition to35 Vessels saved by them

Number of Lives saved by Shore-boats, &o.Amount of Rewards granted during the Year . . . .Honorary Rewards:—Silver Medals and Clasps

Binocular GlassesAneroid BarometerVotes of Thanks on Vellum. . .Certificates of Service . . . .

Total . . . ,

649141

«. d.

19131

388

74

8,862 13 1

790 £8,862 18 1

The number of Lives saved either by the Life-boats of the Society, or by special exertionsfor which it has granted rewards since its formation, is 38,904; for which services 98 GoldMedals and Clasps, 1,144 Silver Medala and Clasps, 284 Binocular Glasses, IS Telescopes,8 Aneroid Barometers, 1,803 Votes of Thanks, inscribed on vellum and framed, 51 Certificatesof Service framed, and £149,000 have been given aa Rewards.

The Committee earnestly appeal to the British Public for Funds to enable them to maintaintheir 304 Life-boats now on the Coast and their Crews in the most perfect state of efficiency.This can only be effected by a large and permanent annual income. The Annual Subscriptions,Donations and Dividends are quite inadequate for the purpose. The Committee are confidentthat in their endeavour to provide the brave Life-boat men, who nobly hazard their lives inorder that they may save others, with the best possible means for carrying on their great work,they will meet with the entire approval of the people of this the greatest maritime country inthe world, and that their appeal will not be made in vain, so that the scope and efficiency ofour great Life-saving Service, of which the Nation has always been so proud, may not haveto be curtailed.

Annual Subscriptions and Donations are earnestly solicited, and will be thankfully receivedby the Secretary, CHAKLBS DIBDLN, Esq., at the Institution, 14 JOHN STREET, ADELPHI, London;by the Bankers of the Institution, Messrs. COUTTS and Co., 59 Strand; and by all the otherBankers in the United Kingdom.—1st August, 1895.

THE LIFE-BOAT....tant. At all mos thet important Life-boat centre it iss no w possibl te o have...

Documents

Transcript of THE LIFE-BOAT....tant. At all mos thet important Life-boat centre it iss no w possibl te o have...