THE LIFE-BOAT. · the variou types osf Life-boat befors e deciding as to th descriptioe o boaf nt they wish to replac theie olrd one, have with one exception, namely, Ray], chosen

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

OP THE

IRoâl Bational Xtfe*3Boat Institution,(ISSUED QUABTEBLY.)

VOL. XVIII.—No. 202.] IST NOVEMBER, 1901. [PRICE 3d.[WITH WRECK CHAKT.

SKETCH OF THE PROGRESS MADE IN THE CONSTRUCTION OFCOAST LIFE-BOATS.

1785-1900.

No. 6.

AMONG the numerous models sent in forcompetition for the NorthumberlandPrize in 1850 there were no less thantwenty-one varieties of Life-rafts, somesupported by one cylinder, but more bytwo; some by closed canoes; some bya boat divided lengthways and con-nected together by a grating; somemade of wood, some of iron, and othersof gutta-percha; but out of thisnumber only one has survived as one ofthe types of Life-boats used by theROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION,and that is the Tubular Life-boat, themodel of which was submitted byMessrs. Richardson, of Aber Hirnant,Bala, North "Wales. Only one of thistype is at present in use, and that oneis at Rhyl, which place ever since 1856has favoured this particular descriptionof Life-boat.

Beyond giving Messrs. Richardson'sname and the dimensions of the pro-posed Life-raft, the NorthumberlandReport makes no further allusion to it;but it gives an account of a somewhatsimilar Life-boat or raft, a model of

which was submitted by Messrs. "Russell& Oswald, of Douglas, Isle of Man.It appears that in 1850 a life-raft ofthis description was in actual use atDouglas and was reported favourablyon by the pilots and others. It was inthe form of two closed canoes placedparallel to each other at 3 ft. apart andconnected by an open platform. Theextreme length was 30 ft., and theplatform 15 ft.; each canoe was 3 ft.broad, and the total breadth of thevessel was 8^ feet, depth 2 ft. She

' had five thwarts 10 in. below the gun-[ wale and 14 in. above the platform,pulled 10 oars, was fitted with a fendermade of rushes, and had a ridge-ropewith stanchions 24 in. high. Eachcanoe was divided into ten compart-ments. There was no ballast; she

1 weighed with her gear 18 cwt. and hada draught of 18 in.

The inventors of the tubular Life-boat—or perhaps it would be better tosay the adapters of the pontoon systemto a Life-boat — were two military

! officers, father and son, viz., Mr. Henry

VOL. XVIII.—No. 202.—LIFE-BOAT JOURNAL.

266 THE LIFE-BOAT. [1ST NOVEMBER, 1901.

Richardson (formerly a lieutenant inthe 67th Regiment, also 2nd DragoonGuards), and Mr. Henry ThomasRichardson (formerly . a lieutenant inthe 4th Royal Irish Dragoon Guards).In a letter to the Manchester Courierdated 22nd January, 1852, Mr. H.Richardson mentioned that he firstinvented this description of boat atWeymouth; he had in his possessionone built twenty years before the dateof his letter. The award of the North-umberland Prize was not to their mindssatisfactory, and the Messrs. Richardsonset to work to build a Life-boat ontheir own principle, which boat wasafterwards sold to the PortugueseGovernment and stationed at Oporto.The accidents to the Lytham and RhylLife-boats (referred to in No. 4 of thesearticles) brought forth a challenge to allthe Life-boats in the kingdom to competewith the Tubular Life-boat, and sub-sequently a somewhat bitter newspapercorrespondence took place betweenMessrs. Richardson and Mr. Beeching,the winner of the Northumberland prize,Messrs. Richardson attacking the self-righting principle in very strong terms.These gentlemen were actuated whollyby a public spirit, and anxious that theLife-boat men should have the best boatto risk their lives in; and so convincedwere they of the advantages of theirsystem, that they had a tubular Life-boat constructed by Mr. William Lees,of Manchester, and navigated her fromLiverpool to London. She consisted oftwo iron tubes,40ft. long, 2£ft. diameter,placed side by side at a distance of 3 ft.apart, the ends tapered, curved andturned inwards so as to meet at headand stern. The tubes were divided intowatertight compartments, and wellstayed and braced together so as to forma «gid vessel. On the top narrowbeams were laid athwartships, andbattens about 1 in. apart laid length-ways (to allow the water to pass throughthem), and thus a platform was made

30 feet long. The head and stern sheetshad a rope net-work, to prevent any ofthe crew or ropes and gear from beingwashed out. Above the platform, sides8 in. high extended fore and aft, onwhich the thwarts were placed, andagain above these was a gunwale12 in. high, in which the rowlocks wereplaced. The width of the platform was6 ft. 8 in., and the total beam 8 ft.The weight of the boat was 55 cwt.,and load draught only 11 in. Thethickness of the iron plating was -^th in.The four end compartments were fittedwith air-tight bladders, and the twomiddle ones with cork shavings.

An account of the voyage from Liver-pool to London was written by theindefatigable designer and called " Thecruise of the Challenger Life-boat," pub-lished by William Pickering, London,1853, and dedicated to the Life-boatmenof Great Britain and Ireland. Thetubular Life-boat seems to have givengreat satisfaction to her designers andtheir crew, and the narrative is worthreading, if only for its humour. Thedesigner's wishes, viz., to have a trialwith the Ramsgate Life-boat, which wasthe Northumberland Prize boat, builtby Messrs. Beaching,were never gratified,for Messrs. Beeching had sold theirLife-boat to the Ramsgate Dock Trustees,who would not undertake the responsi-bilities of the trial.

Life-boats of this type have nevercome into general use on the coast,although every opportunity has beengiven the Life-boat men to see them,and latterly the deputations of Life-boat's crews which are allowed to visitthe various types of Life-boats beforedeciding as to the description of boatthey wish to replace their old one, havewith one exception, namely, Ray], chosenothers.

When the New Brighton Life-boatStation was established in 1863 the menexpressed a wish to be supplied with atubular Life-boat, and one of 42 ft. long,

IST NOVEMBER, 1901.] THE LIFE-BOAT. 267

pulling 14 oars, was accordingly builtfor them by Mr. Hamilton, of theWindsor Ironworks at Liverpool. Thisstation remained faithful to this class ofboat until 1898, when their tubularLife-boat was, at their own request,replaced by a sailing one designed byMr. G. L. Watson.

The New Brighton Life-boat men had

taken off the wrecked vessel which theHarbour Board Life-boat had gone to

' succour.! At the competitive trials of sailingLife-boats which took place at Lowestoftin 1892, the New Brighton tubular

i Life-boat was a participant; her dimen-| sions were 43 ft. long, 12 ft. 6 in. broad,and she weighed about 8 tons. She

TUBULAR LIFEBOAT.

PLAN.

Fig.4.

MIDSHIP SECTION.

A.—Deck.E.—Wale or fender.H.—Drop-keel.

performed many gallant services in theirtubular- boat, notably one •. when theLiverpool Harbour Board Life-boat(also a tubular) capsized on the27th September, 1875, on whichoccasion the New Brighton Life-boatrescued the survivors, 19 in all, while12 perished, three of whom were Life-boat men, and the remainder, those

•was found to be quite unsuitable forlaunching off an open exposed beach,and after the first attempt had to bemoored afloat in Lowestoft Harbour.However, she proved herself a verygood, steady and stable boat in thebreakers on the outlying sands, but asshe was entirely dependent on a tug toget her to windward, she was quite out-

s 2I

268 THE LIFE-BOAT. [lax NOVEMBER, 1901.

classed by the other competitors. AtMontrose, where the competitive trialsof pulling Life-boats were held in 1893,the tubular type was also represented,and made a far better impression than inthe previous year. The boat employedwas 35ft. 6in. long, 10 ft. beam, weighing5 tons 3 cwt., and was mounted on atransporting carriage. She was foundto pull off the beach against a heavysurf quite as well as the other Life-boats•—in fact, it was claimed on one occasionwhen none of the Life-boats weresuccessful in pulling out to sea, that thetubular boat got further than theothers.

Out of the seven competing Life-boatsthis boat was placed third in order ofmerit by the judges. In spite of thegood opinions of the judges this descrip-tion of Life-boat has, as before stated,not gained popularity with the Life-boatmen. Very possibly the great departurefrom the recognised form of a boat maybe the chief objection, and certainly theundoubted exposure to which the crew issubjected acts adversely to the type.

The transporting carriage for theseLife-boats has to be of a special patternso that the boat may rest on the twokeels, one of which is under the centreof each tube, as they are not providedwith a keel amidships, and although thecarriage is as easy to launch off as thosefor the other Life-boats, it is by nomeans so easy to replace the boat on itafter she has returned to shore.

On page 267 is shown the profile, plan,and midship section of the Tubular Life-boat built by the Thames Ironworks Co.from the Institution's specification andplans in 1896, and now stationed atRhyl. In general appearance she hardlydiffers from the original Tubular Life-boats designed by Messrs. Richardson,

but is built of wood instead of iron orsteel. The chief dimensions are asfollows :—Length, 34 ft.; breadth, 8 ft.10 in.; greatest diameter of tubes, 2ft.9i in.; depth amidships, 4 ft. 4 in.;weight, 1 ton 18 cwt. This Life-boatpulls 12 oars double banked, is fittedwith 2 masts, and carries 2 standinglugs and a jib. With the crew and allgear in her, her extreme draught is only1 ft. 7£ in.

Each of the tubes is divided into 10watertight compartments, and the skinplank is J in. mahogany, carvel built, withribands or strips of Honduras mahogany,If in. X J in., covering the plank edges.The deck, which is in reality an opengrating, is also of Honduras mahoganybattens, 1 in. wide and 2 in. deep, witha space of 1 in. between each batten.It will easily be recognised that with aso-called deck of this description nowater shipped can possibly remain inthe boat, especially as the deck is 11 in.above the water. The tubes are con-nected at each end, and to obtain thenecessary rigidity they are tied togetherby iron rod stays below water (repre-sented by the line below the deck shownin Fig. 4, midship section), one undereach thwart and one at the third bulk-head from forward, making 7 in all.

There is no doubt that this type ofLife-boat possesses lateral stability to avery great degree, and with the lightweight and light draught of the Rhyllife-boat a very efficient boat is obtained,and much good service has been done atthat station. It will also be easily seenthat the defects of such a boat must bethat she cannot work to windwardunder sail, and that the crew have notanything like the same protectionas. is afforded them in the other typesof Life-boats.


THE LIFE-BOAT SATURDAY FUND.

AT this time last year, when tenderingour sympathy to the earnest bands of"Life-boat Saturday" workers in theunusually arduous labours they hadpassed through so generously and cheer-fully (such labours resulting from thedifficulties experienced in raising fundsfor any good object not connected insome way either directly or indirectlywith the war in South Africa), we ex-pressed the hope that a "good time"might be coming for a Life-boat Satur-day campaign throughout the countryin the succeeding year. Alas! ourhopes have not been fulfilled; the warstill rages, and it and its necessary butunfortunate accompaniments must beprovided for by a patriotic and country-loving people. Notwithstanding how- jever such adverse circumstances, pluck •and zeal have not for a moment desertedthe workers for the ROYAL NATIONAL jLIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION. The Branch jCommittees, the Life-boat SaturdayCommittees, the Ladies' Auxiliaries,have one and all striven to overcome

difficulties as far as possible and to dothe best that could possibly be done toraise the funds so greatly needed toenable the Committee of Managementto efficiently carry on. the great life-saving work of the Institution. Theirwork to a great extent has not been invain.

We would still venture to express ahope as regards the future, and to en-courage all good friends of the Institu-tion to expect smoother waters in thenew year, now so near. Having regardto the approaching coronation of ourbeloved King, the Patron of the Insti-tution, the coming year will be animportant one in the annals and history

j of the British Empire; and it is not,we believe, hoping too much to expectthat it will be a successful money-raisingyear for the support of the Life-boatService—a service which, both as regardsits object and aim, is one of the mostimportant of the many philanthropicworks so near to the heart of everyright-minded Briton.

UNITED STATES LIFE-SAVING SERVICE.

THERE were 269 stations in this Life-saving Service at the close of the fiscalyear which ended on the 30th June,1900, this total being 4 in excess ofthat for the previous year. Of thisnumber (269) 194 were situated on theAtlantic and Gulf coasts, 58 on thecoasts of the Great Lakes, 16 on thePacific coast, and 1 at the Falls of theOhio. The majority of the stations areonly open for service for a portion ofthe year, the times ranging from twoto ten months.

The total number of disasters todocumented vessels within the scope ofthe stations amounted in the year to364. On board these vessels there were2,655 persons, of whom 48 were lost.The estimated value of the vessels was

$6,127,500, and that of their cargoes$3,342,690, making the total value ofthe property imperilled $9,470,190.Of this amount $7,234,690 was savedand $2,235,500 lost. The number ofvessels totally lost was 61. There werealso, in addition to these, 329 casualtiesto undocumented craft—'Sailing boats,rowing boats, etc.—carrying 781 persons,5 of whom perished. The value of theproperty involved in these instances isestimated at $267,070 of which $256,770was saved, and $10,300 lost. 675persons received help at the stations,the number of days relief furnishedaggregating 1,447.

The statistics given above show that53 lives were lost during the yearwithin the field of the operations of

270 THE LIFE-BOAT. [IsT NOVEMBER, 1901.

the Service. More than one-half of [these were sacrificed as the result of jthe foolish attempts of the shipwreckedmen of two vessels to escape in theirown boats, instead of waiting untilsuccour could reach them from the !shore, or until it became quite certainthat their situation was hopeless.Lauding through the surf in heavyweather is at all times a hazardousoperation, and mariners cannot be toooften warned against attempting it. IThe 27 lives lost so unnecessarily wouldcertainly, as conclusive evidence showed,have been saved had the poor fellowsremained on the wrecks until taken offby the life-saving crews. The severeststorm of the year was the hurricane ofAugust, 1899, which caused threedisasters on the North Carolina coast,attended with a loss of 11 lives. 17 of jthe 28 persons on board the vessels were Irescued, and of those lost, 6 were washedoverboard during the night and 5 went jdown with their vessels. I

595 persons were rescued from |positions of extreme peril otherwisethan in connection with vessels, includ-ing one madman who had wandered :

into the surf, and one child who had jfallen into a cistern. The numberof vessels floated off was 445, repaired, Ipiloted out of dangerous positions, and jassisted generally by the station crews.Minor assistance was also afforded to611 vessels and small craft; 194 vessels,running into danger of stranding, were

warned off by the signals of patrol-men, most of them, in all probability,having been saved from total loss orserious danger.

The surf-boat was used 778 times,making 1,066 trips. The self-rightingand self-bailing Life-boat was used 128tunes, making 140 trips. The gasolinelaunches at the City Point Station(Second District) were used 69 times,making 75 trips. Smaller boats wereused 328 times, making 531 trips. Theriver Life-skiffs at the Louisville Station(Ninth District) were used 32 times,making 36 trips.

The breeches buoy was used 14 times,making 173 trips. The wreck gun wasemployed 18 times, firing 41 shots.The heaving stick was used 21 times.There were landed by the surf-boats 547persons; by the Life-boats, 52; by thegasoline launches 114; by the riverLife-skiffs, 30; by other stations-boats,200; and by the breeches buoy, 158.In addition to the number of personsrescued from vessels by the ordinaryapparatus of the stations, 32 weresaved by lines thrown from vessels tothe surf-men on shore, and 37 werecarried ashore by the rescuers whowaded out after them.

The total cost of maintaining theU.S. Life-saving Service during theyear ended the 30th June, 1900, was$1,538,061, and the sum of $39,577was expended on salaries alone at thehead office.

ADDITIONAL STATIONS AND NEW LIFE-BOATS.

WORTHING.—The Life-boat at this jstation has recently been replaced by anew and rather larger self-righting boatof the latest type, 35 feet long, 8i feet :wide, and rowing 10 oars double banked ;she has one drop keel and two waterballast tanks and is provided with a 'new transporting carriage. The wholeexpense has been defrayed by Mrs.BiRT-DAViES-CoLEMAN, of Birmingham,who has also presented funds to the <

Institution for the permanent endow-ment of a Richard Cole-man Life-boat inmemory of her late husband, afterwhom this boat is named. On the7th August the public ceremony ofnaming and launching the boat at herstation was carried out with great suc-cess in the presence of thousands ofspectators. The new boat, with herpredecessor, the Henry Harris, and theShoreham and Littlehampton boats to


keep her company, was taken throughthe streets in imposing procession beforethe christening and launch. Headedby the borough police and the Coast-guard, under Chief Officer MacGregor,the procession extended for somethinglike half-a-mile. It included the Shore-ham Artillery Volunteers, the WorthingVolunteers, with their band; the regi-ments of the Church Lads' Brigade thenin camp at Ferring, from Rochester,Canterbury, Chichester, Winchester, andOxford, attended by pioneers, signallers,bands and ambulance, some 1,600 ormore in all, the Brigade Staff presentincluding Col. E. H. EYBE, C.B., Bgde.-Major Col. H. D. PUCKLE, BrigadeQuartermaster Major G. LONG, andAssist.-Quartermaster Captain CLISHAM,I.Y. As the procession stopped near theentrance to the pier, the troops lined anenclosure where the Mayor and Corpora-tion in their official robes, and attendedby the town officials, assembled to receiveMrs. BiET-DAViES-CoLEMAN. The Life-boats were placed in position for launch-ing, the " National Anthem " sung, andthen Mrs. COLEMAN, after being pre-sented with a beautiful bouquet, formallyhanded over the Richard Coleman to theInstitution, in the person of its DistrictInspector of Life-boats, Mr. KEPPEL H.FOOTE. Having expressed gratefulthanks for the noble gift, Mr. FOOTEhanded the boat over to the Mayor, asthe representative of the town, and hisWorship in his turn transferred her tothe care of Mr. H. HABGOOD, aschairman of the Local Life-boat Com-mittee. The Mayor performed his partwith a few graceful words, warmlythanking Mrs. COLEMAN, in the name ofthe town, for her gift, and adding thatalthough they had not there the ruggedshores of Cornwall or the equally dan-gerous shores of the east coast, still therecord of the old Life-boat showed therewas need for a boat at Worthing, andas long as she remained there willinghands and stout hearts would be foundto man her. Mr. HABGOOD, in his turn,thanked the Life-boat Institution forthe generous way in which they hadalways treated Worthing. Special prayerwas then offered by the Mayor's Chap-lain, the Rev. C. G. COOMBE, vicar ofSt. Paul's, and the hymn " For those in j

peril on the sea " was sung to the accom-paniment of the massed bands. Mrs.BiRT-DAViES-CoLEMAN then performedthe naming ceremony with a bottle ofwater which she had brought speciallyfrom the River Jordan. Breaking thebottle on the rudder of the boat shesaid : "I name this boat the RichardColeman in everlasting remembrance ofmy beloved husband, and I wish her andher brave crew every success." Thenamid enthusiastic cheering the boat andher three companion Life-boats weresimultaneously launched, the bandsplaying " Rule Britannia."

PADSTOW. CORNWALL.—The Life-boatStation which has been maintained atPadstow for many years past by theROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTIONhas recently been completely renovatedand strengthened by the Institution,which has placed there two new Life-boats, one in the place of the originalboat, the Arab, which was no longer fitfor service, and the other in lieu of thesteam Life-boat which was lost while onthe way to help a vessel in distress inApril, 1900. As usual, the coxswainsand crews were allowed, in conjunctionwith the local committee, a free handin the choice of the boats which theywould be called on to work, and inaccordance with their wishes they havebeen provided with two self-rightingLife-boats, one 36 ft. long by 8^ ft.wide, pulling 10 oars, provided with twowater-ballast tanks and furnished witha new transporting carriage, the other42 feet in length and 11̂ feet in width,pulling 12 oars. Each boat is fittedwith two drop-keels, to increase herweatherly qualities, and has masts andsails. The smaller boat of the two wasbuilt by Mr. H. Roberts, of Mevagissey ;the other was constructed by the ThamesIronworks and Shipbuilding Company,Limited. An entirely new departurehas also been carried out by the Institu-tion at this important Life-boat Stationin the provision of a steam-tug to beused only in conjunction with Life-boatsof the Institution when their servicesare needed to assist vessels in danger ofbeing wrecked on this very dangerouspart of the coast. This vessel has beenspecially designed for the purpose by

272 THE LIFE-BOAT. [IsT NOVEMBER, 1901.

Mr. G. L. Watson, the Consulting NavalArchitect of the Institution. She isclassed 100 Al in Lloyd's YachtRegister, is 95 ft. long, and 19£ ft.wide, and is a twin-screw boat, fittedwith a Scotch boiler and two sets ofdirect-acting, inverted compound service,condensing marine engines, indicatingcollectively 300 horse-power with naturaldraught, and 400 horse-power collectivelywith mild forced draught. At her trials,which proved very satisfactory, shedeveloped a mean speed of over 10 knotsunder natural draught. She was builtby Messrs. Ratnage and Ferguson, Ltd.,of Leith, and 011 the way to her stationshe called, by arrangement, at Southend-on-Sea to pick up the new large LiSe-boat, which was then towed by her toPadstow. The smaHer (No. 1) Life-boatat Padstow, like the one she superseded,is named the Arab, the endowment of aboat to bear always that name havingbeen provided through the kindness ofMr. R. A. B. PRESTON, of London. Thelarge sailing (No. 2) boat is the gift ofMrs. EDMUND HARVEY,also of London, inmemory of her late husband, after whomthe boat is named the Edmund Harvey,the donor having generously presented tothe Institution a sum sufficient for pro-viding and endowing in perpetuity aLife-boat bearing that name. The costof the new steam-tug has been in partdefrayed from a special bequest in favourof the Institution by the late Mr. C. J.PEELE, of Chertsey, and, in accordancewith the wishes of the testator, she hasbeen named the Helen Peele.

The new rowing Life-boat was towedfrom Mevagissey by a steam-tug spe-cially engaged for the purpose, and wastaken to the North Quay, where she wasbeached, and placed on her carriage atthe top of the quay. Naturally such anoccasion drew together a large numberof spectators and admirers, includingthe chairman and the members of theLocal Life-boat Committee and their !Honorary Secretary. [

Mr. PRESTON, the donor, gave a very ifeeling and suitable address, in which heexpressed every confidence in the new ,Life-boat, which was built by Cornish-men and manned by them, too, who, he •knew, would never flinch in their dutywhen occasion required. Deep as was

his regret at the loss of the old Life-boat, he had the great satisfaction ofknowing she had perished on activeservice, in the performance of her duty,and during her career had been instru-mental in saving no less than seventy-five lives. Mr. PRESTON then formallypresented the new Life-boat to his

j brother, Captain GEORGE B. PRESTON, a| Member of the Committee of Manage-| ment, as representing the Parentj Institution, and he in turn handed herover to the local committee and crew.

: Mr. C. G. PRIDEAUX-BRDNE, chairmanI of the local committee, accepted the' gift, and in appropriate terms thankedI Mr. PRESTON for this his second noblegift to the port.

I The Rev. E. F. NUGENT, M.A., offered! an impressive prayer, and then the whole! assemblage, accompanied by the Volun-teer bandj sang heartily the beautiful

I hymn, " Eternal Father, strong to save."I As the Life-boat glided off her newcarriage, which had been specially built,Miss PRESTON, sister of the donor, withmuch grace, performed the christeningceremony.

The new Life-boat was then satisfac-torily rowed and manoeuvred by herstalwart crew, returning to the Life-boathouse at Hawker's Cove, where she awaitsthe stirring cry, " Man the Life-boat."

BARRY DOCK, GLAMORGANSHIRE.—Anew Life-boat Station has just beenformed by the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION »t Barry Dock,South Wales, where an efficient crew

! and the services of a steam-tug belongingto the Dock Company are always avail-able to work the boat in the event ofher services being needed on the occasionof disaster occurring amongst the

| numerous vessels using the port. Afund, amounting to 600Z., raised amongsDWesleyans to provide a Life-boat to benamed the John Wesley, has been appro-priated to this new Life-boat Station,with the approbation of the principalpromoters, the Rev. JAMES HARGREAVES,of Teignmouth and Mr. J. CORY, ofCardiff. This fund has been largelysupplemented from the general fundsof the Life-boat Institution, the boatherself being of a very large andexpensive type, while the boat-house


and long launching slipway which areprovided, from the designs of Mr. W. T.Douglass, the Engineer and Architectof the Institution, involved a very heavyoutlay, amounting to2,212Z. The Life-boat is a sailing boat, 43 feet long and12£ feet wide, furnished with a dropkeel. She was built by the Thames IronWorks Company, Limited, in accordancewith the plans of Mr. G. L. Watson,and was towed to her station by oneof Messrs. Cory's steamers.

MONTROSE, FOHFARSHIRE.—The Life-boat establishment at Montrose has alsorecently been completely renovated bythe Institution. A new boat-house andslipway have been constructed, and twonew Life-boats, supplied with trans-porting carriages, have been sent to thestation to take the place of boats whichwere forwarded to Montrose some yearssince. They are both built on the self-righting principle; one is 34 ft. longand 8 ft. wide, pulling 10 oars, andfitted with one water-ballast tank. Thisboat is named the Marianne Atherstone,her cost having been defrayed from alegacy received by the Institution fromthe estate of the late Mr. J. G. ATHER-STONE, of Montrose. The other boat isalso a 10-oared one, 37 ft. long and 9J ft.wide; she has two water-ballast tanks,and in addition is furnished with twodrop keels. This Life-boat is a memorialboat, named the Sarah Jane Turner, andhas been provided from a gift receivedby the Institution from Mr. SAMUELTURNER, of Rochdale. The Life-boatsstationed at Montrose have rendered

excellent service at different times.Since they were brought into connectionwith the Institution in the year 1869,they have been instrumental in saving297 lives, besides rendering help tomany vessels in distress.

HASTINGS, PALLING (NORFOLK), PIEL(BARROW-IN-FURNESS), HuNA (CAITH-NESS-SHIEE), COURTMACSHERRY andQUEENSTOWN (IRELAND).—These Life-boat Stations have recently had theirboats replaced by new ones, four on theself-righting principle, the remaining two(Pieland Queenstown) being large sailingboats of the " Watson " type.

The Hastings boat, like her pre-decessor, which was endowed by Mr.ARKCOLL, of Chatham, is named theCharles Arkcoll; the Palling No. 1 newboat was the gift of the late MajorLANCELOT WOOD, and in accordance withhis request she is named the 54<fe WestNorfolk Regiment; that at Piel, anendowed boat, the gift of the lateMessrs. SAMUEL, JOHN, and JOSHUAFIELDEN, of Todmorden, is named theThomas Fielden \ the Huna boat, theIda, was provided from the legacy ofthe late Miss IDA B. SIMMONS, of Hove;the cost of the Courtmacsherry Life-boatwas defrayed from a legacy bequeathedto the Institution by the late Mr.

•. ALFRED GWILT, of Norbiton, for a boatI to be named the Kezia Gwilt; while theQueenstown new Life-boat — James

' Stevens No. 20—is one of those providedby the legacy received from the estate

' of the late Mr. JOHN STEVENS, of Bir-i mingham.

THE LAUNCHING THE RUNSWICK LIFE-BOAT BY WOMEN.

ON the 12th April, 1901, the fishingcobles belonging to Runswick, a smallvillage on the Yorkshire coast, wereafloat when a heavy sea sprung upimperilling their safety. It becameevidently a case for the Life-boat, butunfortunately the men who usually formher crew were now actually those indanger in the fishing boats. The Life-boat was, however, got ready, and bythat time one of the cobles was driven

safely ashore. Her crew were joined byother men who volunteered their servicesfor the Life-boat, and ultimately a scratchcrew of twelve men was obtained. Thelaunch of the Life-boat Gape of GoodHope was successfully effected by women,who bravely waded into the water toget her off. She stood by four of thecobles, each containing a crew of threemen, until they had safely landed. TheLife-boat was launched at 12.45 p.m.

s 3


and returned at 2.30, the women who,of course, were thoroughly drenched bywading into the water, not leaving thebeach until all the fishermen were outof danger.

Our illustration represents the launchof the Life-boat on this occasion by thewomen of Ruuswick, and it may beadded that similar good service is fre-quently rendered by women on otherparts of the coasts, and often in bitterwintry weather.

His Majesty the King, the patron ofthe Institution, in the course of an

eloquent speech which he made as Prince; of Wales and President of the Institu-tion, at the London Life-Boat SaturdayDinner on the 1st May, 1900, speciallyreferred to the services rendered bywomen in connection with Life-boatwork. About four hours after thisspeech had been delivered, the Institu-tion's Life-boat, Grace Darling, stationedat Holy Island, was called out to rescuethe crew of a schooner which had struckon the rocks and was rapidly sinking.Four of the most useful launchers onthis occasion were women.

HOW THE WOMEN LAUNCHED THE LIFE-BOAT.

[From the Toilers of ttie Deep.}

THE little cliff-side villageIn sleepy stillness lay,

When the fishers' boats, at daybreak,Set sail from Bunswick Bay.

" God keep our sons and husbands,And bring them safely home I "

Was the prayer that wives and mothersSent o'er the ocean foam.

And many a stalwart fisher,With ne'er a thought of fear,

Prayed, " Grant us, Lord, a safe returnTo wife and children dear 1"

But hark! the wind is rising,The sky is overcast,

The heavy clouds hang dark and low,And rain falls thick and fast.

Oft from the cottage windows,Throughout the weary day,

The women gaze, with anxious eyes,Out on the stormy Bay.

Till, as the shades of eveningFall o'er the raging foam,

They spy, afar across the sea,The boats returning home.

A crowd of eager watchersIs gathered on the beach;

Ah! who can tell what anxious thoughtsBise in the heart o£ each?

The men are striving bravely'Gainst angry wind and wave;

While the women watch in anguish,All powerless to save.

"Can we do nought to save them?"Rang out in accents wild;

"Must they be lost in sight of home—In sight of wife and child?

"Quick! let us launch the Life-boat,And save our husbands' lives;

Hands may be weak, but hearts are strong,For we are sailors' wives."

Bravely those women laboured,The fishers' lives to save;

They dragged the Life-boat to the beach,And launched it on the wave.

Boys helped to row that Life-boat,In spite of tempest's roar;

Old men put forth, their failing strength,And bent them to the oar.

Ah! who can tell the perilsThat little vessel braved?

Until, at length, the boats were reached,And every man was saved.

Bravely the boat aped homeward,Freighted with precious lives—

Lives that had all been lost that nightBut for the fishers' wives.

Oft, by the winter fireside,Throughout the years to come,

The tale will be re-told again,In many a cottage home.

AH honour to those women 1True heroines were they;

The fishers' wives who launched the boatThat night, at Runswick Bay.

Dalston.M. BAILEY.

JJ

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276 THE LIFE-BOAT. [!ST NOVEMBER, 1901.

THE WRECK REGISTER AND CHART FOR THE YEAR ENDEDTHE 30TH JUNE, 1900.

As the years roll on the interest of thepeople of Great Britain in maritimematters would seem to increase ratherthan to diminish, and we therefore feelthat in drawing the attention of thepublic, and more especially that part ofit represented by the supporters of theROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITU-TION, to the valuable information con-tained in the Blue-Book recently issuedby the Board of Trade relative to theshipping casualties on or near the coastsof the United Kingdom during the yearended the 30th June, 1900, we shall notfail to obtain an interested and sympa-thetic hearing. The greater the atten-tion centred on the tables and statisticsgiving the particulars of the terribleloss of life and property from ship-wreck on our rockbound shores, thegreater, we are confident, will be thewish and will of all to help any meansadopted to prevent, or at all eventsto reduce, the long list of disasters thedistressing details of which are year byyear brought under our notice. TheBoard of Trade tables to which we referare so well arranged that it is made easyto all studying them to ascertain withouttrouble the precise state of affairs.Everybody has not, however, the timeor opportunity to examine the statisticsin question, and we therefore endeavour,as is our annual wont, to bring the in-formation into such limits as may enablethe reader in the course of a fewminutes to realise the state of the case.We find that the shipping casualtieswhich occurred on or near the coasts ofthe United Kingdom in the year 1899-1900, was 4,067, this number being, weare glad to note, a decrease of 973 ascompared with the previous year, and,which is more important still, the totalnumber of lives lost as a result of thecasualties was 432, showing a very con-

siderable decrease of 88 as comparedwith the year 1898-9.

The total of casualties in questionincluded every description of accidentbefalling all classes of vessels—collisions,founderings, strandings, missing vessels,etc. The casualties are classified asfollows :—(1) Total loss; (2) Seriouscasualties; (3) Minor casualties. Underall these headings there was a consider-able decrease, the cases of total loss andserious casualties falling from 1,276 (thetotal for the year 1898-9) to 1,116, areduction of 160; and the cases ofminor casualties showing a large decreaseof 813, the total number being 2,951.We much regret to report that life waslost in 128 instances, but are glad tonote that this total gives a decrease of 3as compared with the previous twelvemonths.

As has almost always been, the casesof collision represented in the year1899-1900 a large proportion of thecasualties, the total being 1,596, or119 less than in the preceding year, andthe casualties which involved total loss,collisions not being included, decreasedfrom 309 to 281. The total of seriouscasualties fell from 644 to 520, theminor casualties also falling from 2,372to 1,670.

Of the total casualties (4,067) 3,585befel British and Colonial vessels and482 Foreign vessels. It is very gratifyingto note, however, that the total of theBritish and Colonial casualties showeda large decrease of 849 as compared withthe year 1898-9. The total of Foreigncasualties also showed a satisfactorydecrease of 124 cases.

The localities of the casualties, ex-cluding collisions, were as follows :—Eastcoast of England, 651, or 112 less thanthe preceding year; south coast, 343, or217 less than in the previous year; west


coast of England and Scotland and eastcoast of Ireland, 917, or 440 less thanin the year 1898-9 ; north coast of Scot-land, 155, an increase of 50; east coastof Scotland, 169, a decrease of 103 ;other parts, 236, a decrease of 32—total,2,471, or 854 less than the precedingyear.

The loss of life, which is of coursethe most important matter, resultingfrom the casualties in the various dis-tricts, including collision cases, was asfollows: East coast of England, 41, or52 less than in 1898-9; south coast ofEngland, 83, or 65 less than the preced-ing year; west coast of England andScotland and east coast of Ireland, 71,or 47 less than the number of the pre-vious year ; north coast of Scotland, 32,or 18 more than in 1898-9 ; east coastof Scotland, 37, a decrease of 18 ; otherparts, 168; total, 432.

On the Chart of the "United Kingdom,which we issue each year, will be founda black dot entered against every spoton which any serious shipping casualtyoccurred during the year ended the 30thJune, 1900; also the exact position ofeach of the 286 Life-boats of the EOYALNATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, sothat at a glance it will be seen that theboats have been well and usefullyplaced.

Between the year 1861 and the 30thJune, 1900, 6,102 British, Colonial andForeign vessels were wrecked on .or nearour coast, involving loss of life in everycase, the total number of Jives soperishing being 26,383. Of the 432persons who were drowned in the year1899-1900, 348 were from British andColonial vessels, and 84 from Foreignvessels. These statistics compared withthose of the preceding year (1898-9)show a gratifying decrease of 59 in thelives lost from British and Colonialvessels, and of 29 in those lost fromForeign vessels.

Of the 432 lives lost in the year underconsideration (1899-1900), 48 were lostin foundered vessels, 93 in collisions, 84

in stranded vessels, or 169 less than inthe previous year; 128 in missing vessels,a considerable increase of 72 as com-pared with the year 1898-9 ; and 79 inexplosions, washed overboard, etc. Only16 out of the 432 persons who perishedwere passengers, 416 of them beingeither officers or members of the crewsof the vessels.

The number of vessels meeting withcasualties on or near the coasts of theUnited Kingdom necessarily vary fromyear to year, sometimes increasing andsometimes, happily, decreasing. Thefollowing table furnishes the statisticsfor the last 47 years :—1854 (last sixmonths), 458; 1855, 1,141; 1856, 1,153;1857, 1,143; 1858, 1,170; 1859, 1,416;1860, 1,379; 1861, 1,494; 1862, 1,827;1863, 2,001; 1864, 1,741; 1865, 2,012;1866, 2,289; 1867, 2,513; 1868, 2,131;1869, 2,594; 1870, 1,865; 1871, 1,927;1872, 2,381; 1873 (first six months),1,206; 1873-4, 2,191; 1874-5, 4,259;1875-6,4,554; 1876-7,5,017; 1877-8,4,436; 1878-9,3,716; 1879-80, 3,138,1880-1, 4,297 ; 1881-2, 4,367 ; 1882-3,4,363; 1883-4, 4,405; 1884-5, 3,764;1885-6, 3,596; 1886-7, 4,224; 1887-8,4,004; 1888-9,4,272; 1889-90,4,344;1890-1,4,198; 1891-2,4,710; 1892-3,3,499 ; 1893-4, 4,951; 1894-5, 4,917 ;1895-6, 4,620; 1896-7, 5,277; 1897-8,4,964; 1898-9,5,040; 1899-1900,4,067.Total, 149,031.

Notwithstanding that during a periodlittle exceeding a generation the numberof lives perishing from shipwreck on ornear our shores has amounted to thelarge and sad total of 30,222, it is goodto know that, had it not been for thework done by the Life-boats and crewsof the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOATINSTITUTION, &c., the number of liveslost would have been considerably morethan doubled, the total number of livesrescued by these means in the sameperiod being 32,699, so that the livesthus saved exceeded those which werelost by 2,477.

The 313 rocket apparatus and other

To acvomparvy' the Life Boat Journal.

SHETLAJO

ISLAND s

SECO>VrlNG ALSO THE PRESENT

LIFE BOAT STATIONSOF THE

ROYAL N A T I O N A L LIFE BOAT I N S T I T U T I O N

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• SICKIFIES A TOTAI- LOSS OR A SERIOUS CASUALTY.

REPRESENTS A LIFE BOAT.

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To acvomparvy' the Life Boat Journal.

SHETLAJO

ISLAND s

SECO>VrlNG ALSO THE PRESENT

LIFE BOAT STATIONSOF THE

ROYAL N A T I O N A L LIFE BOAT I N S T I T U T I O N

JJ^Bolnaldslia, *• »?

• SICKIFIES A TOTAI- LOSS OR A SERIOUS CASUALTY.

REPRESENTS A LIFE BOAT.

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stations which are, as everybody knows,so well managed by the Board of Tradeand gallantly manned by the coastguardand rocket brigades, continue to do ex-cellent work in life-saving, and rescuedfrom death in the year 1899-1900, 369lives. This total was an increase of146 as compared with the precedingyear.

The Committee of Management of theROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITU-TION, in drawing the special attentionof the public to the important life-savingwork done by the Life-boat Service yearafter year, earnestly appeal for help to !enable them to carry on this great Inational work. The general difficulty

existing at all times in raising charitablefunds has of late been naturally greatlyincreased in consequence of the wide-spread appeals for financial help madeduring the last eighteen months, andeven longer, in connection with the sadwar in South Africa. The Committeewould therefore again and again urgethe fact that, whether the country isinvolved in war, or whether it is enjoy-ing the blessings of peace, help is andever must be needed to rescue theperishing mariner from the " perils ofthe deep."

The total number of lives for thesaving of which the Institution hasgranted rewards has exceeded 42,900.

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

WINTEETON, NORFOLK.—The look-outman having observed lights on the 27thFebruary, 1901, the crew of the Life-boat Margaret were summoned. Thenature of the lights could not be discernedand therefore it was decided to launch theLife-boat in case they should prove to besignals for assistance. At 1.30 A.M. theboat put off, and when about two and ahalf miles from the shore the CockleLight-Vessel fired signals which sheanswered by rockets signifying that shewas on the way. At 2.30 she reachedthe Newarp Light-Vessel and found thatfour men of the crew of the s.s. Chamois,of London, bound from Shields forBarcelona with a cargo of coal, hadtaken refuge there, their vessel havingbeen in collision with another vessel.They stated that a boat belonging tothe steamer had capsized, throwing hercrew into the water. The Life-boat atonce proceeded in search of the boatand eventually spoke the Cross SandLight - Vessel, but ascertained thatnothing had been seen of her. Thesearch was continued without successuntil dawn, when the Life-boat returnedto the Newarp Light-ship, took off thefour men and safely landed them at10 A.M.

ANSTRUTHER, FIFBSHIEE.—The Life-boat Royal Stuart was launched at 9.30A.M. on the 1st March, and remainedafloat until several fishing-boats, whichhad been overtaken by a whole galefrom S.E. and a very heavy sea, hadsafely entered the harbour.

FALMOUTH.—The full-rigged ship Von-del> of Amsterdam, bound from Liver-pool for Port Adelaide with a cargo ofsuperphosphates, stranded on the rocksnear St. Mawes Castle Point, in anextremely dangerous position, havingdragged her anchor while lying in theroadstead, in a N. W. gale and heavy sea,on 2nd March. She showed signals ofdistress, and at 7.45 A.M. the Life-boatBob Newbon put off to render assistanceto her. The mate in charge of thevessel in the absence of the mastergladly availed himself of the servicesof the Life-boatmen, who passed hawsersto steam-tugs and assisted in steeringthe vessel, which was got afloat shortlybefore high water and was taken tomoorings in Plymouth Docks.

MOELFEE, ANGLESEA.—About 10o'clock on the morning of the 2nd March,while a strong breeze was blowing from


S.E. accompanied by a rough sea, signalsof distress were shown by the schoonerCounty of Cork, of Amlwch, bound fromLiverpool for Abersoch, with coal andmanure. The Life-boat Star of Hopewent to her assistance and found herabout half-a-mile from Moelfre Island,dragging her anchors and in greatdanger of stranding. Her crew consist-ing of two men got into the Life-boatand were landed, being subsequentlytaken back to the vessel by a fishing-boatwhen the weather had moderated,

JOHNSHAVEN, KlNCAHDINESHIRE. Onthe 2nd March the Life-boat Sarah AnnHolden was launched at 11 A.M. andwent to the assistance of the fishing-boat Success which was in danger whilemaking for the harbour in a S.E. breezeand a rough sea. The Life-boat re-mained afloat until the fishermen were insafety,

NEW BRIGHTON AND FOBMBY.—Mes-sages by telephone were received atthese Life-boat stations on the eveningof the 7th March stating that a steamerhad stranded and was in need of assist-ance. At 6.17 the New Brighton SteamLife-boat Queen left her moorings and at7.30 reached the s.s. Dominion, of Liver-pool, a vessel of 4,251 nett tonnage,bound from Liverpool for Portland,Maine, and having two hundred andseventy persons on board. About tenminutes later the Formby Life-boat Johnand Henrietta arrived, and both Life-boats stood by the vessel until 8.30,when she fortunately floated off the barand was out of danger. The boats thenreturned to their respective stations,the Steam Life-boat towing the other asfar as the Crosby Light-Vessel.

PALLING, NORFOLK.—The Life-boatHearts of OaJc was launched at 12.7 p.m.on the 17th March, signal guns havingbeen heard in the direction of theHasborough Sands apparently fired fromthe Would Light-Vessel. A dense fogprevailed at the time, the sea was smooth,and a light wind was blowing fromN.N.W. The s.s. Ardlethen, of Aberdeen,bound from the Tyne for an Argentineport, with a, cargo of coal and coke, wasfound aground on the sands and, at the

request of the master, the Life-boatremained in attendance until the vesselwas again afloat.

WHITBY.—Several fishing cobles werereturning home on the morning of the18th March when the sea rapidly rose

1 and rendered it highly dangerous for thej boats to cross the bar. Two of them hadI very narrow escapes of broaching-to andi being swamped by the heavy seas. At11.30 the Life-boat Robert and Mary

I Ellis was taken out and remained inI attendance on the other cobles until theysucceeded in getting safely into theharbour.

MARGATE.—About 4.40 p.m., on the21st March, a telegram was received fromLloyd's agent at Whitstable stating thata brigantine had stranded on the RedSand and that her crew were apparentlyin jeopardy. A strong gale was blowingfrom N.E. and the sea was rough. Thecrew of the Life-boat Eliza Harriet weresummoned and in ten minutes from thereceipt of the telegram the boat waslaunched and was on her way to thescene of the casualty. On reaching theWest Last a vessel was observed aboutN. by W. and thinking she was the onereported to be in distress the boat madefor her, but found she was a brigriding at anchor. As darkness hadnow set in, the Life-boatmen boardedher to ascertain if her crew could giveany information respecting the strandedvessel. They were informed that asunken vessel had been seen in a S.W.direction about a mile and a half distant,but no men had been observed either onthe vessel or on her masts. Proceedingin the direction indicated, the Life-boat

] searched until 9.30 when the strong tide! rendered it prudent to put into Whits-table for a time. About 4 a.m., having

| received fresh directions, she again putj off, resumed the search, and at daylightfound'she was close to the vessel whichwas sunk between the Red and MiddleSands; her foreyard was just under

i water and, on running in nearer to her,men were seen in the top. The Life-boat having sailed to windward of thewreck lowered her foremast and withthe help of oars got alongside with herhead right under the vessel's foretop,


this being the only way of getting themen off, as they were perfectly helpless.They numbered three men: the survivorsof a crew of seven. Having taken themen, one of whom was almost lifeless,on board, the boat was, with some diffi-culty, got clear of the wreck and atonce sailed for Wbitstable. The tidebeing low when she arrived, a dinghywas procured by means of which therescued men were landed, and they thenreceived proper attention. At highwater the Life-boat left for her station,arriving home about 4.30 p.m. Thewrecked vessel was the brigantine Rose,of Whitstable, laden with coal.

At about 1 a.m. on the 9th April,the Coastguard reported that rocketswere being fired from the Tongue Light-Vessel ; the crew of the Life-boat CivilService No. 1 were thereupon summonedand the boat was as soon as possiblelaunched. The weather was squally,the wind blowing with the force of amoderate gale, and there was a moderatesea. On speaking the Tongue Lightshipit was ascertained that she was answer-ing signals made by the Princes ChannelLight-Vessel and that a flare had beenseen bearing W.N. W., apparently shownby a vessel on the Shingles. The boatthen proceeded to the Princes ChannelLightship and was informed that abrigantine had been aground on theShingles, but had floated soon after oneo'clock and proceeded towards the NorthForeland. The Life-boat went in searchof the vessel, found her lying at anchor,and asked the master whether any as-sistance was required. He replied thathe had desisted from pumping in orderto ascertain to what extent the vesselwas leaking, and he asked that theLife-boat might remain by. In abouthalf-an-hour's time the pumps were triedand it was found that the water wasgaining at the rate of about four inchesan hour. He then engaged the Life-boatmen to take the vessel into harbour.Some of them boarded her, pumped herdry, got up her remaining anchor, theother having been lost when she stranded,and made sail for Faversham, for whichport she was bound, arriving there atabout 6.30 p.m. The Life-boat hadmeanwhile returned to her station whereshe arrived at 9 a.m. The vessel was

the Mary Johns, of Fowey, coal laden,from Swansea, and manned by a crewof seven men.

CLACTON-ON-SEA. — In response tomessages by telephone and signal gunsfired from the Swin Middle Light-Vessel,on the morning of the 22nd March, theLife-boat Albert Edward was launchedat 8.50 and found the brig Comforter, ofTonsberg, laden with firewood, fromFredrikstad for Rochester, stranded onthe Middle Barrow Sand. A moderateE. gale was blowing and the sea wasrough. At the master's request, theLife-boat -stood by the vessel but whenthe tide receded she broke her back andwhen the tide again flowed, her crew ofseven men decided to leave her and gotinto the Life-boat. The wind and tidebeing against her, the boat hung on tothe wreck for a time, but the spars, etc.,beginning to fall she was compelled tocast off and anchored until high water,when she was able to proceed on herhomeward journey. At daylight shefell in with the s.s. Spero, of Newcastle,which kindly towed her as far as theS.W. Gunfleet buoy, then crossing theSands Clacton was reached at noon, allon board the boat being greatly ex-hausted.

On the 25th March, while a strongbreeze was blowing from N.E., accom-panied by a rough sea and snow squalls,the Coastguard reported a vessel on theBuxey Sand, showing a signal of distress.At 10.30 a.m. the Life-boat AlbertEdward was launched and found thefishing smack William and Eliza, ofColchester, stranded on the N.E. partof bhe sand and bumping heavily. Themaster asked the Life-boatmen to re-main by him ; his request was accededto, and when the tide rose the smackfloated and was able to resume herjourney, having received no apparentinjury.

SOUTHEND-ON-SEA, ESSEX.—On themorning of the 25th March, a strongbreeze was blowing from N.E., the seawas moderate and the weather thick,with snow squalls. About 10 o'clockthe coxswain of the Life-boat JamesSteveiis No. 9 received a message bytelephone from the pierhead, to the effect


that a barque was aground on the NoreSand and in a dangerous position. Heat once summoned the crew of the Life-boat and proceeded to the rescue. Thevessel proved to be the Greihe, ofKragero, homeward bound from London,in ballast, and manned by a crew of ninemen. At the master's request, the Life-boat remained by the barque until shefloated at about 3 p.m.

WEXFORD.— A sudden gale sprungup from the E.N.E., accompanied bysnow-showers and a heavy sea, on themorning of the 25th March, and theschooner Perseverance, of Wexford,homeward bound in ballast from Dublin,stranded on Raven Point. The Life-boat James Stevens No. 15 put off at9 o'clock and stood by her until shefloated and succeeded in getting intothe harbour.

PEEL, ISLE OP MAN. — The lugger 'Maria Jane, of Peel, left the harbour atabout 4 p.m., on the 26th March, formackerel fishing off the coast of Ireland.A strong breeze was then blowing from IN.N.W. and the sea was rough. She jsailed out of the bay and when shearrived behind the breakwater her fore- jmast suddenly snapped, falling overboard jwith the sails, and had to be cut adrift. !Finding themselves close under the sharp jrocks at Peel Castle her crew let go an janchor, which fortunately held, but \although for the time the lugger wassafe she was liable at any moment to icertain destruction should her anchordrag or the cable part. Her positionbeing seen from the shore, the Life-boatsignal was tired and in ten minutes theMayhem Medwin was on her way to thevessel. The wind had by that timeincreased to a gale and the sea hadbecome very heavy. Finding that theanchor was still holding, some of theLife-boatmen boarded the lugger, assistedto rig a jury mast and to improvise sails,after which the anchor was slipped andthe vessel was taken back into a placeof safety.

PBNZANCE.—The wind suddenly shift-ing from N.E. to W.S.W., on themorning of the 29th March, the barqueAntarctic, of Swansea, homeward bound

from London, in ballast, and lyingwindbound in Mount's Bay, becameembayed and was in a dangerous situa-tion. The wind increased in force during

i the day, until at nightfall it attainedthe force of a strong gale, a heavy seaset into the bay and the barometerwas falling rapidly and there was everyindication of the weather becomingworse; it was therefore considered advis-able that the Life-boat Elizabeth and

• Blanche should proceed to the vessel'si assistance. The boat was launched at10 p.m., and on reaching the barque

I the master being warned of bis danger' decided to leave the vessel with hiscrew of eight men. They were takeninto the Life-boat and were landed at11.45 p.m. The vessel was then riding

; very heavily; her windlass being1

damaged prevented her anchors frombeing got up, and it was feared that if a

I steam-tug were procured and the anchors' were slipped she would probably bedriven ashore.

FERRYSIDE, CARMARTHEN BAY.—Atelegram having been received fromTenby on the morning of the 30thMarch intimating that a vessel wasshowing signals of distress, the Life-boatCity of Manchester was launched at 8.35and proceeded to the vessel, which wasfound to be the ship Australia, ofChristiania, laden with coal and boundfrom Cardiff for Rio de Janeiro. Shehad grounded on Carmarthen Bar in awhole gale. On account of the veryheavy breaking seas the Life-boatmenexperienced great difficulty in gettingalongside the vessel, which was thenunder water, but after several attemptsthey were successful and rescued fifteenmen who had lashed themselves in therigging. One of them, the master, hada broken arm. The crew originallyconsisted of seventeen men, but two ofthem unfortunately lost their lives beforethe Life-boat arrived. In effecting therescue the assistant coxswain of theLife-boat was washed out of the boatby a heavy sea, but was picked up un-injured.

His Majesty the King of Norway andSweden graciously presented the Medalfor Saving Life, second class, to Mr.DAVID JONES, coxswain of the Life-boat,


and £1 to each of the fourteen men whoformed the crew of the boat on theoccasion in question, in recognition oftheir meritorious conduct. Their serviceswere also specially recognised by theInstitution, an. extra reward beinggranted to each of the men.

HABWICH.—While a gale was blowingfrom the S., accompanied by a heavysea, on the morning of the 30th March,a telephone message was received fromFelixstowe stating that a schooner wasaground on the St. Andrew's Bank andthat she had signals of distress flying.The steam Life-boat City of Glasgow lefther moorings at 9.10 and found thestranded vessel was the Hose, of and forIpswich, laden -with granite fromGuernsey. It was seen that she wouldinevitably become a total wreck, andher crew of four men were thereforetaken into the Life-boat and safe1.7landed at about 11.45.

DOUGLAS, ISLE OF MAN.—On the2nd April, while a strong breeze was

blowing from the S., the schooner Mersey,of Dublin, bound from Waterford, inballast, for Point of Ayre, anchored nearthe rocks outside Conister. She wasthen in a dangerous position, a veryheavy sea was running, and when heranchors commenced to drag she was ina very critical situation. She signalledfor assistance and in response the Life-boat Civil Service No. 6 was launchedand rescued her crew consisting of threemen.

DUNGENESS, KENT.—On the 6th Aprilthe Coastguard watchman informed thecoxswain of the Life-boat B.A.O.E. thata large steamer had stranded on theNewcome Sand. He at once summonedthe crew and at 6.15 p.m. the boat waslaunched. A strong S.W. breeze wasblowing, the sea was moderate, and athick fog prevailed. The Life-boatstood by the vessel—the Alclnoug, ofLiverpool, on a voyage from China toAmsterdam—until she floated and wasout of danger. The boat returned toher station at about 10 o'clock.

SUMMARY OF THE MEETINGS OF THE COMMITTEE.

I THURSDAY, 18th April, 1901.

Sir EDWAKD BIBKBBCK, Bart., V.P., inthe Chair.

Read and confirmed the minutes of theprevious meeting.

Read letter from His Majesty's PrincipalSecretary of State for the Home Department,stating that he had the command of THE KINGto convey to the Committee of Management HisMajesty's thanks for their loyal and dutifuladdress expiessing their sympathy with HisMajesty and the Boyal Family on the occasionof the lamented death of Her late MajestyQOEEN VlCTOBIA.

Reported that Her Majesty QUEEN ALEX-ANDRA had graciously consented to continueher patronage to the Institution.

Read and confirmed the minutes of theBuilding, Finance and Correspondence andWreck and Reward Sub-Committees, andordered that their recommendations be carriedinto effect.

Read the Reports of the District Inspectorson their visits to the following Stations :—

Northern District — Ackergill, Alnmouth,Anstruther, Banff, Buckie, Crail, DornochFirth, Eyemouth, Fraserburgh, Holy Island(2 boats), Huna, Longhope, Lossiemouth,

Newbiggin, Newburgh, North Sunderland,Peterhead, Stornoway, Stromness, Thurso,Whitelink Bay and Wick.

Eastern District—Broadstairs, Dover, Dun-geness (2 boats), Filey, Folkestone, Hythe,Kingsdowne, Margate (2boats), New Romney,North Deal, Robin Hood's Bay, Runswick,Scarborough, Sheringham, Staithes, Upgang,Walmer and Whitby (2 boats).

Southern District—Bembridge, Guernsey,Hayling Island, Jersey, Lyme Regis, Poole,Ryde, Southsea, Swanage and Weymouth.

Western District—Appledore (two boats),Bude, Clovelly, Ilfracombe, Llandulas,Lynmouth, Newquay (Cornwall), Padstowand Port Isaac.

Irish District—Aranmore, Giles' Quay andGreenore.

Reported the receipt of the followingspecial contributions since the last meeting:—

£ s. d.The THORNGATE TRUSTEES

(annual subscription) . . 80 - -Trustees of BEBMAN'S CHARITY

(additional) . . . . 1 0 1 0 -Moiety of Offertories on Steam

Yacht Argonaut, during herlast cruise 10 5 -


£. s. d.Collection in H.M. Dockyard

Church, Devonport, per Rev.P. C. STEBBING, M.A., B.N. . 3 6 6

—To be severally thanked.

Also the receipt of the following legacies :—

The late JAMBS NEWPORT, Esq.,of Holloway

The late Miss ELIZABETH S.CLARK, of Clifton

The late Mrs. MABY POSTLE-THWAITE, of Barrow-in-Furness

The late Miss ELIZABETH HALL,o f Whitchurch . . . .

100 - -

50 - -

50 - -

25 - -

Resolved that the best thanks of theInstitution be presented to the following(gentlemen in acknowledgment of their valu-able co-operation while they were serving asHonorary Secretaries of Branches of theSociety, which posts they had lately re-signed:—Dr. H. K. DAWSON, Sheringham;Rev. J. A. GREER, LL.B., Ballywalter; Mr.ALLAN LEIGH, Fethard; Capt. A. A. WALKEB,Kingstown, and Mr. W. WABHAM, Seaham.

Also that the services of the followingladies who had done good work for the Insti-tution during the last five years and upwards,be suitably acknowledged: Miss L. GARTER,Clevedon; Miss M. E. GARDNER, Perth; MissS. HAMILTON and Miss F. SOMERVILLE, LakesDistrict: Miss E. M. JOHNSON, Taunton;Mrs. J. POMEBOY, Enniskillen; Mrs.SANDERSON, Cavan; Mrs. SANDFOBD, Whit-church, and Miss F. SIDNEY, Millom.

Reported the transmission to Dunbar andMontrose (No. 2) of new Life-boats, trans-porting carriages, Tipping's plates, &c.

Paid 4,6892. 13s. for sundry charges onvarious Life-boat establishments.

Voted 3472. 8s. 9d., to defray the expenses ofthe following services by Life-boats :—

Life-boat.

Clacton .

Ditto.

Douglas .

Dungeness )No. 1 . /

Ferryside

Fonnby .

Harwich(Steam Life-boat)

Margate No. 1

Palling No. 2

Peel

Penzance

Vessel.

Brig Comforter, of Tons-berg . . . .

Smack William andEliza, of Colchester.Stood by vessel.

Schooner Mersey, ofDublin . . . .

Steamer Alcinous, ofLiverpool. Stood byvessel.

Ship Australia, ofChristiania .

S.S. Dominion, of Liver-pool. Stood by vessel.

Schooner Rose, ofIpswich

Brigantine Rose, ofWhitstable .

S.S. Ardlethen, of Aber-deen. Rendered assist-ance.

Lugger Maria Jane, ofPeel. Assisted to savevessel.

Barque Antarctic, ofSwansea. Landed 9.

Livessaved.

15

Life-boat.Southend

(Essex)Wexford

Whitby No. 1

Vessel.Barque G-rethe, of Kra-

gero. Stood by vessel.Schooner Perseverance,

of Wexford. Stoodby vessel.

Fishing cobles. Re-mained in attendance.

Livessaved.

The Margate No 2 Life-boat rendered assist-ance to the brigantine Mary Johns, of Fowey.

Voted an extra reward to the crew of theFerryside (Carmarthen Bay) Life-boat, inrecognition of their good services on the

! occasion of the rescue of fifteen of the crewI of the ship Australia, of Christiania, on the! 30th March (vide also p. 281).I Also 542Z. 5s. 9<J. to pay for assemblies of

the crews, watching or launches by the follow-ing Life-boats, with the view of assistingthose on board vessels apparently in distress:—Arbroath, Bude, Cadgwith, Caister No. 1,Clacton, Cromer, Dunbar, Filey, GorlestonNo. 1, Hauxley, Holyhead (Steam Life-boat),Hoylake, Lowestoft No. 2, Margate Nos. 1and 2, New Romney, Padstow, Palling No. 2,Port Erroll, Southend (Cantyre), Southend(Essex), Teuby, Weston - super - Mare, Wey-mouth, Whithorn and Wintertou No. 2.

The crew o f v the St. Ives Life-boat alsoassembled, ready ,to put off if necessary, butmade no charge, those in danger being fellow-fishermen.

Voted 1Z. to a man injured at the launch ofthe Winterton No. 2 Life-boat, for service onthe 17th March.

Also 21. 10s. to five men, for renderingservice to the crew, ten in number, of thes.s. Broughshane, of Londonderry, whichstranded in' Doon Bay, Rathlin Island, Co,Antrim, in a strong S.S.E. gale, a heavy seaand thick weather, on the night of the 15thJanuary. The crew took to their boats andwere assisted by the five men, who, by meansof lanterns, directed them where to land, and,with the aid of lines thrown from the boats,helped them to reach the shore.

Also 15s. to two men for saving one of thecrew of a fishing boat, which had sunk abouta quarter of a mile W. of Wart Holm,Copinshay, Orkney, in a fresh breeze from N.to N.N.E., and a rough choppy sea, on the22nd February. The salvors, who were inanother boat, pulled and sailed to the scene ofthe casualty and succeeded in rescuing one ofthe men, but unfortunately the other wasdrowned.

Saturday, 20th April, 1901.

The Annual General Meeting of theGovernors and friends of the Royal NationalLife-boat Institution took place this day atthe Town Hall, Westminster, His Grace theDUKE OF NOBTHUMBEELAND, K.G., in theChair.

The Chairman having made some suitableobservations on the great and nationalcharacter of the operations of the Institution,the annual report (which will be found in the

284 THE LIFE-BOAT, [1ST NOVEMBER, 1901.

May number of The Life-boat Journal) waspresented to the meeting.

The meeting was also addressed by SirJOSEPH W. PEASE, Bart., M.P., GHABLES H.SEELY, Esq., M.P., WALEEB R. PLUMMEB,Esq., M.P., Sir JOHN C. B. COLOMB, K.G.M.G.,M.P., JOHNSTONE WALLACE, Esq., Sir BDWABDBIBKBECK, Bart., V.P., and Sir ROBERT TJ.PENBOSE FITZGEBALD, Bart., MP.

The officers for the current year were chosen,and various resolutions moved, seconded andcarried unanimously, pledging the meetingto renewed exertions on behalf of the benevo-lent and national objects of the Institution,and expressing the fullest confidence in themanagement.

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

THURSDAY, 9th May, 1901. "

Sir EDWARD BIBKBECK, Bart., V.P., wasunanimously elected Chairman, and ColonelFrrzBoY CLAYTON, V.P., Deputy-Chairman ofthe Committee of Management of the Institu-tion for the ensuing year.

Sir EDWABD BIBKBECK, Bart., V.P., havingtaken the Chair, the members of the Sub-Com-mittees were elected for the current year.Also the delegates to the Central Committeeof the Life-boat Saturday Fund.

Bead and confirmed the minutes of theprevious meeting, also minutes of the Building,Finance and Correspondence, and Wreck andBeward Sub-Committees, and ordered thattheir recommendations be carried into effect.

Also read the minutes of the last meeting ofthe Central Committee of the Life-boatSaturday Fund, and ordered that theirrecommendations be carried into effect.

Bead the report of the Chief Inspector ofLife-boats on his recent visit to the East-bourne Life-boat station.

Also the reports of the District Inspectors ontheir recent visits to the following stations :—

Northern District — Berwick - on - Tweed,Dunbar and Hauxley.

Eastern District—Bridlington, Cromer,Flamborough (two boats), Hornsea andSheringham.

Southern District—Brixham, Exmouth,Hope Cove, Plymouth, Sidmouth, TeignmouthTorquay and Yealm Biver.

Western District—Holyhead (two boats),Llanddulas, Forth Bhufiydd, Pwllheli andBhyl.

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

£ s. d.Moiety of collection on board the

Steam Yacht Argonaut, on herlast cruise, per CONNOP F. S.PKBOWNE, Esq. . . . 18 13 10

Collected on B.M.S. TantallonCastle, per Capt. TBAVEBS . 10 10 -

Contents of contribution boxesat Annual General Meeting . 3 5 2

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

The late Mrs. ELIZA MACKENZIE,of Clarkshill . . . 525 - -

The late HENBY CABNLEY, Esq.,i of Hull (balance) . . . 20 15 3

The Committee expressed their regret atthe death of the late Mr. BOBEBT WHITWOBTH,who had been a Vice-President of the Institu-tion for nearly forty years.

Besolved that the zealous and valuable ser-\ vices of various Honorary Secretaries oi Local

Branches of the Institution for twenty years! and upwards, be suitably recognised.! Paid 7.945J. 12s. l<i. for various charges onj different Life-boat establishments.\ Voted 8i. 14s., to pay the expenses of thei service rendered by the Bunswick Life-boatI in standing by fishing-boats in danger in aheavy sea, on the 12th April.

Also 522. 8s. for the expenses of the launchof the Giles' Quay and Palling No. 2 Life-boatsand assemblies of the crews at Atherfield andPorth Bhufiydd, with the view of assistingvessels in distress.

The Bamsgate Life-boat was taken out, buther services were not ultimately called intorequisition.

Voted il. 15s. to seven fishermen for savingthe crew of three men from the boat Hawkwhich had been capsized by one of her occu-pants climbing the mast, whnu about threemiles distant from Arbroath, 3?orfarshire, in asmooth sea and fine weather on the 20th April.

Also U. to Mr. THOMAS VEALE, Ferry-boatProprietor, of Dungarvan, Co. Waterford, forputting off in a boat and rescuing a boy froma boat which was drifting out to sea., withoutoars, and was in a sinking condition, offDungarvan, in a moderate W.N.W. gale anda rough sea, on the 14th April.

Thursday, 13th June, 1901.

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

Bead and confirmed the Minutes of theprevious meeting.

Also read those of the Building, Financeand Correspondence, and Wreck and BewardSub-Committees, and ordered that their recom-mendations be carried into effect.

Bead the reports of the District Inspectorsof Life-boats on their recent visits to the follow-ing Stations:—

Northern District—Ayr, Eyemouth, Girvanand North Berwick.

Eastern District — Blakeney, Brancaster,Gorleston (three boats), Harwich (two boats),Hasborough, Hunstanton, Palling (two boats)and Wells.

Southern District—Atherfield, Bembridge,Brighstone Grange, Brooke, Eastbourne,Littlehampton, Selsey, Shoreham, TotlandBay and Worthing.

Western District—Angle, Bull Bay, Burn-ham, Cemaes, Cemlyn, Littlehaven, Llandd-


wyn, Moelfre, Penarth, Penmon, Point of Ayr,Bhosneigir, Bhoscolyn and Tenby.

Reported the receipt of the following special !contributions since the last meeting :— j

& s. d.. Mrs. McNAB, in memory of her

late husband 500 - -Miss GANTHORP 50 - -J. CLIFTON BROWN, Esq. (additional) 25 - -The administrators of the late Mr.

WILLIAM FBANCIS HALE . . 10 10 -Collected on board the R.M.S.

Du,nolly Castle, per Capt. B. H.IVET 6 - -

Collected on board the s.y. Argonaut,per Connop P. S. PEBOWNE, Esq. 5 9 8

Passengers on the s.y. Victoria onher recent Mediterranean trip,per G. B. GRANT, Esq. . . . 10 10 -


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

I The late N. W. F. SMITH, Esq.,ofKennington 1,595 15 1

' The late JOHN BAYLISS, Esq., ofByde, I.W., to provide a Life-boat to be called the John andAmy 1,000 - -

The late Miss KATHEBINE S.SKYKNEH, of Brighton, for a

i Leslie Life-boat for the coastof England 1,000 - -

The late Miss MARIANNE CULLEN,of Nottingham, for a Life-boatto be named the James Cullen 900 - -

The late Mrs. A. MACGEORQE, ofHyde Park Square . . . . 234 9 3

The late W. H. DEAN, Esq., ofStratford (additional) . . . 70 14 7

The late Miss PRANCES M. BEN-SON, of Leamington . . . 25 - -

The thanks of the Institution were orderedto be presented to Mr. ALEXANDER BARB andMr. GEORGE CLARK in acknowledgment oftheir services as Honorary Secretaries re-spectively of the St. Andrew's and Grange-mouth branches.

Voted 131. to two men injured while onservice with the Life-boat at St. Ives.

Reported the transmission to Dunbar ofthe new Life-boat transporting carriage,Tipping's plates, horse-launching poles andpushing-poles.

Paid 11,1202. 3s. Id. for sundry charges onvarious Life-boat establishments.

The Committee specially recognized theservices of Mr. F. JOSE on his retirement fromthe office of coxswain of the Falmouth Life-boat. Also the services of Mr. SAMUELSOUTHEBDEN, late assistant-coxswain of theLife-boat at Rye.

Voted 111. 10s. to pay the expenses of theHarwich steam Life-boat and the StaithesLife-boat in remaining respectively by theschooner Harriet, of Goole, and distressedfishing cobles.

The Gorleston No. 1 Life-boat assisted tosave the s.s. Ossian, of Leith, with seventeenpersons on board.

Voted also 169Z. 19s. to pay for watching,assemblies of crews or launches of Life-boats,with the view of assisting those on boardvessels in distress, at the following stations:—Ackergill, Aranmore, Cemaes, Huna, Lowes-toft No. 2, Palling No. 2, Whitby No. 2 andWinterton No. 2.

The Caister No. 1 and Winterton No. 1Life-boats were also launched, but their ser-vices were not needed.

Voted the Silver Medal of the Institution,with a copy of the vote inscribed on vellumand framed, to Mr. RICHARD OWEN, assistant-coxswain of the Moelfre Life-boat, in recogni-tion of his excellent services and conspicuouscourage displayed on many occasions, especiallyin November last, when he jumped overboard,although unable to swim, to disentangle a netwhich had fouled the boat's rudder. He wasappointed in 1887, and since then the Life-boat has been launched for service on twenty-one occasions and has saved fifty-seven lives.

Voted 2Z. 12s. 6<Z. to six coastguard menand a fisherman for putting off in the stationwhale-boat at Howth, co. Dublin, and savingthe crew of two men from the yawl Lizzie, ofHowth, which was capsized off the East Pier,in a strong N.E. breeze and a very heavy sea,on the 26th April.

Also II. 15s. to seven men for putting off ina coastguard-boat at Gloughey, co. Down, andlanding the crew of four men from the ketchRavinello, of Bridgwater, which was in dangerof becoming a total wreck, on the 22nd May.

The sum of 2s. each was awarded to ninemen who assisted to launch the boat and to amessenger employed on the occasion.

THURSDAY, llth July, 1901.

Sir EDWARD BIRKBECK, Bart., V.P.,in the Chair.

Read and confirmed the Minutes of theprevious meeting.

Also read those of the Building, Financeand Correspondence, and Wreck and RewardSub-Committees, and ordered that their re-commendations be carried into effect.

Bead the Report of the Deputy ChiefInspector on his visit to the Llanddulas andLlandudno Life-boat stations.

Also the reports of the District Inspectorsof Life-boats on their recant visits to thefollowing stations:—

Northern District—Arbroath, Ardrossan,Ballantrae, Broughty Ferry, Campbeltown,Gourdon, Irvine, Johnshaven, Kildonan,Montrose (two boats), Port Logan, PortPatrick, St. Andrew's, Southend (Cantyre),Stonehaven and Troon.

Southern District — Cadgwith, Coverack,Falmouth, Looe, Mevagissey, Polpear, Porth-leven and Porthoustock,

Western District—Aberdovey, Aberystwyth,Barmouth, Burry Port, Cardigan, Ferryside,Pishguard (two boats), Newquay (Cardigan-shire), Porthcawl, St. David's and Weston-guper-Mare.

Irish District—Castletovm, Clogher HeaJ,Culdaff, Douglas, Drogheda, Greencastle,

28fi THE LIFE-BOAT. [1ST NOVEMBER, 1901.

Howth, Peel, Port Erin, Portrush, Port St.Mary and Bamsey.

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

£ s. d.B. F 50 - -Collected on the occasion of a

Church Parade of the LoyalOrder of Anglo-Saxons FriendlySociety, per the Beverend S. B.WIGAN, Thornham, Maidstone . 2 3 2

E. F. WHITE, Esq. (annual sub-scription) 50 - -

Miss S. E. WHITE (annual subscrip-tion) , . 25 - -

Ancient Order of Foresters, per 3.LISTER STEAD, Esq 500 - -


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

The late Mrs. CATHERINE APE-DAILE, of Haydon Bridge (onaccount of share of residue) . . 500 - -

The late RICHARD JONES, Esq.,M.D., of Scarborough. . . . 250 - -

The late PERCY BARRON, Esq., ofWarwick 89 18 6

The late BENJAMIN GIBBONS, Esq.,of Sutton Coldfield . . . . 4 14 6

The late Miss ADA G. MACDONALD,of Chester Street, S.W. . . . 200 - - •

The late Miss HANNAH HARVIE, ofCheltenham 2000 - -

The Committee specially recognised thevery important service rendered by J. CAME-RON LAMB, Esq., C.B., C.M.G., in connectionwith the Institution's scheme for the estab-lishment of electrical communication on thecoast, for life-saving purposes, adopted by theGovernment.

The services of Messrs. JOHN GLOVES andTHOMAS MABTIN, on retirement from theoffice of coxswain respectively of the Weston-super-Mare and Portrush Life-boats wererecognised, as also were those of Messrs.WILLIAM JENKINS and WILLIAM BBOWN,retiring assistant coxswains at Cardigan andPorthcawl.

Paid 12.707J. Is. 5<Z. for sundry charges onvarious Life-boat establishments.

The sum of 2/. 17s. 6d. was granted to twomen slightly injured while on service atCriccieth and Flamborough.

The Committee expressed their deep sym-pathy with the families of Messrs. JOHN OWBNand THOMAS OWEN, firemen on. board thesteam Life-boat, Duke of Northumberland,who lost their lives by an explosion in theengine room on the 26th June. Inquests wereheld on the bodies of the two men, the juriesreturning a verdict of accidental death. Agrant of 1000Z. was made to the widows andfamilies of the men, and the funeral and otherexpenses were defrayed by the Institution.

The Committee ordered that their approvalof the manner in which he discharged hisduties on a very trying occasion be conveyed

to,, Mr. BASIL HALL, late Lieutenant R.N.'District Inspector of Life-boats, who was onboard the steamer at the time of the unfor-tunate occurrence.

Voted 351. 8s. to pay the expenses of theHolyhead No. 2 and St. Agnes Life-boatswhich respectively rendered assistance to anendangered boat and saved twenty-sevenpersons from a boat of the four-masted barqueFalkland, of Liverpool.

Also 147L 10s. to pay for watching, assem-blies of crews or launches at the followingLife-boat stations with the view of renderinghelp to those on board distressed vessels:—Aranmore, Caister No. 1, Gorlestou No. 1,Hope Cove, Margate No. 1, Newquay (Cardi-ganshire), Salcombe and St. Mary's.

Also 2J. 12s. 6d. to seven men for puttingoff in a boat from Withernsea, Yorkshire, tothe assistance of a boat, with four boys onboard, which had been carried out to sea in.a moderate S.W. gale, on the 23rd June. Theboys, who had been picked up by a steamtrawler, were landed and their boat was towedback to the shore.

Also II. 5s. to five men for putting oft in aboat and saving a fisherman whose boat wassinking off Newquay, Cardiganshire, in a strongS. gale, on the 19th June.

THURSDAY, 1st August, 1901.

Sir EDWABJD BIB.KBKCK, Bart., Y.P.,in the Chair.

Read and confirmed the minutes of the pre-vious meeting.

Also read those of the Building, Financeand Correspondence, and Wreck and Reward

' Sub-Committees, and ordered that their re-commendations be carried into effect.

Bead the reports of the District Inspectorsof Life-boats on their visits to the followingStations:—

Northern District—Banff, Buckle, Fraser-burgh, Hauxley, Holy Island (two boats),Lossiemouth, Newburgh, Peterhead, PortErroll and Whitelink Bay.

Eastern District — Brixham, Falmouth,Fowey, Mevagissey, Mullion, Newhaven,

, Torquay and Winchelsea.Western District—Barry Dock, Port Eynon,

Swansea and Watchet., Irish District—Aranmore, Blackrock, Oar-i rick Fergus, Giles Quay, Greenore, Grooms-i port, Kingstown (two boats) and Poolbeg.I Reported the receipt of the following specialcontributions since the last meeting:—

£. s. d.S.D.R.S.D. (additional) . . . . 50 - -Passengers on the R.M.S. Magda-

lena, per Capt. JAS. POPE . . 3 3 -Offertory in Highfield School

Chapel, per Miss Metcalfe . . 1 6 9The Worshipful Company of Drapers

(annual subscription) . . . . 52 10 -—To be severally thanked.


Also the receipt of the following legacies:—

& s. d.

The late Mr. WILLIAM A. C. HABDIE,of Glasgow, per Glasgow Branch 225 - -

The late Mrs. ANN VEALE, of York 20 - -The late Mrs. HENBY VAUGHAN, of

Cumberland Terrace, Begent'sPark 13 6 6

The late Miss MABGABET BARNARD,of Newnham-on-Severn . . . 100 - -

The Committee specially recognised theservices of Mr. NOBLE BUDDOCK, coxswain,and Mr. JOHN O'BRIEN, bowman, of theCourtmacsherry Life-boat, on their resigna-tion.

A gratuity was awarded to Mr. JOHN HALL,who was injured while employed on boardthe steam Life-boat Duke of Northumberland,on the 26th June.

Voted the silver medal and a pecuniarygrant to Mr. JETHBO PuTTiT,ex-coxs-wain of the

Broadstairs Life-boat, in recognition of hisgood service in the boat during the periodin which he held office.

Paid 5,9061. 18s. 3d. for sundry charges onvarious Life-boat establishments.

Beported that a new transporting carriageand a set of Tipping's plates had been suppliedto the Glogher Head Life-boat station.

Voted 181. 3s. to pay the expenses of theYoughal and Peterhead Life-boats in assistingthe barque Pax, of Liverpool, and fishing boat

> Advance, of Pittenweem.The Walmer Life-boat rendered assistance

to the s.s. Cid, of Barcelona.| Voted 16Z. 15s. to a man who was injuredI while engaged on service with the Winchelsea

Life-boat, on the 15th February.Also 6s. to two fishermen for putting off in

a boat from Whithorn and taking into theharbour a boat, containing four persons, whichwas being carried out to sea by the current offBurrow Head, in fine weather, on the 13thJuly.

THE CALL FOR THE LIFE-BOAT.

BOOM! Booml The sound of the signal gunThrills the heart, as it startles the ear,

And swift as their flying feet can runThe men rush out as the sound they hear;

And swift as their strong hands can undo,Shackle and fastenings are undone,

And the coxswain and the Life-boat crewBeady* for duty which must be done.

Down on the stony, surf-swept beach,The women are waiting to see them go.

The slip is short, and the boat won't reachThe spot where the frothing waters flow;

And time is precious, the women think,So they put their shoulders to the wheel,

-Nor from the waters the brave souls shrink,The brave women and wives of Piel.

They're sending their dearest ones away,Launching them on the treacherous wave,

And none of them dream of saying " Stay I "For Duty calls, and there's lives to save.

O'er the bar where the white horses ride,Out on the bay where the seas run high,

Men, at the mercy of wind and tide.Await their coming, for death is nigh.

Now she's afloat! and away she goesInto the very teeth of the gale,

Tossing the white spray over her bowsAs she rapidly scuds under sail.

Now she's deep on the trough of the sea,Now on the top of a crested wave;

What? oh I what will the issue be?Life, or death ? Will they lose or save ?

The little brown sail is out of sight,It has disappeared around " Seldom Seen; "

And we watch until the shades of nightFall over the tempestuous scene.

Oh I to know what is happening there,Out on that wild, white waste of foam;

But God is above—to Him the pray'rBises, "Dear Lord, send the lads safe

home."

And oh I the joy and relief to allWhen later the message comes to tell,

The Life-boat, in answer to the call,Had saved three lives, and all were well.

O beautiful love I that sends forth manOn the pitiless deeps to seek and save.

Surely the Life-boat is first in the van• Of Humanity, with its warriors brave.

ANNIE ISABEL CURWEN.

NOTICE.

The next number of the LIFE-BOAT JOURNAL will be published on the1st February, 1902.

EOYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION.SUPPORTED SOLELY BT VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS.

Patron—|§is Wast (Brarious fHajestg tf)t Sing,

t—His ROYAL HIGHNESS THB DUKE OF CORNWALL AHD YORK, K.G.

(Cijairman—SIR EDWARD BIRKBEOK, BART., V.P. Eeputs-lttbainnan—Colonel FrrzRoY CLAYTON, V.P.

SecwUts—CHARLES DIBDIN, ESQ., F.K.G.S.'

Telegraphic Address:" LIFE-BOATINSTITUTION

LONDON"

Telephone :No. 2964

("GERRARDEXCHANGE.":

APPEAL.THE COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT have to state that during the past year" (1900) the

EOYAL NATIONAL LOTS-BOAT INSTITUTION expended £79,049 on its Life-boat Establishments.

GENERAL SUMMAKY OF THE WOEK OP THE INSTITUTION DURING 1900.

Number of Lives rescued by Life-boats, in addition to 35Vessels saved by them and 43 persons landed fromvessels in distress and lightships

Number of Lives saved by Shore-boats, &cAmount of Rewards granted during the YearHonorary Eewards:—Silver Medals and Clasps . . . 1 1

Binocular Glasses 16Aneroid Barometers 4Votes of Thanks on Vellum . . . 36Certificates of Service . . 11

690175

£ s. 'd.

10,662 - 1

Total 78 865 £10,662 - 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 42,906. The rewards and recognitionsgranted by the Institution in the same period comprise 98 Gold Medals and Clasps, 1,196Silver Medals and Clasps, 820 Binocular Glasses, 15 Telescopes, 82 Aneroid Barometers, 1,685Votes of Thanks, inscribed on vellum and framed, 186 Certificates of Service framed, and£217,284 in money.

The Committee earnestly appeal to the British Public for Funds to enable" them tomaintain their 286 Life-boats now on the Coast and their Crews in the most perfect state ofefficiency. This can only be effected by a large and permanent annual income. The AnnualSubscriptions, Donations and Dividends are quite inadequate for the purpose. The Committeeare confident that in their endeavour to provide the brave Life-boatmen, who nobly hazardtheir lives in order that they may save others, with the best possible means for carrying ontheir great work, they will meet with the entire approval of the people of this the greatestmaritime country in the world, and that their appeal will not be made in vain, so that thescope and efficiency of our great Life-saving Service, of which the Nation has always been soproud, may not have to be curtailed. |

Annual Subscriptions and Donations are earnestly solicited, and will be thankfullyreceived by the Secretary, CHARLES DIBDIN, 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 other Bankers in the United Kingdom.—ls< November, 1901.

Documents

THE LIFE-BOAT. · the variou types osf Life-boat befors e deciding as to th descriptioe o boaf nt they wish to replac theie olrd one, have with one exception, namely, Ray], chosen