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diff --git a/20520.txt b/20520.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..53157de --- /dev/null +++ b/20520.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5111 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Hero of the Humber, by Henry Woodcock + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Hero of the Humber + or the History of the Late Mr. John Ellerthorpe + +Author: Henry Woodcock + +Release Date: February 6, 2007 [EBook #20520] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE HERO OF THE HUMBER *** + + + + +Produced by Stacy Brown, David Clarke and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + +THE + +HERO OF THE HUMBER; + +OR, THE + +HISTORY OF THE LATE + +MR. JOHN ELLERTHORPE + +(FOREMAN OF THE HUMBER DOCK GATES, HULL), + +BEING A RECORD OF + +REMARKABLE INCIDENTS IN HIS CAREER AS A SAILOR; HIS CONVERSION AND +CHRISTIAN USEFULNESS; HIS UNEQUALLED SKILL AS A SWIMMER, AND HIS +EXPLOITS ON THE WATER, WITH A MINUTE ACCOUNT OF HIS DEEDS OF DARING IN +SAVING, WITH HIS OWN HANDS, ON SEPARATE AND DISTINCT OCCASIONS, UPWARDS +OF FORTY PERSONS FROM DEATH BY DROWNING: TOGETHER WITH AN ACCOUNT OF HIS +LAST AFFLICTION, DEATH, ETC. + +BY THE + +REV. HENRY WOODCOCK, + +AUTHOR OF 'POPERY UNMASKED,' 'WONDERS OF GRACE,' ETC. + + 'My tale is simple and of humble birth, + A tribute of respect to real worth.' + + +SECOND EDITION. + + +LONDON: + +_S. W. Partridge, 9, Paternoster Row; Wesleyan Book Room, 66, +Paternoster Row; Primitive Methodist Book Room, 6, Sutton Street, +Commercial Road, E.; and of all Booksellers._ + +1880. + + + + +ALFORD: + +J. HORNER, PRINTER, + +MARKET-PLACE. + + + + +TO + +THE SEAMEN OF GREAT BRITAIN, + +TO WHOSE + +SKILL, COURAGE, AND ENDURANCE, + +ENGLAND OWES MUCH OF HER GREATNESS, + +THIS VOLUME-- + +CONTAINING A RECORD OF THE CHARACTER AND DEEDS OF ONE, + +WHO, FOR UPWARDS OF THIRTY YEARS, + +BRAVED THE HARDSHIPS AND PERILS OF A SAILOR'S LIFE, + +AND + +WHOSE GALLANTRY AND HUMANITY + +WON FOR HIM THE TITLE + +OF + +'THE HERO OF THE HUMBER,' + +IS MOST RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED, + +WITH THE EARNEST PRAYER + +THAT THEY MAY EMBRACE THAT BENIGN RELIGION + +WHICH NOT ONLY RESCUED THE 'HERO' FROM THE EVILS IN WHICH + +HE HAD SO LONG INDULGED, + +AND ENRICHED HIM WITH THE GRACES OF THE + +CHRISTIAN CHARACTER, + +BUT ALSO GAVE + +A BRIGHTER GLOW AND GREATER ENERGY + +TO THAT + +COURAGE, GALLANTRY, AND HUMANITY + +BY WHICH HE HAD BEEN LONG DISTINGUISHED. + +THE AUTHOR. + + + + +PREFACE + +TO THE SECOND EDITION. + + +Mr. Gladstone, in a recent lecture thus defines a hero: quoting Latham's +definition of a hero,--'a man eminent for bravery,' he said he was not +satisfied with that, because bravery might be mere animal bravery. +Carlyle had described Napoleon I. as a great hero. 'Now he (Mr. +Gladstone) was not prepared to admit that Napoleon was a hero. He was +certainly one of the most extraordinary men ever born. There was more +power concentrated in that brain than in any brain probably born for +centuries. That he was a great man in the sense of being a man of +transcendent power, there was no doubt; but his life was tainted with +selfishness from beginning to end, and he was not ready to admit that a +man whose life was fundamentally tainted with selfishness was a hero. A +greater hero than Napoleon was the captain of a ship which was run down +in the Channel three or four years ago, who, when the ship was +quivering, and the water was gurgling round her, and the boats had been +lowered to save such persons as could be saved, stood by the bulwark +with a pistol in his hand and threatened to shoot dead the first man who +endeavoured to get into the boat until every woman and child was +provided for. His true idea of a hero was this:--A hero was a man who +must have ends beyond himself, in casting himself as it were out of +himself, and must pursue these ends by means which were honourable, the +lawful means, otherwise he might degenerate into a wild enthusiast. He +must do this without distortion or disturbance of his nature as a man, +because there were cases of men who were heroes in great part, but who +were so excessively given to certain ideas and objects of their own, +that they lost all the proportion of their nature. There were other +heroes, who, by giving undue prominence to one idea, lost the just +proportion of things, and became simply men of one idea. A man to be a +hero must pursue ends beyond himself by legitimate means. He must pursue +them as a man, not as a dreamer. Not to give to some one idea +disproportionate weight which it did not deserve, and forget everything +else which belonged to the perfection and excellence of human nature. If +he did all this he was a hero, even if he had not very great powers; and +if he had great powers, then he was a consummate hero.' + +Now, if we cannot claim for the late Mr. Ellerthorpe 'great powers' of +intellect, we are quite sure that all who read the following pages will +agree that the title bestowed upon him by his grateful and admiring +townsman,--'The Hero of the Humber,' was well and richly deserved. He +was a 'Hero,' though he lived in a humble cottage. He was a man of +heroic sacrifices; his services were of the noblest kind; he sought the +highest welfare of his fellow-creatures with an energy never surpassed; +his generous and impulsive nature found its highest happiness in +promoting the welfare of others. He is held as a benefactor in the fond +recollection of thousands of his fellow countrymen, and he received +rewards far more valuable and satisfying than those which his Queen and +Government bestowed upon him: more lasting than the gorgeous pageantries +and emblazoned escutcheon that reward the hero of a hundred battles. + + The warrior's deeds may win + An earthly fame, but deeds by mercy wrought, + Are heaven's own register within: + Not one shall be forgot. + +The scene of most of his gallant exploits in rescuing human lives was +'The river Humber;' hence the title given him by a large gathering of +his fellow townsmen. + +The noble river Humber, upon which the town of Kingston-upon-Hull is +seated, may be considered the Thames of the Midland and Northern +Counties of England. It divides the East Riding of Yorkshire from +Lincolnshire, during the whole of its course, and is formed by the +junction of the Ouse and the Trent. At Bromfleet, it receives the little +river Foulness, and rolling its vast collection of waters eastward, in a +stream enlarged to between two and three miles in breadth, washes the +town of Hull, where it receives the river of the same name. Opposite to +Hedon and Paul, which are a few miles below Hull, the Humber widens into +a vast estuary, six or seven miles in breadth, and then directs it's +course past Great Grimsby to the German Ocean, which it enters at Spurn +Head. No other river system collects waters from so many important towns +as this famous stream. 'The Humber,' says a recent writer, 'resembling +the trunk of a vast tree spreading its branches in every direction, +commands, by the numerous rivers which it receives, the navigation and +trade of a very extensive and commercial part of England.' + +The Humber, between its banks, occupies an area of about one hundred and +twenty-five square miles. The rivers Ouse and Trent which, united, form +the Humber, receive the waters of the Aire, Calder, Don, Old Don, +Derwent, Idle, Sheaf, Soar, Nidd, Yore, Wharfe, &c., &c. + +From the waters of this far-famed river--the Humber--Mr. Ellerthorpe +rescued thirty-one human beings from drowning. + +For the rapid sale of 3,500 copies of the 'Life of the Hero,' the Author +thanks a generous public. A series of articles extracted from the first +edition appeared in '_Home Words_.' An illustrated article also appears +in Cassell's '_Heroes of Britain in Peace and War_,' in which the writer +speaks of the present biography as '_That very interesting book in which +the history of Ellerthorpe's life is told_. (P. 1. 2. PART XI.) The +Author trusts that the present edition, containing an account of '_The +Hero's_' last affliction, death, funeral, etc., will render the work +additionally interesting. + + THE WRITER. + + _53, Leonard Street, Hull, Aug. 4th, 1880._ + + + + +CONTENTS. + + +CHAP. PAGE + +I. His wicked and reckless career 1 + +II. His conversion and inner experience 6 + +III. His Christian labours 14 + +IV. His staunch teetotalism 22 + +V. His bold adventures on the water 31 + +VI. His method of rescuing the drowning 44 + +VII. His gallant and humane conduct in rescuing the drowning 51 + +VIII. The honoured hero 95 + +IX. His general character, death, etc. 116 + +X. The hero's funeral 122 + + + + +The Hero of the Humber. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +HIS WICKED AND RECKLESS CAREER AS A SAILOR. + + +The fine old town of Hull has many institutions of which it is +deservedly proud. There is the Charter house, a monument of practical +piety of the days of old. There is the Literary and Philosophical +Institute, with its large and valuable library, and its fine museum, +each of which is most handsomely housed. There is the new Town Hall, the +work of one of the town's most gifted sons. There is the tall column +erected in honour of Wilberforce, in the days when the representatives +of the law were expected to obey the laws, and when the cultivation of a +philanthropic feeling towards the negro had not gone out of fashion. +There is the Trinity House, with its magnificent endowments, which have +for more than five centuries blessed the mariners of the port, and which +is now represented by alms-houses, so numerous, so large, so externally +beautiful, and so trimly kept as to be both morally and architecturally +among the noblest ornaments of the town. There is the Port of Hull +Society, with its chapel, its reading-rooms, its orphanage, its seaman's +mission, all most generously supported. There is that leaven of ancient +pride which also may be classed among the institutions of the place, +and which operates in giving to a population by no means wealthy a habit +of respectability, and a look for the most part well-to-do. But among +none of these will be found the institution to which we are about to +refer. The institution that we are to-day concerned to honour is +compact, is self-supporting, is eminently philanthropic, has done more +good with very limited means than any other, and is so much an object of +legitimate pride, that we have pleasure in making this unique +institution more generally known. A life-saving institution that has in +the course of a few brief years rescued about fifty people from +drowning, and that has done so without expectation of reward, deserves +to be named, and the name of this institution is simply that of a +comparatively poor man--John Ellerthorpe, dock gatekeeper, at the +entrance of the Humber Dock.' + +Such was the strain in which the _Sheffield Daily Telegraph_, in a +Leader (March 17th, 1868), spoke of the character and doings of him whom +a grateful and admiring town entitled 'The Hero of the Humber.' + +[Sidenote: HIS NATIVITY.] + +He was born at Rawcliffe, a small village near Snaith, Yorkshire, in the +year 1806. His ancestors, as far as we can trace them, were all +connected with the sea-faring life. His father, John Ellerthorpe, owned +a 'Keel' which sailed between Rawcliffe and the large towns in the West +Riding of Yorkshire, and John often accompanied him during his voyages. +His mother was a woman of great practical sagacity and unquestionable +honesty and piety, and from her young John extended many of the high and +noble qualities which distinguished his career. Much of his childhood, +however, was passed at the 'Anchor' public house, Rawcliffe, kept by his +paternal grandmother, where he early became an adept swearer and a lover +of the pot, and for upwards of forty years--to use his own language--he +was 'a drunken blackard.' + +When John was ten years of age his father removed to Hessle. About this +time John heard that flaming evangelist, the Rev. William Clowes, preach +near the 'old pump' at Hessle, and he retired from the service with good +resolutions in his breast, and sought a place of prayer. Soon after he +heard the famous John Oxtoby preach, and he says, 'I was truly converted +under his sermon, and for sometime I enjoyed a clear sense of +forgiveness.' His mother's heart rejoiced at the change; but from his +father, who was an habitual drunkard, he met with much opposition and +persecution, and being but a boy, and possessing a very impressionable +nature, John soon joined his former corrupt associates and cast off, for +upwards of thirty years, even the form of prayer. + +[Sidenote: HIS LOVE OF THE WATER.] + +Ellerthorpe was born with a passion for salt water. He was reared on the +banks of a well navigated river, the Humber, and, in his boyhood, he +liked not only to be on the water, but _in_ it. He also accompanied his +father on his voyages, and when left at home he spent most of his time +in the company of seamen, and these awakened within him the tastes and +ambition of a sailor. He went to sea when fourteen years of age, and for +three years sailed in the brig 'Jubilee,' then trading between Hull and +London. The next four years were spent under Captain Knill, on board of +the 'Westmoreland,' trading between Hull and Quebec, America. Afterwards +he spent several years in the Baltic trade. When the steam packet, +'Magna Charter,' began to run between Hull and New Holland, John became +a sailor on board and afterwards Captain of the vessel. He next became +Captain of a steamer that ran between Barton and Hessle. He then sailed +in a vessel between Hull and America. In 1845, he entered the service of +the Hull Dock Company, in which situation he remained up to the time of +his death. + +[Sidenote: HIS YOUTHFUL CAREER.] + +Fifty years ago our sailors, generally speaking, were a grossly wicked +class of men. A kind of special license to indulge in all kinds of sin +was given to the rough and hardy men whose occupation was on the mighty +deep. Landsmen, while comfortably seated round a winter's fire, +listening to the storm and tempest raging without, were not only struck +with amazement at the courage and endurance of sailors in exposing +themselves to the elements, but, influenced by their imagination, +magnified the energy and bravery that overcame them. Peasants gazed with +wild astonishment on the village lad returned, after a few years +absence, a veritable 'Jack tar.' The credulity of these delighted +listeners tempted Jack to 'spin his yarns,' and tell his tales of +nautical adventures, real or imaginary. Hence, he was everywhere greeted +with a genial and profuse hospitality. The best seat in the house, the +choicest drinks in the cellar, were for Jack. Our ships of commerce, +like so many shuttles, were rapidly weaving together the nations of the +earth in friendly amity. Besides, a romantic sentiment and feeling, +generated to a great extent by the victories which our invincible navy +had won during the battles of the Nile, and perpetuated by Nelson's +sublime battle cry, 'England expects every man to do his duty,' helped +to swell the tide of sympathy in favour of the sailor. Under these +circumstances Jack became Society's indulged and favoured guest; and yet +he remained outside of it. 'Peculiarities incident to his profession, +and which ought to have been corrected by education and religion, became +essential features of character in the public mind. A sailor became an +idea--a valuable menial in the service of the commonwealth, but as +strange and as eccentric in his habits as the walk of some amphibious +animal, or web-footed aquatic on land. To purchase a score of watches, +and to fry them in a pan with beer, to charter half a dozen coaches, and +invite foot passengers inside, while he 'kept on deck,' or in any way to +scatter his hard earnings of a twelvemonth in as many hours, was +considered frolicsome thoughtlessness, which was more than compensated +by the throwing away of a purse of gold to some poor woman in distress.' +Land-sharks and crimps beset the young sailor in every sea port; low +music halls and dingy taverns and beer shops presented their +attractions; and there the 'jolly tars' used to swallow their poisonous +compounds, and roar out ribald songs, and dance their clumsy fandangoes +with the vilest outcasts of society. 'It is a necessary evil,' said +some; 'it is the very nature of sailors, poor fellows.' While the +thoughtless multitude were immensely tickled with Jack's mad antics and +drolleries. Generous to a fault to all who were in need, Jack's motto +was:-- + + While there's a shot in the locker, a messmate to bless, + It shall always be shared with a friend in distress. + +[Sidenote: JACK'S FROLICS.] + +Amid such scenes as these our friend spent a great portion of his youth +and early manhood. The loud ribald laugh, the vile jest and song, the +midnight uproar, the drunken row, the flaunting dress and impudent +gestures of the wretched women who frequent our places of ungodly +resort--amid such scenes as these, did he waste his precious time and +squander away much of his hard earned money. But though a wild and +reckless sailor, his warm and generous heart was ever impelling him to +noble and generous deeds. If he sometimes became the dupe of the +designing, and indulged in the wild revelry of passion, at other times +he gave way to an outburst of generosity bordering on prodigality, +relieving the necessities of the poor, or true to the instincts of a +British tar standing up to redress the wrongs of the oppressed. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +HIS CONVERSION AND INNER EXPERIENCE. + + +When far away on the sea, and while mingling in all the dissipated +scenes of a sailor's life, John would sometimes think of those youthful +days--the only sunny spot in his life's journey--when he 'walked in the +fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost.' Serious thoughts +would rise in his mind, and those seeds of truth, sown in his heart +while listening to Clowes and Oxtoby, and which for years seemed dead, +would be quickened into life. He had often wished to hear Mr. Clowes +once more, and on seeing a placard announcing that he would preach at +the opening of the Nile Street Chapel, Hull (1846), he hastened home, +and, sailor-like, quaintly observed to his wife, 'Why that old Clowes is +living and is going to preach. Let's go and hear him.' On the following +Sunday he went to the chapel, but it was so many years since he had been +to God's house that he now felt ashamed to enter, and for some minutes +he wandered to and fro in front of the chapel. At length he ventured to +go in, and sat down in a small pew just within the door. His mind was +deeply affected, and ere the next Sabbath he had taken two sittings in +the chapel. + +About this time, the Rev. Charles Jones, of blessed memory, began his +career as a missionary in Hull. He laboured during six years, with great +success, in the streets, and yards, and alleys of the town; and scores +now in heaven and hundreds on their way thither, will, through all +eternity, have to bless God that Primitive Methodism ever sent him to +labour in Hull. The Rev. G. Lamb prepared the people to receive him by +styling him 'a bundle of love.' John went to hear him, and charmed by +his preaching and allured by the grace of God, his religious feelings +were deepened. Soon after this, and through the labours of Mr. Lamb, he +obtained peace with God, and I have heard him say at our lovefeasts, +'Jones knocked me down, but it was Mr. Lamb that picked me up.' + +[Sidenote: HIS SERIOUS IMPRESSIONS.] + +[Sidenote: HIS CONVERSION.] + +Being invited by two Christian friends to attend a class meeting on the +following Sabbath morning, he went. As he sat in that old room in West +Street Chapel, a thousand gloomy thoughts and fearful apprehensions +crossed his mind, and casting many a glance towards the door, he '_felt +as though he must dart out_.' But when Mr. John Sissons, the leader of +the class, said, with his usual kind smile and sympathizing look:--'I'm +glad to see you,' and then proceeded to give him suitable council and +encouragement, John's heart melted and his eyes filled with tears; and, +on being invited to repeat his visit on the following Sabbath, he at +once consented. One of the friends who had accompanied him to the class, +said, 'Now God has sown the seed of grace in your heart and the enemy +will try to sow tares, but if you resist the devil he will flee from +you,' and scarcely had John left the room _ere the battle began_. 'Oh, +what a fool' he thought, 'I was to promise to go again,' and when he got +home he said to his wife, 'I've been to class, and what is worse, I have +promised to go again, and I dar'nt run off.' Mrs. Ellerthorpe, who had +begun to watch with some interest her husband's struggles, wisely +replied, 'Go, for you cannot go to a better place, I intend to go to Mr. +Jones' class.' All the next week John was in great perplexity, thinking, +'What can I say if I go? If I tell them the same tale I told them last +week they will say I've got it off by memory.' On the following Sabbath +morning he was in the street half resolved not to go to class, when he +thought, 'Did'nt my friend say the devil would tempt me and that I was +to resist him? Perhaps it is the devil that is filling me with these +distressing feelings, but I'll resist him,' and, suiting his action to +his words, in a moment, John was seen darting along the street at his +utmost speed; nor did he pause till, panting and almost breathless, he +found himself seated in the vestry of the Primitive Methodist Chapel, +West Street. He regarded that meeting as the turning point in his +spiritual history, and in the review it possessed to him an undying +charm. There a full, free, and present salvation was pressed on the +people. The short way to the cross was pointed out. The blessedness of +the man whose transgression is forgiven was realized. The direct and +comforting witness of the Holy Spirit to the believer's adoption was +proclaimed. And there believers were exhorted to grow richer in holiness +and riper in knowledge every day. And while John sat and listened to +God's people, he felt a divine power coming down from on high, which he +could not comprehend, but which, however, he joyously experienced. He +joined the class that morning and continued a member five years, when he +became connected with our new chapel in Thornton Street. Around these +services in the old vestry at West Street, cluster the grateful +recollections of many now living and of numbers who have crossed the +flood. How often has that room resounded with the cries of penitent +sinners and the songs of rejoicing believers? + +[Sidenote: VISITS HIS MOTHER.] + +Soon after our friend had united himself with the people of God he paid +a visit to his mother, who was in a dying state. It was on a beautiful +Sabbath morning, in the month of June, and while walking along the road, +between Hull and Hessle, and reflecting on the change he had +experienced, he was filled 'unutterably full of glory and of God.' That +morning, with its glorious visitation of grace, he never forgot. His +soul had new feelings; his heart throbbed with a new, a strange, a +divine joy. Peace reigned within and all around was lovely. The sun +seemed to shine more brightly, and the birds sang a sweeter song. The +flowers wore a more beautiful aspect, and the very grass seemed clothed +in a more vivid green. It was like a little heaven below. 'As I walked +along,' he says, 'I shouted, glory, glory, glory, and I am sure if a +number of sinners had heard me they would have thought me mad.' + +But was he mad? Did not the pentecostal converts 'eat their meat with +gladness and singleness of heart, praising God?' Did not the converts in +Samaria 'make great joy in the city?' Did not the Ethiopian Eunuch, +having obtained salvation, '_go on his way rejoicing_?' And Charles +Wesley, four days after his conversion, thus expressed the joy he felt-- + + I rode on the sky so happy was I, + Nor envied Elijah his seat; + My soul mounted higher in a chariot of fire + As the moon was under my feet. + +And surely God's people have as much right to give utterance to their +joy as the dupes of the devil have to give expression to theirs; and +though the religion of the Saviour requires us to surrender many +pleasures and endure peculiar sorrows, yet it is, supremely, the +religion of peace, joy, and overflowing gladness. + +Mr. Ellerthorpe was never guilty of proclaiming with the trumpet tongue +of a Pharisee, either what he felt or did, and though he kept a +carefully written diary, extending over several volumes, and the reading +of which has been a great spiritual treat to the writer of this +book,--revealing, as it does, the secret of that intense earnestness, +unbending integrity, active benevolence, and readiness for every good +word and work by which our friend's religious career was +distinguished,--yet of that diary our space will permit us to make but +the briefest use. Take the following extracts:-- + +'January 1, 1852.--I, John Ellerthorpe, here in the presence of my God, +before whom I bow, covenant to live nearer to Him than I have done in +the year that has rolled into eternity.' + +[Sidenote: HIS PIOUS RESOLUTIONS.] + +Resolutions. + +'1st. I will bow three times a day in secret. + +2nd. I will attend all the means of grace I can. + +3rd. I will visit what sick I can. + +4th. I will speak ill of no man. + +5th. I will hear nothing against any man, especially those who belong to +the same society. + +6th. I will respect all men, especially Christians. + +7th. I will pray for a revival. + +8th. I will guard against all bad language and ill feeling. + +9th. I will never speak rash to any man. + +10th. I will be honest in all my dealings. + +11th. I will always speak the truth. + +12th. I will never contract a debt without a proper prospect of payment. + +13th. I will read three chapters of the Bible daily. + +14th. I will get all to class I possibly can. + +15th. I will set a good example before all men, and especially my own +family. + +16th. I will not be bound for any man. + +17th. I will not argue on scripture with any man. + +18th. I will endeavour to improve my time. + +19th. I will endeavour to be ready every moment. + +20th. I will leave all my concerns in the hands of my God, for Christ's +sake. All these I intend, by the help of my God, diligently to perform.' + +That he always carried out these resolutions is more than his diary will +warrant us to say. He sometimes missed the mark, and came short of his +aim. He suffered from a certain hastiness of temper, and ruggedness of +disposition, which, to use his own words, 'cost him a vast deal of +watching and praying. But the Lord,' he adds, 'has helped me in a +wonderful manner, and I believe I shall reap if I faint not.' The +following extracts from his diary will give some idea of his inner +experience:-- + +[Sidenote: HIS DIARY.] + +[Sidenote: HIS INNER EXPERIENCE.] + +'_January 1850. 5th._--I feel the hardness of my heart and the +littleness of my love, yet I am in a great degree able to deny myself to +take up my cross to follow Christ through good and evil report. +_7th._--I feel that I am growing in grace and that I have more power +over temptation, and over myself than I had some time since, but I want +the witness of full sanctification. _8th._--What is now the state of my +mind? Do I now enjoy an interest in Christ? Am I a child of God? It is +suggested by Satan that I am guilty of many imperfections. I know it, +but I know also if any man sin, etc. _Feb. 18th._--I feel my heart is +very hard and stubborn, that I am proud and haughty and very bad +tempered, but God can, and I believe he will, break my rocky heart in +pieces. _March 3rd._--This has been a good Sabbath; we had a good prayer +meeting at 7 o'clock, a profitable class at 9, in the school the Lord +was with us, and the preaching services were good. _4th._--Last night I +had a severe attack of my old complaint and suffered greatly for many +hours, but I called upon God and he delivered me. _16th._--I am in good +health, for which, and the use of my reason, and all the blessings that +God bestows upon me, I am thankful. I am unworthy of the least of them. +O that I could love God ten thousand times more than I do; for I feel +ashamed of myself that I love him so little. _19th._--I am ill in body +but well in soul. The flesh may give way, and the devil may tempt me, +and all hell may rage, yet I believe the Lord will bring me through. +_April 6th._--To-day, in the haste of my temper, I called a man a liar. +I now feel that I did wrong in the sight of God and man. I am deeply +sorry. May God forgive me, and may I sin no more. _May 6th._--O God make +me faithful and give to thy servant the spirit of prayer. Like David, I +want to resolve, "Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth"; like Mary I +want to "ponder these things in my heart"; like the Bereans I want to +"search the scriptures" daily and in the spirit of Samuel to say "Speak, +Lord; for thy servant heareth." _May 20th._--I am at Hessle feast, and +thank God it has been a feast to my soul. I have attended one prayer +meeting, two class meetings, three preaching services. Bless God for +these means of grace. My little book is full and I do trust I am a +better man than when I began to write my diary. _29th._--My dear wife is +very ill, but the Lord does all things well. I know that He can, and +believe that He will, raise her up again and that the affliction of her +body will turn to the salvation of her soul. _30th._--I am now laid +under fresh obligations to God. He has given me another son. May he be a +goodly child, like Moses, and grow up to be a man after God's own heart. +_July 3rd._--This day the Victoria docks have been opened. It has been a +day of trial and conflict, for I ran the Packet into a Schooner and did +L10 damage. It was a trial of my faith, and through the assistance of +God I overcame. _August 20th._--Sunday.--How thankful I am that God has +set one day in seven when we can get away from the wear and tear of life +and worship Him under our own vine and fig tree none daring to make us +afraid. It is all of God's wisdom, and mercy, and goodness. _September +11th._--To-night I put my wife's name in the class book; may she be a +very good member, such a one as Thou wilt own when Thou numbers up Thy +jewels. _October 11th._--I did wrong last night, being quite in a +passion at my wife, which grieved her. Lord help me and make me never +differ with her again. _12th._--I feel much better in my soul this +morning and will, from this day promise in the strength of grace, never +to allow myself to be thrown into a passion again: it grieves my soul, +it hurts my mind. 1851. _January 7th._--Five years this day I entered my +present situation under the Hull Dock Company. Then I was a drunken man, +and a great swearer; but I thank God he has changed my heart. +_18th._--This has been a very troublesome day to my soul. I have been +busy with the sunken packet all day and hav'nt had time to get to +prayer. My soul feels hungry. _29th._--This has been a day of prayerful +anxiety about my son; he has passed his third examination, God having +heard my prayer on his behalf. _Feb. 24th._--I have been to the teetotal +meeting and have taken the pledge, and I intend, through the grace of +God, to keep as long as I live. _March 1st._--The Rev. W. Clowes is +still alive. May the Lord grant that he may not have much pain. While +brother Newton and I were in the room with him we felt it good; O the +beauty of seeing a good man in a dying state. May I live the life of the +righteous and may my last end be like Mr. Clowes's. _2nd._--The first +thing I did this morning was to go and inquire after Mr. Clowes. I found +that life was gone and that his happy spirit had taken its flight to +heaven. _4th._--I am more than ever convinced of the great advantage we +derive from entire sanctification; it preserves the soul in rest amid +the toils of life; it gives satisfaction with every situation in which +God pleases to place us.' + +[Sidenote: HIS RELIGIOUS WARMTH.] + +Sailor like Mr. Ellerthorpe was earnest, impulsive, enthusiastic, +carrying a warm ardour and a brisk life into all his duties. He did not +love a continual calm, rather he preferred the storm. He did not believe +that because he was on board a good ship, had shaped his course aright, +and had a compass never losing its polarity, that he would reach port +whether he made sail or not, whether he minded his helm or not. He knew +he couldn't _drift_ into port. With waterlogged and becalmed Christians +or those who heaved to crafts expecting to drift to the celestial +heaven, he had but little fellowship. Such he would cause to shake out +reefs and have yards well trimmed to catch every breeze from the +millenial trade winds. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +HIS CHRISTIAN LABOURS. + + +Having become a subject of saving grace, Mr. Ellerthorpe felt an earnest +desire that others should participate in the same benefit. Nor was there +any object so dear to his heart, and upon which he was at all times so +ready to speak, as the conversion of sinners. He knew he did not possess +the requisite ability for preaching the gospel, and therefore he sought +out a humbler sphere in which his new-born zeal might spend its fires, +and in that sphere he laboured, with remarkable success, during a +quarter of a century. I now refer to the sick chamber. + +During all that time he took a deep interest in the sick and the dying; +and for several years after his conversion, having much time at his +disposal, he would often visit as many as twenty families per day, for +weeks together. When Cholera, that mysterious disease, with its sudden +attacks, its racking cramps, its icy cold touch, and its almost +resistless progress, swept through the town of Hull, in the year 1849, +leaving one thousand eight hundred and sixty,--or one in forty of the +entire population,--_dead_, our friend was at any one's call, and never +refused a single application; indeed, he was known as a great visitor of +the sick and dying, and was often called in extreme cases to visit those +from whom others shrank lest they should catch the contagion of the +disorder. The scenes of suffering and distress which he witnessed +baffled description. On one occasion he entered a room where a whole +family were smitten with cholera. The wife lay cold and dead in one +corner of the room, a child had just expired in another corner, and the +husband and father was dying, amidst excruciating pain, in the middle of +the room. John knelt down and spoke words of Christian comfort to the +man, who died in a few moments. + +[Sidenote: HE VISITS THE SICK.] + +For years, he was in the habit of accompanying Mr. Jones, when visiting +the miserable garrets, obscure yards, and wretched alleys in Hull, and +was considered his 'right hand man,' in helping to hold open-air +services. They often went in company to such wretched localities as +'Leadenhall Square,' then the greatest cesspool of vice in the Port, +and, well supplied with tracts, visited every house. During the +intervals of public worship, on the Sabbath day, when he might have been +enjoying himself in the circle of his family, on a clean hearth, before +a bright fire, he was pointing perishing sinners to the Lamb of God. +When our new and beautiful chapel in Great Thornton Street was +discovered to be on fire, at noon,--March, 1856, he was at the bedside +of an afflicted woman, Mrs. Wright, speaking to her of her past sins and +of a precious Saviour. He had spent some time with her daily for months, +but just at this time he became Foreman of the Victoria Dock and could +no longer pay his daily visits to the sick, which greatly distressed +Mrs. Wright and others; but duty called him elsewhere and he obeyed its +voice. He says, 'I durst not make any fresh engagements to visit the +sick, and up to the present time (1867) I have rarely been able to +visit, except on the Sabbath day, all my time being required at the dock +gates. But on the Sabbath I love to get to the bedside of the sick; +nothing does me more good; there my soul is often refreshed and my zeal +invigorated.' + +Those who are most averse to religion in life, generally desire to share +its benefits in death. Their religion is very much like the great coats +which persons of delicate health wear in this changeable climate, and +which they use in foul weather, but lay aside when it is fair. 'Lord,' +says David, 'in trouble they visited thee, they poured out a prayer when +thy chastening was upon them.' + +[Sidenote: ACCOMPANIES MR. JONES.] + +Nor would we intimate that none truly repent of their sins and obtain +forgiveness, under such circumstances. Though late repentance is seldom +genuine, yet, as Mr. Jay remarks, genuine repentance is never too late. +God can pardon the sins of a century as easily as those of a day. Our +friend was the means, in the hand of God, of leading many, when worn by +sickness and at the eleventh hour of life, to the Lamb of God. His +carefully kept diary records many such instances. We give one. He says, +'I remember one Sunday coming from Hessle with the Rev. C. Jones. Our +"hearts burned within us as we talked by the way," and when we got to +Coultam Street, a number of well-dressed young men overheard our +conversation, and began to shout after us and call us approbrious names. +Mr. J. talked with them, but to no purpose. Four months after, Mr. Jones +and myself went, as usual, to visit the inmates of the infirmary; Mr. J. +took one side and I the other, and when I came to a person who needed +special counsel and advice, I used to call my friend to my aid. Well, we +met with a young man who burst into a flood of tears, and casting an +imploring look towards Mr. Jones, he said, "O sir, do forgive me." +"Forgive you what?" said Mr. J. "what have you done that you should ask +_me_ to forgive you?" "Sir," said he, "I am one of those young men who +were so impertinent to you one Sunday when you were returning from +Hessle; do forgive me, sir." "I freely forgive you," replied my friend, +"you must ask God to forgive you, for it is against him you have +sinned." We then prayed with him, and asked God to forgive him. He was +suffering from a broken leg, and I often used to visit him after our +first interview. He obtained pardon, and rejoiced in Christ as his +Saviour. He was a brand plucked from the burning.' + +[Sidenote: SICK-BED REPENTANCE.] + +But Mr. Ellerthorpe also tells us that though he visited, during +twenty-five years, hundreds of persons who cried aloud for mercy and +professed to obtain forgiveness, on what was feared would be their +dying beds, yet, he did not remember more than five or six who, on +being restored to health, lived so as to prove their conversion genuine. +The rest returned 'like the dog to its vomit, and the sow that was +washed to her wallowing in the mire.' The Sabbath-breaker forgot his +vows and promises, and returned to his Sunday pleasures. The swearer +allowed his tongue to move as unchecked in insulting his Maker as +before. The drunkard thirsted for his intoxicating cups and returned to +the scenes of his former dissipations; and the profligate, who avowed +himself a 'changed man,' when health was fully restored, laughed at +religion as a fancy, and hastened to wallow in the mire of pollution. He +had scarcely a particle of faith in sick-bed repentances, but believed +that in most instances they are solemn farces. + +Deeply affecting and admonitory are some of the instances he records. He +says, 'One night an engineer called me out of bed to visit his wife, who +was attacked with cholera. While I was praying with _her_, _he_ was +seized with the complaint. I visited them again the next day, when the +woman died, but the husband, after a long affliction, recovered. He +seemed sincerely penitent and made great promises of amendment. But, +alas! like hundreds more whom I visited, he no sooner recovered, than he +sought to shun me. At length he left the part of the town where he +resided when I first visited him, as he said, "_to get out of my way_." +But at that time, I visited in all parts of the town, and I often met +him, and it used to pain me to see the dodges he had recourse to in +order to avoid meeting me in the street.' + +He also records the case of a carter who resided in Collier Street. He +was attacked with small pox, and was horrible to look at and infectious +to come near, but being urged to visit him, 'I went to see him daily for +a long time,' says John. 'One day when I called I found him, his wife, +and child bathed in tears, for the doctor had just told them that the +husband and father would be dead in a few hours. We all prayed that God +would spare him, and spared he was. I continued to visit him thrice a +day, and he promised that he would accompany me to class when he got +better. At that time he seemed as though he would have had me ever with +him. One day, as I entered his room, he said, "O Mr. Ellerthorpe, how I +love to hear your foot coming into my house." I replied, 'Do you think +it possible that there will come a time when you will rather see any +one's face and hear any one's voice than mine?' "Never, no never," was +his reply. I answered, 'Well, I wish and hope it may never happen as I +have supposed.' Now, what followed? He went once to class, but I could +not attend that night, having to watch the tide, and he never went +again. I have seen him in the streets when he would go anywhere, or turn +down any passage, rather than meet me; and when compelled to meet me he +would look up at the sky or survey the chimney tops _rather_ than see +me.' + +[Sidenote: ADMONITORY INSTANCES.] + +'On one occasion, when visiting at the Infirmary, going from ward to +ward, and from bed to bed, I met with a young man, S. B----. He was very +bad, and was afraid he was going to die. I talked with him often and +long, pointing him to the Saviour, and prayed with him. With penitential +tears and earnest cries he sought mercy, and at length professed to +obtain salvation. He recovered. One Sunday, when at Hessle, visiting my +dying mother, I met this young man, and I shall never forget his +agitated frame, and terrified appearance, when he saw me. He looked this +way and that way; I said, 'Well, B----, are you all right? Have you kept +the promises you made to the Lord?' A blush of shame covered his face. I +said 'Why do you look so sad? Have I injured you?' 'No, Sir.' 'Have you +injured me?' 'I hope not,' was his reply. 'Then look me in the face; are +you beyond God's reach, or do you think that because he has restored +your health once, he will not afflict you again? Ah! my boy, the next +time may be much worse than the last. And do you think God will believe +you if you again promise to serve him? He looked round him and seemed as +though he would have leaped over a drain that was close by.' + +[Sidenote: HIS CHARITY.] + +Conscience is a busy power within the breast of the most desperate, and +when roused by the prospect of death and judgment, it speaks in terrible +tones. The notorious Muller denied the murder of Mr. Briggs, until, with +cap on his face and the rope round his neck, he submitted to the final +appeal and acknowledged, as he launched into eternity, 'Yes, I have done +it.' But the cries of these persons seem to have arisen, not from an +abhorrence of sin, but from a dread of punishment; they feared hell, and +hence they wished for heaven; they desired to be saved from the +consequences of sin, but were not delivered from the love of it. Need we +wonder that our friend had but little faith in a sick-bed repentance? +Scripture and reason alike warn us against trusting to such repentance, +'Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that +shall he also reap. For he that soweth to the flesh shall of the flesh +reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit +reap life everlasting.' + +While our friend felt that he would have been unworthy the name of a +Christian had he not felt more for the spiritual than for the temporal +woes of his fellow creatures, yet the latter were not forgotten by him; +and it sometimes grieved him that he could not more largely minister to +the temporal wants of the poor, the fatherless, the orphans, and the +widows, whom he visited. + +[Sidenote: HIS SELF-DENIAL.] + +And perhaps one of the most painful trials a visitor of the sick endures +is, to go moneyless to a chamber that has been crossed by want, and +whose inmate is utterly unable to supply his own necessities; but when +the visitor can relieve the physical as well as the spiritual +necessities of the sufferer, with what a buoyant step and cheerful heart +he enters the abode of poverty and suffering! And his words, instead of +falling like icicles on the sufferer's soul, fall on it as refreshing as +a summer rain, warm as the tempered ray, and welcome as a mother's love. +Such a visitor has often chased despair from the abode of wretchedness, +and filled it with the atmosphere of hope. + +[Sidenote: GIVES UP TOBACCO.] + +Hence, that he might participate in this joy, and have wherewith to +relieve the needy, Mr. Ellerthorpe abstained from the use of tobacco, of +which, at one period of his life, he was an immoderate consumer. One +Sabbath morning, while he and Mr. Harrison were visiting the sick, they +met two wretched-looking boys, fearfully marked with small pox (from an +attack of which complaint they were beginning to recover), and crying +for a drink of milk. Their father, who was far advanced in life, could +not supply their wants. John's heart was touched, and he thought, 'Here +am I, possessed of health, food, and raiment, while these poor children +are festering with disease, but scantily clothed, and not half fed. A +sixpence, a basin of milk, or a loaf of bread, would be a boon to them. +Can I help them?' He gave the old man sixpence, while he and Mr. +Harrison told the milkman to leave a quantity of milk at the man's house +daily, for which they would pay. It was with a radiant face, and a +tremble of glad emotion in his voice, that our friend, in relating this +circumstance to us one day, said:--'I felt a throb of pleasure when I +did that little act of kindness, such as I had never felt before,' when, +quick as lightning, the thought crossed his mind, 'Why I smoke six +pennyworth of tobacco every week!' and there and then he resolved to +give up the practice. On the next Friday, when Mrs. Ellerthorpe was +setting down on paper a list of the groceries wanted, she proceeded, as +usual, to say, 'Tea--Coffee--Sugar--_Tobacco_--,' 'Stop,' said her +husband, 'I've done with that. I'll have no more.' Now, Mrs. E. had +always enjoyed seeing her husband smoke; it had often proved a powerful +sedative to him when wearied with the cares of life, and the numberless +irritations of his trying vocation, and therefore she replied, +'Nonsense, you will soon repent of that whim. I shall get two ounces as +usual, and I know you'll smoke it.' 'I shall never touch it again,' was +his firm reply, and ever after kept his word. + +[Sidenote: HIS TEETOTALISM.] + +A world full of misery, both temporal and spiritual, surrounds us, and +which might be effectually relieved, were all Christians, many of whom +are laggard in effort and niggard in bounty, to manifest a tithe of the +self-denial which Mr. Ellerthorpe practiced. 'What maintains one vice, +would support two children.' Robert Hall says:--It is the practice of +self-denial in a thousand little instances which forms the truest test +of character.' Mr. Fletcher, Vicar of Madeley, was on one occasion +driven close for means to discharge the claims of the poor, when he said +to his wife, 'O Polly, can we not do without beer? Let us drink water, +and eat less meat. Let our necessities give way to the extremities of +the poor.' And at a meeting held the other night, a donation was +announced thus:--'A poor man's savings from tobacco, L5.' And are there +not tens of thousands of professors who could present similar offerings +if they, in the name and spirit of their great Master, tried? Do we not +often come in contact with men who complain that they cannot contribute +to the cause of God and humanity, who, at the same time, indulge in the +use of snuff, tobacco, or intoxicating drinks; all of which might be +laid aside to the gain of God's cause, and without at all lessening +either the health, reputation, or happiness of the consumer? And are +there not others, of good social position, who do not give as much to +relieve the temporal sufferings of their fellow creatures, during twelve +months, as it costs them to provide a single feast for a few well-to-do +friends? The merchant who sold his chips and shavings, and presented the +proceeds to the cause of God, while he kept the solid timber for +himself, is the type of too many professors of religion! + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +HIS STAUNCH TEETOTALISM. + + +Perhaps no class of men have suffered more from the evils of +intemperance than our brave sailors, fishermen, and rivermen. Foreigners +tell our missionaries to convert our drunken sailors abroad, and when +they wish to personify an Englishman, they mockingly reel about like a +drunken man. And what lives have been lost through the intemperance of +captains and crews! The 'St. George,' with 550 men: 'The Kent,' 'East +Indiaman,' with most of her passengers and crew: 'The Ajax,' with 350 +people: 'The Rothsway Castle,' with 100 men on board, with many others +we might name, were all lost through the drunkenness of those in charge +of the vessels. Of the forty persons whom our friend rescued from +drowning, a very large percentage got overboard through intemperance. We +read that on the morning following the Passover night in Egypt, there +was not a house in which there was not one dead, and it would be +difficult to find a house in our land, occupied by sailors, in which +this monster evil has not slain its victim, either physically or +morally. + +[Sidenote: HIS DRUNKEN FATHER.] + +Our friend, speaking of his own family, says:--'I owe my Christian name +to the favour with which drunkenness was regarded by my relatives. Soon +after I was born, one of my uncles asked, "What is the lad's name to +be?" "Thomas," replied my mother. "Never," said my uncle, in surprise, +"we had two Thomas's, and they both did badly; call him John. I have +known four John's in the family, and they _were all great drunkards, but +that was the worst that could be said of them_." 'So it appears,' said +our friend, 'that at that time it was thought no very bad thing for a +man to get drunk, if he was not in the habit of being brought before the +magistrate for theft, &c.' John's father was one of the four drunkards. +In early life he became a hard drinker, and he continued the practice +until a damaged constitution, emptied purse, a careworn wife, and a +neglected family, were the bitter fruits of his inebriation. 'He drank +hard,' says John, 'spending almost all his money in drink, and was at +last forced to sell his vessel and take to the menial work of helping to +load and unload vessels. At length he went to sea, and for a long time +we heard nothing of him; nor did my mother receive any money from him. +In old age he was quite destitute, and while it gave me great pleasure +to minister to his necessities, it often grieved me to think of the +cause of his altered circumstances.' + +Nightly, when ashore, John, the elder, went to the public house, and it +was his invariable rule never to return home until his wife fetched him. +Often, when Mrs. Ellerthorpe was in a feeble state of health, and amid +the howling winds and drenching rains of a winter's night, would she go +in search of her drunken husband, and by her winning ways and kind +entreaties induce him to return home. She was known to be a God-fearing +woman, and often on the occasion of these visits, her husband's +companions--some of whom were 'tippling professors' of religion--would +try to entangle her in religious conversation, but to every entreaty she +had one reply, 'If you want to talk with me about religion come to my +house. I will not speak of it here; for I am determined never to fight +the devil on his own ground.' + +[Sidenote: IMITATES HIS FATHER.] + +And was this Christian woman wrong in calling the public house the +devil's ground? We have 140,000 of these houses in our land, and are +they not so many reservoirs from whence the devil floods our country +with crime, wretchedness, and woe? Is it not there that his deluded +victims, in thousands of instances, destroy their fortune, ruin their +health, and form those habits which wither the beauty, scatter the +comforts, blast the reputation, and bury once happy families in the tomb +of disgrace? And is it not at the public house that the sounds of +blasphemy, cursing, and swearing, sedition, uncleanness, laciviousness, +hatred, quarrels, murders, gambling, revelling, and such like, are +begun? And you might as reasonably expect to preserve your health in a +pest-house, your modesty in a brothel, and high-souled principles +amongst gamesters, as to expect to preserve your religious character +undamaged amid the impure atmosphere of a public house. Can a man go +upon hot coals and his feet not be burnt? One hour spent around the +drunkard's table has often done an amount of harm to the cause of God +and the souls of men which the devotion of years could not undo. + +[Sidenote: BECOMES A DRUNKARD.] + +A youth, on being urged to take the pledge, said, 'My father drinks, and +I don't want to be better than my father.' And, alas! for our friend, he +early imbibed the tastes and followed the example of his father, for +drink got the mastery of him. Speaking of his boyhood, he says, 'I +remember a man saying to my father, "Your son is a sharp lad, and he +will make a clever man, if only you set him a good example, and keep him +from drink." To which my father replied, "O drink will not hurt him; if +he does nothing worse than take a sup of drink he'll be all right; drink +never hurt anyone." But, alas! my father lived to see that a "little +sup" did not serve me, for I have heard him say with sorrow, "The lad +drinks hard." But he was the first to set me the example, and if +parents wish their children to abstain from intoxicating drinks, they +should set the example by being abstainers themselves. The best and most +lasting way of doing good to a family is for parents first to do right +themselves.' But with such a training as John had, what wonder that he +became a 'hard drinker.' For years previous to his marriage his +experience was something like that of an old 'hard-a-weather' on board a +homeward-bound Indiaman, who was asked by a lady passenger, 'Whether he +would not be glad to get home and see his wife and children, and spend +the summer with them in the country?' Poor Jack possessed neither home, +nor wife, nor chick nor child; and his recollections of green fields and +domestic enjoyments were dreamily associated with early childhood. And +hence a big tear rolled down his weather-beaten but manly cheek as he +said to his fair questioner, 'Well, I don't know, I suppose it will be +another _roll in the gutter, and away again_.' Our friend was for years +a 'reeling drunkard,' and often, during this sad period of his +existence, he literally 'rolled in the gutter.' + +But when he experienced a saving change he at once became a sober man, +and began to treat public houses after the fashion of the fox in the +fable--who declined the invitation to the lion's den, because he had +observed that the only footsteps in its vicinity were towards it and +none from it. He further saw that to indulge in the use of intoxicating +drinks, and then pray, 'Lead me not into temptation,' savoured less of +piety than of presumption. He attended a temperance meeting at which the +Rev. G. Lamb spoke of the importance of Christian professors abstaining +for the good of others, as well as for their own safety. John felt that +his sphere of action was limited in its range and insignificant in its +character; yet he knew he possessed influence; as a husband and father, +and as a member of civil and religious society, he knew that his +conduct would produce an effect on those to whom he was related, and +with whom he had to do. 'No man liveth to himself.' He knew how to do +good, and not to have done it would have been sin. And that thought +decided him. At the close of the meeting, persons were invited to take +the pledge of total abstinence, but not one responded to the invitation. +John saw, sitting at his right hand, a man who had been a great +drunkard, and whose shattered nerves, unsteady hand, and bloodshot eyes, +told of the sad effects of his conduct. Placing his hand on this man's +shoulder, he said, 'Will you take the pledge?' 'I will if you will,' was +the man's reply. 'Done,' said John, and scarcely had they reached the +platform, when about twenty others followed and took the pledge. + +[Sidenote: SIGNS THE PLEDGE.] + +His Diary contains this record, 'February 24th, 1851. I have been to the +Teetotal Meeting, and I have taken the pledge, and I intend, through the +grace of God, to keep it as long as I live.' + +From that night John became a practical and pledged abstainer from all +intoxicating drinks, and induced many a poor drunkard to follow his +example. No man stood higher than he in Temperance circles. He adorned +_that_ profession. In his extensive intercourse with his fellow men, he +proved himself the fast friend and unflinching advocate of total +abstinence, having delivered hundreds of addresses and circulated +thousands of tracts, in vindication of its principles. + +A few years before his death, he was travelling from Hull to Howden, by +rail; the compartment was full of passengers, and he began, as usual, to +circulate his tracts and to speak in favour of temperance. + +[Sidenote: THE AGED CLERGYMAN.] + +An aged clergyman present said, 'I always give you Hull folks great +credit for being teetotalers.' 'And why the people of Hull more than the +people of any other place?' asked John. 'Because your water is filthy +and dirty, and I never could drink it without a mixture of brandy.' +'That our water is dirty I admit,' said John, 'but I have drank it both +with brandy and without, and if you felt as I feel, I am sure, sir, you +would discontinue the practice of brandy drinking.' 'Oh, I suppose you +are one of those men who get all the drink you can and when you can get +no more you turn teetotaller,' was the rejoinder. 'You are mistaken, +sir; for I can call most of the persons present to witness, that I laid +aside the intoxicating glass when I possessed the most ample means and +every opportunity of getting plenty of drink, and at little or no cost +to myself. But I saw that I should be a safer and happier man myself, +and a greater blessing to others if I abstained, and therefore I signed +the pledge; and you must pardon me, sir, when I say, that if you felt as +I feel, you would, as a minister of the gospel, pursue the same course.' +'O!' said he, with indignation lowering in his countenance and +thundering in his voice, 'I have taken my brandy daily for years, and it +never did me any hurt.' 'Granted,' replied our friend, 'but if you can +drink with safety, can others? Have you never seen the evil effects of +tampering with the glass? Have none of your acquaintances or friends +fallen victims to drunkenness? Let me give you a case, sir. One of my +former employers had a son who, up to the twentieth year of his age, had +never tasted intoxicating drinks. But he had a weak constitution and a +slender frame, and the doctor ordered him to take a little brandy and +water twice a day. He did so, and began to like it. He soon wanted it +oftener, and told the man to make it stronger, and the man did as he was +told. One day he had put but a few drops of water into a large glass of +brandy, but the young gentleman said, 'Did'nt I tell you to make it +stronger? Let the next glass be stronger.' He soon called _for the next +glass_, and having swallowed it, said, in a rage, 'What a fool you are. +I told you to let me have it stronger.' 'Sir,' said the man, 'you can't +have it stronger, for the glass you have just drank was "neat" as it +came from the bottle.' 'And is that a fact,' exclaimed the young +gentleman. 'Has it come to this? Am I to be a slave to that liquid? +Never! Take it away, and from this day I'll never drink another glass.' +This statement was listened to with marked attention by all the +passengers, and when the train arrived at Howden station, they gave +forth a spontaneous burst of applause. The clergyman sat ashamed and +speechless, and, on leaving the train, refused to shake hands with our +friend who had administered to him this well-timed and well-merited +rebuke. + +[Sidenote: ADVOCATES TOTAL ABSTINENCE.] + +I have stated that our friend spoke at hundreds of temperance meetings, +and his bluntness of manner, curt style of address, and nautical +phrases, won for him a ready hearing. Whenever he rose on the platform +eyes beamed and hearts throbbed with delight. Not that his hearers +expected to listen to an eloquent speech, or to be amused by +laughter-exciting and fun-making eccentricities, but he rose with the +influence of established character, combined with an ardent temperament, +a ready wit, and a face beaming with the sunshine of piety towards God +and good-will to men. Besides, there was a just appreciation of his many +deeds of gallantry, some of which he occasionally related, and which +rarely failed to fill his hearers with admiration for the brave heart +that could prompt and the ready skill that could perform them. Hence, he +was listened to in the town and neighbourhood of Hull with an amount of +sympathy, attention, and respect which no other advocate of total +abstinence, possessed of the same mental abilities, could command. + +[Sidenote: FORMS A BAND OF HOPE.] + +The _Band of Hope_ had a warm friend and powerful advocate in the person +of Mr. Ellerthorpe, and it was in connexion with its services that he +found his most congenial employment. 3,000,000 of the inhabitants of +our country are now pledged abstainers from intoxicating drinks, and +this number includes upwards of 2,000 ministers of the Gospel. But +thirty years ago this cause was regarded with disfavour even by the +religious public. Hence, when Mr. Ellerthorpe and others sought to form +a Band of Hope in connexion with the Primitive Methodist Sabbath School, +Great Thornton Street, Hull, they met with much opposition from several +members of the Society, and also from some of the teachers in the +school, who were 'tipplers,' and could not endure the idea of a Band of +Hope. But the Band was formed, with Mr. Ellerthorpe as president, and it +soon numbered three hundred members. Before his death he saw upwards of +thirty of these Juvenile Bands formed in Hull. He attended most of their +anniversaries, throwing a flood of genial merriment, just like dancing +sunlight, over his young auditors. Hundreds of these 'cold water +drinkers' sometimes listened to him on these occasions, and as he +related some of the scenes of his eventful life, their young hearts +throbbed and their eyes filled with tears. + +We cannot close this chapter of our little book without asking, Were the +motives which led our friend to sign the pledge, right or wrong? The +celebrated Paley lays down this axiom, 'That where one side is doubtful +and one is safe, we are as morally bound to take the safe side as if a +voice from heaven said, "This is the way, walk ye in it."' And is not +total abstinence the only safe side for the abstainer himself? Some men +have a strong predisposition for intoxicating drinks, and they must +abstain or be ruined. Naturalists tell us that in order to tame a tiger +he must never be allowed to taste blood. Let him have but one taste and +his whole nature is changed. And the men to whom I refer are humane, +upright, chaste, kind to their children and affectionate to their +wives, while they can be kept from intoxicating drinks, but let them +taste, only _taste_, and their passions become so strong and their +appetites so rampant, that they are inspired with the most ferocious +dispositions, and perpetrate deeds, the mere mention of which would +appal them in their sober moments. And where is the moderate drinker who +can point to the glass and say, 'I am safe?' As that dexterous murderer, +Palmer, administered his doses in small quantities, and thus gradually +and daily undermined the constitution of his victims, and, as it were, +muffled the footfalls of death, so strong drink does not all at once +over master its victims; but how often have we known it gradually, and +after years of tippling, lead them captive into the vortex of +drunkenness. + +[Sidenote: TOTAL ABSTINENCE.] + +But admitting, for the sake of argument, that you can drink with safety +to yourself, can you drink with safety to others? 'No man liveth to +himself.' We are all a kind of chameleon, and naturally derive a tinge +from that which is near us. Our friend attributes his early drunkenness +to the influence and example of his father. You should view your +drinking habits in the light of these passages of Scripture, 'Look not +every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of +others.' 'It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor +anything whereat thy brother stumbleth or is made weak.' So that you may +look at Paley's saying, in its application to the use of strong drinks, +again and again; you may examine it as closely as you like, and +criticise it as often as you please, still it remains true, that to +drink is _doubtful_, while to abstain is _safe_, and that we are as +morally bound to choose the latter as if a voice from heaven said, 'This +is the way, walk ye in it.' 'Let us not, therefore, judge one another +any more, but judge this rather that no man put a stumblingblock or an +occasion, to fall in his brother's way.'--Rom. xiv. 13. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +HIS BOLD ADVENTURES ON THE WATER. + + +[Sidenote: SWIMMING ADVOCATED.] + +That swimming is a noble and useful art, deserving the best attention of +all classes of the community, is a fact few will dispute. 'Swimming,' +says Locke, 'ought to form part of every boy's education!' It is an art +that is easily acquired; it is healthy and pleasurable as an exercise, +being highly favourable to muscular development, agility of motion, and +symmetry of form; and it is of inconceivable benefit as the means of +preserving or saving life in seasons of peril, when death would +otherwise prove inevitable. Mr. Ellerthorpe early became an accomplished +swimmer; he often fell overboard, and but for his skill in the art under +consideration he would have been drowned. He also enjoyed the happiness +of having saved upwards of forty persons, who, but for his efforts must, +to all human appearance, have perished. + +To a maratime nation like ours, with a rugged and dangerous coast-line +of two thousand miles, indented by harbours, few and far from each +other, and with a sea-faring population of half a million, it seems as +necessary that the rising generation should learn to swim as that they +should be taught the most common exercises of youth. And yet 'this +natatory art' is but little cultivated amongst us. On the Continent, and +among foreigners generally, swimming is practised and encouraged far +more than it is in England. In the Normal Swimming school of Denmark, +some thirty years ago, there were educated 105 masters destined to teach +the art throughout the kingdom. In France, Vienna, Copenhagen, +Stockholm, Berne, Amsterdam, &c., similar means were adopted, and very +few persons in those countries are entirely destitute of a knowledge of +the art. But so generally is this department of juvenile training +neglected by us as a people, that _only one in every ten who gain their +livelihood on the water_ are able to swim. + +[Sidenote: HULL SWIMMING CLUB.] + +Mr. Ellerthorpe, in a characteristic letter, says: 'I think no +schoolmaster should regard the education of his scholars complete unless +he has taught them to swim. That art is of service when everything else +is useless. I once heard of a professor who was being ferried across a +river by a boatman, who was no scholar. So the professor said, "Can you +write, my man?" "No, Sir," said the boatman. "Then you have lost one +third of your life," said the professor. "Can you read?" again asked he +of the boatman. "No," replied the latter, "I can't read." "Then you have +lost the half of your life," said the professor. Now came the boatman's +turn. "Can you swim?" said the boatman to the professor. "No," was his +reply. "Then," said the boatman, "you have lost the whole of your life, +for the boat is sinking and you'll be drowned." Now, Sir, I think that +if those fathers who spend so much money on the intellectual education +of their children, would devote but a small portion of it to securing +for them a knowledge of the art of swimming, they would confer a great +blessing on those children, and also on society at large. I would have +every one learn to swim females as well as males; for many of both sexes +come under my notice every year who are drowned, but who, with a little +skill in swimming, might have been saved. Not fewer than forty men and +boys were lost from the Hull Smacks alone during the year 1866, of whom +twenty per cent, might have been saved had they been able to swim.' + +[Sidenote: HE LEARNS TO SWIM.] + +Mr. Ellerthorpe was, for many years, Master of the 'Hull Swimming Club,' +and also of 'The College Youth's Swimming Club,' and his whole life was +a practical lesson on the value of the art of swimming. He contended +that the youths of Hull ought to be taught this art, and pleaded that a +sheet of water which had been waste and unproductive for twenty years +should be transformed into a swimming bath. The local papers favoured +the scheme, and Alderman Dennison, moved in the Town Council, that L350 +should be devoted to this object, which was carried by a majority. The +late Titus Salt, Esq., who had given L5,000 to the 'Sailor's Orphan +Home,' said at the time, 'I think _your corporation ought to make the +swimming bath_ alluded to in the enclosed paper; _do ask them_.' 'The +private individual who gives his _fifty_ hundreds to a particular +Institution,' to use the words of the _Hull and Eastern Counties' +Herald, Oct. 10th_, 1857, 'has surely a right to express an opinion that +the municipal corporation ought to grant _three_ hundreds, if by so +doing the public weal would be provided. If the voice of such a man is +to be disregarded, then it may truly be said that our good old town has +fallen far below the exalted position it occupied when it produced its +Wilberforce and its Marvel.' + +For upwards of forty years Mr. Ellerthorpe was known as a fearless +swimmer and diver, and during that period he saved no fewer than forty +lives by his daring intrepidity. In his boyhood, he, to use his own +expression, '_felt quite at home in the water_,' and betook himself to +it as natively and instinctively as the swan to the water or the lark to +the sky. 'This art,' to use the words of an admirable article in the +_Shipwrecked Mariners' Magazine_ for October, 1862, 'he has cultivated +so successfully that in scores of instances he has been able to employ +it for the salvation of life and property. Perhaps the history of no +other living person more fully displays the value of this art than John +Ellerthorpe. Joined with courage, promptitude, and steady +self-possession, it has enabled him repeatedly to preserve his own life, +and what is far more worthy of record, to save not fewer than +thirty-nine of his fellow creatures, who, humanly speaking, must +otherwise have met with a watery grave.' + +[Sidenote: HIS RECKLESS DARING.] + +It is but right to state that, in the early period of his history, a +thoughtless disregard of his own life, and an overweening confidence in +his ability to swim almost any length, and amid circumstances of great +peril, often led him to deeds of 'reckless daring,' which in riper years +he would have trembled to attempt. Respecting most of the following +circumstances he says, 'I look upon those perilous adventures as so many +foolish and wicked temptings of Providence. I have often wondered I was +not drowned, and attribute my preservation to the wonder-working +providence of God, who has so often 'redeemed my life from destruction, +and crowned me with loving kindness and tender mercies.' + +And certainly we should remember that heroism is one thing, reckless +daring another. Two or three instances will illustrate this. A few years +ago Blondin, for the sake of money, jeopardized his life at the Crystal +Palace, by walking blindfolded on a tight-rope, and holding in his hand +a balancing pole. In so doing he was foolhardy, but not heroic. But a +certain Frenchman, at Alencon, walked on one occasion on a rope over +some burning beams into a burning house, otherwise inaccessible, and +succeeded in saving six persons. This was the act of a true hero. When +Mr. Worthington, the 'professional diver,' plunged into the water and +saved six persons from drowning, who, but for his skill and dexterity as +a swimmer, would certainly have met with a watery grave, he acted the +part of a 'hero;' but when, the other day, he made a series of nine +'terrific plunges' from the Chain Pier at Brighton--a height of about +one hundred and twenty feet--merely to gratify sensational sightseers, +or to put a few shillings into his own pocket, he acted the part of a +foolhardy man. Can we wonder that he was within an ace of losing his +life in this mad exploit? And when John Ellerthorpe dived to the bottom +of 'Clarke's Bit,' to gratify a number of young men who had 'more money +than wit,' and struggled in the water with a bag of coals on his back, +he put himself on a par with those men who place their lives in imminent +danger by dancing on ropes, swinging on cords, tying themselves into +knots like a beast, or crawling on ceilings like some creeping thing! +But when he used his skill to save his fellow creatures, he was a true +hero, and was justified in perilling his own life, considering that by +so doing the safety of others might be secured. + +We shall close this chapter by recording a few of his deeds of reckless +daring. + + * * * * * + +[Sidenote: JOHN'S FIRST ATTEMPT AT SWIMMING.] + +'My first attempt at swimming took place at Hessle, when I was about +twelve years of age. There was a large drain used for the purpose of +receiving the water from both the sea and land. My father managed the +sluice, which was used for excluding, retaining, and regulating the flow +of water into this drain. It was a first rate place for lads to bathe +in, and I have sometimes bathed in it ten times a day; indeed, I regret +to say, I spent many days there when I ought to have been at school. I +soon got to swim in this drain, but durst not venture into the harbour. +But one day I accidentally set my dirty feet upon the shirt of a boy who +was much older and bigger than myself, and in a rage he took me up in +his arms and threw me into the harbour. I soon felt safe there, nor did +I leave the harbour till I had crossed and recrossed it thirty-two +times. The next day I swam the whole length of the harbour twice, and +from that day I began to match myself with expert swimmers, nor did I +fear swimming with the best of them. Some other lads were as venturesome +as myself, and we used to go up the Humber with the tides, for several +miles at once. I remember on one occasion it blew a strong gale of wind +from S.W., several vessels sank in the Humber, and a number of boats +broke adrift, while a heavy sea was running: I stripped and swam to one +of the boats, got into her, and brought her to land, for which act the +master of the boat gave me five shillings. During the same gale a keel +came ashore at Hessle; I stripped and swam to her and brought a rope on +shore, by the assistance of which, two men, a woman, and two children +escaped from the vessel. The tide was receding at the time, so that they +were enabled, with the assistance of the rope, to walk ashore. There are +several old men living now who well remember this circumstance. + +[Sidenote: SWIMS ACROSS THE HUMBER.] + +'Soon after this occurrence, I remember one Saturday afternoon, going +with some other boys of my own age, and swimming across the Humber, a +distance of two miles. We started from Swanland Fields (which was then +enclosed), Yorkshire, and landed at the Old Warp, Lincolnshire. Here we +had a long run and a good play, and then we recrossed the Humber. But in +doing so we were carried up as far as Ferriby Sluice, and had to run +back to where we had left our clothes in charge of some lads, but when +we got there the lads had gone, and we didn't know what to do. We sought +for our clothes a full hour, when a man, in the employ of Mr. Pease told +us that the lads had put them under some bushes, where we at last found +them. We were in the water four hours. This was an act of great +imprudence. + +'On another occasion myself and some other lads played truant from +school, and went towards the Humber to bathe, but the schoolmaster, Mr. +Peacock, followed us closely. He ran and I ran, and I had just time to +throw off my clothes and leap into the water, when he got to the bank. +He was afraid I should be drowned, and called out 'If you will come back +I won't tell your father and mother.' But I refused to return, for at +that time I felt no fear in doing what I durst not have attempted when I +got older. + +[Sidenote: SWIMS IN HESSLE HARBOUR.] + +'On several occasions some young gentlemen, who were scholars at Hessle +boarding school, got me to go and bathe with them. They had plenty of +money, and I had none; and as they offered to pay me, I was glad to go +with them. One day while we were bathing, the eldest son of Mr. +Earnshaw, of Hessle, had a narrow escape from drowning. I was a long way +from him at the time, but I did all I could to reach and rescue him. He +was very ill for some days, and the doctor forbade him bathing for a +long time to come. This deterred us from bathing for awhile, but we soon +forgot it. We agreed to have a swimming match, and the boy that swam the +farthest was to have _sixpence_. We started at three o'clock in the +afternoon from the third jetty below Hessle harbour, and went up with +the tide. One of the boys got the lead of me and I could not overtake +him until we got opposite Cliffe Mill, about a mile and a half from +where we started. He then began to fag, while I felt as brisk as a lark +and fresher than when I began. I soon took the lead, and when I got to +Ferriby Lane-end, I lost my mate altogether. However, I knew he was a +capital swimmer, and I felt afraid lest he should turn up again, so I +swam as far as Melton brickyard, and fairly won the prize. I had swam +about seven miles, and believe I could have swam back without landing. + +[Sidenote: HIS EXPLOITS ON THE WATER.] + +'When I was about fifteen years of age a steam packet came to Hessle, +bringing a number of swimmers from Hull. Soon alter their arrival a lad +came running to me and said, "Jack, there's some of those Hull chaps +bathing, and they say they can beat thee." I didn't like that; and when +I got to them, a young gentleman said, pointing to me, "Here is a lad +that shall swim you for what you like." One of them said, "Is he that +Ellerthorpe of Hessle?" "No matter who he is," replied the young man, +"I'll back him for a sovereign," when one of the young gentlemen called +out, "It is Jack Ellerthorpe, I won't have aught to do with him, for he +can go as fast feet foremost as I can with my hands foremost, he's a +first-rate swimmer." By this time I was stripped, and at once plunged +into the river. I crept on my hands and knees on the water, and then +swam backwards and forwards with my feet foremost, and not one among +them could swim with me. I showed them the "porpoise race," which +consisted in disappearing under the water, and then coming "bobbing" up +suddenly, at very unlikely spots. I then took a knife and cut my +toe-nails in the water. The young gents were greatly delighted, and +afterwards they would have matched me to swim anybody, to any distance. +And I believe that at that time I could have swam almost any length; for +after I had swam two or three miles my spirits seemed to rise, and my +strength increased. When other lads seemed thoroughly beaten out, I was +coming to my best, and the longer I remained in the water the easier and +faster I could swim. + +[Sidenote: SWIMS TO BARROW.] + +'It will be remembered by some who will read these pages, that about ... +years ago a Mr. Burton was returned, as a member of Parliament for +Beverley. He was a wild, drunken, half-crazy fellow, and I remember he +came to Hessle about two o'clock one afternoon, and drove full gallop, +with postillions, up to my father's house. At that time my father was +ferryman, and Mr. Burton wanted a boat to take him to Barton. "But," +said my father, "there is no water," when the Member of Parliament said, +"Won't money make the boat swim?" "I'm afraid not," was my father's +reply. At that time, however, there was a ballast lighter at Cliffe, and +my father and I went to see if we could borrow the lighter's boat; we +succeeded, and as it was a great distance from the water (the tide being +low), my father asked the Cliffe men to help in launching it, when about +thirty of them came to his assistance. Mr. Burton left a guinea to be +spent in drink for the men. We then started in the boat, and took Mr. +Burton to Barrow, there being no _usable_ jetty at Barton. I was to run +to Barton for a post-chaise, but before we got to the shore the boat ran +aground, so out of the boat I jumped, and away I ran, until I came to a +pool of water, about twelve feet deep. Almost mad with excitement, I +sprang into it, and small as I was, soon crossed it and was ashore. Mr. +Burton saw me in the water, and he was afraid I should be drowned, and +when I returned with the chaise he gave me a sovereign, the first I ever +had, so you may be sure I was mightily pleased. I found my father and +the men drunk, and they gave me some rum. On being asked, "What Mr. +Burton had given me," I evaded the question by saying "A shilling," for +I was of opinion that if my father had known I had got so much as I had, +he would have taken most of it to spend in drink. So I hastened home and +gave the sovereign to my mother, and we were both highly delighted to +possess so large a sum of money. + +'The following amusing circumstance took place in 1836-7, when I +belonged to the Barton and Hessle packet. One day we had put on board +the "tow boat" a great number of fat beasts, belonging, if I remember +rightly, to Mr. Wood, of South Dalton. The "tow boat" was attached to +the steamer by a large thick rope. We had not got far from Barton when +the boat capsized, and we were in an awful mess. The boat soon filled +with water; some of the beasts swam one way and some another, while +several got entangled in the rails attached to the boat's side, and were +every moment in danger of breaking their legs. So seizing an axe I +jumped into the water and cut away the rails, and then went in pursuit +of the oxen, heading them round in the water and causing them, by shouts +and gestures, to swim for the land. Most of them were driven back to +Barton and landed safely, others swam across the Humber and were landed +at Hessle. I was up to my chest in water and mud for nearly three hours +swimming backwards and forwards after the beasts; sometimes I had hold +of their tails, and anon had to meet them and turn them towards the +shore. There are lots of people now living at Barton who saw the affray, +and who could describe it much better than I have done. + +[Sidenote: JOHN AND THE BEASTS.] + +'A similar incident took place in 1844. I was captain of a ferry-boat +plying between Winteringham and Brough. One Sabbath-day I was taking a +load of beasts from Brough to Winteringham, and when we had got about +half way across the Humber, the boat upset, and the beasts were thrown +into the water. I was afraid they all would be drowned, and, in spite of +all I could do, some of them were. I jumped overboard and drove some of +them back to Brough, while others swam to the Lincolnshire side of the +river. I was swimming about after the beasts for five hours, chasing +them backwards and forwards, turning them this way and that, and doing +what nobody but myself would have done. At length, several men came to +our assistance, and when we had got the poor animals out of the water, +we hastened to the public-house at the harbour-side, and got drunk. I +kept my wet clothes on until they dried on my back. This was one of the +most wretched days of my life. My anxiety about the beasts, the +exhaustion brought on by my efforts to get them safe to land, and the +sense of misery and degradation I felt when I thought of the plight I +was found in on the blessed Sabbath-day, I shall never forget. + +'On one occasion I was helping to load the "Magna Charter," and being +half drunk, I fell into Hull harbour, with upwards of eight stones of +coal on my back, but through foolish bravado I refused to let the bag +drop into the water. After being in the water several minutes, I swam +to the landing with the coals on my back, amid the deafening shouts of +scores of spectators. I look back on this act of temerity with feelings +of shame and unmixed regret.' + +[Sidenote: HE IS CAST OVERBOARD.] + +When sailing from Hull to Barton, one night in the year 1842, John was +thrown overboard. The night was dark, the wind was blowing a heavy gale +from the west, and every moment the spring-tide, then at its height, +carried him further from the packet, which soon became unmanageable. The +boat was launched, but the engineer, who had charge of it, became +greatly agitated and much alarmed, and uttered the most piteous cries. +'I felt more for him than I did for myself,' says John, 'and though one +moment lost in the trough of the sea, and the next on the crest of the +billows, now near the boat and again fifty yards from it, I cried out, +'Scull away. Bob, scull away, thou'll soon be at me.' After being in the +water half-an-hour I reached the boat in safety. All this time I had on +the following garments, made of very stout pilot-cloth: a pair of +trousers, a double-breasted waistcoat, a surtout coat, and a heavy great +coat, which came down to my ancles, a thick shawl round my neck, and a +new pair of Wellington boots on my feet. I had in my pockets the +following sums of money: L25 in bank notes; 25 sovereigns; L4 16s. 6d. +in silver, and 8d. in coppers; also a tobacco-box, a large pocket knife, +and a silver watch and guard. I made an attempt to throw off some of my +clothes, but the thought of losing another man's money checked me. +Besides, the suit of clothes I had on was bran-new, and being a poor +man, and only just earning a livelihood, I could not brook the thought +of having to get a new "rigging." When a wave carried me a great way +from the boat, I unbuttoned my coat and prepared to throw it off, that I +might more easily swim to land. And when it seemed certain I should have +to make this attempt, I felt for my knife, that I might cut off my +boots, and I believe I could have done it; but, after a desperate +effort, I approached within a few yards of the boat, when I again +buttoned my coat. I felt confident I could have reached the shore--a +distance of one mile--had I been compelled to make the trial. My +Wellington boots had nearly cost me my life, as they were heavy and +difficult to swim in, and I never wore a pair after this fearful night.' + +[Sidenote: HIS SKILL AS A DIVER.] + +There is another department of the art now under consideration, in which +our friend greatly excelled, namely, that of diving. There are few +divers who do not feel a kind of exultation in their power over the +element, and in their ability to move under the surface of the water +with ease and pleasure. Half a century ago, diving was a difficult and +dangerous art, demanding great skill and endurance; but modern science +has given the professional diver an almost perfect accoutrement, by +means of which he can literally walk down to the bottom of the sea, and +telegraph for as much air as he requires. Hence, it has been utterly +deprived of all dramatic element. Properly managed, the thing is as easy +as going up in a balloon, or going down a coal pit; but our friend +excelled in 'real naked diving.' + +[Sidenote: HE DIVES IN 'CLARK'S BIT.'] + +His first attempt at fetching anything from under water took place when +he was about sixteen years of age. The vessel in which he then sailed +was being painted at 'Clark's Bit,' Castleford, when John accidentally +let his brush fall overboard, and it sank to the bottom. The Captain was +furious for about an hour, when, having handed the lad another brush, he +went into the town. John could not brook the hour's grumbling to which +he had been subjected, and hence, scarcely had the Master left the +vessel, when he threw off his clothes and dived to the bottom of the +'Bit,' a depth of twenty-six feet, and brought up the brush. He hastily +put on his clothes, and when the Master returned, John held up the +brush, and with that comical twinkle of the eye and humorous expression +of the countenance, so common with sailors, said, 'Here's your brush. +Sir.' 'What brush?' asked the Master. 'The brush I lost overboard an +hour ago,' said John. 'That's a lie.' replied the Master, 'how could you +get it?' 'I dived to the bottom and brought it up,' was the lad's +response. Now Clark's Bit, in those days, was supposed to be of fabulous +depth; indeed, the Master, using a common expression, said, 'You can't +have fetched it up from the bottom, for there is no bottom to Clark's +Bit.' John was unabashed by this charge of falsehood, and with honesty +beaming in every feature of his face, he answered with untrembling +tongue, as he handed the brush to the Master, 'Throw it in again. Sir, +and I'll fetch it up.' The Master refused to test the lad's honesty at +the risk of losing his brush. However, several witnesses came forward +and declared they had seen him plunge into the water and bring up the +brush. From that time John was famous in the neighbourhood, as a great +diver. + +'At the time of this occurrence,' he writes, 'a number of young +gentlemen were being taught, at a school at Castleford, by the Rev. Mr. +Barnes. They had plenty of money, and I had little enough, and they +would often, for the sake of seeing me dive to the bottom of the "Bit," +throw in a shilling, and sometimes half-a-crown. To gratify them, and +for the sake of money, I often dived to the bottom, and never, that I +remember, without bringing up the money. I got at last that I would not +go down for less than a shilling, and I have sometimes got as much as +five shillings a day. I have dived to the bottom of Clark's Bit hundreds +of times, and there are numbers of people at Castleford, at the present +day (1868), who recollect these youthful exploits, which took place +upwards of forty years ago. And I may add that, I have often had the +impression that but for that paint-brush I should never have been the +diver I afterwards became. God overruled these foolish acts, for good, +and what I did for mere pleasure and gain, prepared me to rescue +property and human life in after years.' + +[Sidenote: HE DIVES INTO A SUNKEN VESSEL.] + +We will mention one instance of his prowess in saving property, which is +well worthy of being recorded. 'The barque "Mulgrave Castle," says the +writer of the article in the _Shipwrecked Mariners' Magazine_, 'laden +with timber from the Baltic, was waterlogged in the Humber; there was in +the cabin of the vessel a small box containing money and papers which +the captain was anxious, if possible, to secure. Ellerthorpe dived into +the cabin, groped his way round it, and after two or three attempts +succeeded in bringing up the box and its contents.' This was in the year +1835. The writer of this sketch received the fact from an eye witness. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +HIS METHOD OF RESCUING THE DROWNING. + + +For acts of pure, unselfish daring, in rescuing human life, the annals +of our friend need not shun comparison with those of any other man +within Her Majesty's dominion. It appears that, amid his wicked and +wayward career, he had a 'deep and unaccountable impression' that one +part of his mission into the world was to save human life. Beyond +dispute, one of the best swimmers of his time, he was never, after his +boyhood, satisfied with swimming as a mere art. It was naught to him if +it did not help to make his fellow men better, safer, and braver. It +will be seen that the first person he rescued from drowning _was his +own father_, and that event ever afterwards nerved him to do his best to +save his fellow-creatures. Indeed the desire to rescue the drowning +burnt in his soul with all the ardour of an absorbing passion. It was +the spring of his ready thoughts; it controlled his feelings and guided +his actions; it prompted him to face the greatest difficulties without +the least fear, and when in the midst of the most threatening dangers, +it enabled him to summon up a calmness and resolution that never failed. + +[Sidenote: HIS EXPERIENCE IN THE WATER.] + +The writer in _The Shipwrecked Mariners' Magazine_ says, 'Ellerthorpe's +exploits in saving life date from the year 1820, and from that time to +the present it may be safely asserted that he has never _hesitated_ to +risk his own life to save that of a fellow-creature. The danger incurred +in jumping overboard to rescue a drowning person is very great. Many +expert swimmers shrink from it. Ellerthorpe has encountered this risk +under almost every variety of circumstance. He has followed the +drowning, unseen in the darkness of the night, in the depth of winter, +under rafts of timber, under vessels at anchor or in docks, from great +heights, and often to the bottom in great depths of water, and what is +very remarkable, never in vain. _Fortuna fortes favet_ (fortune favours +the brave), is an adage true in his case. He never risked his life to +save another without success.' + +Even to an experienced swimmer and diver, like our friend, the task of +saving a drowning person is not easy, and the grip and grapple of some +of those whom he rescued, had well nigh proved a fatal embrace, and it +was only by the utmost coolness, skill, bravery, and self-control that +he escaped. + +[Sidenote: HE CARRIES THE DROWNING IN HIS ARMS.] + +But he shall tell _his own_ simple, noble tale. 'During the last +forty-eight years I have done all that lay in my power to rescue my +fellow-creatures, when in drowning circumstances. By night and by day, +in darkness or in light, in winter or in summer, I was always ready to +obey the summons when the cry, "a man overboard," fell on my ears. And I +have had to rescue the drowning in widely different ways. Sometimes I +seized them tightly by the right arm, and then, hold them at arm's +length, soon reached the land. In some instances they seized me by my +shoulder or arm, when, leaving hold of them, and, throwing both my hands +into the water, I managed to reach the shore. In other instances I found +them so exhausted that they were incapable of taking hold of me, and in +these cases, I had to carry them as a mother would carry her child. And +in two or three instances, I thought they were dead, and, with feelings +easier imagined than expressed, I bore them up in my arms; when +suddenly, and with great strength, they sprang upon my head, and oftener +than once, under these circumstances, I was on the point of being +drowned. Some of those whom I saved were much heavier and stronger than +myself, and when they got hold of me I found it difficult, and sometimes +impossible, to shake them off. When I rescued Robert Brown, the night +was pitchy dark, and for some time I could not see him; and when I got +to him he clutched me in such a manner as to prevent my swimming. When I +seized the young Woodman, I thought he was dead, but, after a few +moments, he made a great spring at me, and clutched hold of my head in +such a way as to prevent me swimming for some seconds. When pinioned +closely, I generally adopted this plan, which proved to be the best +under the circumstances:--I threw myself on my back and pushed the +drowning person on before me, and in this way I managed to keep them up +for a time, and with comparative ease to myself. I often said to persons +in a drowning state, "Now, hold fast by me, and don't exert yourself, +and I'll make you all right." It was not often I could persuade them to +act thus, but whenever they could, they got upon me; for "a drowning +person will catch at a straw." I believe I have fetched out of the water +not fewer than fifty drowning persons, and, with scarce an exception, +they tried to seize me, and thus rendered their deliverance a matter of +great difficulty. In fact, it would be comparatively easy to fetch a +drowning man out of water if he would just take hold of one's arm, and +thus keep himself from sinking, and let one tow him ashore. + +[Sidenote: HE SEARCHES FOR THE DROWNING.] + +'In many instances, as will be seen, I had to run a great distance, and +when almost out of breath, I have plunged into the water, and in that +state had to struggle with those on the point of drowning. I remember +that, on one occasion, when staying at a public house in America, the +landlord came running into the room, and cried out, "a man overboard." I +ran 200 yards, and on reaching the spot I was out of breath, when in I +plunged, but soon found I could not stay under the water for more than a +few seconds. The water was clear and fresh, with long grass at the +bottom; but alas! I could not find the young man, and he was drowned. I +arrived too late to be of any service, for it was found afterwards that +he had pulled himself on the bottom of the river with the long grass to +a distance of fifty yards from the spot where he fell in. + +'My first object, after I had plunged into the water, was to catch a +sight of the drowning person, and if I could once do that, I always felt +confident I should soon have him in my grasp. It is a most difficult +thing to search for a drowning person, especially in muddy water. I had +to make this attempt again and again, and sometimes the fear has crept +over me that my exertions would be in vain, when I made the most +prodigious and exhausting efforts. And that I have never failed, in a +single instance, is to me a source of great gratitude to God, "in whose +hand my breath is, and whose are all my ways."' + +[Sidenote: AN INSTANCE OF HIS PLUCK.] + +'I remember once I had my leg crushed between our packet and the pier, +and for some days after I could not walk without the aid of crutches. +One day I got down to the South End, but soon felt tired, and returned +home; but after a short rest, I again went to the pier, when I was told +that, during my short absence, a cabman, named Sharpe, had fallen into +the harbour and was drowned. I was filled with indescribable distress at +the news, and said, "If I had been here I would have saved him, despite +my broken leg. At least I would have tried." A man, who professed to be +a great swimmer, was present, and he answered, "O, I can swim as well as +you can," when my muscles began to quiver, and my blood to throb, and I +replied, in no very good temper, I assure you. "I dispute that, unless +you mean now that I have my broken leg. Why did'nt you try to save him?" +I always felt that I would much rather have the satisfaction of having +tried to save a drowning person and fail, than have the miserable +satisfaction of shaking my head and shrugging my shoulders and saying, +"Oh, I knew it would be of no use trying to save him; it was foolish to +try." "I could have done it," never saved a drowning man. "I will try," +has enabled me, under God, to save fifty of my fellow creatures. + +'I do not wish to intimate that every man who sees a fellow creature +drowning, ought to plunge into the water to rescue that person. Indeed, +I have seen two or three instances where men, who could not swim +themselves, have jumped into the water to save the drowning, and in +every instance the consequences have nearly been fatal. Before a person +makes such an attempt, he should have tested his own ability to swim. If +he can float himself and believes he can save the drowning person, he +ought to make the attempt, and God will help him. This is not mere +theory, but what I have felt again and again. Ever after my conversion +to God, I used to pray, when plunging into the water, "Lord help me," +and knowing as I did, that prayer melts the heart and moves the arm of +Jehovah, I felt confident he would help me; and so he did; for I often, +when in the water, felt a sweet consciousness that God was with me. He +taught my hands to war with the waters, and my fingers to grasp my +precious freight. When struggling with the boy Woodman, these words came +forcibly into my mind, and I repeated them in the water:-- + + "When all thy mercies, O my God, + My rising soul surveys, + Transported with the view, I'm lost + In wonder, love, and praise." + +[Sidenote: HIS GRATEFUL ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF GOD.] + +'I always felt it my duty, after rescuing a drowning person, to go to +the house of God at night, and return public thanks to the Almighty. +Ministers in the town, and especially the Wesleyan ministers, have often +returned thanks to God from the pulpit, on the following Sabbath. On the +morning following the deliverance, I generally went to see the rescued +person, and sought to improve the event by impressing their mind with +the uncertainty of life and with the importance of being prepared for +death. + +[Sidenote: JOHN'S STATEMENT.] + +'In the following list I have given, as far as my memory and knowledge +enabled me, a true and faithful account of the persons whom I have +rescued from drowning. Extracts from newspapers, and letters from the +parties themselves, and also from many who were eye-witnesses of their +deliverance, have been freely used. There are several whom I have, at +different times, saved from a watery grave, not included in this list, +but as these events produced but little impression on my mind at the +time of their occurrence, and as I am utterly unable to give either the +names of the parties, or the time when I saved them, I can make no +reliable mention of them at present, _though I hope_ to be able to do so +at some future time. I sincerely believe, however, that if I had kept a +strict account of all these deliverances, instead of having to record +thirty-nine cases, I should have been able to have recorded upwards of +fifty. I regret now that I did not keep such a record. Every now and +then I meet with persons who greet me as their deliverer. Two young men +have done so within the last four months. And very pleasant to my mind +it is to meet a fellow creature whom I have been the means, in the hands +of a wonder-working Providence, of saving from a watery grave. But all +the cases mentioned in the following chapter, except William Earnshaw +and Captain Clegg, have been signed by living witnesses, and most of +them were reported in the local newspapers, at the time of their +occurrence. Many of these persons are still living; some of them I see +almost daily, and _they_ can speak for themselves. If I have made a +mistake in spelling their names, or in relating the time when, or the +circumstances under which, I saved them, I shall be glad to be +corrected. And if I have offered an unkind reflection on any of my +fellow creatures, or recorded a boastful sentence respecting what my +fellow townsmen have been pleased to call my "deeds of daring," I hope +to be forgiven by God, whose I am and whom I serve. Finally: as a large +circle of my friends are anxious to have a true record of all the lives +I have saved, I shall be highly pleased if any whom I have rescued, but +whose names I have not recorded, will send me a few lines that may add +to the interest of this little book, should a second edition be called +for.' + +[Illustration: Signature of John Ellerthorpe] + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +HIS GALLANT AND HUMANE CONDUCT IN RESCUING THE DROWNING. + + +_First._--JOHN ELLERTHORPE.[1] (1820.) + +He was my father, and I was not more than fourteen years of age when I +saved him. At the time he managed the ferry boat from Hessle to Barton. +It required two persons to conduct the boat across the Humber, and as it +cost my father a shilling each time he employed a man to assist him +across, he often took me with him instead of a man, and thus saved the +shilling. One morning, he took Mr. Thompson, corn miller, to Barton, and +engaged to fetch him back at night; and there was this agreement between +them, that my father was to receive the fare whether Mr. T---- returned +or not. He did not return that night, though we waited for him until +nine o'clock. The snow was then thick on the ground, the wind was +blowing strong, and the waves were beginning to rise high in the Humber, +and I was sitting, half-asleep, at the corner of a comfortable hearth, +before a bright fire, when my father called out, 'Come, my boy, we'll be +off.' We were soon in the boat, but had not got many yards, when my +father fell overboard. I remember crying out most piteously, 'Oh, my +father is overboard,' when I instantly plunged into the water and soon +had fast hold of him. He had sunk to the bottom, a depth of sixteen +feet, for when he came up he was covered with mud. We came up close to +the boat's side, and, making a tremendous spring, I got hold of the +boat's gunnel, and after a few moments my father also got hold of it +with both his hands. He was a heavy man, weighing about fifteen stones, +and could not swim. I said to him, 'Now, father, can you keep hold +while I fetch the Hull horse-boatmen?' whom we had left at the +water-side house, when he replied, 'Yes, but be very sharp, my lad.' I +then swam to the house, and called out, 'My father is overboard;' and +when I returned with the men, I was glad to hear him shout, 'I'm here.' +John Thrush, captain of the horse-boat, and Luke Dixon, soon got him +into the boat, while Mr. Wood, the landlord, brought him a glass of +brandy, which he drank. We could not persuade him to leave the boat, so +we again started for home, and as a brisk wind was blowing at the time, +in about fifteen minutes, we were safe in Hessle harbour. My mother met +us there, and I said, 'Mother, my father has been overboard, fetch +somebody to help him out of the boat.' He was stiff and cold, but with +the aid of Mr. Wright we got him ashore. Mr. W. brought him some mulled +ale and a glass of rum, which I then thought very good. We then wrapped +him in several thicknesses of warm clothing. I was much perished at the +time, but soon felt all right. Not long before this, my mother had given +me a severe flogging for bathing so often; so I looked into her face and +said, 'Mother, I think you won't flog me for bathing again, will you?' +to which she replied, 'Oh, my lad, it was a good job that thou was +there;'[2] when my father faintly added, 'Yes, if he had not been there +I should never have come to the top of the water.' And if he had he +would have been drowned, for he could not swim a yard; and had he +shouted, no one was near to render him assistance. But, thank God, I was +there, and answered the end of a gracious Providence, and that was +enough. Now, my father never liked to have this circumstance named, +though I have often heard him say, 'That lad saved my life.' Afterwards, +my mother never liked him to cross the Humber after dark, unless I was +with him; so I often had to accompany him when I would much rather have +been at a warm fireside, or asleep in bed. _Witnesses_--John Thrush, +Luke Dixon. + +[Footnote 1: Those marked with a star distinguish the cases for which +Mr. Ellerthorpe received the special medal of the Royal Humane Society.] + +[Footnote 2: John seems to have loved his mother with a tender, intense +affection. In a letter dated October 14th, 1867, he says: 'It is +fourteen years this day since my poor (but I trust now rich) mother was +buried at Hessle. The Lord knows I was her darling son; but, alas! for +many years I was no comfort to her. But years before her death Christ +washed me from my sins in his most precious blood, and now I entertain a +hope of meeting her in heaven.'] + + +_Second._--WILLIAM EARNSHAW.* (1820.) + +There were two brothers, Robert and William, sons of Mr. Earnshaw, of +Hessle. They were about my own age, and, like myself, they were very +fond of bathing. Their mother used to blame me for taking them into the +water so often; but it was less my fault than theirs, for they used to +fetch me from school--and I have known them give the schoolmaster a +shilling to let me go with them. One day, we went to bathe in the drain, +and fearing our parents might see us, we went a long way up the bank and +then began to swim; at length I heard some one call out 'William +Earnshaw is drowning!' I was then a hundred yards from him, but I +hastened to the bank and ran as fast as I could, until I got opposite +him, when I again plunged into the drain and swam to my young friend's +rescue. His brother was weeping, and said, 'All is over with him,' and I +thought so too. I could but just see the hair of his head, when I darted +at him and gave him a great push, but he was too far gone to take hold +of me, so I shoved him on and on, until his brother could reach him, +when we put him on the bank and thought he was dead; but he soon began +to breathe, and, after a while, came round. At that time I was in great +disgrace with Mrs. Earnshaw, and afraid lest, if we told of William's +narrow escape, she would never let us go together again, we vowed to +keep the affair a profound secret. Soon after this the two brothers were +taken ill, and poor William died, and the doctor said this illness was +brought on by their too frequent bathing. They didn't bathe half so +often as I did, but it was evident their constitution could not bear the +water so well as mine. Mr. Earnshaw was a rich man and very liberal, +and, I believe, if he had known the real nature of the case, as I have +described it, so far from blaming me, he would have rewarded me for what +I did for his son. I kept the promise I made to William for upwards of +forty years; but as Mr. and Mrs. Earnshaw and their sons are dead, and +as a large circle of my friends are wishful to have a list of the lives +I have saved, I think I am not doing wrong in recording William's +deliverance in this history of my life. + + +_Third._--ROBERT PINCHBECK.* (1822.) + +This case was very similar to the one I have just described. Robert, who +was about fifteen years old, was a companion and schoolfellow of mine, +and was fond of imitating my exploits in the water. One day he told some +boys that he could swim across Hessle Harbour; but, in making the +attempt, he nearly lost his life. I was about forty yards ahead of him, +when I heard some boys cry 'Bob Pinchbeck is drowning.' He had gone down +thrice, and was quite exhausted when I got to him, and he was saved, as +it were, by the skin of his teeth. I feared he might seize me, and, +therefore, I did not take hold of him, but pushed him before until he +reached the long grass on the harbour bank. He could not use his limbs, +and I thought he was dead, but he soon revived a little. We took him to +my father's house and sent for his mother and a doctor; but when they +arrived, he was breathing nicely, and after a few hours, he walked home. +His father, though vexed by his son's disaster, said to me, 'You must +teach him to swim.' I tried hard to do so, but the water always +frightened him, and he never made much out at swimming. A few years +after this he died of the typhus fever, and I believe his soul went to +heaven. _Witnesses_--John Campbell, Francis Pinchbeck. + + +_Fourth._--HENRY IBOTSON.* (1824.) + +Henry, myself, and others had been bathing in Hessle Harbour, and I had +just left the water and dressed, when a cry was raised, 'Ibotson is +drowning.' I sprang to him, when he seized me so tightly and closely, +that we had a narrow escape from being drowned together. At length I got +myself clear, and took him to the bank, amid the shouts and cheers of a +great many spectators. We had great difficulty in walking home, and when +we got there we had to be put to bed. Mr. Booth, gardener, of Hessle, +and who was the next person I rescued, says: 'You may have forgotten, +but I well remember, that a few days previous to your saving my life, +you saved the life of H. Ibotson. It had well-nigh cost you your life, +as he closed in upon you, and took you to the bottom.' A few days after +Henry came and thanked me most sincerely for what I had done, and wished +me to teach him to swim. I began at once, and he soon got that he could +swim across the drain; but it was a long time before he durst venture to +swim across the harbour, in which he had so nearly been drowned.... Now, +I would ask, why did not some of these spectators render help in this +time of need? Could nothing have been done when they saw us sink +together, again and again? Within fifty yards there was a boat, with +boat-hooks and staves, and could no use have been made of these, to +lessen, the peril in which myself and the drowning youth were placed? I +am convinced that great numbers of people are drowned through +spectators not making a little effort at the time. _Witnesses_--George +Twiddle, Robert Riplington. + + +_Fifth._--GEORGE BOOTH. (1825.) + +He was bathing in the drain at Hessle, when a large tide was being taken +in, and he began to sink fast. I was at a great distance when the alarm +was given, but I ran to his assistance, plunged into the water, and soon +brought him safe to land. Mr. Booth's gratitude has given me the +greatest satisfaction. I had not seen him for many years, and had +forgotten the circumstance altogether, until I met him at the funeral of +R. Pease, Esq., when he said, 'I'm glad to see you once more, Mr. +Ellerthorpe. Don't you remember when you leaped into the drain forty +years ago, and saved my life?' And in a note I got from him, dated July +31st, 1867, he says, 'Under the blessing of Divine Providence you were +instrumental in saving my life. I was sixteen years of age, and in July, +1825, I was bathing in Hessle drain, when a very large tide was being +taken in. I shall ever have cause to thank you, as the instrument in +God's hands, of saving me from a watery grave.'--George Booth. + + +_Sixth._--ROBERT CLEGG. (1825.) + +He was both owner and captain of the keel 'Ann Scarborough,' the vessel +from which I lost the brush at Clark's Bit. He went one dark night to +Moreton, and as he did not return at the time expected, I felt very +uneasy about him, and at last I went on the bank of the Trent, in search +of him. When I got near Moreton-bite, I thought I heard a groan; and +after a long search I found my captain, drunk, half in the water and +half on the bank. The tide was half flood, and was then rapidly rising, +and had it risen a foot and a half higher, he must have been drowned, as +nothing could have saved him. I struggled with him for three quarters of +an hour, and after great exertions, I got him fairly on the bank. We +were then a mile and a half from our vessel, and did not get on board +until three o'clock next morning. A doctor had to be got, and soon the +captain began to recover. But the keel was delayed two days. He was +afraid lest his wife should get to know the cause of this delay, and he +bound me to keep the affair a profound secret. But he often said, +afterwards, 'Jack saved my life.' And I am quite sure I did, as no one +came near us, and there was no other chance of his being rescued. I +never allowed this case to be put in the list of those whom I have +saved, but having given a true statement of the case, I think I shall be +pardoned for giving it a permanent record here. + + +_Seventh._--NAME NOT KNOWN.* (1826.) + +[Sidenote: THE COACHMAN.] + +He was a coachman, but his name I never knew. He was conducting some +ladies on board the 'Sir Walter Scott,' when, being drunk, he fell +overboard, between the smack and the wharf, Irongate, London. There were +but seven feet depth of water, and I had to leap from a height of at +least sixteen feet; but I succeeded in preserving him from what seemed +certain death. He was covered with mud, but was soon washed, and got on +some dry clothes. After I had changed my clothes, and drank a glass of +whisky, I returned to the vessel, and the ladies and gentlemen gave me a +thousand thanks. The captain's name was Nisbet, and ever afterwards he +would have given me almost anything; whenever I met him in London, he +used to call the attention of his passengers to me, and tell them what I +had done. Many a time has he sent for me on board his vessel, and given +me as much drink as I would take, and he used to say to the passengers, +'See! this young man jumped over our ship's rail, when there was not +more than seven feet of water, and made a rope fast to a man when +there was no other way of his being saved. If I had not seen it I +could not have believed that any man could have done it.' He often +said, 'Whenever you want a berth come to me and I will give you one.' +_Witnesses_--Thomas Macha, Richard Boras. + + +_Eighth._--CHARLES HIMSWORTH.* (1828.) + +At this time, Himsworth and myself belonged to the brig 'Jubilee,' of +Hull. We were bosom friends, and very fond of spreeing about, and spent +much of our time when ashore in dancing parties and in ballrooms. +Whether at Hull or in London, if we could but find a place where there +was plenty of noise and a fiddle going, that was the place for us. We +have often spent many days' hard earnings in a few hours, amid such +scenes. On this occasion he fell from the bows of the 'Jubilee' while a +strong ebb tide was running. I jumped in after him, and we both went +under a tier of vessels that were hung at the buoy, Battle Bridge, +London. We came to the surface, but were soon carried under another tier +of vessels, and had not the mate have come to our assistance we should +have gone under a third tier, but he came at the last extremity and +saved us. Charles belonged to a very respectable family living at +Snaith, where I once called to see his mother, who was a widow. Her son +Thomas and I became intimate friends, after I had rescued Charles, and +he often said he thought as much of me as he did of his own brother. +Alas! the two brothers met with untimely deaths. On the morning of +January the 25th, 18--, I saw Thomas put out to sea, and in about half +an hour the boat capsized, and he and five other men were drowned. +Charles got married, and became master of a vessel, but alas! he and +the crew were drowned. _Witnesses_--William Howarth, Joseph Johnson. + + +_Ninth._--JOHN KENT.* (1828.) + +He was a native of Hull, and a shipmate of mine on board the +'Westmoreland.' While in a state of intoxication he jumped overboard +into the Diamond Harbour, Quebec, intending to swim to land, but sank at +a distance from the vessel. A boat, manned with foreigners, was passing +at the time, and Captain Knill called to them to pick up Kent. They +pulled the boat towards him, but Kent, in trying to lay hold of it, +missed his grasp, and the next moment he was under the boat. The captain +then called to us on the stage, and said, 'Be sharp with your boat, or +_the man_ will be drowned.' We did not then know who _the man_ was, but, +with the quickness of true sailors, we were in the boat in a minute. By +this time he had been carried to a great distance from the ship, as the +ebb tide was running strong and fast. I was forward in the boat, and on +reaching the spot where he was last seen, I plunged under the water, and +in a moment I saw the man, and was surprised to find it was my friend, +John Kent. I dived to a depth of twenty-five feet, and had him right +above me; I soon had hold of him, and though I had to swim against the +ebb tide, we were soon at the boat's side, when I said to the men, +'Never mind me, pull him into the boat,' but he had such fast hold of my +arm that they had to pull us in together, and even then it was with +great difficulty they broke his hold of me. He was so far gone that for +a long time we did not know whether he was living or dead. At length he +showed signs of life, but recovered slowly, and did not work for several +days. After twenty-five years' separation, I met Kent in the streets of +Hull, and he remembered, with every mark of gratitude, his wonderful +deliverance. My arm was much bruised, and almost as black as a coal. I +could not lift it as high as my head, and I said to the captain, 'I am +afraid I shall not be able to work to-day,' when he kindly said, 'Never +mind the work, surely thou's done enough for one day; take care of thy +arm,' and he gave me something with which to rub it. It remained stiff +for a long time, and gave me great pain. I hope to be pardoned for +adding that, I was a great favourite with Captain Knill, and spent many +hours with him ashore when I ought to have been aboard taking in timber. +He was a kind man and a good captain, and often, after my drunken +sprees, he would call me down to the cabin and there talk to me as a +father would talk to his son. And these friendly counsels produced a +deep impression upon my mind, and did me far more good than a 'blowing +up' would have done. Through respect for him, I used to guard against +drink, but alas! I was often overcome. I cherish an undying respect for +the memory of my dear Captain Knill. _Witnesses_--Captain J. Knill, John +Hickson. + + +_Tenth._--GEORGE WILLIAMS.* (1830.) + +He was a sailor on board the ship 'Rankin,' belonging, I think, to +Gilmore and Rankin. He fell overboard with a timber chain round his +neck, and went under a raft of timber. Some men saw him fall overboard, +and called for me. I ran as fast as I could, and had to step from one +piece of floating timber to another; however, I soon reached him, and +brought him up with the chain round his neck. He was completely +exhausted, and it was half an hour before he could walk. This man's +captain sent for me to give me some money for rescuing one of his crew; +but fearing he might stop the sum out of the man's wages, I refused to +go; for I did not want anything for what I had done. He was offended, +and when ashore told Captain Knill of my refusal. So to please my +captain, I went on board the 'Rankin,' when the captain shook hands with +me, and said, 'Captain Knill tells me you won't take any money for +saving one of my crew. I think you ought. Had you saved my life I would +have given you twenty pounds, and I think you ought to take a sovereign +for what you have done. Now take it, and I will make him pay me back.' +He then sent for the man, who looked wretched and seemed to think I had +gone for money; and when his captain said, 'Now, what are you going to +give this man for saving your life,' he replied, 'I have nothing to give +him.' I didn't want the poor man's money, nor would I have taken any if +he had had his pockets full. I then went forward to the crew, when the +captain sent us what sailors call 'a mess pot.' I drank a great deal of +rum that night, for I had to sup first with one and then with another, +and each drank to my good health, and when I left they gave me a good +hearty 'English cheer'--such a cheer as only 'jolly sailors' can give. +Captain Knill was pleased that I had been so firm in refusing to take +any money from the poor man, and it was enough for me that _he_ was +pleased. And I can declare, most solemnly, that hitherto I have not +received so much as a halfpenny from any of those whom I have saved. I +have got many a glass of grog, but never any money. _Witnesses_--Captain +J. Knill, John Hickson. + + +_Eleventh._--MARY ANN DAY.* (1833.) + +She was a little girl, a native of Ulceby, in Lincolnshire, and fell +from the 'Magna Charter' steamer into New Holland harbour. I sprang in +after her while the paddle-wheels of the steamer were in motion, and +brought her ashore, though at a great risk of losing my own life. The +noise of the paddle-wheels, the screams of the girl's mother, and the +confusion and shouts of the passengers, made this a very exciting scene, +but it was very soon over, and the little girl, having got some dry +clothes on, her mother brought her to me, and said to her, 'Now what +will you give this gentleman for saving your life?' when she held out +her little chin and, with a full heart, said, 'A _kiss_.' She gave me a +kiss, and O, what a kiss it was. I felt myself well paid for my trouble; +indeed, I made the remark at the time, that I was never better satisfied +than when that child kissed me. 'It is said that Cicero had two +courtiers on whom he wished to bestow favours. To one he gave a golden +cup, and to the other a kiss. But the one that got the cup was very +dissatisfied. He said, 'In the kiss I see something more than the cup, +though that is valuable, but in the kiss there is affection, and it +betokens better things.' And I am sure I felt a greater sense of +delight, and higher satisfaction at the moment when that grateful child +kissed me, than I did when my fellow townsmen, with their wonted +generosity, presented me with one hundred and thirty guineas, and other +mementoes of my doings; all of which I prize most highly, and which I +trust will be preserved as heirlooms in my family, as long as the name +of Ellerthorpe shall continue. I have been told that this girl is +married and has a large family, and that she is now living between +Beverly and Hull. Whether this is true I cannot say, but I know she has +never paid me a visit, which I think she might have done, supposing the +above statement to be correct. Should this meet her eye, it may refresh +her memory, and I assure her she would meet with a hearty welcome from +her former deliverer, now living at the Humber Dock-gate, Hull. +_Witness_--Captain Oswald James Teny. + + +_Twelfth._--HENRICH JENSON.* (1833.) + +He was a foreigner, about forty years of age, and fell into the Humber +Dock basin, one dark night, in the month of November. I was walking on +the dock side at the time, when I heard a splash in the water, and in +less time than it takes to write these few lines, I plunged in after +him, and found him in a drowning state; I seized him, and with the +assistance of some bystanders, soon had him safe on land. He rapidly +recovered and I heard no more of him for years, when a man, a foreigner, +called at my house and gave me the man's name and thanked me for saving +his life. He said, 'If ever Jenson comes to Hull again, you may rest +assured he will call and see you, and give you personal thanks.' I said +I should be glad to see him, but that I should not take anything from +him for the little service I had done him. This case was fully reported +in the local papers at the time, and gave rise to a great deal of talk +in the town of Hull, and its vicinity, as many well remember. John +Barkworth, Esq., timber merchant, of Hull (who had known me from a boy), +in company with some other gentlemen, met me one day, and said, 'Well +John, you have saved another man,' and turning to those with him, he +said, 'Here is a man that never stops, whatever kind of weather blows, +but in he plunges and fetches the drowning person out. Look at his last +case! On a dark cold night in November, he hears a splash, and in he +goes and saves a man. Gentlemen, the town ought to do something handsome +for him.' He gave me half-a-crown, and each of the other gentlemen gave +me the same sum. As these gentlemen had plenty of money, and as none of +them had any connection with the man I had saved, I accepted their +gifts, and felt pleased that my services had been acknowledged in the +manner I have described. _Witness_--James Smith. + + +_Thirteenth._--ASHLEY TAYLOR.* (1833.) + +He was seventy-five years of age, and fell from the landing place of the +Grimsby packet, opposite ----street, Hull. At that time I belonged to +the New Holland steamer, and having lost my tide at four o'clock, p.m., +I went down to meet the packet which arrived at seven o'clock at night. +Mr. R. Curtis, Mr. Lundie, and myself, were walking near where the boat +was expected to land, when we heard a great splash in the water, but +could not see anything. We ran to the corner of Pier-street, and there +we saw something in the water, but nothing stirred. At length Mr. Lundie +said, 'I believe it is a man overboard.' I then looked more closely, and +sure enough it was a man. He had on one of those old fashioned great +coats, with three or four capes, and which were worn by gentlemen's +coachmen and boots, forty years ago; and as the capes were blowing about +in all directions, it was with great difficulty I found his head. I had +to turn him up and down, to the right and left, topsy-turvey, before I +could get his head clear. I took him to the 'Piles,' and held him there, +until a young man, who now drives a cab in Hull, came to our assistance +with a boat. We took the old man to the Humber dock watch-house, and +sent for Dr. Buchan, who used the Royal Humane Society's apparatus, and +also gave the old man a steam or vapour bath. I stayed with him in my +wet clothes till he spoke, and then I went home and got on some dry +raiment. During my absence, they took this old man to Mr. Hudson's +lodging house, in Humber-street. The night was cold, and the old man had +had a warm bath, and to expose him to the night air under such +circumstances was enough to kill him. When I arrived from New Holland, +at nine o'clock next morning, a person met me and said, 'The old man is +dead.' _Witnesses_--Richard Curtis, Richard Lundie. + + +_Fourteenth._--RICHARD CHAPMAN.* (1834.) + +Unlike the last case, Richard was a fine boy, only seven years old: he +was the son of the late Mr. Chapman, pilot, and also brother of Mr. +Chapman, painter, of Hull. He fell into the water from the Hull Dock +Pier. At the time, I was on the deck of my packet, smoking a pipe, when +I heard some one call out, 'A boy overboard.' I sprang from the deck, +ran to the spot, plunged into the water, and in a few moments I had the +boy safe ashore. I then hastened home, got on some dry clothes, and in +less than half an hour I had started with the packet for New Holland. +When I returned, Mr. Chapman met me and said, 'John, was it you who +saved my boy?' 'I can't say, but I know I saved somebody's boy, is he +yours?' I replied. 'Yes,' said the rejoicing father, 'I'm glad you were +there, what am I in your debt?' 'Nothing, Mr. Chapman. I am as pleased +as you are, and you are quite welcome to what I have done,' was my +reply. He then said, 'Come in here and have something to drink,' when we +went to the Minerva Hotel. Mr. Chapman pulled a handful of sovereigns +from his purse and said, 'Now do take something for saving my boy,' but +I again refused, though I believe to this day he would gladly have given +me L10 if I would have taken that sum; but I never did take anything +from anyone whom I have rescued, though often urged to do so. I think it +was on this occasion that I received L1 from the Hull Royal Humane +Society. Mr. Collinson, a gentleman, was on the pier when I saved Master +Chapman, and he came and asked me what was my name, to what ship I +belonged, where I lived, &c. Soon after, I was called by some gentlemen +into the Minerva Hotel, where Dr. Wallis shook me by the hand and said, +'I have often heard of you, and it gives me great pleasure to see your +face and hear your voice.' He gave me a note to take to the Trinity +House for L1, which I got, and another which I took to Watson and +Harrison's bank, where I got another sovereign. I felt pleased with +these acknowledgments of my services, and oftener than once after this I +was sent to the same places, and got L1 each time, after I had rescued a +human life. The funds of the Trinity House were soon exhausted, and +several gentlemen requested me to prepare a list of the persons I had +saved from drowning at Hull, New Holland, Barton, and Hessle, and to get +it signed by living witnesses. The persons saved by me, for which I had +received no public acknowledgment, numbered five, and they gave me L5. +Altogether I have received eleven sovereigns from the Hull Humane +Society for those I rescued in the Humber, and at Hull. +_Witnesses_--William Collinson, Thomas Spence. + + +_Fifteenth._--ROBERT LEESON.* (1834.) + +He was a young gentleman returning from a musical festival, at York. He +fell into New Holland harbour; some said he was in a state of +intoxication. I swam to his assistance and soon saved him. He was very +ill, and I believe a doctor was fetched from Barrow. When I returned, +next morning, he had gone, but had left me _sixpence_ with which to get +a glass of rum, which I hastily swallowed. My captain was provoked by +(what _he_ thought) this man's niggardly gift, and said, 'John, why did +you drink it? I would have given you a glass of rum without your being +indebted to him.' I am told that this gentleman is often in Hull; if he +is, I am sorry he has never had gratitude enough to give me a call. I +saved his life and he must know it. I may add that a man who could not +swim, jumped overboard to rescue this gentleman, and I had almost as +much trouble in saving him as I had in saving Leeson. _Witnesses_--James +Oswald, James Sorry. + + +_Sixteenth._--JOSEPH CRABTREE. (1834.) + +At this time I belonged to the 'Magna Charter' steamer, and was watchman +for the night. When I went on board I was not quite sober, and I lay +down on the forecastle. After a while I thought I heard something fall +overboard, when I ran on to the deck, but could not see anything. I +listened with bated breath, but not a sound could I hear; at length I +shouted, but there was no answer. A plank had been put from the 'Ann +Scarborough,' into our 'Taffelrail,' and as this plank had fallen down, +I thought it was its fall I had heard and nothing else. I got a boat +hook and pulled the plank on board our vessel. But after a few moments I +thought I heard something stir, and on taking a light I saw Crabtree, +who was engineer of the 'Ann Scarborough,' stuck in the mud, for the +vessels were dry. I put down a ladder and went to help him, but he was +so fast in the mud that I could do nothing with him. So I ran to +Lawson's tap-room and got, I think, Robert Hollowman and two other men, +to help to get C. out of the mud. He was dead drunk, but we soon got him +ashore, gave him some brandy, and he was very little worse. The case was +kept a profound secret at the time, and for this reason--Crabtree was +afraid that if his master should get to know of the affair, he would +lose his situation, and as we all thought the same, we promised not to +tell any one of it. + + +_Seventeenth._--WILSON.* (1835.) + +This boy fell into the Humber Dock basin, and sank between the 'Calder' +steamer and the wall. It was about three o'clock one Sabbath afternoon, +and hundreds of people were passing to and fro in search of pleasure. I +was one hundred yards from the boy when the alarm was given, but I ran +as fast as I could, and when I got to the spot, I found great +difficulty in getting near because of the press of the people who were +anxious to see the drowning youth. Some one said, 'He went down just +here,' and in I went, but I had a task to find him because of the +thickness of the water. At last I saw him, and brought him up on one +side of the packet, and caught hold of the paddle-wheels, when the +people, who crowded the deck, rushed to see us, and gave the packet such +a 'lurch over' that we were again dipped overhead in the water. I was +never nearer being drowned than at this moment; but 'mercy to my rescue +flew,' for the captain, who had been asleep in the cabin, rushed on +deck, and seeing our peril, called out, 'You are drowning them,' and got +them to stand on the other side of the vessel, which lifted us right out +of the water. A man then came into the paddle-wheel and took us both +out. I was then completely exhausted and quite insensible. When I came +to myself I was in the watch-house of the Humber Dock Company, and a +doctor was watching over me and administering suitable medical +treatment. I cannot tell how long I was in this state, but I had all my +clothes pulled or cut off, and I was dangerously ill for several days. +The boy was thought to be worse than I was, and in his case they used +the Royal Humane Society's apparatus for restoring animation to drowning +persons. He soon recovered, but who he was or where he came from I never +knew. I remember the doctor told me his name was Wilson. This was +regarded by the public as an act of great skill and bravery, and was +much talked of at the time. Mrs. Daniel Sykes sent me, through the +medium of the editor of the Rockingham newspaper, L1 10s., and I think +one of the clubs subscribed _threepence_. _Witnesses_--Isaac Johnson, S. +Bromley. + + +_Eighteenth._--SARAH HARLAND.* (1835.) + +Mrs. H. was a person of great strength and bulk of frame, weighing +fourteen stones; she fell from the pier into the water. Our packet had +just arrived from New Holland, and I was forward making the ... rope +fast, when our engineer called out 'Jack, Jack, there is a woman +overboard.' He ran aft as fast as he could, and when he got there, he +saw me overboard. He often used to say, 'I don't know how that little +fellow got past me, for I ran as fast as I could, and yet when I got +there he was overboard.' I seized this woman with a firm grip, and bore +her to the pier, amid the applause of crowds of people who witnessed the +whole occurrence. Some of them said I swam as fast with this big woman +in my arms as I did when I went towards her; this I think was +impossible, seeing I was but a little man, and that she was such a big +heavy woman. Isaac Whittaker, Esq., who saw me rescue her, gave me +half-a-crown to get some grog with. But what pleased me far better was, +the gratitude of Mrs. H. She resided, if I remember rightly, in Blanket +Row, and on going to see her, next morning, I found her ill in bed. She +seemed full of gratitude, and that gave me great pleasure. I have often +seen her since, and she always acknowledges me as saving her life. +_Witness_--Robert Todd. + + +_Nineteenth._--ROBERT BROWN.* (1835.) + +He was a sailor, from North Shields, and fell overboard, near the +Victoria Hotel, Hull, while on watch. It was the first night of Dacrow's +Circus appearing in Hull, and Brown's mates had gone ashore, either to +see the performance inside, or to hear the music in the streets. I was +watchman that night on board the 'Magna Charter' steamer. A heavy gale +was blowing from the north, accompanied with sleet storms. While closing +the cabin door for the night, I heard a splash, and running aft, I +called out, 'Is anyone overboard?' But there was no answer, for the +pier was deserted, the people having thronged to the circus. I could not +see anything; but at last I thought I heard a voice, and plunging into +the water, I soon found poor Brown; indeed he seized me before I was +aware of him, and got upon me in such a way that I could not swim, and, +I must confess, I was in a great passion. At length I got one arm at +liberty, and made for the shore. I turned round and round a great many +times, and, at last, after a desperate struggle, which I shall never +forget, we reached the steps at the end of the pier. Brown took hold of +the rail, walked up the steps, and seemed as if he didn't care about me; +I was quite exhausted, and had to hold by the railings for several +minutes before I could recover my breath. I then sat down on one of the +steps and felt very ill, and I thought I should have died on the spot. I +remember seeing the lights, and hearing the music from the shore, but +there was no one near to render me any help. Bye-and-bye I recovered a +little and _crept_ to the top of the steps, where I found poor Brown, +crying most piteously. Two men, Joseph Crabtree and John Young, came +from Lawson's tap-room, and I asked them to get some drink for the +youth, who was in a distressing state, and I would pay for it. They then +took him to Mr. Lawson's, while I tried to make my way home; but +scarcely had I started, when a great trouble stared me in the face, it +was this: Around the circus were thousands of people, and I +thought,--what shall I do? I cannot get through that crowd, and if I +once fall, I shall never get up again, and I felt that I had not +strength to walk round the other way, and I didn't know what to do. +However, I had not gone far when, who should I meet, but Joseph Spyby, +our engineer. I said, 'O Joe, do help me home, do; I have been overboard +saving a young man, and I can scarcely stand. I feel very bad.' He +replied, 'Yes, thou has to be drowned, and the sooner the better. There +never was such a fool as thou art. Does thou think anybody but theeself +would jump overboard a night like this? No! there is not another such a +fool in England!' Now, Joe was a kind-hearted, humane man, and the first +to help a poor fellow in distress; but such was the way in which he +expressed himself as he helped me along the street that terrible night. +He took hold of me and got me through the crowd as well as he could. We +went to the Humber Tavern, where I got a glass of brandy, and then Spyby +took me home. I got a change of raiment and a little rest, and strange +to say, I soon felt well again. For this case I received the Royal +Humane Society's silver medal, with their thanks on vellum. The case +created considerable excitement in Hull, and the late Mr. Loft (father +of our late mayor), offered to become one of twelve persons to allow me +L2 per week to walk round the pier and docks, so as to be ready to +rescue any who might fall into the water. _Witness_--Robert Todd. + + +_Twentieth._--ROBERT TETHER. (1836.) + +This young man, who is at present second engineer of the steam-ship, +'Dido,' belonging to Wilson and Sons, Hull, shall describe his own +deliverance. He thus writes:--'About thirty years ago, and when I was +about ten years of age, I was on board of a vessel whilst being launched +from a ship-yard on the Humber bank. By some means or other a check rope +belonging to the vessel broke, and dragged me into the water. There was +no means of my being saved but by the noble "Hero," who immediately +jumped into the water, with all his clothes on, and brought me to the +shore, which was done at a great risk of his own life. I remember, also, +that there was immense shouting and cheering, and that a band of +musicians who had been playing at the 'launch,' when they saw Mr. +Ellerthorpe bearing me ashore, began playing, "See the Conquering Hero +comes."--Robert Tether, July 24th, 1867.' + + +_Twenty-first and Twenty-second._--GEORGE EMERSON* AND ANN WISE* (1836.) + +Emerson, a porter, was conducting Miss Wise, from the 'Magna Charter,' +over a plank, when the plank slipped, and both were precipitated into +the water. The wind was blowing very strong, and the river was extremely +rough at the time. I had just gone into the cabin to change my clothes, +when, hearing such a screaming as I had never before heard, I sprang +upon the paddle-box, and saw Emerson, but knew nothing of the woman who +had also fallen into the water, and whose mother was uttering the most +heart-rending shrieks. I leaped from the paddle-box to save the man, +when, to my surprise, I found I had thrown my legs right _across the +woman's shoulders_! Of course my _first object_ now, was to save _her_. +I hastily dragged her to the side of the packet, and having put her hand +round a piece of iron, I said to her, 'Now hold fast there, for you are +safe.' I then went to a distance in search of Emerson, and having made a +rope fast round him, I was able to hold him up with ease. But the +shouting was as great as ever, and I thought,--surely there is some one +else overboard! The fact was, the people could not see the woman holding +by the iron, and in my efforts to save the man, they thought I had +forgotten her; hence their wild shouts. The engineer came to the +vessel's side and shouted, 'There is the woman yet,' when I replied, +'She's all right, come down to the paddle and take hold of her.' He came +and took her out, when she had a basket on her arm and a pair of pattens +in her hand, just as when she dropped into the water. She suddenly +disappeared from the crowd, and I heard no more of her for seven years. +Mr. G. Lee, editor of the 'Rockingham, advertised the case in his paper +for several weeks, asking the woman, from sheer gratitude, to let him +know her name; but there was no response. When I was master of the 'Ann +Scarborough,' sailing between Barton and Hessle, I had to fetch (one +Sunday afternoon) a gentleman's carriage from Barton to Hessle. We had +scarcely started, when a young woman, who was a passenger, said to me, +'You don't know me, Sir, but I know you.' 'And for what do you know me, +something good or bad?' 'O good, Sir; don't you remember jumping +overboard and saving my life, at Hull? I shall never forget you, and I +have come here on purpose to thank you.' I then told her how we had +advertised for her name, but could never hear a word of her, when she +said, 'My mother and I were strangers in Hull, and as soon as I had got +some dry clothes on, we had to start by coach, for Bridlington.' This +woman's brother was gardener for Mr. Graborn, solicitor, Barton, and we +afterwards became very intimate friends. I have not heard from Ann Wise +for many years, but if she is yet living in any part of England, it +would gladden my heart to have one more acknowledgment from her. In +relating this case at Temperance meetings, I have sometimes created a +little mirth, by remarking, 'I went in search of a man, and lo! and +behold, I found a woman.' _Witness_--Robert Todd. + + +_Twenty-third._--JOHN BAILEY.* (1836.) + +He was fourteen years of age, and while playing at the Hull ferry-boat +dock, he fell overboard and had a very narrow escape from being drowned. +When I first heard the cry, 'A boy overboard,' I was near the Minerva +Hotel, and I at once ran to the scene of the disaster. He had been down +twice, when I got there, but in a few moments I had hold of him, and +brought him ashore, amid the cheers and shouts of hundreds of +spectators. I narrowly escaped being drowned. Bailey is now a labouring +man in Hull, and I believe the father of a large family. I often meet +him, and he always seems glad to see me. + +I may here ask, Was it not strange that amongst the hundreds of people +who saw this drowning youth, not one was found to render him the least +assistance? I do not write boastingly when I say this:--If I could run +from the Minerva Hotel to the pier, and save this youth, after he had +sank in the water twice, surely those who were near him at the moment +when he fell in, might have rendered him some assistance? Indeed some +present said, 'We could have swam to him if we had tried.' Then I would +ask, 'Why didn't they make a venture?' The conduct of these spectators I +regard as being monstrous and unmanly. Englishmen are generally thought +to have a fair share of personal courage, but it is nevertheless a fact, +that scores of them watched the struggles of this drowning youth, _but +took care to watch them only from the shore_. Can we wonder that +hundreds are drowned every year along our coasts, if people act as these +spectators did. _Witnesses_--Joseph Crabtree, John Young. + + +_Twenty-fourth._--RICHARD LISON.* (1836.) + +He was a boy, seven years of age, and fell into the Junction dock, Hull. +When the alarm was given, I was at the other side of the present ... +dock, a great distance from where the boy was, but I ran with all speed +over the bridge, and when I got to the drowning child, I found he had +sunk the third time, and I thought, O, what shall I do? I went in search +of him; I dived here, and I dived there, and at length I found him. A +cry of joy was raised by the spectators when they saw me fetch him from +a great depth, and then carry him towards the shore, on reaching which, +some of them received him, and took him to his mother. I heard no more +of him until he had grown to manhood; since then he has manifested the +warmest gratitude, and treated me with the utmost kindness and respect. +For years he was in the employ of the Hull dock company; I had many +opportunities of watching his conduct, and always found him a faithful +and trusty servant, doing his duty as well in his master's absence as in +his presence. This made me think much of him, and I always felt a deep +interest in his welfare. He is now in the employ of Martin, Samuelson +and Co., Hull. _Witness_--John Lundie. + + +_Twenty-fifth._--GEORGE RICKERBY.* (1836.) + +He was a youth, and while playing on the east pier, Hull, he fell +overboard. I ran a great distance, and in an almost breathless state +leaped from a height of fourteen feet, into seven feet depth of water. I +had scarcely touched the water, when he clutched me firmly, and dragged +me down, again and again, but I was eager to rescue him, and, thank God, +I succeeded. He had fallen upon one of the buoys, and cut his head, +which bled profusely, and before I got him ashore I thought he was dead. +He continued to bleed for some time, and a doctor was sent for. There +was great cheering by the spectators as they saw me bearing through the +waters, this bleeding, but still living youth, and some ladies and +gentlemen, who had been watching me from the Minerva Hotel, threw out of +the window, several shillings and half-crown pieces. If my memory serves +me rightly, I got L1 10s. I thought myself handsomely rewarded; but what +pleased me more was the gratitude of the boy's mother; for I have always +considered gratitude the richest reward I could receive: more than +grateful thanks for what I had done, this poor woman would have found +it difficult to have given me, but most grateful she was, and I felt +both satisfied and delighted. But let me explain: On going to see the +boy, next morning, I found him very ill in bed, and his mother, thinking +I had gone for something for saving her child's life, said, 'I have no +money to give you, Sir, but my husband's half-pay will be due in a few +days, and I'm sure you shall have half of it.' I replied, 'I'm sure I +have not come for anything you have, my good woman, for I never take +money from those I save, or from their relatives.' She seemed +overwhelmed with grateful feelings, and I had some difficulty in +persuading her that I did not want money, and that I would not +take it if offered me, and I believe, to this day, that if I had +said to her, 'You must give me your eight-days' clock and your +chest of drawers,' she would willingly have given them to me +there and then. _Witness._--Richard Curtis. + + +_Twenty-sixth._--MISS HILL. (1836.) + +This young woman, when landing at New Holland, ran down the plank, when +her foot slipped and she fell into the water, at the low side of the +jetty. I sprang to her assistance, but she was fast among some pieces of +timber. We were both in great peril, the tide was coming in, and had it +reached a foot higher, we should both have been drowned. We were so +placed as to be compelled to dive under water before we could reach the +shore. I told her that there was no other way of our being saved, and +that the attempt must be made at once, and without waiting for her +consent, I grasped her in my arm, and under the water we went. The +people thought we should have been drowned, but we soon got clear of the +jetty; some threw us one thing and some another; at length James +Nicholson got into a boat, took us in, and landed us safe ashore. I +went to a public house, where I got a glass of brandy, and borrowed the +ostler's clothes, and I ailed nothing afterwards. The young woman +remained at New Holland all night, and took her departure next morning, +without leaving behind her even a single expression of verbal gratitude +for what I had done for her. For some time it was reported that she was +the daughter of Sir Rowland Hill, post-master general, but I wrote to +that Knight, and found that she did not belong to his family. She made a +fine appearance and was well dressed, but when I think of the shabby way +in which she left the scene of her distress, I can't call her a lady. I +am devoutly grateful that I was the means of saving her, but the case +would not have been made thus prominent, had not several gentlemen of +Hull, who were present on the occasion, refused to let the case slip. +_Witnesses_--Robert Todd, Captain Thomas Oswell. + + +_Twenty-seventh._--HANNAH WEBSTER.* (1837.) + +This I regard as a most wonderful deliverance. Some said she fell, +others that she jumped, from the Barton horse-boat into the Ferry-boat +dock, Hull. Thomas Spencer, who was working at what was then called 'The +knock-em-down jetty,' saw the woman drop into the water, and called out, +'A woman overboard.' I hastened to her and soon got her ashore, when she +was completely exhausted, and we sent for a doctor. A gentleman came to +me and said 'Did you fetch yon woman out of the water?' 'Yes, Sir,' was +my reply, when he made this strange and unaccountable remark--'If you +had let her stop in I would have given you half-a-crown, but as it is, I +shall not give you anything.' 'Thank you, Sir, but I'm glad she's out, +notwithstanding; and I would rather save that woman than I would have +all the half-crowns in Hull,' was my indignant reply. I never stood to +ask whether a drowning person was rich or poor, friend or foe, drunk or +sober. If a person was overboard I did my best to rescue that person +from drowning. We took this poor, despised woman to a house in +Humber-street, and I gave my word that all expenses should be paid. She +lodged in Mill-street, and was a widow, thirty seven years of age, and +had two children. I went to see her next morning, but she had gone, so I +had all expenses to pay. I have always thought this woman was one of +those poor, unfortunate, and despairing ones, so touchingly described by +Hood:-- + + 'Mad from life's history, + Glad to death's mystery + Swift to be hurled, + Anywhere, anywhere, + Out of the world.' + +_Witnesses_--William Taylor, George Horsefield. + + +_Twenty-eighth._--MISS ELLGARD.* (1837.) + +This young woman, who, there is reason to suspect, was a similar +character to Mrs. Webster, fell from McDonald's wharf, into Toronto Bay, +America. I had in charge at this time a vessel belonging to Mr. +Garsides, and when walking down to the wharf, one cold night, in the +month of October, I heard a heavy splash in the water, and the next +moment a loud scream. I ran to the place and saw this woman struggling +in the water. She was very difficult to get at, but at last I caught +hold of her, and soon landed her on the wharf. A man was waiting to +receive her, and they instantly walked off. A few days after, however, +she called at Mr. Baker's, 'Black Swan' Inn and asked for me, and on +going to the door she told me that I had saved her life, and that she +was twenty-nine years of age. Now there had been some strange reports +about her and the man who met her; indeed it was commonly believed, in +Toronto, that he had pushed her overboard. But she said, 'The report is +false. I _fell_ overboard.' She thanked me very kindly; I urged her to +tell me her name, which she did, after I had promised not to tell +anyone; this made me suspect that there was something wrong in +connection with her being overboard. She urged me to accept some money, +but I would not for I am sure her gratitude amply satisfied me for what +I had done for her. _Witnesses_--Thomas Thomas, John Baker. + + +_Twenty-ninth._--JANE GOUGH.* (1843.) + +When seven years old, she fell into Hessle harbour; her mother gave the +alarm, and in a few moments I was in the water and saved her. I remember +but little about _this case_, but the girl's father often says, when +referring to myself, 'That man saved my child's life twice, and the +second time was as good as the the first.' I will explain the second +case. Miss Gough, many years after her deliverance, married Mr. Shaw, a +captain, and together they have brought up a family of children, in +respectable circumstances. Mrs. Shaw knew me well, but I had not seen +her for many years, when this strange event took place:--I was captain +of the Dock Company's steamer, and on going one dark night into the +Victoria Dock, I found a deep timber-laden vessel, with her stem upon +the bank and her stern in the channel, and she was rapidly filling with +water. I at once went to her assistance, and having fastened a strong +rope to her, and then to my packet, I tried, first in one way and then +in another, to pull her off, but she seemed immoveable; and I began to +fear I should not accomplish my object. But I always believed in that +little catch, + + 'Have you not succeeded yet? + Try, try again.' + +and _we did_ try again; and after trying many ways but in vain, we put +the tow-rope on board, and running our packet at full speed, off the +vessel came. All this time there was no person on board except the +captain's wife and her children. So I put them ashore, and went on board +the vessel myself, and let go the anchor. Now, I did not know who the +woman was until she offered me a sum of money, for what I had done. I +told her I did not want aught, and that she was heartily welcome to the +timely service I had rendered her. She then said--and I shall never +forget it--'Mr. Ellerthorpe, you don't seem to know who I am?' I said, +'No, I don't;' when, to my surprise, she answered, 'I am that little +girl, Jane Gough, whom you saved from drowning in Hessle harbour.' My +feelings were indescribably pleasant and joyous. _Witnesses_--Jane Shaw, +John Gough. + + +_Thirtieth._--WILLIAM TURNER. (1844.) + +This deliverance took place one dark night, when we were rounding +Flambro Head, and while a strong wind was blowing and a heavy sea +rolling. Turner, while doing something at the main sheet, fell over the +vessel's side. I caught him, and got him on board, with a quickness that +has always surprised me. Mr. Turner, who is at present foreman of the +Humber Dock Company, Wharfage department, thus writes:--'I am one of the +persons whom Mr. Ellerthorpe has saved from a watery grave. In the year +1844, and during a voyage from Scarborough to Hull, in the yacht, +"Gossamer," I fell overboard while crossing Burlington Bay. He sprang to +my assistance and saved me, otherwise I should have been drowned. I +remember also, when coming over the Humber Dock Bridge, one night, about +nine o'clock, I saw an old lady fall from a height of about twenty feet, +into the lock-pit. Soon after I heard a tremendous splash, and to my +surprise, I found it was "Our Hero," who had plunged his carcase into +the lock to rescue the old lady from her perilous position, which he did +manfully. I also saw him rescue John Eaby. In the great and terrible +struggle which took place in the water, Mr. Ellerthorpe bore up with the +greatest coolness imaginable, although at a great risk of losing his +life.--William Turner.' + + +_Thirty-first._--JOHN ELLERTHORPE. (1846.) + +He was my son, and first-born child. Mr. G. Lee, the gentleman who first +gave me employment in connection with the Hull Dock Company, had engaged +me to teach his son the art of swimming. We went to the Stone Ferry +Baths, for that purpose, and wishful that my own sons should learn this +invaluable art, I took John with us. When we got to the baths, I found +the water was too warm to bathe in, so Mr. Lee and myself went into one +of the adjoining rooms and had a long conversation about swimming, while +the two boys were left behind. At length I went to test the temperature +of the water, it was remarkably clear, and, to my horror, I saw my son +prostrate at the bottom of the bath! My feelings can be better imagined +than described. Instantly, and without either throwing off a single +garment or putting my watch from my pocket, I plunged into the bath and +brought him up. He was full of water, and frothed at the mouth, and was +very ill for a long time after. _Witness_--Mr. G. B. Lee, Jun. + + +_Thirty-second._--THOMAS ROBINSON.* (1846.) + +He belonged to a schooner, lying in the Junction Dock, Hull. I was +walking near the dock, when I saw a great many people running from every +direction, and was soon told that a man had fallen overboard. I ran to +the spot, and for some time I could not ascertain the nature of the +case. At length the captain of the schooner, said, 'He went down close +to the vessel, and has been seen twice.' Instantly I dived to the bottom +of the dock, but could not see him. I swam to and fro for some time, and +at last saw him under the vessel; he seemed quite dead, but I seized him +and brought him up. They were busy with the grappling irons, but as he +was under the vessel, the probability is he would never have been got +out of the water alive. I went home and got some dry clothes on, and +when I returned and inquired how he was, I was told he rapidly +recovered. I have never seen this young man, or heard a word of him from +that day to the present. He was a sailor, and may have been in Hull +since then, but if he has, he never made himself known to me. +_Witnesses_--John Moody, John Kidd. + + +_Thirty-third._--WATSON.* (1846.) + +While going on the Humber bank, to Hessle, I passed some youths who were +bathing, but took little or no notice of them until I had got about 300 +yards past them, when I saw some men running from a field close by, and +heard a youth call out, 'A boy is drowning.' I ran back, and swam to the +lad, and soon brought him out and laid him on the bank. I drank a glass +of grog and smoked a pipe, and then returned to Hull, for a change of +raiment. I caught a severe cold on this occasion, for I had got half way +to Hessle when I saved this boy, and had on my wet clothes for nearly +three hours. I have never, that I am aware of, seen that boy since. Nor +am I quite certain about his name; some one said they called him Watson; +but a man who saw me save him told me he would let me know the boy's +right name, but he never did. Somebody disputed my saving the lad, so I +got a paper signed by a man who witnessed the whole affair, and whose +name was Johnson. _Witness_--Mr. Johnson. + + +_Thirty-fourth._--SAMUEL DAVIS. (Nov. 6, 1850.) + +He was employed on board a 'mud tug' that was used for removing mud from +Hull Harbour into the Humber. I saw this tug in a sinking state, and +called out to the men to escape from her at once. All left her and got +into a boat, except Davis; he was rather lame, but had time enough to +make his escape as well as the rest. The men had not left the 'tug' more +than five minutes, when she capsized, and Davis was thrown into the +water. I was on board a 'tow boat' at the time, and between the drowning +man and myself, there lay three heavily-loaded ballast lighters. I +turned my steamer astern, and by jumping from one lighter to another, I +soon reached Davis. I felt confident I could save him, and having a mud +scraper in my hand, I threw the end of it to him, and said, 'Now, don't +be afraid, you'll soon be all right.' I did save him, but alas!--and my +hand trembles while I write it--the first utterance that fell from his +lips was a fearful oath, 'D---- my eyes!' O, how grieved I was to hear a +man, just at the point of death, utter such an expression. We soon got +him on board of our packet, and put him in some warm and dry clothes. On +Friday night, December the 6th, 1867, a fire broke out in Hull, and my +son Joseph, was there, and sprung the rattle, giving the alarm, and the +first man that came to the spot was Davis. One of my son's companions +called out, 'Ellerthorpe!' when Davis said, 'Is John Ellerthorpe that +young man's father?' 'Yes,' was the reply. 'Ah!' said Davis, 'he saved +my life, and but for him I should not have been here to-night.' I trust +the Lord will yet save him, and that I shall meet him and others whom I +have rescued, at the right hand of the great Judge. + + +_Thirty-fifth._--A BOY--NAME UNKNOWN.* (1850.) + +At this time I was captain of the Hull Dock steam tug. One night, about +eleven o'clock, the railway goods station was on fire, and I was +summoned from my bed to go and remove our packet, which was moored close +to where the fire had broken out. In the space of two hours, three men +fell overboard, all of whom I rescued, with the assistance of others. +Soon after I had to take the Dock Company's fire-engine on board our +packet, as they could not find enough water on shore. The wind was +blowing a heavy gale, and before I could get the packet to a convenient +place, sufficient water had been found, and the engine was not needed. +While I was busy with the packet, a man was drowned, and I felt greatly +distressed on his account. So I went and sat down on the paddle-box and +placed a boat hook at my side, to be ready should any one fall into the +water. I had not sat many moments when I saw a youth, about seventeen +years of age, fall overboard. I jumped from the paddle-box on to the +dock wall, and ran as fast as I could to the spot. While the fire was +blazing before me I could see the boy distinctly, but when I got past +the fire it was pitchy dark, and I lost all trace of the drowning youth. +Thousands of people were thronging and shouting in every direction, and +I lost all hopes of saving the youth, who was now submerged in the +water. But when I could not get any further, for the press of the +people, I threw in the boat hook; it was eighteen feet long and the tide +was very high. I knelt with one knee on the wall, and felt the boy at +about fifteen feet under water. The hook caught the bottom of his +waistcort, and I felt him take hold of it with both his hands. I never +could ascertain the boy's name, but the whole case was fully reported in +the local newspapers at the time, and hundreds, yea, thousands of people +now in Hull, well remember it. Witnessed by thousands. + + +_Thirty-sixth._--GEORGE PEPPER.* (1852.) + +George was the son of my shipmate, who witnessed the whole affair. He +was a scholar in the Trinity House school, but it being Easter Monday, +he had a holiday, and came to spend the afternoon on board, with his +father. The packet started suddenly, and the rope by which she had been +fastened to the pier, struck the boy, and overboard he went. The packet +was in motion, but I leaped into the water, while George's father went +to fetch a boat hook, but it is my opinion the boy would have been +drowned had I waited for the hook. The boy's father was a good swimmer, +but he has often told me that he always wanted to think a few moments +before he durst leap into the water. However, I saved his son in a few +moments, and without much difficulty; indeed, when his mother said to +him, 'George, what did you think when you was in the water?' he replied, +'O, mother, I hadn't time to think, for Mr. Ellerthorpe caught me +directly.' Next morning, George was ready for school and I was ready for +my work, and scarcely any one knew aught of the affair. The fact was, +both Pepper and myself were to blame in not warning the boy of the +danger that had nearly cost him his life. George is now a young man, and +sails, I believe, from the port of Hull, and he seems to think as much +of his deliverance now as he did fifteen years ago. _Witness_--Henry +Bolton. + + +_Thirty-seventh._--ROBERT WOODMAN.* (1854.) + +He was a youth belonging to the brig 'Janet,' of South Shields, which +was leaving the Victoria Dock, Hull, and he had the misfortune, while +unfastening the check-rope, attached to the 'Dolphin,' to fall +overboard. For some time he struggled in the water, helpless, and it was +apparent that he was drowning. At the time I was on board the Dock +Company's tug, which was about thirty yards from the spot, when, +fortunately, I happened to see the youth, and I immediately sprang into +the water with all my clothes on. I succeeded in seizing the boy as he +was sinking, and placed him in such a position as enabled me to keep him +above the water, when I made the best of my way to the brig's boat, a +few yards off. The poor lad, in his almost insensible state, got upon my +head and clung to me tightly, and in a few moments, so entwined himself +around my arms as to render me almost incapable of swimming, and the +probability at that time was, that both of us would be drowned. I saw +and felt my perilous position, as he threatened to draw me again into +the water, by his desperate struggles; but at last, with the strength +and force of desperation, I managed to reach the painter of the boat, +which fortunately being 'taut' from the ring, enabled me to raise myself +and the youth out of the water, and we were both got into the boat, +though in a most exhausted condition; indeed I had to be conveyed home. +The boy soon recovered and left the dock the next tide, and I never saw +him again. But I wrote to the captain of the ship, and received this +beautiful letter from the youth's father:-- + + My Dear Sir,--The captain of the brig 'Janet' has sent me the very + kind letter from you, wishing to know the age and name of my boy, + which I am glad to tell you. His name is Robert Woodman, and he is + seventeen years of age. I live in London, and I am very sorry to + tell you that it is not in my power to give you anything or I would + most gladly have done so. But do accept my sincere thanks; and I do + hope, Sir, that if it should please God to spare my son to manhood, + that he will in some way present you a proof of his gratitude for + the great deed of daring that you have done for him; for the + captain said the boy could not have been saved had it not been for + you. Please to accept my most grateful thanks for your great + kindness to my poor boy. Yours truly, Woodman. + +Now, I can truthfully say, that this letter paid me well for the great +risk I had run, as it gave me great pleasure. Some time after, the +'Janet' returned to Hull, and I went on board to see if I could find the +youth, but the bird had flown, for the captain told me he had run away +from his ship, and that he had no idea where he was. The captain was +glad to see me and wanted me to have a glass of grog, but I refused, +having become, a short time before, a pledged abstainer from all +intoxicating drinks. + + +_Thirty-eighth._--ANN MARTIN.* (1860.) + +While the Humber Dock gate was being closed, this woman, who was +forty-eight years of age, came up to the bridge, and refusing to wait +until the proper time for passing, she attempted to step from one half +of the bridge to the other, and in making the attempt, she fell, head +first, into the water below. It was high tide at the time, and she was +rapidly carried away by the stream. The night was dark and I was very +ill, but when I heard that a woman was overboard, I ran to the spot; but +alas! I could not see her, and for a moment I thought there was no +chance of saving her. But knowing that assistance must be immediately +rendered or the woman would be out of sight, and beyond the reach of +help, I plunged into the water and soon brought her to the bridge. They +let down a boat hook to which we both clung, and then a ladder, up which +to ascend. But I told them I would rather have a boat, which was soon +brought and we were landed in safety. While clinging to the hook, the +woman, as might be expected, was full of alarm, but I knew she was safe +enough, so to allay her fears, and wile away a few moments of painful, +but unavoidable waiting, I jocosely said to her, 'Hold fast now, Missus. +You are as safe now as though you were watching the pot boil over.' She +afterwards told me that the most pleasant sensation she ever experienced +in her life, was at the moment when she felt some one had hold of her in +the water. This woman has manifested the liveliest gratitude for what I +did for her, and she never crosses the bridge without calling at my +house to enquire after me, and she often says, to my good wife, 'You +know I aint right if I don't see the master about.' She was very poor at +the time I saved her, but on the following Christmas she brought me a +_duck_ for my dinner. I refused to take it, for I knew she could not +afford to give me it; but she said, 'You must take it; I meant giving +you a Goose, but I could'nt afford to buy one. Now do take the duck, do, +Sir.' I saw it would grieve her if I refused, so I took it; _and this is +the first, and only occasion that I have taken aught from those whom I +have rescued_. And I am sure in this case, it was more blessed to give +than it was to receive, for the woman was both satisfied and delighted. +The gratitude of this poor woman, and also that of her family, seems +unabated. _Witness_--William Turner. + + +_Thirty-ninth._--JOHN EABY.* (July 30, 1861.) + +Police Constable Green, 69, was on duty at the South-end about half-past +ten o'clock, on the morning of the above date, and about one hour before +high water, when he saw Eaby, in a fit, fall from the quay into the +Humber Dock basin. He immediately called out, 'A man overboard,' and +with the assistance of another man, got the grapplings and caught hold +of Eaby by his clothes, but he being of great weight, they tore asunder, +and he again dropped into the water. Green then called for further +assistance, when our friend ran to the rescue, and urged by Eaby's +fearful condition, and the benevolent feelings of his own noble spirit, +he immediately jumped into the water and seized the drowning man. From +the effects of the fit, the man struggled desperately. Our friend tried +to get a rope round him, but could not; he got his hand into his +preserver's mouth, and would have drowned him, had not Mr. Ellerthorpe +had so many opportunities of trial in such cases. Eaby's first +expression on coming out of his fit was, 'What are you doing here?' when +his deliverer replied, 'Havn't I as much right here as you have?' then +Eaby went off into another fit. By this time a boatman, named John +Tickells, came to our friend's assistance, and was joined by Robert Ash, +gateman, Humber Dock, who slipped the grappling rope into the boat. They +then both seized Eaby, and got him into the boat and tied his legs, +otherwise, so desperate was he, he would have split the boat up. They +then assisted our friend into the boat. Eaby struggled so desperately +that the men had great difficulty in holding him in the boat. He was +taken to his house, 20, Dagger Lane, where he was attended by Mr. +Lowther, surgeon, accompanied by policeman Green. He soon escaped, +without clothes, and, followed along the street by a crowd of people, +ran into No. 11, Fish Street, and got into one of Mr. Alcock's beds. He +was thirty-seven years of age, and had been subject to fits for years, +which were often very violent. _Witnesses_--William Turner, William +Steadman. + +This rescue--the last of a large number that Mr. Ellerthorpe was the +honoured instrument of achieving--was witnessed by hundreds of +spectators, who were filled with admiration and wonder. These were seen +in their countenances and heard in their shouts of applause, as he +struggled with this poor unfortunate man. Not only so, but it led the +public to raise a subscription for Mr. Ellerthorpe. Two working men, Mr. +William Turner, and Mr. William Steadman, who witnessed the humane and +heroic conduct of their fellow townsman, took the initiative, and how +hard they worked, and how nobly they accomplished their object, will be +seen from our next chapter. + +The above list of thirty-nine persons saved by our friend, contains +_three little girls_, _fifteen youths_, _six women_, and _fourteen men_, +in the strength and vigour of their days; and _one old man_ burdened by +the weight of seventy-five years. + +They were saved at the following places: (America,) Quebec, _two_; +Toronto, _one_; Barton, _one_; Castleford, _one_; Humber Bank, _one_; +Burlington Bay, _one_; London, _two_; New Holland, _three_; Hessle, +_five_; Hull, _twenty-two_. + +These deliverances took place in the following years: 1820, _two_; 1822, +_one_; 1824, _one_; 1825, _two_; 1826, _one_; 1828, _two_; 1830, _one_; +1833, _three_; 1834, _three_; 1835, _three_; 1836, _seven_; 1837, _two_; +1843, _one_; 1844, _one_; 1846, _three_; 1849-50, _two_; 1852, _one_; +1854, _one_; 1860, _one_; 1861, _one_. + +But though Eaby was the last person our friend actually rescued, his +readiness to imperil his own life, that he might save the lives of +others, did not expire on that ever memorable occasion. A clergyman +called to see him, and amongst other things, said, 'Now Ellerthorpe, +your work is done; God has honoured you above most men, be satisfied; +remember the old adage, "the pitcher goes often to the well, but gets +broken at last."' Our friend shook his head and said, 'Do you think, +Sir, I could see a man overboard and not plunge in after him? No, Sir.' +And though upwards of sixty-one years of age, and suffering acutely at +times from his oft exposures in the water and cold, he yet thought as +deeply and felt as strongly as ever for his drowning fellow creatures; +and on two or three occasions his old zeal rose to furnace heat. In +proof of this we give the following extracts from the Hull papers: + +[Sidenote: A SAILOR DROWNED.] + + A Sailor Drowned.--On Monday last, an inquest was held at the + Parliament-street Police-station by Mr. P. F. Thorney, the borough + coroner, on view of the body of Thomas Bates, who had been a seaman + on board the screw steamer 'Irwell.' On Saturday evening, about + eight o'clock, the deceased fell from the forecastle deck of the + above-named vessel into the Humber Dock lock pit. Mr. John + Ellerthorpe, the foreman at the gates, immediately jumped in after + him, and though both were taken out within five minutes, by the + dock gateman, Bates was pronounced to be dead by Mr. Lowther, + surgeon, who was summoned to the spot. A verdict of accidental + death was returned.--_Hull News, Feb. 14th, 1863._ + +Respecting this case our friend says, 'Mr. Bates spoke to me in the +water, and said, "I shall soon be all right," and I thought he would +too. The water was piercingly cold, and I went and changed my clothes, +and when I returned to see how the poor man was, Dr. Lowther had +pronounced him dead. I never felt such a sense of distress as I did at +that moment; I did my very best to save him; indeed, Mr. Lowther says, +"The man died in an apoplectic fit." It was deeply distressing to see +the poor widow, when her husband was pronounced dead; she was overcome +by the suddenness of the stroke, and Mr. Dale Brown kindly sent her home +in a cab. This man, and Ashly Taylor (aged 75 years), are the only +instances out of upwards of forty I have rescued, of death taking place +in consequence of their being in the water.' + + A Man in the Humber Dock.--Yesterday a man, named George Taylor, + who is frequently employed in connection with the landing of fish, + &c., and who resides in the 'Trippett,' while in a fit fell into + the Humber Dock, at the South-west corner, near to where the + 'Alster' steam vessel was lying. His fall was seen by some men who + were standing near at the time and they at once got some boat-hooks + to draw him out. Mr. Ellerthorpe, the foreman of the Humber Dock + Bridge, whose humanity and gallantry in saving people from + drowning, has won for him the title of the 'Hero of the Humber,' + was ready to plunge in after the poor fellow, had he not been + readily recovered by the hooks. On being got on shore, he was + brought into the Bridge watch-house and properly attended to. + Before recovering he had several fits. He was eventually sent home + wrapped in blankets.--_Eastern Morning News_, December 13th, 1866. + + Man Overboard.--About two o'clock on Saturday, whilst Mr. John + Ellerthorpe was busy at the Mytongate Bridge passing a vessel + through, he heard something splashing in the water, which he + thought was a dog. He called out to a lighterman, named George + Woolass and another man who were on board of the vessel, to bring a + boat and get the animal out. A boat was obtained, and the splashing + was found to be caused by a man who had fallen overboard. On + getting him out it was found he belonged to one of the fly-boats, + and had he remained many seconds more in the water he must have + been drowned.--_Hull Advertiser_, March 2nd, 1867. + +[Sidenote: HIS EFFORTS IN THE WATCH-HOUSE.] + +We have seen in several instances, that our friend, after having rescued +the drowning, remained with them until all fears of immediate death were +totally dissipated. Indeed his kindly ministrations in the watch-house +of the Humber Dock Company, have been scarcely less remarkable than his +exploits in saving the drowning from the water. In that room is the +'Royal Humane Society's apparatus for the recovery of persons apparently +drowned or dead, accompanied with directions for the proper treatment of +such cases.' And there our friend stood for hours together, in his wet +clothes, during the piercing cold of winter and the oppressive heat of +summer, endeavouring to restore suspended animation. He says, 'I always +felt very anxious about those I had rescued, and in dangerous cases +generally remained with them until they came round. By remaining in my +wet clothes on these occasions I have often seriously damaged my health; +but I felt so anxious about them that I often forgot altogether my own +wet state. Dr. Henry Gibson says I have seriously injured my +constitution by these long exposures in wet clothing, and I am afraid he +is right, and that it will shorten my days.' + +[Sidenote: A REMARKABLE INSTANCE.] + +We give one instance of his ministrations in this watch-house:-- + +About three o'clock on the morning of July the 23rd, 1865, he suddenly +awoke out of a profound sleep, and thought he heard a boy call out, +'There is a man overboard.' He sprang from his bed, threw up the window, +but not a person could he see, not a sound could he hear, not a ripple +on the water could he discern, to indicate danger. He concluded he had +been dreaming, but when about to leave the window he saw one of his +fellow workmen running with the grappling iron. The old Spanish proverb +says, 'that when a man's house is on fire he does not stay to consider +if the shoe pinches,' and so absorbed was our friend by the fear that +some one was drowning that, without shoes on his feet, and with nothing +but his night shirt to cover him, he ran down stairs, leaped over two +chains, thrown across the bridge, and in a few moments he was beside the +man with the 'grapplings,' who had also heard the cry but could not tell +whence or from whom it had come. The surrounding waters lay calm and +undisturbed by a single ripple, and there was nothing to indicate that +anyone had sunk. At our friend's request, his companion sprang into a +boat, and let down the grappling iron, and, strange to say, brought up +Mr. Thomas Hogg, of Ulceby, Lincolnshire. They at first pronounced him +dead, but after cleansing his mouth and nostrils he was thought to +breathe; he was at once taken to the watch-house, where our friend, with +fresh anxiety and awakened hope, applied the Royal Humane Society's +apparatus, and with complete success. The process was continued till six +o'clock, when scores of persons were gathered round the watch-house. The +man then said to Mr. Ellerthorpe, 'Come master, it is time you were in +your own house; you're not fit to be here amongst all these folks.' It +was not till the man thus spoke that our friend was aware of his +half-naked state. All did well on this occasion, but Mr. Ellerthorpe's +conduct was exceptionally noble. + +[Sidenote: HIS EFFORTS ON BEHALF OF THE BRAVE.] + +The last to claim recognition and reward for his own humane and gallant +deeds, Mr. Ellerthorpe has ever proved himself the first and foremost in +securing them on behalf of others. The following letter, received in +answer to an urgent appeal which he made on behalf of an aged and +destitute couple, will illustrate what I mean:-- + + Office of Committee of Privy Council for Trade, + Marine Department, + _Whitehall, 16th January, 1863_. + + Sir,--I am directed by the Lords of the Committee of Privy Council + for Trade, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 30th + ult., calling attention to the fact that the late Charles Anderson, + who lost his life in endeavouring to save the lives of others from + shipwreck, has left a father and mother unprovided for, and to + inform you that my Lords have this day forwarded to the Receiver of + Wreck, at Hull, an order for the amount of five pounds (L5) to be + paid to the parents of the deceased. + + I am, Sir, + John Ellerthorpe, Esq., Your obedient servant, + Humber Dock Gates, Hull. JAMES BOOTH. + +[Sidenote: HIS APPEAL TO THE BOARD OF TRADE.] + +In December, of the same year, he made a similar appeal to the Board of +Trade, on behalf of some Hull seamen, and received the following +answer:-- + + Board of Trade, Whitehall, + _4th February, 1864_. + + Sir,--I am instructed by the Lords of the Committee of the Privy + Council for Trade to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the + 16th December last, calling their Lordships' attention to the + services rendered on the 4th December, by some fishermen of Hull, + to the crew of the schooner 'John Thomas,' of Carnarvon, and I am + to inform you in reply, that my Lords have presented the sum of + five pounds (L5) to be divided amongst the crew of the 'Washer,' as + a mark of their appreciation of their gallant conduct, and ten + pounds (L10) to the owners of the smack as compensation for loss of + time, &c. + + The Receiver of Wreck has received instructions to pay the + above-mentioned sums to the parties in question. + + I am, Sir, + John Ellerthorpe, Esq., Your obedient Servant, + Humber Dock Gates, J. H. FARRER. + Kingston-upon-Hull. + +The following letter explains itself:-- + + Humber Lock Gate, Hull. + _February 17th, 1863._ + + _To the Secretary of the Royal Humane Society._ + + Sir,--I take the liberty of addressing you in consequence of an + accident having occurred, last week, in the Lock Pit of the Humber + Dock Gates, of this town. A man fell from a steamer going out of + the Dock, whom I followed into the water in the hope of being able + to save his life; but although he was not more than a minute and a + half in the water, and he spoke to me when I had hold of him, the + surgeon pronounced him to be dead when taken to the men's + watch-house close by. A similar instance took place about three + years ago. I wish to know if, in a case of this kind, a surgeon is + justified in pronouncing life to be extinct without having + previously used the means for restoring suspended animation. We + have the Royal Humane Society's apparatus always close at hand, but + rarely used. Having the honour to hold the Society's silver medal, + as well as its testimonial on vellum, and also a silver medal from + the Board of Trade for saving life from drowning on many occasions, + I feel much interest in this subject; and I shall feel much obliged + if you will give me instructions how to proceed in the event of a + similar case taking place. I believe the Royal Humane Society issue + printed instructions how to treat cases of suspended animation. If + you will send me some of them I shall feel greatly obliged to you. + + I am, Sir, with respect, + Your obedient servant, + JOHN ELLERTHORPE. + +Our friend received the following answer:-- + + Royal Humane Society, + Office, No. 4, Trafalgar-square, W.C. + _February 18th, 1863._ + + Sir,--In reply to your note of the 17th, I beg to say that in the + course of ten days or so, I will send some of the instructions + issued by this Society for the treatment of those who are + apparently dead from drowning, and you can place them in your room. + Of course I am unable to give an opinion as to whether the medical + man called in, in the case you refer to, was or was not right, as I + am not cognizant of the whole state of the case; but I will suggest + that, in all future cases which you may have to treat, you will + persevere in your attempts at recovery for at _least_ half-an-hour + before you give up the patient as dead. + + Yours faithfully, + LAMBTON J. H. YOUNG, + Mr. J. Ellerthorpe. Secretary. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +THE HONOURED HERO. + + +[Sidenote: THE HONOURED HERO.] + +No labour is ever lost that seeks to promote the welfare of men. At the +outset there may be difficulties and opposition, but patience and +perseverance will in the end bring their reward. And if the warrior +rejoices in the number of his victories, the patriot in the extension of +his country's liberties, the statesman in the success of his peculiar +polity, and the philanthropist in the mitigation of human woes, how much +purer and stronger must be the joy of the man who has been the means of +saving the lives of his fellow-creatures? Alexander, Emperor of Russia, +whose armies had won many a victory on the field of battle, once rescued +a man from drowning, and he ever afterwards said that _that_ was the +happiest day of his life. As no living individual, perhaps, has saved so +many lives, on so many separate and distinct occasions, and under +equally perilous circumstances, as our friend, so we may infer that his +personal joy was proportionately great. He always did his best to save +human life, having made that one of the chief objects of his existence, +and he reaped a rich recompense. He says, 'I always thought it as much +my duty to try and save the drowning, as it was their duty to try and +save themselves; and I always felt myself amply recompensed, and highly +satisfied, when I got them out of the water and saw they were all right. +Physically, I often felt much exhausted by the efforts I had made, and +could eat no food, nor could I take rest, for hours after rescuing the +drowning. But I was filled with a pleasure I could not describe; +sometimes my feelings found vent in tears, and at other times in loud +and hearty laughter; and when questioned as to my feelings, I could only +say, "I can't tell you how I feel." I had this thought and feeling +running through me, throbbing within me, "I have saved a fellow creature +from drowning." And that imparted to me a happiness which no amount of +money, and no decorations of honour, could have given me; a happiness +which no man can conceive, far less describe, unless he has himself +snatched a fellow creature from a watery grave.' + +[Sidenote: HIS PERSONAL JOY.] + +[Sidenote: THE GRATITUDE OF THOSE WHOM HE RESCUED.] + +Our friend also reaped a rich reward in the gratitude of many whom he +had the pleasure of saving. And we have seen that he could receive no +higher gratification than this. King Charles, the First, had such an +unhappy manner that, even in granting a favour, he often grieved those +whom he obliged. And we know that almost as much depends upon the manner +of doing a kindness, as upon the act itself. Indeed, in some instances, +even a frank and positive refusal will give less pain than an ungracious +and grudgingly bestowed favour. Now, we hesitate not to say that, what +Mr. Ellerthorpe did, was kindly and generously done. And he always felt +that the cheers of the multitude as he bore the rescued to the shore, +and the spontaneous thanks of those whom he had saved, surpassed in +value any tribute of money which could have been placed in his hands. +Wordsworth, referring to the overflowing gratitude which had gone beyond +the worth of the trivial favours bestowed, says: + + 'Alas; the gratitude of men + Hath oftener left me mourning.' + +But our friend performed the noblest deeds, and grateful returns were +always as pleasant to him as cold water to a thirsty soul. He says, 'I +was always well satisfied if they manifested gratitude, but I must +confess, that when they never came near me, nor in any way communicated +with me, as was the case with some whom I have saved,--for instance, Mr. +Leeson and Miss Hill--I was not satisfied. My pleasure at the +remembrance of what I did for them is mixed with pain. It may be a +weakness of mine, but an ungrateful man is, in my opinion, one of the +biggest sinners in the world. I hate ingratitude, and I can affirm, that +no rewards I have received from societies and individuals have ever +given me half the pleasure that the gratitude of some of those I rescued +gave me.' + +And can we wonder that he should thus write? Shakespeare says:-- + + 'I hate ingratitude more in a man + Than lying, vainness, babbling, drunkenness, + Or any taint of vice whose strong corruption + Inhabits our frail blood.' + +Ingratitude for favours conferred is a most unnatural disposition, and +is reproved even by the brute creation; for they manifest a strong +instinctive feeling of gratitude towards their benefactors. 'The ox +knoweth his owner and the ass his master's crib.' Some time ago, a +steamer sunk beneath the surging wave, with upwards of two hundred souls +on board. The captain, who was as noble a man as ever steered a vessel, +sank with the rest of the passengers and crew. Fortunately, however, he +came up again, and seizing a plank, he clung to it until rescued by a +vessel that happened to be passing. 'Ah,' said he, on telling the story +afterwards, 'If my heart's affection ever clung to anything besides my +wife, and my mother, and my child, it was to that plank; it saved my +life.' And yet, some forgot our friend, whose skilful hand and brave +heart bore them through the foaming waters to land. + +[Sidenote: HIS SERVICES RECOGNISED BY THE GREAT.] + +All did not. 'You shall lodge in my heart, and I will never ask you for +rent,' said a grateful Irishman to one who had done him a favour. And +our friend found a welcome and a home in the warmest affections of many +of those whom he rescued. The blessing of many who were literally ready +to perish came upon him. W. Turner, whom our friend saved in Burlington +Bay, says, 'What a mercy it is that God has provided such a man as Mr. +Ellerthorpe, to render assistance when assistance is required at his +hands; for he is ever willing at any moment, and at the first call, to +risk his life. I question whether there is such another man in the +world. He has a good and kind heart, and in his general conduct displays +kind feelings towards all and everybody. I hope he will remain long with +us, and that at last we shall meet him in heaven, never to part again.' +Robert Tether, speaking of his deliverance, says, 'Some one said to me +on the occasion, "My boy, you ought ever to remember that man," and I +do remember him and will never forget him. If I had but a shilling in +the world, John Ellerthorpe should have half of it, if he needed it. I +can say that from the time he delivered me I have always liked to see +him, and I never think the place is right if I do not see him there. He +shall never want if I can help him. May he live long, and always have +plenty.' These, and similar expressions of gratitude, recorded on former +pages of this work, were more valuable, in our friend's estimation, than +stores of gold. + +[Sidenote: HIS INTERVIEW WITH LORD WENLOCK.] + +Though Mr. Ellerthorpe never urged his claims to public recognition, yet +we rejoice to state that his humane and gallant deeds were not permitted +to pass unnoticed and unrewarded. Persons of high distinction, and of +great authority in the social world, spoke to him words of greeting, +commendation, and encouragement. Lord Wenlock, having had recounted to +him some of the incidents recorded in the last chapter, said, 'How +pleasant it is, Ellerthorpe, to have the satisfaction, while living, of +having done our fellow creatures good.' + +Captain Wilson, whose gallant conduct enabled him, during the American +War, to re-capture his ship, 'Emile St. Pierre,' from a greatly superior +force, and who received, for his valorous deed, a silver tea and coffee +service from 170 merchants of Liverpool, and also 2,000 guineas from the +owners of the 'Emile St. Pierre,' paid a visit to Hull, and requested to +have an interview with Mr. Ellerthorpe. In company with Captain Hurst, +he went to the Humber Dock Gates to see him. They shook each others hand +for some time; at length, Captain Wilson said, 'I'm glad to see you. I +have often heard of your bravery in saving your fellow men from +drowning, and I have sometimes wished I could see you; you are what I +call a brave, clever fellow. They say I have done a clever action, but I +may never do another. But your life has been crowded with deeds of +gallantry. Go on and prosper, my good fellow, and may God bless you; and +rest assured if I again come near where you are, I shall come and see +you.' It must have been a pleasing sight to have seen these two men, of +brave hearts and noble deeds, grasp hands in recognition of each others +services. + +Towards the close of the year 1835 the following statement appeared in +the Hull newspapers:-- + + 'We understand some gentlemen are interesting themselves in favour + of Ellerthorpe by representing his repeated exertions in the cause + of humanity, and sending the particular cases to the Royal Humane + Society. We shall be ready to receive any subscriptions for the + purpose of rewarding one so highly deserving recompense from his + fellow men. Ellerthorpe is married and has two children.'--_Nov. + 23, 1835._ + +The appeal to the Royal Humane Society was sent, and Mr. Ellerthorpe +received the following response:-- + + Society's House, + _January 21st, 1836._ + + The Secretary of the Royal Humane Society is directed to inform + John Ellerthorpe that at an adjourned general court of the + Institution, held on the 18th inst., the Honorary Medallion of the + Society was unanimously conferred on him for his courage and + humanity in saving the lives of nine persons at different times. + + John Ellerthorpe, + Barrow, near Barton-on-Humber, Lincoln. + +[Sidenote: THE MEDALLION OF THE ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY.] + +The Medallion bears this inscription:-- + +[Illustration: HOC PRETIUM CIVE SERVATO TVLIT + +_J. Ellerthorpe_, + +SIT OB SOW + +DOVO DAT + +_Soc. Reg. H.V.M._ + +1836.] + +[Sidenote: ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY'S THANKS ON VELLUM.] + +The following testimonial, inscribed on vellum, accompanied the +medallion:-- + +[Illustration] + +Royal Humane Society, + +INSTITUTED 1774. + +FOR THE RECOVERY OF PERSONS APPARENTLY DROWNED OR (DEAD). + +_Patron_--The King. _Patroness_--The Queen. + +_President_--His Grace the Duke of Northumberland, K.G. + + * * * * * + +At a General Court holden at the Society's House, Chatham-place, +Blackfriars, on Monday, the 18th day of January, 1836. + +Colonel Clitherow, _Vice President_, in the chair, it was resolved +unanimously-- + + That the noble courage and humanity displayed by + + JOHN ELLERTHORPE, + + a Seaman of the New Holland Steam Packet, on the 19th of November, + 1835, in jumping overboard to the relief of a Sailor, named Robert + Brown, at Hull, whose life he saved; and the repeated heroism which + Ellerthorpe has on former occasions manifested for the preservation + of human life, wholly regardless of the risk he himself incurred, + and by which he saved eight persons from drowning, has called forth + the most lively admiration of this General Court, and justly + entitles him to the Honorary Medallion of the Institution which is + hereby unanimously awarded him. + + Northumberland, _President_. + Besleley Weshopp, _Secretary_. + James Clitherow, _Chairman_. + +[Sidenote: APPEALS ON BEHALF OF MR. ELLERTHORPE.] + +In the year 1846, a number of merchants and gentlemen sought to secure +for our friend the highest rewards the Royal Humane Society could +bestow; but to their application they received the following answer:-- + + Royal Humane Society, + Office No. 3, Trafalgar Square, + _8th July, 1846_. + + Dear Sir,--In reference to your letter of yesterday's date, I beg + to inform you that the pecuniary rewards of this Society are + limited to London and its environs. But honorary rewards are given + for cases which may occur at any distance, upon the particulars + being well authenticated by persons who witnessed the exertions of + the claimant. + + Should John Ellerthorpe have risked his life on the occasion you + now allude to, and thereby merit an _Honorary_ Testimonial from the + Society, I shall be most happy in submitting the particulars to the + committee, on their being forwarded agreeably with the enclosed + instruction paper. + + I remain, dear Sir, + H. D. R. Pease, Esq., J.P. Yours very obediently, + Hesslewood, near Hull. J. CHARLIER, _Sec._ + +A second application was made to the Royal Humane Society, in 1852, when +the following reply was returned:-- + + Royal Humane Society, + Office No. 3, Trafalgar Square, + _28th September, 1852_. + + Dear Sir,--In reply to your letter of yesterday's date, I beg to + inform you that the cases alluded to in the statement of John + Ellerthorpe are all _out of date_ for any reward from this Society. + Perhaps you are not aware that he has already received the Silver + Medal of this Institution for the case in 1835, which was laid + before the committee at the proper period, viz., within one month + after the occurrence. + + I therefore beg to return you the statements, and remain, dear Sir, + yours obediently, + + J. CHARLIER, + Jas. R. Pease, Esq., Hesslewood, Hull. _Sec._ + +[Sidenote: LARGE CONGRATULATORY MEETING IN HULL.] + +In the year 1861, and soon after our friend had rescued John Eaby from a +watery grave, the people of Hull made an effort to reward their brave +and gallant townsman, who had rescued from their own docks and around +the pier, not fewer than twenty-three persons. A committee was formed, +under the presidentship of Mr. John Symons, a member of the Town +Council, and a man of untiring energy and philanthropic disposition. Mr. +Symons thus states the origin and success of this movement:-- + + 'Hull, _Sept 13th, 1867_, + 72, Queen Street. + + Dear Sir,--I must apologise for my seeming neglect in not complying + earlier with your request respecting Mr. Ellerthorpe: the fact is, + my public duties allow me but little leisure for writing. However, + I will try to refresh my memory as to the way in which that kind, + humane, undaunted man, received recognition. In July, 1861, the + local papers contained an account of a young man named Eaby, who, + while in an apoplectic fit, fell into the dock basin; the tide was + running down rapidly and the wind was blowing strong. Mr. + Ellerthorpe, while on duty at the dock gates, saw the man + struggling and beating the water into foam; he immediately plunged + from the wall, and after a fearful struggle between the two, the + young man being violently affected, both were saved. This act was + witnessed by several people, amongst whom were two warm-hearted + working men, named Steadman and Turner. The following day they + called upon me, with a written list of twenty-nine lives saved by + Mr. Ellerthorpe. The account savoured of romance, but then it was + signed by living witnesses, who corroborated the truth of the + statements made. The men asked me to assist them in getting up some + public demonstration in favour of Mr. Ellerthorpe. I told them I + would lend my humble aid, but they must obtain some man of mark for + their chairman, to take the initiative. They applied to several + gentlemen, but in vain, all refused. They pleaded hard that I would + act as chairman, and sooner than allow the thing to die away, I + consented, although, at the time, entirely unused to address large + public audiences. The mayor, W. Hodge, Esq., granted us the use of + a large room at the Town Hall, and then we issued large placards + calling upon the people to attend and publicly congratulate Mr. + Ellerthorpe on his recent narrow escape, and likewise to open a + subscription for presenting him with a testimonial. The meeting was + a crowded one, but principally composed of working men. I was not + in the least disheartened by this; for long before I had got + through the list of persons saved by John Ellerthorpe, the large + county-court room rang with cheer after cheer pealing forth ever + and anon. When, for the first time, was enrolled the long, + distinguished list of lives saved from drowning by the hitherto + obscure and humble servant of the Humber Dock Company, such heroism + and bravery 'touched' the souls of a few present who could afford + to subscribe. + + [Sidenote: COUNCILLOR SYMON'S ACCOUNT OF THE MEETING.] + + The following letter from Dale Brown, Esq., was then read:-- + + Pilot Office, Hull, _Aug. 8, 1861_. + + Sir,--Having made an engagement for Friday evening before I knew + of your meeting, I cannot possibly attend. + + Had one of our townsmen returned from India or the Crimea, after + destroying half as many lives as Mr. Ellerthorpe has been + instrumental in saving, he would have been considered a 'hero,' + and rewarded accordingly. Surely it is more blessed to save than + to destroy. Should the object of the meeting be to raise a fund + for acknowledging Mr. Ellerthorpe's gallantry, I shall gladly + contribute my mite. I am, Sir, yours obediently, + + Mr. John Symons. DALE BROWN. + + I then recounted the interview with Mr. Ellerthorpe before + attending the meeting, when I asked him 'what he wished in the + matter,' when he made this reply, Sir, I feel sufficiently rewarded + in my own breast, without receiving any reward excepting the + approbation of heaven, and the satisfaction of having won for + myself the gratitude of my fellow townsmen.' This was responded to + by loud and long cheering. I then called upon Mr. W. Turner to move + the first resolution, and Mr. Steadman to second it, because they + were the pioneers of the movement. _Just at this crisis of the + meeting John Eaby came forward and publicly thanked Ellerthorpe for + what he had done_, which called forth the most exciting cheering. + Then the late Rev. Charles Rawlings (Wesleyan) rose from amongst + the people, and, in a sententious speech delivered with a + stentorian voice, asked, 'How much does the meeting feel towards a + testimonial,' and offered the first donation as a proof of _his + feeling_ for Mr. Ellerthorpe. Our fears were then scattered to the + wind; the vessel I saw was well launched. Another gentleman, Mr. + Henry Taylor, came forward and said, in anticipation of a + subscription being made towards a testimonial to Mr. Ellerthorpe, + he had already collected a nucleus of L35. A committee was then + formed of which I was chosen chairman, Mr. E. Haller, secretary, + and Mr. Taylor, treasurer. Three cheers were then given for the + success of the 'Testimonial Fund,' and when I rose and christened + John Ellerthorpe, 'The Hero of the Humber,' and 'Champion Life Buoy + of England,' the people rose _en masse_ cheering in the most + enthusiastic manner. The next morning found the Humber Dock foreman + a household word. I will not weary you with recapitulating the + result of our labours. From the Premier of England down to the + humblest dock labourer, all vied with each other in subscribing to + the homage of this valorous, humane man. + + And, sir, I think a moral may be drawn from this,--that no person, + however humble he may be in his circumstances, but has it in his + power to bless the world. One man can do so by deeds of valour, + another by hard and plodding industry, and a third by thought and + mental efforts. It has been well said, 'they build up a loftier + population making man more manly.' It is evidently our duty to lend + a helping hand in the hour of need, either by our wisdom, power, or + benevolence. This thought should act as an incentive, more or less + powerful, on each person, and make him restless until he becomes + satisfied that he is doing something to ameliorate the condition of + his fellow men. Men should thus fulfil their mission until called + to receive their reward, namely, 'Rest for their souls under the + tree of Life.' + + I am, dear Sir, yours respectfully, + Mr. H. Woodcock. JOHN SYMONS. + +[Sidenote: A WORKING MAN'S LETTER.] + +The following letter, addressed to Mr. Symons, is given as a specimen of +the feeling with which the working men of Hull regarded this movement:-- + + Hull, _Aug. 9th, 1861_. + + Mr. Chairman,--I cannot let the present opportunity pass without + thanking the committee for the movement they have taken in this + affair. It shows that such acts of humanity may appear to slumber + for a time in the breasts of Englishmen until they can bear it no + longer, then out it must come; and permit me to add that the moment + I heard of the movement to present some token of respect to Mr. + Ellerthorpe, it put me in mind of the time when I was a boy about + eight years of age: I was sailing a small boat aside of the steps + of what is commonly called, Sand South End, in the old harbour, + when I over-reached myself and fell in. A boy was with me at the + time who ran up the steps and shouted out, 'A boy overboard.' A + gentleman, who then lived in Humber Street, was sitting in his + front room, he immediately ran out, leaped into the water, took + hold of me just as I was going down for the third time, and saved + my life from a watery grave. I have always reverenced that + gentleman ever since. His name is Mr. Bean, and he was for several + years an alderman for the borough. What, then, must be the feelings + of the thirty-nine who have been saved at the eminent risk and + peril of Mr. Ellerthorpe's life? We may help each other in a + pecuniary point of view, but very few amongst us have the nerve, + power, and ability to leap into the ocean and render assistance to + our fellow men. I have therefore great pleasure in subscribing + five shillings towards anything you may be disposed to present Mr. + Ellerthorpe with. + + I am, my dear Sir, your obedient servant, + WM. ALLEN. + +[Sidenote: POETIC TRIBUTE OF RESPECT TO 'THE HERO.'] + +Our friend's name had become familiar as a household word in all circles +of society, in the town and neighbourhood of Hull, and great numbers +lent their influence to this effort to acknowledge the unequalled +bravery of their fellow townsman, whom we must, henceforth acknowledge +as the 'Hero of the Humber.' The 'Hull Daily Express' contained the +following poetic tribute of respect to our 'Hero.' + + 'Amid all changes evermore unfolded + By mental throe, by accident of time, + Mankind shall venerate the men who moulded + Heroic actions with an aim sublime! + O! ye who shine along life's desert places, + Who've lived for others' good to help and save, + Affection hails ye with profound embraces + And bows before a brother truly brave! + One whose gallant deeds in noble brotherhood, + Nobler far than warrior's valiant strife, + Have found their own reward in others' good + And proved a blessing in preserving life. + + And WHO IS HE of whom this land is proud, + Whose name we honour and whose worth is known? + He's one who does his duty in the crowd, + A worker there--and yet he stands alone! + Without pretension, who by deeds endears + His name afar beyond his native strand, + A son of toil--yet one of Nature's peers! + Whose worth's acknowledged in his native land! + His is the praise well won for gallant action + In saving life along our Humber shore, + And there are many hearths where recollection + Returns to him in blessings evermore! + + And he is worthy!--for in his soul implanted + There is a noble usefulness--his choice + For others' good, which bards of old have chanted + To those who, like him, have made hearts rejoice. + O! should these lines be found in after days-- + A tribute to his fair and honoured name-- + Let such accord to him the meed of praise, + Tell of his bravery and his worth proclaim! + All honour to thee, Ellerthorpe, and thine, + And as duty calls thee to thy post each morn, + May good attend thee and its graces shine, + And lead thee upward and thy name adorn.' + +[Sidenote: VOTE OF THANKS FROM THE ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY.] + +The following petition, signed by W. Hodge, Esq., Mayor, and upwards of +sixty of the leading ministers, merchants, and gentlemen of Hull, was +forwarded to the Royal Humane Society:-- + + To the Honourable the Court of the + Royal Humane Society. + + We, the undersigned, members of the municipal corporation, the + Trinity House, and the Dock Company at Kingston-upon-Hull, and + merchants of that borough, beg most respectfully to submit to the + consideration of your honourable court, the services of John + Ellerthorpe, now a foreman in the service of the Dock Company of + this borough, who, during the course of the last forty years has, + by the providence of God and his own intrepidity, rescued from a + watery grave no fewer than twenty-eight persons, often at the great + risk of his own life, as may be seen from the statement of + particulars hereto annexed. + + On a former occasion, on the 18th of January, 1836, you were + pleased to award to Ellerthorpe a medallion and certificate on a + representation being made to the society of his having saved eight + persons from drowning while employed as a mariner in the New + Holland Ferry. + + Considering that the number of persons he has now saved amounts to + twenty-eight, we take the liberty of bringing Ellerthorpe's further + claims before your notice, believing that you will think with us + that his further successful exertions in the cause of humanity, in + saving so many persons from drowning, merit some additional mark of + your approval. + + We are, + Your honourable court's most obedient servants. + +In response to this appeal the society awarded to our 'Hero' an especial +vote of thanks, of which more _anon_. + +The following appeal was made to Lord Palmerston: + + Yarmouth and Rotterdam Steam Packet Office, + Kingston-upon-Hull, + _30th August, 1861._ + + My Lord,--The enclosed documents relate to a series of, perhaps, + unequalled acts of daring on the part of an inhabitant, a working + man, of this borough, in rescuing persons from drowning. He has + succeeded, at the repeated risk of his own life, in saving no fewer + than twenty-nine persons from a watery grave. + + The Court of the Royal Humane Society having, in respect of the + twenty-ninth case, and in reply to the enclosed petition, awarded + him their 'Thanks on Vellum,' a committee of his fellow townsmen + has been organised to ensure for him some more substantial award. + + From your lordship's well-known appreciation of heroic benevolence, + the committee has ventured to lay his case before you, in the hope + that you would deem it worthy of your distinguished patronage. + + I have the honour to be, on the part of the committee, + + Your Lordship's + Most humble and obedient servant, + EDWARD HALLER, + _Hon. Sec. 'Ellerthorpe Testimonial.'_ + +[Sidenote: RECEIVES L20 FROM THE ROYAL BOUNTY.] + +In reply, _His Lordship_ forwarded from the _Royal bounty_ the handsome +donation of L20. The following is the letter announcing this gift:-- + + 13632 Treasury, Whitehall, S.W., + 61 17th _September_, 1861. + + Sir,--I am commanded by the Lords Commissioners to Her Majesty's + Treasury to acquaint you that, upon the recommendation of Viscount + Palmerston, the Paymaster General has been authorised to pay you + the sum of L20, as of Her Majesty's Royal bounty. + + I am, Sir, your obedient servant, + GEO. W. HAMILTON. + + Mr. John Ellerthorpe, Kingston-upon-Hull. + +The Board of Trade was next appealed to as follows: + + Hull, 8th _August_, 1861. + + _To the Right Honourable Thomas Milner Gibson, President of the + Board of Trade, London._ + + Honourable Sir,--I beg most humbly to lay before your honourable + Board the case of John Ellerthorpe, foreman of the Humber Dock + gates at this place, who saved the life of John Eaby under most + trying circumstances, and at great risk of his own life. + + On the 30th of July last the said John Eaby was seized with a fit + and fell into the dock basin, a depth of nearly twenty feet from + the top. John Ellerthorpe, hearing his cries for assistance, + spontaneously leaped into the water, and after struggling with the + man in that dangerous condition, eventually succeeded in saving his + life. + + I likewise humbly beg to inform your honourable Board that this is + the twenty-ninth person's life the said John Ellerthorpe has been + the exclusive means of saving from a watery grave. + + If your honourable Board should deem his actions of humanity worthy + of your honourable Board's notice, a committee of the working men + of this town is in formation to present him with a memorial, and if + your honourable Board consider him worthy of any remuneration, I + will communicate the same to the chairman of the committee, who + will forward any information your honourable Board may require. + + I remain your most humble and obedient servant, + THOMAS RAWLINSON. + + 2, Wellington-street, Hull. + +[Sidenote: RECEIVES A SILVER MEDAL.] + +In answer to this appeal, the Board of Trade, through Sir Emmerson +Tennant, struck a silver medal to the honour of Mr. Ellerthorpe. + +The Sovereign having awarded our 'Hero' with a gift of L20, and the +Royal Humane Society and the Board of Trade having decorated him with +their marks of honour, it remained for the inhabitants of Hull to show +their appreciation of the humane and gallant deeds of their fellow +townsman. Such deeds as our 'Hero' _had_ performed are not less heroic +than feats of valour on the battle-field, and well deserve _public_ +recognition as well as reward from private associations. + + * * * * * + +[Sidenote: PRESENTATION MEETING IN HULL.] + +The long-looked-for presentation took place in the Music Hall, Jarratt +Street, Hull, on Wednesday evening, November the 6th, 1861. Upwards of +four hundred persons sat down to tea, and the local papers state that +greater enthusiasm was, perhaps, never witnessed than during this +remarkable meeting. The room was gaily decorated with bannarets, and +suspended over the chair was a large flag, bearing the following +motto:-- + +'LONG LIVE ELLERTHORPE, THE HERO OF THE HUMBER!' + +Grace having been chanted and justice done to the sumptuous tea, the +public meeting began. Mr. John Symons occupied the chair, and he was +surrounded on the platform by a large number of ministers, gentlemen, +merchants, mechanics, and working men. + +[Sidenote: CHAIRMAN'S ADDRESS.] + + The Chairman said:--It was a common custom of persons not novices + situated similarly to himself, to preface their remarks by saying + that some person of higher local distinction ought to occupy the + honourable position as chairman, and that was his request to the + committee. But as such a person was not secured, he felt proud of + the position he occupied amongst them. He little thought that the + movement would have proved so successful when he embarked in it, + for with but little effort we have received the free-will offerings + of L170. Of course printing, advertising, and other incidental + expenses were incurred, and cannot be dispensed with in order to + succeed in similar objects. The Royal Humane Society had awarded to + Ellerthorpe an especial vote of thanks; the Board of Trade, through + Sir Emmerson Tennant, had struck a silver medal in his honour; and + last, but not least, the popular Premier of England had forwarded + from the royal bounty the handsome donation of L20. Thus the + movement so humbly began, resembled the 'little spring in the + mountain rock,' which became a brook, a torrent, a wide rolling + river. By narrating the lives saved by Ellerthorpe's unprecedented + bravery, they had struck a chord in the innermost recesses of the + heart of the benevolent portion of the people. He was surprised to + find that no one had recognised Ellerthorpe's heroism before. + During a period of forty years he had saved the lives of upwards of + thirty persons. But however tardily it may appear to some, + ultimately, eternal justice will assert itself. John Ellerthorpe + never required, never expected any public recognition of his + services. The only praise sought by him was-- + + 'What nothing earthly gives or can destroy, + The soul's calm sunshine and the heartfelt joy.' + + in being the means of saving so many lives from premature death by + drowning. Never let it be said the days of chivalry were over in + England while we have such a nobleman as a Lord Beauclerc[3] of + Scarborough, and a commoner called Ellerthorpe at Hull. He believed + with those who say that the men who dares the 'tempests' wrath,' + and the 'billows' madden'd play' on the errand of saving life, to + be as great heroes as those who 'seek for bubble reputation at the + cannon's mouth.' He would rather be a bearer of thirty blessings + than the hero of one hundred fights. No true history of Hull could + be written which did not contain the record of Ellerthorpe's name, + and the glorious deeds he had performed. Nor could he conclude + without expressing the heartfelt hope that the 'Hero of the Humber' + might long live to enjoy the splendid gifts about to be presented + to him, and when disease shall overtake him in his declining days, + may the contents of that purse procure for him the means whereby + his pillow of affliction may be smoothed and softened. + + * * * * * + + The Rev. C. Rawlings then expatiated, in a most powerful address, + on the life-saving labours of Mr. Ellerthorpe, which was listened + to with a rapt attention, and when he resumed his seat it was + amidst a tempest of applause. + + * * * * * + + Mr. Taylor, the treasurer, then presented the gold watch and guard, + and a beautiful purse containing one hundred guineas. The Watch + bears the following inscription:-- + + [Illustration] + + PRESENTED TO + JOHN ELLERTHORPE, + _(By Voluntary Subscriptions) together with a_ + Purse containing One Hundred Guineas, + He having saved Twenty-nine Persons from Drowning. + Hull, Nov. 6th, 1861. + + [Sidenote: RECEIVES A PURSE OF ONE HUNDRED GUINEAS.] + + THE PURSE BEARS THIS INSCRIPTION:-- + + [Illustration] + + THIS PURSE, + CONTAINING + One Hundred Guineas; + ALSO, A + GOLD WATCH & GUARD, + IS PRESENTED TO + JOHN ELLERTHORPE, + _Foreman of the Humber Dock Gates_, + BY VOLUNTARY SUBSCRIPTIONS, + HE HAVING SAVED TWENTY-NINE PERSONS FROM BEING DROWNED. + _Hull, November 6th, 1861._ + + Mr. Alderman Fountain, amid loud applause, and in a few appropriate + words, then presented to Mr. Ellerthorpe the following vote of + thanks, inscribed on vellum, from the Royal Humane Society:-- + + [Sidenote: ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY'S THANKS.] + + [Illustration] + + Royal Humane Society, + INSTITUTED 1774. + Supported by Voluntary Contributions. + _Patron_--Her Majesty the Queen + _Vice Patron_--H. R. H. The Duke of Cambridge, K.C., G.C., M.G. + _President_--His Grace the Duke of Argyll, K.T. + + * * * * * + + At a Meeting of the Committee of the Royal Humane Society, holden + at their Office, 4, Trafalgar Square, on Wednesday, the 21st of + August, 1861. + + Present--Thos. Eld. Baker, Esq., Treasurer, in the chair. It was + resolved unanimously-- + + That the noble courage and humanity displayed by + + JOHN ELLERTHORPE, + + Foreman of the Humber Dock, in having on the 30th July, 1861, + jumped into the Dock Basin at Hull, to the relief of John Eaby, who + had accidentally fallen therein, and whose life he saved, has + called forth the admiration of this Committee, and justly entitles + him to its sincere thanks, inscribed on Vellum, which are hereby + awarded, he having already received the Honorary Silver Medallion + of this Institution for a similar act in 1835. + + Argyll, _President_. + Lambton J. H. Young, _Secretary_. + Thos. Eld. Baker, _Chairman_. + +[Sidenote: MEDAL FROM THE BOARD OF TRADE.] + +The medal, which is said to be a fine specimen of artistic beauty and +elegant workmanship, bears the following device:--One side of the medal +represents a group on a raft. One of the men is seated on a spar, waving +a handkerchief, as a signal to a small boat seen in the distance; +another is supporting a sailor who appears in a drowning state. There is +also a female holding a child in her arms, the sea having a stormy +appearance. The group forms a most interesting allegory. On the obverse +side is a large profile of Her Majesty, the border bearing the following +inscription:-- + + 'Awarded by the Board of Trade for Gallantry in Saving Life.--V.R.' + +Engraved round the edge are the following words: + + 'Presented to John Ellerthorpe in Acknowledgment of his repeated + Acts of Gallantry in Saving Life. 1861.' + +It is enclosed in an elegant Morocco case, the lid of which has +inscribed upon it, in gilt letters:-- + + 'Board of Trade Medal for Gallantry in Saving Life at Sea, Awarded + to John Ellerthorpe.' + +In presenting this handsome testimonial, Mr. Brown said:-- + + He quite agreed with the Chairman that the last great day alone + would reveal the consequences of Ellerthorpe's bravery. He had to + present to him what he might fairly call a _national testimonial_, + as it was from a branch of our national institutions--the Board of + Trade. He had very great pleasure in presenting it to him, and he + earnestly prayed that none of his children might ever have to do + for him what he had done for his own father. He wished him long + life to wear the _medal of honour_. + + [Sidenote: THE HERO'S ADDRESS.] + + Mr. Ellerthorpe then advanced to the front of the platform, and + with a heart throbbing with hallowed feeling and eyes filled with + tears, he said; I cannot find words with which to express + adequately the gratitude I feel at so much kindness having been + extended to me, not only by the attendance of the large audience I + see before me, but by the numerous testimonials that have been + presented to me. I never expected any reward for what I have done, + and I have before now refused many offers of rewards that have + been made to me by the friends of many whom I have been the means, + in the hands of God, of rescuing from a watery grave. I do, + however, feel proud at receiving these testimonials, and I trust + they will be preserved by my children, and by my children's + children, as mementos of my country's acknowledgments of the + service I have rendered my fellow-creatures; and yet I feel that I + derive far more satisfaction from the consciousness that I have + done my duty to my fellow-creatures, in their hour of danger, than + I do from the splendid presents you have made me. I hope I shall + ever be ready in the future to do as I have done in the past, + should circumstances require it of me.--He was greeted with loud + applause both at the commencement and conclusion of his speech. + + A vote of thanks was then passed to the Treasurer and Secretary, + Mr. Taylor and Mr. Haller, who responded. The Rev. J. Petty also + spoke. + + Mr. Pearson (ex-Mayor) then moved a similar vote to the committee. + In doing so, he said that it was most remarkable that they had + allowed a man like Ellerthorpe to have saved so many as thirty + persons from drowning before any public recognition of his services + had taken place. As it was, a hundred guineas were far below his + merits, and he was sure that the merchants of the town had been + remiss in their duty in respect to this matter. + + Mr. Rufford returned thanks on behalf of the committee. + + Rev. C. Rawlings proposed a vote of thanks to the chairman, shaking + him warmly by the hand, and congratulating him on the part he had + taken in this noble movement. + + The Chairman, in responding, said, he had merely done his duty in + the matter; his work had been a pleasure to him, and he had + received many valuable lessons, the good impressions of which he + hoped would endure in his mind through life. Seeing that we live + surrounded with water, and that casualties are occurring almost + weekly, he thought it was the duty of the people of Hull to + stimulate others to follow Mr. Ellerthorpe's example. He should + always look back with pride and pleasure to that evening's meeting. + + 'When time, who steals our years away, + Shall steal its pleasures too, + The memory of the past will stay, + And all its joys renew.' + + He then called upon the audience to close the present meeting as + they did the inaugurating meeting, by cheers for the 'Hero of the + Humber and England's Champion Life Buoy,' which was responded to by + the company rising, _en masse_, cheering most tumultuously. + + The National Anthem was then sung. Mr. Morrison, organist, and a + party of vocalists, enlivened the proceedings, which were very + liberally interspersed with enthusiastic applause on every mention + of the 'Hero's' name. + +[Sidenote: LIST OF SUBSCRIPTIONS.] + +It is but right to state that the entire sum collected towards the +'Ellerthorpe Testimonial Fund' amounted to L197 10s., and that about +L133 in cash was handed over to the 'Hero of the Humber.' + +Mr. Hudson, artist, Queen St., presented to Mr. Ellerthorpe a photograph +portrait. + +[Footnote 3: This brave nobleman was at Scarborough during one of the +most fearful and disastrous storms that ever swept the Yorkshire coast. +He had no sleep on the previous night on account of the storm, and on +Saturday he said to a friend 'I shall have a sound sleep to-night.' +Alas! before he closed his eyes in sleep, and while nobly endeavouring +to rescue a number of drowning sailors, a huge wave carried him out to +sea, and he perished in the 'mighty waters.'] + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +MR. ELLERTHORPE'S GENERAL CHARACTER, DEATH, ETC. + + +In physical stature, Mr. Ellerthorpe was about five feet seven inches +high, and weighed about ten stones. His build was somewhat slender for a +sailor. He stood erect. His countenance was hard and ruddy, and +indicated long exposure to weather. His ordinary expression was +indicative of kindness, blended with great firmness. When spinning his +yarns, or describing his exploits, his eye kindled, and his face, lit up +with smiles, was expressive of intense sympathy. + +To his wife (who has just followed him to the skies, July, 1880,) he +proved himself a kind and provident husband, _i.e._ _houseband_, as +Trench renders the word. Even during his wicked and drunken career he +never forgot his matrimonial vow, to 'love, honour, and cherish' the +partner of his life; and hence, he never but once took any portion of +his regular wages to spend in drink, and the sum he then took was about +fifteen shillings. + +Of fourteen children, but four survive their parents, two sons and two +daughters. The father strove hard to give them what is beyond all +price--a good education. His eldest son, (who has long been on the +Metropolitan newspaper staff,) when a boy displayed a strong instinctive +love of learning, and when, on one occasion, his father urged him to +devote less time to his books, and to form the companionship of a a +certain youth, he replied, 'No. He spends as much money in cigars as +would buy a library, and consumes as much time in smoking them as would +enable him to learn half a dozen dead languages.' + +[Sidenote: HERO'S GENERAL CHARACTER.] + +Mr. Ellerthorpe proved himself a good servant, discharging his duties +faithfully and honourably. During fourteen years he occupied the +responsible position of foreman of the Humber Dock Gates, Hull. And when +it is borne in mind that Hull is the third port in the kingdom, and that +it is annually visited by 30,000 seamen in connection with its foreign +and coasting traffic, and that, in the same time, about 20,000 small +vessels, connected with the inland navigation, enter and leave the port, +it will be seen that the duties of our friend were numerous and +important. But the force and transparency of his character, his +undoubted honesty, his indefatigable industry, and his unwearied +attention to the duties of his office, won for him the confidence and +respect of his employers, the esteem of his fellow workers, and the good +opinion of the merchants of the port. Dale Brown, Esq., says:-- + + Dock Office, Hull, + _Sept. 11th, 1867_. + + Sir,--I have known Mr. John Ellerthorpe as an active, energetic, + Christian man, for upwards of eighteen years, and during the past + six years he has been under my immediate control. + + His wonderful daring and success in saving the lives of drowning + persons, have now become matters of history, and have been fully + recognised by the late Prime Minister, Lord Palmerston, the Royal + Humane Society, and the local officials in Hull, by whom he is best + known and valued. + + I am, Sir, yours very obediently, + DALE BROWN, _Supt. Dock Master_. + Rev. Henry Woodcock. + +The following appeared in the Hull newspapers, November the 9th, 1864. + +[Sidenote: PRESENTATION TO THE HERO.] + + 'Presentation to the 'Hero of the Humber.'--On the 6th of November, + 1861, a public presentation of a gold watch and a purse containing + upwards of 100 guineas, was made to Mr. John Ellerthorpe, of Hull, + known thenceforth as the 'Hero of the Humber,' on account of his + having saved twenty-nine persons from drowning. To commemorate that + interesting event, as well as to add another to Mr. Ellerthorpe's + well earned honours, a few friends met last Evening at Mr. + Rawlinson's, 'Sykes Head,' Wellington Street. After a well-served + supper, Mr. Councillor Symons, who, in the absence of Mr. Alderman + Fountain, presided, called upon Mr. John Corbitt (of the Air and + Calder Company), who presented to Mr. Ellerthorpe a purse + containing twenty-three and a half guineas, subscribed by the + leading shipping firms of Hull. + + 'Mr. Corbitt said:--The subscription was proposed by Mr. W. Dyson, + sen. (Bannister, Dyson, & Co.), and has been most warmly and + heartily taken up by all the leading firms, who were most ready and + forward to mark their sense of the obligations of the shipping + interest to Mr. Ellerthorpe's assiduous attention to duty, obliging + disposition, and untiring activity at his post night and day + (Applause). All present knew how valuable those services were, and + how much the dispatch of business depended upon them. It had been a + pleasing duty to himself to receive the subscriptions, they were + tendered in such a willing and hearty spirit (Cheers). Mr. Corbitt + then presented to Mr. Ellerthorpe the purse, which contained the + following inscription:-- + + [Illustration] + + THIS PURSE, + CONTAINING 23-1/2 Guineas, + _Subscribed by Trading Merchants of Hull_, + Was presented by Mr. J. Corbitt to + MR. JOHN ELLERTHORPE, + + For his unwearied zeal and attention to the requirements of the + Trade of the Port by Penning Vessels in and out of the Humber Dock. + + Nov. 8th, 1864. + + 'Mr. Ellerthorpe suitably acknowledged the presentation, and + thanked Mr. Corbitt and the subscribers for their kindness. As for + himself, he had certainly striven to secure the interests of the + port, but he had only done his duty, as he hoped he ever should be + able to do, without the prospect of any such reward as that. It, + however, gave him unfeigned pleasure to find that anything he had + done could be so highly appreciated. He hoped to live to advance + the interests of the town and of commerce.--Several loyal and + complimentary toasts followed, and the proceedings throughout were + of a most pleasant and agreeable character.' + +[Sidenote: HIS DECLINING HEALTH.] + +To the eye of a stranger, our friend's cheerful countenance and erect +form, during the last few years of his life, indicated a robust state of +health, giving the promise of a green old age. Such, however, was not +the case. His employment as Foreman of the Humber Dock Gates, was very +arduous, exposing him to all kinds of weather, day and night, according +to the tides, and he found it telling seriously upon his health. His +frequent plunges into the water, in storm and in calm, at midnight as +well as at midday, in times of chilling frost as well as in times of +warmth, sometimes top-coated and booted, and at other times undressed, +also helped to sap his naturally strong frame. + +[Sidenote: HIS LAST AFFLICTION.] + +In a private note he remarked, 'It is with difficulty I can talk, at +times, and my breathing is so bad, that I am now unable to address the +Band of Hope children. The other night, and after I had been in bed +about three hours, I was seized with an attack of shortness of breath +which lasted four hours, and I thought I should have died in the +struggle. But it pleased the Lord to restore me, and since then I have +felt a little better. I now suffer greatly from excitement, and need to +be kept still and quiet, but my present situation does not allow me much +quiet. In fact, I am afraid, at times, that I shall be forced to leave +it, for I think, and so does Dr. Gibson, that the watching, night after +night, let the weather be as it may, is too much for me. But I leave +myself in the hands of God, knowing that he will never leave me nor +forsake me.' + +Dr. Gibson, his medical attendant, wrote the writer thus:-- + + Hull, _26th Sept., 1867_. + + Dear Sir,--I received your letter this morning, respecting John + Ellerthorpe, a man well known for many years past, and greatly + esteemed by the people of Hull, on account of his great daring, and + humane and gallant conduct in saving such a large number of human + lives from drowning. + + As his medical attendant, I regret to say, that his frequent + plunges into the water, at all seasons of the year, and long + exposure in wet clothes, have seriously injured his health and + constitution. + +After the 'Hero's' death the same gentleman wrote:--'Mr. Ellerthorpe had +generously attempted to save the lives of others at the expense of +abridging his own life.' + +Mr. Ellerthorpe knew the great source of religious strength and +salvation, and trusting entirely in the merits of Jesus Christ, he found +a satisfying sense of God's saving presence and power to the very last. +He would often say, 'my feet are on the Rock of Ages. I cannot sink +under such a prop, as bears the world and all things up.' His +affliction, water on the chest, and an enlargement of the heart brought +on by his frequent plunges into the water, and exposure to wet and cold, +was protracted and very severe. He found great difficulty in breathing +and had comparatively little rest, day or night, for five months. Dr. +Gibson said to him on one occasion, 'Mr. Ellerthorpe, you cannot live +long unless I could take out your present heart and give you a new one.' +'Ah,' said he, with the utmost composure, 'that you cannot do.' Often +after a night of restlessness and suffering he would say to his dear +wife:--'Well, I have lived another night,' to which she would reply, 'O +yes, and I hope you will live many more yet.' 'No,' he would say, 'I +shall not live many more; I feel I am going, but it is all right.' + +[Sidenote: HIS TRIUMPHANT DEATH.] + +During his last illness he had, as was to be expected, many visitors, +but he loved those best who talked most about Jesus. He seemed pained +and disappointed when the conversation was about the things of earth, +but he was delighted and carried away when it was about the things of +heaven. When his medical adviser gave strict orders that visitors should +not be allowed to see him, his pale face and lack-lustre eyes grew +bright, and he imploringly said, 'Do let those come who can pray and +talk about Jesus and heaven.' + +The ministers of his own denomination, the Revs. G. Lamb, T. Ratcliffe, +T. Newsome, J. Hodgson, F. Rudd and others often visited him, and would +have done so much more frequently, but for the nature of his complaint +and the orders of his medical attendant. Mr. John Sissons, his first +class leader, Mr. Harrison, his devoted companion and fellow labourer in +the work of God, and others of his lay brethren, frequently visited him, +and all testify to the happy state of soul in which they found him. The +Rev. J. Hodgson, in one of his visits, found him in great pain, but +breathing out his soul to God in short ejaculatory prayers. His old +passion for the conversion of souls was strong in death. Mr. Hodgson +told him of some good missionary meetings they had just been holding. +'And how many souls had you saved?' was the ready inquiry. 'You will +soon be at home,' said Mr. Harrison, during his last visit, to which he +replied, 'Yes, I shall, my lad.' During the Rev. T. Newsome's visit Mr. +Ellerthorpe expressed himself as wonderfully happy and anxiously waiting +the coming of his Lord. Toplady's well known verse was repeated by the +preacher:-- + + 'And when I'm to die, + To Jesus I'll cry; + For Jesus hath loved me, + I cannot tell why; + But this I can find, + We two are so joined, + He'll not reign in glory + And leave me behind.' + +'Ah,' said the dying man, now rich in holiness and ready for the skies, +'THAT IS IT.' He soon afterwards expired in the full triumph of faith, +on July 15th, 1868. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +THE HERO'S FUNERAL. + + +The following account of the 'Hero's' funeral is taken, unabridged, from +_The Eastern Morning News_. + +[Sidenote: HIS FUNERAL.] + +[Sidenote: THE FUNERAL PROCESSION.] + +All that was mortal of John Ellerthorpe, 'The Hero of the Humber,' was +on Sunday consigned to the grave. Well did his many noble actions +entitle him to the proud and distinguished title by which he was so +familiarly known. It may be questioned whether his career has any +individual parallel in the world's history. The saviour of forty lives +from drowning, during sixty-one years' existence, could not fail to be +exalted to the position of a great hero, and the worship which was paid +to his heroism assumed no exaggerated form, though it was intense and +abiding. He bore his honours meekly, and his funeral partook of the +character of the man, unpretending, simple, earnest. No funeral pomp, no +feverish excitement, but a solemn, subdued spectacle was witnessed. The +highest tribute which could be paid to departed worth was accorded to +the memory of the Hero of the Humber. Thousands of his fellow-townsmen +followed the funeral _cortege_ on its way to the Cemetery, and when the +procession reached the last resting-place of the deceased, the number +swelled into vast proportions, and a perfect consciousness of the +solemnity of the event appeared to influence the conduct of the vast +multitude. The silence was deep, and almost unbroken by any sound save +the frequent exclamations of sincere regret. No man, however +distinguished, has had more solemn homage paid to him than John +Ellerthorpe. There were many features of resemblance in the burial of +Captain Gravill, and in the Cemetery, not far from each other, now lie +the remains of two men whose moral attributes and actions will ever +stand conspicuous in the history of men. + +The announcement that the _cortege_ would leave the residence of the +deceased at half-past twelve drew many hundreds to the house, anxious, +if possible, to obtain a look at that which contained the body of him +whose acquaintance numbers of them had esteemed it an honour to possess. +At the time appointed the body was placed in the hearse, and the family +and friends of the deceased, as they entered the coaches, were watched +by hundreds who sympathised in no common degree with their deep +affliction and irreparable loss. The coaches were followed by the +gatemen of all the docks and others who had been associated with the +deceased. Mr. Dumbell, the Secretary of the Dock Company, Mr. Dale +Brown, Superintendent Dock Master, and Mr. Gruby, headed the procession, +thus evincing the deep respect they entertained for Mr. Ellerthorpe. +Contrary to expectation, the procession proceeded to the Cemetery by the +following route:--Railway-street, Kingston-street, Edward's-place, +Waverly-street, Thornton-street, Park-street, and Spring-bank. It had +been expected that the procession would have gone along the Market-place +and Whitefriargate, and thence to the place of interment, and the +streets were thronged with an anxious multitude. The disappointment was +very great. + +When the _cortege_ reached Thornton-street, part of the congregation of +the Primitive Methodist chapel at which the deceased had been in the +habit of worshipping when in health, joined the procession, and at once +began to sing. Nothing could exceed the impression of the scene from +this point. As the lowly strains arose tears were trickling down many a +hard, rough face, whilst a spirit of holy quietude appeared to pervade +others. Few funerals have been characterised by greater impressiveness. +All the avenues at the cemetery were crowded, and hundreds had been +waiting or a long time to meet the procession. + +The funeral service was conducted by the Rev. George Lamb, for whom the +deceased had long cherished a great affection, and it is needless to say +the reverend gentleman was greatly affected. The coffin having been laid +in the grave, and the burial service having been read, Mr. Lamb spoke as +follows, amidst profound silence:-- + +[Sidenote: REV. G. LAMB'S ADDRESS.] + +'We have come here to-day, my friends, to perform the last duties over +the body of the dear friend who has passed away, we doubt not, to a +brighter and a better world. The Hero of the Humber, the man who has +saved a large number of human beings from a watery grave, who has made +many a family rejoice by his heroism, has himself succumbed to the hand +of death. But, through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ he was not +afraid to die. I have been frequently comforted as I have conversed with +him during his last illness, and have heard him rejoice in the prospect +of that hour, and seen his anxiety--yes, his anxiety to leave the +present world because he had blooming hope of a brighter and better +inheritance. My dear friends, you and I will soon finish our course. The +great question we ought to ask ourselves individually is "Am I prepared +to die? If my corpse were here, where John Ellerthorpe lies, where would +my soul be? Am I prepared for entering the mansions of everlasting +bliss?" Many of you know he lived a godless, prayerless and sinful life +for many years, but by the gospel of the grace of God his heart became +changed. He abandoned his evil ways, consecrated himself at the foot of +the cross, to be the Lord's for ever, and by God's saving mercy, he was +enabled to hold on his way to the last, rejoicing in the prospect of +that hour when he should leave the bed of affliction and this sinful +world, to be carried into that clime and those blessed regions where he +would be with the saved for ever. That God can change your hearts, my +dear friends. Oh, by the side of this open grave, may some here to-day +be yielded to God; may you now consecrate yourselves and become the +saved of the Lord. God grant his blessing may rest upon the mourning +widow and the bereaved family, and that they after the toils of the +warfare of earth, may with their dear husband and father be found before +the throne of God. May those who have long enjoyed the friendship of our +departed brother be ultimately numbered with the blessed in in the +kingdom to come.' + +[Sidenote: FAREWELL HYMN.] + +Before the mourners departed, the beautifully affecting hymn, beginning +with + + 'Farewell, dear friends, a long farewell,' + +was sung. + +We may state that most of the ships in the docks indicated respect by +hoisting colours half-mast high.--_Eastern Morning News._ + + +THE END. + + +J. HORNER, PRINTER, ALFORD. + + + + +_WORKS BY THE REV. H. WOODCOCK._ + +WONDERS OF GRACE; + +_Or, the Influence of the Holy Spirit manifested in upwards of 350 +remarkable conversions. 2/-; 2/6._ + + 'Favourably as Mr. Woodcock is already known by his previous + writings, the present work will, we are persuaded, add to his + reputation and increase his usefulness. The substance of the work + is rich and precious almost beyond praise, and its literary + workmanship bears unmistakable evidence of industry, intelligence, + and judgment. Its multitudinous facts, drawn from a variety of + sources, are skilfully marshalled, are narrated in a lively and + agreeable style, and the spirit with which it is animated is deeply + religious. It is an exceptionally excellent book, as full of + interest as a novel, and yet as religious as a liturgy. People of + all ages and conditions will find in its pages a mass of pleasant, + instructive, and wholesome reading, fitted in an eminent degree to + promote their spiritual growth, and to nourish in their hearts an + interest in revivals of evangelical religion.'--Introductory note + by the Rev. C. C. M'Kechnie, Connexional Editor. + + 'Facts stranger than Fiction stud the pages of this volume, and + shed light upon the various ways in which God is pleased to draw + men to himself. The work is written in a clear felicitous style, + and affords about as agreeable readings as anyone can desire, while + its rich illustration and forcible presentation of Gospel truth, + cannot fail but prove a blessing. It is in fact, as full of + interest as a novel, and yet as religious as a + liturgy.'--_Christian Ambassador._ + +LONDON: S. W. Partridge, 9, Paternoster Row; Wesleyan Book Room, 66, +Paternoster Row; Primitive Methodist Book Room, 6, Sutton Street, +Commercial Road, E.; and of all Booksellers. + + + + +Fifth Thousand. 356 pages, cloth, 2/6; gilt edges, 3/- + +POPERY UNMASKED: + +BEING THIRTY CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN MR. DAYLIGHT AND MR. TWILIGHT. + + _In which the peculiar doctrines, morals, government, and usages of + the Romish Church are truthfully stated from her own duly + authorised works, and impartially tried by God's Word, the only + unerring rule of doctrine and duty._ + + +Notices and Recommendations. + + 'This book is decidedly the best thing of the sort that has yet + appeared. Its range is comprehensive of the whole of the mighty + subject, and it is literally crammed with fact and argument. Every + section is a species of moral demonstration. We defy Cardinal + Wiseman and all his cardinals, archbishops and bishops, and clergy + to boot, to refute this volume. In 350 pages we have a species of + encyclopaedia. We know of no human hand from which Popery has + received a more powerful, death-dealing blow. Would that a copy of + this well crammed and very cheap volume might find a place in every + British household.'--Rev. J. Campbell, D.D., in the _British + Standard_. + + 'This is a very admirable and seasonable book, displaying much + reading and the soundest views. It sets forth, with much detail and + in a popular and picturesque style, the many evils of Popery' and + the present danger of Britain from this insidious foe. It would be + difficult to find a better text-book for popular lectures and young + men's classes, on the subject, and we cordially recommend + it.'--_Protestant Bulwark._ + + 'A sensible, smart, and clever exposure of Popery, with its + irrational assumptions, and soul-destroying errors. The work is + timely, and its circulation will do good.'--Rev. W. Cooke, D.D. + + * * * * * + +THE BRAVE YOUNG SUFFERERS, 6d.; cloth, 9d. + + * * * * * + +THE THREE SOLDIERS, 6d.; cloth, 9d. + + 'The stories are full of pathos and moral beauty, and are in every + respect likely to draw the hearts of the young to the love of God + and goodness. We hope our Sunday School managers will keep this + little book in mind when providing their Anniversary prizes.--Rev. + C. McKechnie, _Primitive Methodist Magazine_. + + * * * * * + +STUDENT'S HANDBOOK TO SCRIPTURE DOCTRINES, 7s. 6d.; gilt, 8s. 6d. + + + + +_WORKS BY SOPHIA WOODCOCK._ + +SAYINGS AND DOINGS OF GOOD BOYS AND GIRLS. 160pp., limp cloth, 1s.; +boards, 1s. 3d.; gilt edges, 1s. 6d. + +Contents:--The New Heart; Prayer; True Happiness; The Right Motive; For +Christ's sake; Stretch it a bit, or True Charity; Mutual Forbearance; +Right Words; Perseverance; The Little Boy and his Lost Shilling; The +Bible better than Gold; The Little Cripple; The Patient Sufferer, &c., +&c. + + * * * * * + +CHILDREN LEADING ADULTS TO CHRIST. 160pp., limp cloth, 1s.; boards, 1s. +3d.; gilt edges, 1s. 6d. + +Contents:--Christ for evermore; Children leading Adults to Christ; The +happiness of Children leading Adults to Christ; Praying Children leading +Adults to Christ; Casual remarks of Children leading Adults to Christ; +Kind Words of Children leading Adults to Christ; Children leading +sorrowful Adults to Christ; Singing Children leading Adults to Christ; +Influence of good examples leading Adults to Christ; Dying Children +leading Adults to Christ. + + 'Miss Woodcock's charming little volumes are everything that could + be desired. It would be difficult to find collections of stories + and lessons at once so well suited to the tastes and capacities of + children, and so likely to plant and foster right principles, and + to mould and build up a good and noble character.'--Rev. C. C. + M'Kechnie. + + 'Our respected author is scarcely _fair_ in presenting this capital + collection to the young of her own denomination only, as indicated + in her preface. The excellence of her work commends it to the young + of all denominations.'--_The Christian Age._ + + 'This little book is remarkably well adapted to convey moral and + religious instruction to boys and girls from six to ten years of + age. The stories are just of such a sort, and told in such a way, + as are most likely to interest and impress the heart when the heart + is most susceptible of impression.'--_Christian Ambassador._ + + 'Our children are delighted with 'Gems,' and we sincerely hope that + it will have the large sale that it deserves.'--_Dr. Lamb, Hull._ + + 'I can truly say of 'Gems' that it is one of those books, + interesting, pleasing, and profitable, that need multiplying to + prevent youthful readers from getting an appetite for that + senseless, vicious literature now so temptingly offered to them. If + it be read as extensively as it deserves to be, by our young + people, the authoress, I am sure, will be abundantly + encouraged.'--_Rev. Joseph Wood, M.A., Secretary of the Sunday + School Union._ + +LONDON: Wesleyan Book Room, 66, Paternoster Row: Primitive Methodist +Book Room, 6, Sutton Street, Commercial Road, E.; and of all +Booksellers. + + +[Transcriber's Notes: + +Contractions are inconsistently used, such as both "did'nt" and +"didn't," and have been retained as in the original in both cases. + +There were many printers errors and typos in this book. The obvious +ones have been silently corrected. Others that might be cases of +old spellings have been retained. + +Page 19--I suspect "of" is missing in the phrase, "that he would have +been unworthy (of) the name of a Christian" but I did not change it +in the text. + +Page 120--The paragraph that begins "After the 'Hero's' death" was +originally included in the preceding blockquote, but it doesn't seem +to be part of the quoted letter, so I moved it out into the surrounding +text.] + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Hero of the Humber, by Henry Woodcock + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE HERO OF THE HUMBER *** + +***** This file should be named 20520.txt or 20520.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/0/5/2/20520/ + +Produced by Stacy Brown, David Clarke and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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