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diff --git a/42394.txt b/42394.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 1243cb0..0000000 --- a/42394.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,3229 +0,0 @@ - STORIES OF THE LIFEBOAT - - - - -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 http://www.gutenberg.org/license. - - - -Title: Stories of the Lifeboat -Author: Frank Mundell -Release Date: March 23, 2013 [EBook #42394] -Language: English -Character set encoding: US-ASCII - - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK STORIES OF THE LIFEBOAT *** - - - - -Produced by Al Haines. - - - - -[Illustration: Cover] - - - - -[Illustration: THE LIFEBOAT IN THE STORM] - - - - - STORIES - OF - THE LIFEBOAT - - - BY - FRANK MUNDELL - - AUTHOR OF "STORIES OF THE VICTORIA CROSS" - "INTO THE UNKNOWN WEST" ETC - - - FOURTH EDITION - - - [Illustration: title page illustration] - - - LONDON: - THE SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION - 57 AND 59 LUDGATE HILL, E.C. - - - - - VOLUMES IN THIS SERIES. - - BY FRANK MUNDELL, - - AUTHOR OF "THE HEROINES' LIBRARY." - - _Crown 8vo, cloth boards, 1s. 6d. each._ - - WITH PORTRAITS AND ILLUSTRATIONS. - - STORIES OF THE FAR WEST. - STORIES OF THE COAL MINE. - STORIES OF THE ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY. - STORIES OF THE FIRE BRIGADE. - STORIES OF NORTH POLE ADVENTURE. - STORIES OF THE VICTORIA CROSS. - STORIES OF THE LIFEBOAT. - - _Of all Booksellers._ - - LONDON: - THE SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION, - 57 AND 59 LUDGATE HILL, E.C. - - - - - PREFACE - -In sending forth this little work to the public, I desire to acknowledge -my obligations to the following:--The Royal National Lifeboat -Institution for the valuable matter placed at my disposal, also for the -use of the illustrations on pages 20 and 21; to Mr. Clement Scott and -the proprietors of _Punch_ for permission to use the poem, "The Warriors -of the Sea"; to the proprietors of _The Star_ for the poem, "The -Stranding of the _Eider_"; and to the proprietors of the _Kent Argus_ -for so freely granting access to the files of their journal. Lastly, my -thanks are due to the publishers--at whose suggestion the work was -undertaken--for the generous manner in which they have illustrated the -book. - -F. M. -LONDON, _September_, 1894. - - - - - CONTENTS - -CHAP. - - I. MAN THE LIFEBOAT - II. LIFEBOAT DISASTERS - III. THE WARRIORS OF THE SEA - IV. THE GOODWIN SANDS - V. THE BOATMEN OF THE DOWNS - VI. A GOOD NIGHT'S WORK - VII. THE "BRADFORD" TO THE RESCUE - VIII. THE LAST CHANCE - IX. HARDLY SAVED - X. A WRESTLE WITH DEATH - XI. A DOUBLE RESCUE - XII. DEAL MEN TO THE RESCUE - XIII. THE WRECK OF THE "BENVENUE" - XIV. THE STRANDING OF THE "EIDER" - XV. THE WRECK OF THE "NORTHERN BELLE" - XVI. A GALLANT RESCUE - XVII. A BUSY DAY - XVIII. A RESCUE IN MID-OCEAN - XIX. THE "THREE BELLS" - XX. ON THE CORNISH COAST - XXI. A PLUCKY CAPTAIN - XXII. BY SHEER STRENGTH - XXIII. WRECKED IN PORT - - - - - LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS - - -THE LIFEBOAT IN THE STORM . . . . . . Frontispiece - -LAUNCHING THE LIFEBOAT - -THE LIFEBOAT HOUSE - -MEDAL OF THE ROYAL NATIONAL LIFEBOAT INSTITUTION - -NEWS OF A WRECK ON THE COAST - -A RAMSGATE BOATMAN - -AN OLD WRECK - -SURVIVORS OF THE "INDIAN CHIEF" - -A LIFEBOAT GOING OUT - -SAVING THE CAPTAIN - -A PERILOUS REFUGE - -THEY BENT THEIR BACKS TO THE OARS - -SIGHTING THE WRECK - -LIVES IN PERIL - -COMING ASHORE--"ALL SAVED" - - - - - The Lifeboat! oh, the Lifeboat! - We all have known so long, - A refuge for the feeble, - The glory of the strong. - Twice thirty years have vanished, - Since first upon the wave - She housed the drowning mariner, - And snatched him from the grave, - - The voices of the rescued, - Their numbers may be read, - The tears of speechless feeling - Our wives and children shed; - The memories of mercy - In man's extremest need. - All for the dear old Lifeboat - Uniting seem to plead. - - - - - STORIES - of - THE LIFEBOAT - - - - CHAPTER I. - - MAN THE LIFEBOAT! - - -To Lionel Lukin, a coachbuilder of Long Acre, London, belongs the honour -of inventing the lifeboat. As early as the year 1784 he designed and -fitted a boat, which was intended "to save the lives of mariners wrecked -on the coast." It had a projecting gunwale of cork, and air-tight -lockers or enclosures under the seats. These gave the boat great -buoyancy, but it was liable to be disabled by having the sides stove in. -Though Lukin was encouraged in his efforts by the Prince of -Wales--afterwards George the Fourth--his invention did not meet with the -approval of those in power at the Admiralty, and Lukin's only lifeboat -which came into use was a coble that he fitted up for the Rev. Dr. -Shairp of Bamborough. For many years this was the only lifeboat on the -coast, and it is said to have saved many lives. - -In the churchyard of Hythe, in Kent, the following inscription may be -read on the tombstone, which marks the last resting-place of the "Father -of the Lifeboat":-- - - "This LIONEL LUKIN - was the first who built a lifeboat, and was the - original inventor of that quality of safety, by - which many lives and much property have been - preserved from shipwreck, and he obtained for - it the King's Patent in the year 1785." - -The honour of having been the first inventor of the lifeboat is also -claimed by two other men. In the parish church of St. Hilda, South -Shields, there is a stone "Sacred to the Memory of William Wouldhave, -who died September 28, 1821, aged 70 years, Clerk of this Church, and -Inventor of that invaluable blessing to mankind, the Lifeboat." Another -similar record tells us that "Mr. Henry Greathead, a shrewd boatbuilder -at South Shields, has very generally been credited with designing and -building the first lifeboat, about the year 1789." As we have seen, -Lukin had received the king's patent for his invention four years before -Greathead brought forward his plan. This proves conclusively that the -proud distinction belongs by right to Lionel Lukin. - -In September 1789 a terrible wreck took place at the mouth of the Tyne. -The ship _Adventure_ of Newcastle went aground on the Herd Sands, within -three hundred yards of the shore. The crew took to the rigging, where -they remained till, benumbed by cold and exhaustion, they dropped one by -one into the midst of the tremendous breakers, and were drowned in the -presence of thousands of spectators, who were powerless to render them -any assistance. - -Deeply impressed by this melancholy catastrophe, the gentlemen of South -Shields called a meeting, and offered prizes for the best model of a -lifeboat "calculated to brave the dangers of the sea, particularly of -broken water." From the many plans sent in, those of William Wouldhave -and Henry Greathead were selected, and after due consideration the prize -was awarded to "the shrewd boatbuilder at South Shields." He was -instructed to build a boat on his own plan with several of Wouldhave's -ideas introduced. This boat had five thwarts, or seats for rowers, -double banked, to be manned by ten oars. It was lined with cork, and had -a cork fender or pad outside, 16 inches deep. The chief point about -Greathead's invention was that the keel was curved instead of being -straight. This circumstance, simple as it appears, caused him to be -regarded as the inventor of the first practicable lifeboat, for -experience has proved that a boat with a curved keel is much more easily -launched and beached than one with a straight keel. - -Lifeboats on this plan were afterwards placed on different parts of the -coast, and were the means of saving altogether some hundreds of lives. -By the end of the year 1803 Greathead had built no fewer than thirty-one -lifeboats, eight of which were sent to foreign countries. He applied to -Parliament for a national reward, and received the sum of L1200. The -Trinity House and Lloyd's each gave him L105. From the Society of Arts -he received a gold medal and fifty guineas, and a diamond ring from the -Emperor of Russia. - -The attention thus drawn to the needs of the shipwrecked mariner might -have been expected to be productive of good results, but, unfortunately, -it was not so. The chief reason for this apathy is probably to be found -in the fact that, though the lifeboats had done much good work, several -serious disasters had befallen them, which caused many people to regard -the remedy as worse than the disease. Of this there was a deplorable -instance in 1810, when one of Greathead's lifeboats, manned by fifteen -men, went out to the rescue of some fishermen who had been caught in a -gale off Tynemouth. They succeeded in taking the men on board, but on -nearing the shore a huge wave swept the lifeboat on to a reef of rocks, -where it was smashed to atoms. Thirty-four poor fellows--the rescued -and the rescuers--were drowned. - -It was not until twelve years after this that the subject of the -preservation of life from shipwreck on our coast was successfully taken -up. Sir William Hillary, himself a lifeboat hero, published a striking -appeal to the nation on behalf of the perishing mariner, and as the -result of his exertions the Royal National Institution for the -Preservation of Life from Shipwreck was established in 1824. This -Society still exists under the well-known name of the Royal National -Lifeboat Institution. It commenced its splendid career with about -L10,000, and in its first year built and stationed a dozen lifeboats on -different parts of the coast. - -For many years the Society did good work, though sadly crippled for want -of funds. In 1850 the Duke of Northumberland offered the sum of one -hundred guineas for the best model of a lifeboat. Not only from all -parts of Great Britain, but also from America, France, Holland, and -Germany, plans and models were sent in to the number of two hundred and -eighty. After six months' examination, the prize was awarded to James -Beeching of Great Yarmouth, and his was the first self-righting lifeboat -ever built. The committee were not altogether satisfied with Beeching's -boat, and Mr. Peake, of Her Majesty's Dockyard at Woolwich, was -instructed to design a boat embodying all the best features in the plans -which had been sent in. This was accordingly done, and his model, -gradually improved as time went on, was adopted by the Institution for -their boats. - -[Illustration: LAUNCHING THE LIFEBOAT] - -The lifeboats now in use measure from 30 to 40 feet in length, and 8 in -breadth. Buoyancy is obtained by air-chambers at the ends and on both -sides. The two large air-chambers at the stem and stern, together with -a heavy iron keel, make the boat self-righting, so that should she be -upset she cannot remain bottom up. Between the floor and the outer skin -of the boat there is a space stuffed with cork and light hard wood, so -that even if a hole was made in the outer covering the boat would not -sink. To insure the safety of the crew in the event of a sea being -shipped, the floor is pierced with holes, into which are placed tubes -communicating with the sea, and valves so arranged that the water cannot -come up into the boat, but should she ship a sea the valves open -downwards and drain off the water. A new departure in lifeboat -construction was made in 1890, when a steam lifeboat, named the Duke of -Northumberland, was launched. Since then it has saved many lives, and -has proved itself to be a thoroughly good sea boat. While an ordinary -lifeboat is obliged to beat about and lose valuable time, the steam -lifeboat goes straight to its mark even in the roughest sea, so that -probably before long the use of steam in combating the storm will become -general. - -Nearly every lifeboat is provided with a transporting carriage on which -she constantly stands ready to be launched at a moment's notice. By -means of this carriage, which is simply a framework on four wheels, the -lifeboat can be used along a greater extent of coast than would -otherwise be possible. It is quicker and less laborious to convey the -boat by land to the point nearest the wreck, than to proceed by sea, -perhaps in the teeth of a furious gale. In addition to this a carriage -is of great use in launching a boat from the beach, and there are -instances on record when, but for the carriage, it would have been -impossible for the lifeboat to leave the shore on account of the high -surf. - -[Illustration: THE LIFEBOAT HOUSE.] - -The boats belonging to the National Lifeboat Institution are kept in -roomy and substantial boathouses under lock and key. The coxswain has -full charge of the boat, both when afloat and ashore. He receives a -salary of L8 a year, and his assistant L2 a year. The crew of the -lifeboat consists of a bowman and as many men as the boat pulls oars. -On every occasion of going afloat to save life, each man receives ten -shillings, if by day; and L1, if by night. This money is paid to the -men out of the funds of the Institution, whether they have been -successful or not. During the winter months these payments are now -increased by one half. - -[Illustration: MEDAL OF THE ROYAL NATIONAL LIFEBOAT INSTITUTION.] - -The cost of a boat with its equipment of stores--cork lifebelts, -anchors, lines, lifebuoys, lanterns, and other articles--is upwards of -L700, and the expense of building the boathouse amounts to L300, while -the cost of maintaining it is L70 a year. The Institution also awards -medals to those who have distinguished themselves by their bravery in -saving life from shipwreck. One side of this medal is adorned with a -bust of Her Majesty, Queen Victoria, who is the patroness of the -Institution. The other side represents three sailors in a lifeboat, one -of whom is rescuing an exhausted mariner from the waves with the -inscription, "Let not the deep swallow me up." Additional displays of -heroism are rewarded by clasps bearing the number of the service. - -"When we think of the vast extent of our dangerous coasts, and of our -immense interest in shipping, averaging arrivals and departures of some -600,000 vessels a year; when we think of the number of lives engaged, -some 200,000 men and boys, besides untold thousands of passengers, and -goods amounting to many millions of pounds in value, the immense -importance of the lifeboat service cannot be over-estimated." Well may -we then, "when the storm howls loudest," pray that God will bless that -noble Society, and the band of humble heroes who man the three hundred -lifeboats stationed around the coasts of the British Isles. - - - - - CHAPTER II. - - LIFEBOAT DISASTERS. - - -We have already referred to the numerous disasters which did so much to -retard the progress of the lifeboat movement. Now let us see how these -disasters were caused. The early lifeboats, though provided with a -great amount of buoyancy, had no means of freeing themselves of water, -or of self-righting if upset, and the absence of these qualities caused -the loss of many lives. - -Sir William Hillary, who may be regarded as the founder of the National -Lifeboat Institution, distinguished himself, while living on the Isle of -Man, by his bravery in rescuing shipwrecked crews. It was estimated -that in twenty-five years upwards of a hundred and forty vessels were -wrecked on the island, and a hundred and seventy lives were lost; while -the destruction of property was put down at a quarter of a million. In -1825, when the steamer _City of Glasgow_ went ashore in Douglas Bay, Sir -William Hillary went out in the lifeboat and assisted in taking -sixty-two people off the wreck. In the same year the brig _Leopard_ -went ashore, and Sir William again went to the rescue and saved eleven -lives. While he lived on the island, hardly a year passed without him -adding fresh laurels to his name, and never did knight of old rush into -the fray with greater ardour than did this gallant knight of the -nineteenth century to the rescue of those in peril on the sea. His -greatest triumph, however, was on the 20th of November 1830, when the -mail steamer _St. George_ stranded on St. Mary's Rock and became a total -wreck. The whole crew, twenty-two in number, were rescued by the -lifeboat. On this occasion he was washed overboard among the wreck, and -it was with the greatest difficulty that he was saved, having had six of -his ribs broken. - -In 1843 the lifeboat stationed at Robin Hood Bay went out to the -assistance of the _Ann_ of London. Without mishap the wreck was reached, -and the work of rescue was begun. Several of the shipwrecked men jumped -into the boat just as a great wave struck her, and she upset. Some of -the crew managed to scramble on to the bottom of the upturned boat and -clung to the keel for their lives. - -The accident had been witnessed by the men on the beach, and five of -them immediately put out to the rescue. They had hardly left the shore -when an enormous sea swept down upon them, causing the boat to turn a -double somersault, and drowning two of the crew. Altogether twelve men -lost their lives on this occasion. Those who were saved floated ashore -on the bottom of the lifeboat. - -The Herd Sand, memorable as the scene of the wreck of the _Adventure_, -witnessed a lamentable disaster in 1849, when the _Betsy_ of -Littlehampton went aground. The South Shields lifeboat, manned by -twenty-four experienced pilots, went out to the rescue. While preparing -to take the crew on board, she was struck by a heavy sea, and before she -could recover herself, a second mighty wave threw her over. Twenty out -of the twenty-four of her crew were drowned. The remainder and the crew -of the _Betsy_ were rescued by two other lifeboats, which put off from -the shore immediately upon witnessing what had happened. - -The advantages of the self-righting and self-emptying boats may be best -judged from the fact, that since their introduction in 1852, as many as -seventy thousand men have gone out in these boats on service, and of -these only seventy-nine have nobly perished in their gallant attempts to -rescue others. This is equal to a loss of one man in every eight hundred -and eighty. - -During the terrible storm which swept down upon our coast in 1864, the -steamer _Stanley_ of Aberdeen was wrecked while trying to enter the -Tyne. The _Constance_ lifeboat was launched from Tynemouth, and -proceeded to the scene of the wreck. The night was as dark as pitch, -and from the moment that the boat started, nothing was to be seen but -the white flash of the sea, which broke over the boat and drenched the -crew. As quickly as she freed herself of water, she was buried again -and again. At length the wreck was reached, and while the men were -waiting for a rope to be passed to them, a gigantic wave burst over the -_Stanley_ and buried the lifeboat. Every oar was snapped off at the -gunwale, and the outer ends were swept away, leaving nothing but the -handles. When the men made a grasp for the spare oars they only got -two--the remainder had been washed overboard. - -It was almost impossible to work the _Constance_ with the rudder and two -oars, and while she was in this disabled condition a second wave burst -upon her. Four of the crew either jumped or were thrown out of the boat, -and vanished from sight. A third mighty billow swept the lifeboat away -from the wreck, and it was with the utmost difficulty that she was -brought to land. Two of the men, who had been washed out of the boat, -reached the shore in safety, having been kept afloat by their lifebelts. -The other two were drowned. - -Speaking of the attempted rescue, the coxswain of the _Constance_ said: -"Although this misfortune has befallen us, it has given fresh vigour to -the crew of the lifeboat. Every man here is ready, should he be called -on again, to act a similar part." - -Thirty-five of those on board the _Stanley_, out of a total number of -sixty persons, were afterwards saved by means of ropes from the shore. - -One of the most heartrending disasters, which have befallen the modern -lifeboat, happened on the night of the 9th of December 1886. The -lifeboats at Southport and St. Anne's went out in a furious gale to -rescue the crew of a German vessel named the _Mexico_. Both were -capsized, and twenty-seven out of the twenty-nine who manned them were -drowned. It was afterwards found out that the Southport boat succeeded -in making the wreck, and was about to let down her anchor when she was -capsized by a heavy sea. Contrary to all expectations the boat did not -right, being probably prevented from doing so by the weight of the -anchor which went overboard when the boat upset. - -What happened to the St. Anne's lifeboat can never be known, for not one -of her crew was saved to tell the tale. It is supposed that she met -with some accident while crossing a sandbank, for, shortly after she had -been launched, signals of distress were observed in that quarter. Next -morning the boat was found on the beach bottom up with three of her crew -hanging to the thwarts--dead. - -[Illustration: NEWS OF A WRECK ON THE COAST.] - -Such is the fate that even to-day overhangs the lifeboatman on the -uncertain sea. Yet he is ever ready on the first signal of distress to -imperil his life to rescue the stranger and the foreigner from a watery -grave. "First come, first in," is the rule, and to see the gallant -lifeboatmen rushing at the top of their speed in the direction of the -boathouse, one would imagine that they were hurrying to some grand -entertainment instead of into the very jaws of death. It is not for -money that they thus risk their lives, as the pay they receive is very -small for the work they have to perform. They are indeed heroes, in the -truest sense of the word, and give to the world a glorious example of -duty well and nobly done. - - - - - CHAPTER III. - - THE WARRIORS OF THE SEA. - - -[On the night of the 9th of December 1886, the Lytham, Southport, and -St. Anne's lifeboats put out to rescue the crew of the ship _Mexico_, -which had run aground off the coast of Lancashire. The Southport and -St. Anne's boats were lost, but the Lytham boat effected the rescue in -safety.] - - Up goes the Lytham signal! - St. Anne's has summoned hands! - Knee deep in surf the lifeboat's launched - Abreast of Southport sands! - Half deafened by the screaming wind, - Half blinded by the rain, - Three crews await their coxswains, - And face the hurricane! - The stakes are death or duty! - No man has answered "No"! - Lives must be saved out yonder - On the doomed ship _Mexico_! - Did ever night look blacker? - Did sea so hiss before? - Did ever women's voices wail - More piteous on the shore? - Out from three ports of Lancashire - That night went lifeboats three, - To fight a splendid battle, manned - By "Warriors of the Sea." - - Along the sands of Southport - Brave women held their breath, - For they knew that those who loved them - Were fighting hard with death; - A cheer went out from Lytham! - The tempest tossed it back, - As the gallant lads of Lancashire - Bent to the waves' attack; - And girls who dwelt about St. Anne's, - With faces white with fright, - Prayed God would still the tempest - That dark December night. - Sons, husbands, lovers, brothers, - They'd given up their all, - These noble English women - Heartsick at duty's call; - But not a cheer, or tear, or prayer, - From those who bent the knee, - Came out across the waves to nerve - Those Warriors of the Sea. - - Three boats went out from Lancashire, - But one came back to tell - The story of that hurricane, - The tale of ocean's hell! - All safely reached the _Mexico_, - Their trysting-place to keep; - For one there was the rescue, - The others in the deep - Fell in the arms of victory - Dropped to their lonely grave, - Their passing bell the tempest, - Their requiem the wave! - They clung to life like sailors, - They fell to death like men,-- - Where, in our roll of heroes, - When in our story, when, - Have Englishmen been braver, - Or fought more loyally - With death that comes by duty - To the Warriors of the Sea? - - One boat came back to Lytham - Its noble duty done; - But at St. Anne's and Southport - The prize of death was won! - Won by those gallant fellows - Who went men's lives to save, - And died there crowned with glory, - Enthroned upon the wave! - Within a rope's throw off the wreck - The English sailors fell, - A blessing on their faithful lips, - When ocean rang their knell. - Weep not for them, dear women! - Cease wringing of your hands! - Go out to meet your heroes - Across the Southport sands! - Grim death for them is stingless! - The grave has victory! - Cross oars and bear them nobly home, - Brave Warriors of the Sea! - - When in dark nights of winter - Fierce storms of wind and rain - Howl round the cosy homestead, - And lash the window-pane-- - When over hill and tree top - We hear the tempests roar, - And hurricanes go sweeping on - From valley to the shore-- - When nature seems to stand at bay, - And silent terror comes, - And those we love on earth the best - Are gathered in our homes,-- - Think of the sailors round the coast, - Who, braving sleet or snow, - Leave sweethearts, wives, and little ones - When duty bids them go! - Think of our sea-girt island! - A harbour, where alone - No Englishman to save a life - Has failed to risk his own. - Then when the storm howls loudest, - Pray of your charity - That God will bless the lifeboat - And the Warriors of the Sea! - -CLEMENT SCOTT. - -(_By permission of the Author, and the Proprietors of "Punch."_) - - - - - CHAPTER IV. - - THE GOODWIN SANDS. - - -About six miles off the east coast of Kent there is a sandbank known as -the Goodwin Sands, extending for a distance of ten miles, between the -North Foreland and the South Foreland. No part of our coast is so much -dreaded by the mariner, and from early times it has been the scene of -many terrible disasters. As Shakespeare says, it is "a very dangerous -flat, and fatal, where the carcasses of many a tall ship lie buried." - -It is said that the site of the Goodwin Sands was at one time occupied -by a low fertile island, called Lomea, and here lived the famous Earl -Godwin. After the Battle of Hastings, William the Conqueror took -possession of these estates, and bestowed them, as was the custom in -those days, upon the Abbey of St. Augustine at Canterbury. The abbot, -however, seems to have had little regard for the property, and he used -the funds with which it should have been maintained in building a -steeple at Tenterden, an inland town near the south-west border of Kent. -The wall, which defended the island from the sea, being thus allowed to -fall into a state of decay, was unable to withstand the storm that, in -1099, burst over Northern Europe, and the waves rushed in and -overwhelmed the island. This gave rise to the saying, "Tenterden -steeple was the cause of the Goodwin Sands." - -At high tide the whole of this dangerous shoal is covered by the sea to -the depth of several feet; but at low water large stretches of sand are -left hard and dry. At such a time it is perfectly safe for anyone to -walk along this island desert for miles, and cricket is known to have -been played in some places. Here and there the surface is broken by -large hollows filled with water. Should the visitor, however, attempt -to wade to the opposite side, he is glad to beat a hasty retreat, as he -finds himself sinking with alarming rapidity into the sand, which the -action of the water has rendered soft. - -Between the Goodwins and the coast of Kent is the wide and secure -roadstead called the Downs. Here, when easterly or south-easterly winds -are blowing, ships may ride safely at anchor; but when a storm comes -from the west, vessels are no longer secure, and frequently break from -their moorings and become total wrecks on the sands. To warn mariners -of their danger, four lightships are anchored on different parts of the -sands. Each is provided with powerful lanterns, the light of which can -be seen, in clear weather, ten miles off. During foggy weather, fog -sirens are sounded and gongs are beaten to tell the sailor of his -whereabouts. Notwithstanding all these precautions, the number of -vessels stranded on the Goodwins every year is appalling; and but for -the heroic efforts of the Kentish lifeboatmen, the loss of life would be -still more terrible. - -The work done by the boatmen all around our coast cannot be too highly -estimated, but a special word of praise is due to the Ramsgate men. -They have, without doubt, saved more lives than the men of any other -port in the kingdom. Being stationed so near to the deadly Goodwins has -given them greater opportunities for service, and they have also a steam -tug in attendance on the lifeboat to tow her to the scene of disaster. -So that, no matter what is the direction of the wind, they can always go -out. - -Recently, I went down to this "metropolis of the lifeboat service," for -the express purpose of interviewing one of those warriors of the sea. -The place was crowded with holiday-makers, and the harbour presented a -busy scene. Four fine large yachts were getting their passengers on -board for "a two-hours' sail." A yellow-painted tug was puffing to and -fro, towing coasting vessels and luggers out of the harbour, and -threatening to run down several small boats which repeatedly tried to -cross her bows. At some distance from where I was standing lay the -lifeboat _Bradford_, motionless and neglected, and looking strangely out -of place in such smooth water. How the sight of the boat recalled to my -mind all that I had ever read or heard of the perils of "those who go -down to the sea in ships"--the storm, the wreck, the dark winter night, -the midnight summons to man the lifeboat, the struggle for a place, the -sufferings from cold, the happy return with the crew all saved,--these -and other similar incidents seemed to pass before my eyes like a -panorama--the centre object ever being the blue-painted _Bradford_. - -"Have a boat this morning, sir?" said a thick muffled voice quite close -to me. Turning round I saw a little, old man with a bronzed, -weather-beaten face. - -"Not this morning, thank you," I replied; "unless you will let me have -the lifeboat for an hour or two." - -He shook his head and turned away. Then it suddenly seemed to strike -him that possibly I did not know the uses of the lifeboat, and would be -none the worse if I received a little information on the subject. - -[Illustration: A RAMSGATE BOATMAN] - -"The lifeboat's not a pleasure boat, sir," he said, "and never goes out -unless in cases of distress. I reckon if you went out in lifeboat -weather once, you'd never want to go again." - -"I suppose you have heavy seas here at times?" I remarked. - -"Nobody that hasn't seen it has any idea of the water here, and the wind -is strong enough to blow a man off his feet. Great waves come over the -end of the pier, and carry everything, that's not lashed, into the sea. -One day, a few winters ago, a perfect wall of water thundered down on -the pier and twisted that big iron crane you see out there as if it had -been made of wire. The water often comes down the chimneys of the -watch-house at the end of the pier and puts out the fires; and every -time the sea comes over, the whole building shakes, as if an earthquake -was going on. What's worse almost than the sea is the terrible cold. -Why, sir, I've seen this pier a mass of ice from end to end, and the -masts and shrouds of the vessels moored alongside also covered with ice; -so that a rope, which was no thicker than your finger, would look as big -as a man's arm. As you know, sir, it's a hard frost that freezes salt -water, and yet the lifeboat goes out in weather like that." - -"It's a wonder to me," I said, "that under such circumstances the boat -is manned." - -"No difficulty in that, sir; there are always more men wanting to go out -than there's room for. Now suppose a gun was fired at this minute from -any of the lightships to tell us that assistance was needed you would -see men running from every quarter, all eager for a place. I know how -they would scramble across those boats, for I've seen them, and I've -done it myself. Many a time have I jumped out of my warm bed in the -middle of a winter night when a gun has fired, and rushed down to the -harbour with my clothes under my arm; even then I've often been too -late." - -"What do you consider to be the best piece of service the _Bradford_ has -done?" was my next question. - -"The rescue of the survivors of the _Indian Chief_ in the beginning of -1881. The men were out for over twenty-four hours in a terrible sea and -dreadful cold. I was, unfortunately, away piloting when they started, -but returned in time to see them come in. Though I knew all the boatmen -well, I could not recognise a single one, the cold had so altered their -faces, and the salt water had made their hair as white as wool. I can -never forget it. Fish, the coxswain, received a gold medal from the -Institution. There was a song made about the rescue, and us Ramsgate -boatmen used to sing it. When the coxswain gave up his post, about -three years ago, he got a gold second service clasp, the first ever -given by the Institution. In twenty-six years he was out in the lifeboat -on service nearly four hundred times, and helped to save about nine -hundred lives. That's the third _Bradford_ we've had here. The first -was presented by the town of Bradford in Yorkshire, the sum for her -equipment being collected in the Exchange there in an hour. That's how -she got her name, and it's been kept up ever since. - -"It's no joke, I can tell you," he continued, "being out in the -lifeboat. In a ship you can walk about and do something to keep -yourself warm, but in the boat you've got to sit still and hold on to -the thwart if you don't want to be washed overboard. Like enough you -get wet to the skin before you start, and each wave that breaks over the -boat seems to freeze the very blood in your veins. Then, when you reach -the wreck, it is low tide, and there you've got to wait till the water -rises, for in some places the sands stand as high as seven feet out of -the sea when the tide is down. Then, when the lifeboat gets alongside -the wreck, every man requires to have his wits about him, watching for -big waves, keeping clear of the wreckage, and getting the men on board. -Many a time have I gone home, after being out for six or eight hours, -and taken off my waterproof, and it has stood upright on the floor as if -it had been made of tin. Perfectly true, sir, it was frozen. In a day -or two we forget all about the hardships we have suffered, and are as -ready as ever to go out when the summons comes. We never stop to ask -whether the shipwrecked men are Germans, Frenchmen, or Italians. They -must be saved, and we are the men to do it. We get used to the danger -in time, and think very little about it." - -[Illustration: AN OLD WRECK.] - -We talked for some time longer about the treacherous nature of the -Goodwin Sands, and he told me that vessels are sometimes swallowed up in -a few days after they are wrecked, but occasionally they remain visible -for a longer period. One large iron vessel, laden with grain, which -went ashore nearly four years ago is still standing, and in calm weather -the tops of her iron masts may be seen sticking out of the water. - -My informant was now wanted to take charge of a party of ladies who were -going out for a row, so I said "Good-bye," and came away deeply -impressed with the simple heroism of the lifeboatmen, of whom this man -is but a type. - - - - - CHAPTER V. - - THE BOATMEN OF THE DOWNS. - - - There's fury in the tempest, - And there's madness in the waves; - The lightning snake coils round the foam, - The headlong thunder raves; - Yet a boat is on the waters, - Filled with Britain's daring sons, - Who pull like lions out to sea, - And count the minute guns. - - 'Tis Mercy calls them to the work-- - A ship is in distress! - Away they speed with timely help - That many a heart shall bless: - And braver deeds than ever turned - The fate of kings and crowns - Are done for England's glory, - By her Boatmen of the Downs. - - We thank the friend who gives us aid - Upon the quiet land; - We love him for his kindly word, - And prize his helping hand; - But louder praise shall dwell around - The gallant ones who go, - In face of death, to seek and save - The stranger or the foe. - - A boat is on the waters-- - When the very sea-birds hide: - 'Tis noble blood must fill the pulse - That's calm in such a tide! - And England, rich in records - Of her princes, kings, and crowns, - May tell still prouder stories - Of her Boatmen of the Downs. - - ELIZA COOK. - -[Illustration: Chapter V tailpiece] - - - - - CHAPTER VI. - - A GOOD NIGHT'S WORK. - - -About a quarter past eight one wintry night, a telegram was received at -Ramsgate to say that the lightships west of Margate were sending up -rockets and firing guns. Owing to the rough sea and strong wind, the -Margate lifeboat had been unable to leave the beach, so the coxswain -decided to send news of the disaster to Ramsgate, for he knew that the -lifeboat there was able, by the help of the tug, to go out in any -weather. - -The appeal was not made in vain, and in an astonishingly short space of -time the tug and lifeboat were on their way to the Goodwins. For a long -time they were unable to find out the position of the wreck, and had -begun to fear that they had arrived too late, when suddenly the flare of -a tar-barrel lighted up the gloom and showed them a large ship hard and -fast upon the sands. The water lashed round her in tremendous surges, -and every wave seemed to make her tremble from stem to stern. The -boatmen at once prepared for action. The tow rope was cast off, the -sail hoisted, and the lifeboat plunged quickly through the broken water. - -The shipwrecked people saw her coming, and raised a joyful shout. For -hours they had been expecting to meet their awful fate, as each wave -rolled towards the ship, and they had prepared for death; but when they -saw help so near, the love of life was once more roused within them, and -they watched the boat with frantic eagerness. The sail was lowered, the -anchor thrown overboard, and the cable was slacked down towards the -vessel. Unfortunately, the men had miscalculated the distance, and when -all the rope was run out, the boat was not within 60 feet of the wreck. -Slowly and laboriously the cable had to be hauled in before another -attempt could be made to get alongside. The anchor had taken such a -firm hold that it required the utmost exertions of the men to raise it, -but at last they succeeded. They then sailed closer to the ship, and -heaved the anchor overboard again. This time they had judged the -distance correctly, and after they had secured a rope from the bow and -another from the stern of the ship they were ready to begin work. - -The wrecked vessel was the _Fusilier_, bound from London to Australia -with emigrants. She had on board more than a hundred passengers, sixty -of whom were women and children. As soon as the lifeboat got near -enough, the captain called out to the men in the boat, "How many can you -carry?" They replied that they had a steam tug waiting not far off, and -said that they would take the passengers and crew off in parties to her. -As the boat rose on the crest of a wave, two of the brave fellows caught -the ship's ropes and climbed on board. "Who are you?" shouted the -captain as they jumped down on to the deck among the excited passengers. -"Two men from the life-boat," and at these words the men and women -crowded round them, all eager to seize them by the hand, some even -clinging to them in the madness of their terror. For a few moments -there was a scene of wild excitement on deck, and it took all the -authority of the captain to restore order and quietness. - -It was then arranged that the women and children should be saved first. -It was indeed a task of no little difficulty, for the lifeboat was -pitching and tossing in a most terrible manner. At one time she was -driven right away from the ship, then back again she came threatening to -dash herself to pieces against the side of the vessel, then almost at -the same instant she rose on the top of a wave nearly to the level of -the ship's deck. - -The first woman was brought to the side, but the moment she saw the -frightful swirl of waters she shrank back and declared she would rather -perish than make the attempt. There was no time to waste on words. She -was taken up and handed bodily to two men suspended by ropes over the -vessel's side. The boat rose on a wave, and the men stood ready to catch -her. At a shout from them, those who were holding the woman let go, but -in her fear she clung to the arm of one of the men. In another moment -she would have dropped into the sea had not a boatman caught hold of her -heel and pulled her into the boat. So one after another were taken off -the wreck, and soon the boat was filled. Just as the ropes were being -cast off, a man rushed up to the gangway and handed a bundle to one of -the sailors. Thinking that it was only a blanket which the man intended -for his wife in the boat, he shouted out, "Here, catch this!" and tossed -it to one of the men. Fortunately, he succeeded in catching it, and was -astonished to hear a baby cry. The next instant it was snatched from -his hand by the mother. - -At length the anchor was weighed, the sail hoisted, and the lifeboat -headed for the tug. A faint cheer was raised by the remaining -passengers, who watched her anxiously as she made her way, half buried -in spray, through the sea. As is often the case with those rescued from -shipwreck, the emigrants thought they were safer on the wreck than in -the lifeboat, and as the huge seas swept over them, they feared that -they had only been saved from death in one form to meet it in another. - -Soon, however, their hearts were gladdened by the sight of the tug's -lights shining over the water, and in a few minutes the boat was -alongside. Hastily, yet tenderly, the women were dragged on board the -tug. Every moment was precious for the sake of those left behind. One -woman wanted to get back to the boat to look for her child, but her -voice was drowned in the roar of the storm, and she was taken below. -Then, again, the bundle is tossed through the air and caught, and just -as it was about to be thrown into a corner, some one shouted, "That's a -baby!" It was carried down into the cabin and given to the mother. She -received her child with a great outburst of joy, and then fell fainting -on the floor. - -The lifeboat, having discharged her load, set forth again for the wreck. -All the former dangers had to be faced and all the former difficulties -overcome before the work of rescue could be resumed, but the gallant -fellows persevered and were successful. The boat was rapidly filled, -and again made for the steamer, to which the rescued people were -transferred without mishap. The third and last journey was attended -with equal good fortune. All were saved--families were reunited, and -friends clasped the hands of friends. Then the lifeboat went back to -remain by the wreck, for the captain thought that the ship might be got -off with the next high tide. - -The tug with her burden of rescued people started for Ramsgate just as -day was dawning. As she steamed slowly along, the look-out man noticed -a portion of a wreck to which several men were clinging. At once the tug -put about to bring the lifeboat to the scene. In a short time she -returned with the lifeboat in tow. Having been put in a proper position -for the wreck the tow rope was cast off, and the boat advanced to the -battle alone. From the position of the wreck the lifeboatmen saw that -the only way of rescuing the crew was by running straight into her. -This was a course attended with considerable danger, but it was the only -one, so the risk had to be taken. Straight in among the floating -wreckage dashed the lifeboat, a rope was made fast to the fore-rigging, -and the crew, sixteen in number, dropped one by one from the mast into -the boat. Then the sail was hoisted, and the lifeboat made for the -steamer, the deck of which was crowded with the lately-rescued -emigrants, who cheered till they were hoarse, and welcomed the rescued -men with outstretched arms. - -The poor fellows had a touching story to tell. For hours they had clung -to the mast, hearing the timbers cracking and smashing as the heavy sea -beat against the wreck, and fearing that they would be swept away every -minute. They had seen the steamer's lights as she passed them on her -errand of mercy the night before, and had shouted to attract the notice -of those on board, but the roar of the wind drowned their voices. When -they saw the steamer in the morning they were filled with new hope, and -made signals to attract her attention, but to their horror she turned -and went back. At first they thought that they were to be abandoned to -their fate, and then it dawned upon them that she had gone for the -lifeboat. This was, as we know, the case. Their vessel was named the -_Demerara_. - -There was a scene of great enthusiasm on Ramsgate pier, when the tug, -with the lifeboat in tow, entered the harbour with flags flying to tell -the glad news that all were saved; and as the one hundred and twenty -rescued men, women, and children were landed, cheer after cheer rent the -air. It is interesting to know that the _Fusilier_ was afterwards got -off the sands. - - - - - CHAPTER VII. - - THE "BRADFORD" TO THE RESCUE. - - -Of the many heartrending scenes which have taken place on our coasts, -there is perhaps none more calculated to move our sympathies for the -imperilled crews, and our admiration for the devotion and unconquerable -courage of our noble lifeboatmen, than the wreck of the _Indian Chief_, -which took place on the 5th of January 1881. The vessel stranded at -three o'clock in the morning, and the crew almost immediately took to -the rigging, where they remained for thirty hours exposed to the raging -elements, and in momentary expectation of death. During the night one -of the masts fell overboard, and sixteen unfortunate men, who had lashed -themselves to it, were drowned in sight of their comrades, who were -powerless to afford them any aid. - -Meanwhile, word had reached Ramsgate that a large ship had stranded on -the Goodwins. The tug _Vulcan_, with the lifeboat _Bradford_ in tow, -was accordingly sent out to render assistance. There was a strong -south-easterly gale blowing, and the sea was running very high. As the -boats left the harbour on their noble mission, volumes of water burst -over them, and the lifeboat was frequently hidden from the gaze of the -hundreds who thronged the pier to witness her departure. - -The wind was piercing, and, as one of the crew afterwards declared, it -was more like a flaying machine than a natural gale of wind; but it was -not until they had got clear of the North Foreland that they experienced -the full force of the tempest. The tug was only occasionally visible, -and it seemed a perfect miracle that she did not founder. The lifeboat -fared no better, for the heavy waves dashed into her as if they would -have knocked her bottom out. - -The short January day was now drawing rapidly to a close, and still the -wreck was not in sight. What was to be done? The question was a serious -one, and so the men began to talk the matter over. It was bitterly cold, -and if they remained where they were their sufferings would be great; -but then they would be on the spot to help their fellow-creatures as -soon as another day gave them sufficient light to see where they were. - -"We had better stop here and wait for daylight," said one. - -"I'm for stopping," said another. - -"We're here to fetch the wreck, and fetch it we will, if we wait a -week," shouted a third. - -Without a murmur of dissent or a moment's hesitation, the brave fellows -prepared to pass the night in the open boat. But first they had to -communicate with the tug. They hailed her, and when she came alongside -they informed the captain of their intention. "All right," he shouted -back, and then the steamer took up her position in front, keeping her -paddles slowly revolving, so that she should not drift. - -Throughout the night these gallant lifeboatmen lay huddled together for -warmth in the bottom of the boat. In such weather it required vigorous -exercise to keep the blood circulating, and before morning dawned -several of the men were groaning with the cold, and pressing themselves -against the thwarts to relieve the pain. But even these hardships were -borne without complaint, as they thought of the sufferings of the -shipwrecked crew, and jokes were not wanting to help to pass the time. - -"Charlie Fish," said one of the boatmen, speaking to the coxswain, "what -would some of them young gen'l'men as comes to Ramsgate in the summer, -and says they'd like to go out in the lifeboat, think of this?" A -general roar of laughter was the answer. - -At length the cold grey light of early dawn proclaimed the advent of a -new day. Keen eyes gazed anxiously towards the sands for a sight of the -wreck. At first nothing was visible but tall columns of whirling spray, -then after a time a mast was seen sticking up out of the water about -three miles off. The scene was enough to make the stoutest heart quail, -and the lifeboatmen held their breath as they looked at the water -rushing in tall columns of foam more than half-way up the mast. The -roar of the sea could be heard even above the whistling of the wind. - -The feeling of fear, however, seems to have no place in the heart of the -lifeboatman, and in a few minutes the _Bradford_ was cast loose from the -tug, her foresail was hoisted, and away she sped into the surf on her -errand of mercy, every man holding on to the thwarts for dear life. As -they approached nearer the vessel they could see a number of men dressed -in yellow oilskins lashed to the foretop. The sea was fearful, and the -poor fellows, who had long since abandoned all hope, were afraid that -the lifeboat would be unable to rescue them. Little did they know the -heroic natures of the crew of the _Bradford_. Sooner would every man -have gone down to a watery grave than abandon the wreck till all were -saved! - -The boat came to close quarters, and the anchor was thrown out. The -sailors unlashed themselves and scrambled down the rigging to the -shattered deck of their once noble ship. The boatmen shouted to them to -throw a line. This was done, a rope was passed from the lifeboat to the -wreck, and the work of rescue began. - -Where the mast had fallen overboard there was a horrible muddle of -wreckage and dead bodies. "Take in that poor fellow there," shouted the -coxswain, pointing to the body of the captain, which, still lashed to -the mizzenmast, with head stiff and fixed eyeballs, appeared to be -struggling in the water. The coxswain thought he was alive, and when -one of the sailors told him that the captain had been dead four hours, -the shock was almost too great to be borne. Little wonder is it that -these gallant fellows were haunted by that ghastly spectacle for many a -day, and it was no uncommon thing for them to start up from sleep, -thinking that these wide-open, sightless eyes were gazing upon them, and -the dumb lips were calling for help. - -The survivors were taken off the wreck with all speed, and the boat's -course was shaped for Ramsgate harbour. Outside the sands the tug was -in waiting, a rope was quickly passed on board, and away they steamed. -Meanwhile, news had come to Ramsgate that three lifeboats along the -coast had gone out and returned without being able to reach the wreck. -This naturally caused great anxiety in the town, and it was feared that -some accident had befallen the _Bradford_. From early morning on -Thursday, anxious wives and sisters were on the lookout on the pierhead. -About two o'clock the _Vulcan_ came in sight with the lifeboat astern. -Almost immediately the pier was thronged with a crowd numbering about -two thousand persons. At half-past two the tug steamed into the -harbour, having been absent upwards of twenty-six hours. - -"One by one," writes Clark Russell, "the survivors came along the pier, -the most dismal procession it was ever my lot to behold, eleven live but -scarcely living men, most of them clad in oilskins, and walking with -bowed backs, drooping heads, and nerveless arms. There was blood on the -faces of some, circled with a white encrustation of salt, and this same -salt filled the hollows of their eyes and streaked their hair with lines -which looked like snow. They were all saturated with brine; they were -soaked with sea-water to the very marrow of their bones. Shivering, and -with a stupefied rolling of the eyes, their teeth clenched, their -chilled fingers pressed into the palms of their hands, they passed out -of sight. I had often met men newly rescued from shipwreck, but never -remember having beheld more mental anguish and physical suffering than -was expressed in the countenances and movements of these eleven -sailors." - -[Illustration: SURVIVORS OF THE "INDIAN CHIEF."] - -They were taken to the Sailors' Home, and well cared for; the -lifeboatmen were escorted home to their families amid the cheers of the -spectators. Thus ended a splendid piece of service. "Nothing grander in -its way was ever done before, even by Englishmen." - -Five days later a most fitting and interesting ceremony took place on -the lawn in front of the coastguard station at Ramsgate, when the medals -and certificates of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution were awarded -to those who had taken part in the rescue. The coxswain of the -_Bradford_ received the gold medal, each of the crew of the lifeboat and -the captain of the tug received silver medals, the engineer was -presented with the second service clasp, and a certificate of thanks was -handed to each of the _Vulcan's_ crew. The Duke of Edinburgh, himself a -sailor, in distributing the honours, told the men that their heroic -conduct had awakened the greatest possible interest and pride throughout -England; and he declared his conviction that though they would prize the -rewards greatly, they would most value the recollection of having by -their pluck and determination saved so many lives. - - - - - CHAPTER VIII. - - THE LAST CHANCE. - - -Exactly ten years after the events narrated in the previous chapter had -taken place, the Ramsgate lifeboatmen were again conspicuous for their -gallantry in saving life under the most trying circumstances. About one -o'clock on the morning of the 6th of January 1891, the schooner -_Crocodile_, bound for London with a cargo of stone, ran ashore on the -Goodwins. Blinding snow squalls prevailed at the time, and the wind -blew with the force of a hurricane. Immediately the vessel struck, she -turned completely round and went broadside on to the sands. On -realising their position, the crew burnt flares, made by tearing up -their clothes and soaking the rags in oil, and attracted the attention -of those on board the Gull lightship, who immediately fired signal-guns -to summon the lifeboat. Scarcely, however, had the flare been burned -than the sailors were compelled by the high seas to take to the rigging. -Great waves swept the decks, carrying everything before them; even the -ship's boats were wrenched from the davits and whirled away as if they -had been toys. - -In answer to the guns the Ramsgate tug and lifeboat were manned and -steered in the direction of the flare. Huge seas broke over the -lifeboat and froze as they fell on the almost motionless figures of the -boatmen. The snow came down in pitiless showers, enveloping them in its -white mantle. In a short time the tug had towed the _Bradford_ to -windward of the vessel. Then the rope was thrown off, the sail was -hoisted, and the boat made for the wreck. She had not gone far before a -terrific snow squall overtook her. Fearing that they would be driven -past the vessel without seeing her, the coxswain ordered the anchor to -be thrown out. This was done, and the boat lay-to till the sudden fury -of the gale had spent itself. Then the anchor was hoisted in and all -sail made for the wreck. - -Again the anchor was let go, just to windward of her, and the lifeboat -was veered cautiously down. As they drew nearer, the men could see the -crouching figures of the sailors lashed to the rigging. They seemed -more dead than alive, and gazed upon the men who were risking their own -lives, to save them with the fixed stare of indifference or death. The -lifeboat ran in under the stern and was brought up alongside. The -grapnel was got out, and one of the men stood up, ready to throw it into -the rigging on the first favourable opportunity. Suddenly a mighty -billow swooped down upon them. The anchor cable--5 inches thick--was -snapped like a thread, and the boat was borne on the crest of the wave -far out of reach of the wreck. - -[Illustration: A LIFEBOAT GOING OUT.] - -As quickly as possible the sail was again set, and the trusty _Bradford_ -made for the tug, which was burning blue lights to show where she was. -After many attempts a rope was secured on board, and the _Aid_ steamed -to windward the second time with the lifeboat in tow. Once more she was -in a favourable position for the wreck, the rope was cast off, and the -sail hoisted. The second and last anchor was let go, and the cable was -slowly slackened. If they failed this time the men must perish. It was -a terribly anxious moment, but fortune favoured them, and the lifeboat -was successfully brought into her former position alongside. - -The hull of the _Crocodile_ was now entirely under water, and her deck -was washed by every wave. High up in the rigging, on the side opposite -to that on which the lifeboat lay, the crew were huddled. The only way -for them to reach the lifeboat was by climbing to the masthead and -coming down on the other side. This is a feat which requires no little -steadiness of hand and eye, and when we remember that these poor sailors -had been exposed for nearly five hours on this January night to the full -fury of a wintry storm, we shall be better able to appreciate the -terrors through which they passed before they found themselves safe in -the lifeboat. - -In obedience to the coxswain's order, they unlashed themselves and began -to crawl aloft. Every sea shook the vessel, and, as she settled again -on the sands, the masts bent almost double. Their progress was slow, -but before long they were in a position to be rescued. This was done -with great difficulty, for the heavy seas caused the lifeboat to strike -against the vessel several times with considerable violence, but her -cork fender protected her from injury. At length the whole crew of six -men were hauled safely on board. The captain alone remained to be -rescued. - -High up at the masthead he could be seen preparing to cross from the -opposite side. Benumbed by the cold and bewildered by the swaying of -the masts, he paused for a moment. The lifeboatmen shouted words of -encouragement to him, and he prepared to come on, but he missed his hold -and fell into the seething waves eddying round the wreck. As he fell his -lifebelt caught on something, and was torn off, and before the boatmen -could lay hold of him he was swept out of their sight for ever. - -The lifeboat was quickly got clear of the wreck, and proceeded under -sail to the tug, which was in waiting some distance off. Ramsgate was -reached about eight o'clock in the morning, where the rescued men were -supplied with dry clothing and food, of which they stood greatly in -need. - -There is a circumstance of peculiar interest connected with the wreck of -the _Crocodile_. Two days before she struck on the sands, her sister -ship, the _Kate_, also laden with stone, was stranded on the Goodwins. -On that occasion the lifeboat _Mary Somerville_ of Deal went out to -assist. The lifeboatmen were employed to throw the cargo overboard and -try to get the vessel afloat. This was successfully accomplished, and -on the morning of the day on which the _Crocodile_ was wrecked, her -sister ship was towed into Ramsgate harbour with her crew of nine men on -board. - - - - - CHAPTER IX. - - HARDLY SAVED. - - -The first duty of the crew of the lifeboat is to save life, but it -frequently happens that a stranded vessel is not so seriously damaged as -to hinder her being got afloat again. Under these circumstances the men -are at liberty to assist in saving the vessel if the captain is willing -to employ them. This is a very dangerous business, and often after long -hours of peril and labour the ship is dashed to pieces by the waves, and -the men are with difficulty rescued. A splendid example of the risk -attending this salvage service occurred several years ago on the Goodwin -Sands. - -In response to signals of distress the tug and lifeboat put out from -Ramsgate pier, and found a Portuguese ship on the sands. Her masts and -rigging were still standing, and there was every chance of her being -saved. The vessel had gone head on to the Goodwins, and the boatmen got -an anchor out from the stern as quickly as possible, with the intention -of working her off into deep water by the help of the tug; but this -attempt had soon to be abandoned. Shortly after midnight the gale -increased, and heavy seas began to roll over the sands. The ship, which -had all along lain comparatively still, was now dashed about by the -waves with terrific violence. The lifeboat remained alongside, and her -crew, knowing well that a storm on the Goodwins is not to be trifled -with, urged the sailors to come on board. The captain, however, refused -to leave his ship, so there was nothing for it but to wait until an -extra heavy sea should convince the captain that it was no longer -possible to save the vessel. - -This happened sooner than could have been expected, for almost the very -next instant a wave struck her and smashed several of her timbers. The -sailors now begged to be taken on board, and they were told to "Come on, -and hurry up." But first of all they had to get their belongings. -Though every moment was of consequence, the coxswain had not the heart -to forbid them bringing any articles on board, and eight chests were -lowered into the lifeboat. Then one by one the crew abandoned the -vessel. - -All danger was not yet over. The seas dashed over the ship into the -lifeboat, blinding and drenching the men, and rendering still more -difficult their task of keeping the boat from being crushed under the -side of the vessel. Haul at the cable as they would, they were unable -to get her out of the basin which the brig had made for herself in the -sand. To add to the horror of their position, the wreck threatened to -fall over on the top of them every moment. - -There was only one way of escape--to wait until the tide rose -sufficiently to float them off, but the chances were that when the tide -rose it would be too late to save them. They would then have ceased to -struggle or to suffer, and the battered remains of their trusty boat -would tell those at home what had become of them. Crouching down as low -as possible to avoid being struck by the swaying yards and fluttering -canvas, the men waited for deliverance--or would it be death? - -At length the tide reached her, and the boatmen redoubled their efforts -to haul their little vessel away from the ship. Slowly, very slowly, -she drew away from that terrible black hull and those swaying yards. But -now a new and unforeseen difficulty presented itself. In the face of -the wind and tide it was impossible for them to get away from the sands, -so in spite of their exhaustion and the black darkness of the night, -they determined to beat right across the sands. They hauled hard on the -cable again, but the anchor began to drag, and they were drifting back -again to the wreck. - -"Up foresail!" shouted the coxswain, at the same time giving orders to -cut away the anchor. The boat bounded forward for a few yards and then -struck on the sands again fearfully near to the wreck. Wave after wave -dashed into the boat and nearly washed the wearied men overboard, but -they held on like bulldogs. Three times she was driven back to the -wreck, and again and again she grounded on the sands. - -One of the crew, an old man upwards of fifty years of age, thus -described his feelings. - -"Perhaps my friends were right when they said I hadn't ought to have -gone out, but, you see, when there is life to be saved, it makes a man -feel young again; and I've always felt I had a call to save life when I -could, and I wasn't going to hang back then. I stood it better than some -of them, after all; but when we got to beating and grubbing over the -sands, swinging round and round, and grounding every few yards with a -jerk, that almost tore our arms out from the sockets; no sooner washed -off one ridge, and beginning to hope that the boat was clear, than she -thumped upon another harder than ever, and all the time the wash of the -surf nearly carrying us out of the boat--it was truly almost too much -for any man to stand. I cannot describe it, nor can anyone else; but -when you say that you've beat and thumped over these sands, almost yard -by yard, in a fearful storm on a winter's night, and live to tell the -tale, why it seems to me about the next thing to saying that you've been -dead and brought to life again." - -At length deep water was reached, and their dangers were over. Quickly -more sail was hoisted, and the boat headed for the welcome shelter of -Ramsgate pier. All were in good spirits now, even the Portuguese -sailors who had lost nearly everything they possessed. On the way home -the lifeboatmen noticed that they seemed to be discussing something -among themselves. Presently one of them presented the coxswain with all -the money they could scrape together, amounting to about L17, to be -divided among the crew. "We don't want your money," shouted the hardy -fellows, and with many shakings of the head they returned the generous -gift. The harbour was soon afterwards reached, where they were landed -overjoyed at their miraculous escape, and by every means in their power -endeavouring to show the gratitude they felt but could not speak. - - - - - CHAPTER X. - - A WRESTLE WITH DEATH. - - -One bleak December night, a few years ago, word was brought to Ramsgate -that a large vessel had gone ashore on the Goodwin Sands. Immediately -on receiving the message, the harbour-master ordered the steam tug _Aid_ -to tow the lifeboat to the scene of the disaster. The alarm bell was -rung, the crew scrambled into their places, a stout hawser was passed on -board the tug, and away they went into the pitchy darkness. - -The storm was at its height, and "the billows frothed like yeast" under -the lash of the furious wind. Hardly had the lifeboat left the shelter -of the breakwater than a huge wave burst over her, drenching the men to -the skin, in spite of their waterproofs and cork jackets, and almost -sweeping some of them overboard. At one moment they were tossed -upwards, as it seemed to the sky; at another they dropped down into a -valley of water with huge green walls on either side. Again and again -the spray dashed over them in blinding showers, but no one thought of -turning back. - -Bravely the stout little tug battled with the waves, and slowly but -surely made headway against the storm, dragging the lifeboat after her. -As they neared the probable position of the wreck, the men eagerly -strained their eyes to gain a sight of the object of their search, but -nothing met their gaze save the white waters foaming on the fatal sands. -Suddenly, through the flying spray, loomed the hull of a large ship, -with the breakers dashing over the bows. Not a single figure was -visible in the rigging, and on that desolate, wave-swept deck no mortal -man could keep his footing for five seconds. - -"All must have perished!" Such was the painful conclusion arrived at by -the lifeboatmen as they approached the stranded vessel, but it would -never do for them to return and say that they _thought_ all the crew had -been swept away; they must go and find out for certain. The tow rope -was accordingly thrown off, the sail was hoisted, and the lifeboat -darted among the breakers. Suddenly one of the lifeboatmen uttered a -cry, and on looking in the direction of his outstretched arm, his -companions saw four figures crouching under the lee of one of the -deck-houses. The anchor was immediately let go, and the lifeboat was -brought up under the stern of the wreck. - -To the astonishment of the boatmen the sailors had as yet hardly noticed -their presence. They seemed to be deeply absorbed in making something, -but what it was could not be seen. Presently one of the men rose up, -and coming to the stern of the vessel threw a lifebuoy attached to a -long line into the sea. It was afterwards learnt that, from the time -their vessel struck, these poor fellows had busied themselves in -preparing this buoy to throw to their rescuers when they should arrive. - -Borne by the wind and tide the lifebuoy reached the boat, and was at -once seized and hauled on board. An endeavour was then made to pull the -lifeboat nearer the wreck, but the strength of the men was of no avail -against that of the tempest. Great seas came thundering over the wreck -and nearly swamped the boat. Several men were shaken from their places, -but fortunately none of them were washed overboard. They redoubled their -efforts after each repulse, but with no better fortune. - -Seeing that the lifeboat could not come to him, the captain of the -doomed vessel determined to go to her. Choosing a favourable moment, he -abandoned the shelter of the deck-house, threw off his coat, seized hold -of the line, and jumped into the sea. The waves tossed him hither and -thither as they would a cork, but he held on like grim death. At one -moment he hung suspended in mid air; at another he was engulfed by the -raging waters. The lifeboatmen, powerless to render any assistance, -watched the unequal contest with bated breath. Bravely the captain -struggled on, and gradually reduced the distance between himself and the -hands stretched out ready to save him. Suddenly a tremendous wave broke -over the wreck, and when it passed the men saw that he had been swept -from the rope. - -With all the might of his strong arm the coxwain hurled a lifebuoy -towards the drowning man. Fortunately it reached him, and with feelings -of inexpressible relief the men saw him slip his shoulders through the -buoy as he rose on the crest of a breaker. "All right," he shouted, as -he waved his hand and vanished in the darkness. - -Suddenly a terrific crash reminded the lifeboatmen that there were still -two men and a boy on the wreck. Turning round they saw that the mainmast -had given way and gone crashing overboard. Startled by the suddenness -of the shock the survivors supposed that the end had come, and with a -blood-curdling scream of despair they rushed to the side of the vessel -imploring aid. The chief mate sprang into the water and endeavoured to -swim to the lifeboat. The men again laid hold of the rope and tugged -with might and main to get nearer the wreck, but the storm mocked their -efforts. Then they tried to throw him a line, but it fell short. Again -and again they tried, but in vain. The mate battled bravely for life, -and as he was a powerful man, all thought that he would succeed, but he -was weakened by exposure and want of food, and his strength was rapidly -failing. The lifeboatmen exerted themselves to the utmost to reach him, -pulling at the rope till every vein in their bodies stood out like -whipcord. Not an inch could they move the boat. The man's agonising -cries for help nearly drove them mad, but they could do no more. His -fate was only a matter of time, and in a few moments he sank into his -watery grave, with one long shriek for help. - -There were still a man and a boy on the wreck. With heavy hearts, and a -dimness about the eyes that was not caused by the flying spray, the -lifeboatmen once more vainly attempted to get nearer the wreck. -Following the captain's example, the man seized the rope and jumped into -the water. Fortune favoured him, and though he was tossed about in a -frightful manner he succeeded in pulling himself right under the bows of -the lifeboat. Then his strength failed, and he would have been -instantly swept away and drowned, had not one of the lifeboatmen flung -himself half-way over the bow of the boat and caught the perishing -sailor by the collar. Stretched on the sloping foredeck of the boat he -could not get sufficient purchase to drag the man on board, and indeed -he felt himself slowly slipping into the sea. - -"Hold me! hold me!" he cried, and several of his companions at once -seized him by the legs. The weight of the man had drawn him over till -his face almost touched the sea, and each successive wave threatened to -suffocate him. To add to the horror of the situation, a large quantity -of wreckage was seen drifting right down upon the bow of the boat -towards the spot where the men were struggling. If it touched them it -meant death. For a moment it seemed endued with life, and paused as if -to consider its course, then just at the last minute it spun round and -was borne harmlessly past. - -The crew now made a desperate attempt to haul the two men on board. -Finding that the height of the bow prevented their success, they dragged -them along the side of the boat to the waist, and pulled them in wet and -exhausted. - -The boy alone remained on the wreck, which was now fast breaking up. -How to help him was a question not easily answered, for with all their -pulling they could not approach nearer the vessel. Suddenly the -difficulty was solved for them in a most unexpected manner. A -tremendous sea struck the vessel and swept along the deck. When the -spray cleared away the boy was nowhere to be seen. Anxiously every eye -watched the water, and presently a black object was seen drifting -towards the boat. "There's the boy!" shouted the men in chorus. Slowly, -very slowly, as it seemed to them, he drifted nearer and nearer. At -length he came within reach of a boat-hook, and was lifted gently on -board--unconscious, but still alive. After the usual restoratives had -been applied, he revived. - -[Illustration: SAVING THE CAPTAIN.] - -Nothing more could be done at the wreck now, so the sail was hoisted and -the boat's head turned towards the harbour. But their work of saving -life was not yet done. As they sped along before the blast a dark -object was seen tossing up and down upon the waves. They steered the -boat towards it, and to their astonishment found the captain with the -lifebuoy round him, still battling for life. He was hauled on board in -an utterly exhausted condition. Before reaching the shore he revived, -and told the men that his vessel was the _Providentia_, a Finland ship, -and that he himself was a Russian Finn. The men were landed at Ramsgate -in safety. A few days later, news came from Boulogne that the remainder -of the crew, who had left the wreck in a boat, had been blown across the -Channel and landed on the French coast. - - - - - CHAPTER XI. - - A DOUBLE RESCUE. - - -Clang! clash! roar! rings out the bell at the lifeboat-house, its iron -voice heard even above the thunder of the surf and the whistling wind, -warning the sleeping inhabitants of Deal that a vessel has gone ashore -on the Goodwins. A ray of light gleams across the dark street as a door -opens and a tall figure rushes out--it is that of a lifeboatman. -Presently he is joined by others, and all hurry on as fast as possible, -in the face of the furious wind, to reach the boathouse. Each man -buckles on his lifebelt, and takes his place in the lifeboat. Those who -have failed to get a place help to run it down to the white line of -surf, over the well-greased boards laid down on the shingle. The -coxswain stands up in the stern with the rudder lines in his hands, -watching for a favourable moment to launch. The time has come, the -order is given, and away dashes the lifeboat on her glorious errand. - -Onward she plunged under close-reefed sail in the direction of the -flares, which the shipwrecked men were burning to tell the rescuers of -their whereabouts. Suddenly the light went out and was seen no more. A -shriek echoed over the waves, but none could say whether it was that of -"some strong swimmer in his agony," or only the voice of the wind. The -lifeboatmen looked around them on every side, but they could see -nothing; they listened, and heard nothing; they shouted, but no answer -came back. "A minute more and we would have had them," says the -coxswain. "Hard lines for all to perish when help was so near." - -Suddenly, through the darkness, the light of another flare was seen. -The boat was at once brought round and headed for the newly-discovered -wreck. It was now midnight, and the sea was like a boiling cauldron, -but the fine seamanship of the crew was a match for the storm. Many an -anxious glance was cast in the direction of the flare, and a fervent -hope was in every heart that this time they would not be too late. - -"Hullo! what's that?" exclaimed the lifeboatmen together, as a dark -object rose in the sea between them and the flare. Another wreck! And -sure enough there lay the dismasted hull of a large ship tossing -helplessly about from side to side, with the waves dashing over her in -spiteful fury. "Let us save the poor fellows," said the lifeboatmen. -The anchor was let go, and the boat veered down to the stern of the -wreck. Then began the tug of war. "What pen can describe the turmoil, -the danger, and the appalling grandeur of the scene, how black as -Erebus, and again illumined by a blaze of lightning? And what pen can do -justice to the stubborn courage that persevered in the work of rescue, -in spite of the difficulties which at each step sprang up?" - -The shipwrecked crew were Frenchmen, and all efforts to make them -understand what was wanted of them were in vain. As they crawled along -the deck to the stern of the vessel they presented a most pitiable -sight, and when the lifeboatmen shouted to them to "come on and take our -line," they paid no attention. Suffering and exposure seemed to have -deprived them of their mental faculties. Time after time a line was -thrown to them, but they allowed it to slip back into the sea, without -attempting to lay hold of it. Then the boatmen saw that if these men -were to be rescued, it would be by their own unaided exertions. - -How the rescue was to be effected was quite another matter, but there is -never a difficulty which cannot be overcome by persistence and courage. -So thought the lifeboatmen, as their boat was tossed about in that swirl -of angry waters. At one minute she was swept right away from the wreck, -while at another she was driven onwards and lifted upwards by a wave, -till her keel touched the deck of the half-sunk vessel, from which she -withdrew with a horrible grating sound. How she came through the -terrible ordeal of being thrown up on the wreck time after time was a -marvel, and is a splendid proof of the strength of the lifeboat. - -All this time the Frenchmen stood at the stern of the ship eager for -deliverance, but unable through fear to take any measures to accomplish -it. Time was precious. Delay might mean death to those on the other -vessel, so one of the lifeboatmen, named Roberts, hit upon a desperate -plan for getting the crew off. Cautiously he crawled forward and took -up his position on the fore air-box of the lifeboat. Now this air-box -has a rounded roof, and therefore the task that Roberts set himself was -one of no little difficulty, and to carry it out successfully required -no ordinary amount of nerve. - -Held by the strong arms of his companions he waited till the boat was -carried towards the vessel, then he shouted to the sailors' to "come -on!" At last they understood, and one after another they sprang into -the arms stretched out to save them. Five men were taken off in this -way, and as that seemed to be all that were on board, the anchor was -hoisted in, the sail was set, and the lifeboat made for the other wreck, -which was still showing signals of distress. So convulsive had been the -grip of these five men, that Roberts' arm and chest were black and blue, -and those marks of their desperation and his bravery the gallant boatman -carried about with him for many a day. - -It was now four o'clock in the morning, the men were ready to drop from -fatigue, and the boat was seen to be much lower in the water than usual, -even though she had five extra men on board. But "courage mounteth with -occasion," and they forgot their weariness and the danger in the -prospect of saving fellow-creatures from the watery grave which yawned -around them. - -At length the wreck was reached, and proved to be that of a Swedish -vessel. The anchor was let go, and the lifeboat veered down as close as -was prudent. Fortunately there was an English pilot on board, who knew -exactly what the lifeboatmen wanted. Under his directions lines were -passed from the wreck, and the crew were speedily taken on board the -boat. The captain had his wife with him, and it was with the utmost -difficulty that she could be persuaded to enter into the lifeboat, -which, owing to the battering it had received at the French wreck, was -almost full of water. The entreaties of her husband and the boatmen at -last prevailed, and she was taken on board. Then the captain followed. - -No time was now lost in weighing the anchor and setting sail for home. -Slowly the lifeboat made headway against the storm, as if she was -wearied and fain would rest. Just as the wintry sun glinted across the -sea, the keel grated on the beach at Deal. Out sprang the lifeboatmen -and dragged her into shallow water, with her burden of five Frenchmen -and twelve Swedes, who were heartily welcomed, and taken where warmth -and comfort awaited them. - -On examination it was found that there was a hole in the bow of the boat -into which a man could creep, and both her fore and aft air-boxes were -full of water. Had it not been that she had still a good supply of -buoyancy from the air-chambers ranged along the sides, our story would -have had a far from pleasant ending. Though the boatmen had succeeded -in saving seventeen lives, they were sadly disappointed that the ship to -whose assistance they were summoned, had gone down so suddenly. It was -not, however, any fault of theirs, for no time had been wasted in going -to the rescue. - - - - - CHAPTER XII. - - DEAL MEN TO THE RESCUE. - - -About ten o'clock on the night of the 11th of February 1894, signals of -distress were observed from the Gull lighthouse by the look-out on -Ramsgate pier. In response the lifeboat _Bradford_ was manned; but on -this occasion she was found to be hard and fast on a sandbank in the -harbour. The boatmen and those on the pier exerted themselves to the -utmost to get her off, but it was not till eleven o'clock that she was -able to proceed to sea, in tow of the tug _Aid_. She was then too late -to render any assistance. - -In the meantime the signals from the lightship had been seen at Deal, a -few miles farther south. The boathouse bell was rung, there was a -fierce rush of men for the cork lifebelts hanging round the walls, and -ten minutes later the lifeboat _Mary Somerville_ was manned and -launched. Away she flew before the heavy south-westerly gale, with -Roberts, the coxswain, at the helm, and was soon lost to sight in the -darkness. The vessel in peril was the _Franz von Matheis_, a German -schooner, bound from Sunderland to Portsmouth with a cargo of coal. She -kept burning flares till the lifeboat got alongside. Then the men found -that she was dragging her anchors and heading rapidly towards the -Goodwins. - -With great difficulty the _Mary Somerville_ shot under the lea of the -vessel, and several of her crew jumped on board the ship, which had -become unmanageable, owing to the stress of weather. The presence of -the lifeboatmen put fresh strength into the exhausted muscles of the -crew, and all worked together with a will in the hope of saving the -vessel; but it was found impossible for lifeboatmen or crew to move -about on the schooner without sustaining injury. One of the men was -thrown to the deck by a terrific lurch, and had his head cut open, and -every moment increased the peril. The captain therefore decided to -abandon the vessel, and he, with the crew of six, were taken into the -lifeboat. - -Even then the danger was not over. The terrific sea and wind caused the -vessel to roll tremendously. One of her yards caught the mizzenmast of -the boat, and broke the fastening which kept it in its place. Down fell -the mast, striking the second coxswain on the head, and knocking him -insensible to the bottom of the boat. For close upon an hour the -gallant fellows battled with the tempest, straining every nerve to get -clear. It indeed seemed as if they and the men they had with them would -never again return to shore. Each wave drove the boat against the side -of the vessel with a horrible, grinding crash. The steering-yoke was -broken, and the boat-hook was snapped in two, "as you would the stem of -a clay-pipe between your fingers." In trying to ward off the vessel -four oars were smashed, and then the men found that their boat was being -held down under the ship's broadside. While in this position, the -tiller, which had taken the place of the steering-yoke, was sprung, a -dozen or more of her stout mahogany planks were started, and her cork -fender was torn to pieces. - -At last they cleared the vessel, and as it was impossible, owing to the -fury of the gale, to return to Deal, they made all sail for Ramsgate -harbour. Here they landed the rescued men at a quarter-past one in the -morning. During the day the _Mary Somerville_ was taken back to Deal. -No more vivid picture of the perils through which the lifeboatmen passed -could be desired than that of the bruised and battered lifeboat, as she -lay high and dry in the boathouse that afternoon. The _Franz von -Matheis_ seems afterwards to have got a firm hold, for she remained -riding at anchor very close to the sands. At daybreak next morning a -tug was seen endeavouring to take the abandoned ship in tow, and about -four o'clock in the afternoon she was brought into Ramsgate harbour. - - - - - CHAPTER XIII. - - THE WRECK OF THE "BENVENUE." - - -The ship _Benvenue_ of Glasgow was being towed through the Straits of -Dover on Nov. 11th, 1891, when a terrible gale sprang up. Arriving off -Sandgate, the vessel became quite unmanageable, and it was decided to -lie-to and wait until the fury of the storm had passed. Two anchors -were accordingly let go, but these, even with the assistance of the tug, -were not powerful enough to hold her. Nearer and nearer to the shore -she drifted. Then with a tremendous lurch she struck and began to -settle down. Fifteen minutes later she foundered. - -The crew were ordered to go aloft as quickly as they could, for in the -rigging lay their only chance of safety. The men promptly obeyed, and -secured themselves with lashings; some of them got into the topsail -yards, and fastened themselves in the sails. A rocket was sent up before -the ship went down, to tell those on shore that help was needed, and -soon an answering streak of flame shot across the sky. Though they were -in such a perilous position, the men were not at all excited, but -watched with eager eyes the movements of the people on the beach. - -The day wore on, and still no help arrived. Several of the crew -unlashed themselves and came down from the rigging, with the intention -of swimming ashore. Such an attempt was useless in the terrific sea that -was running, but they all had lifebelts on, and were determined to -overcome the danger. Bravely they battled for life amid the seething -waters, but it was in vain. One poor fellow was seen swimming about -with blood trickling down his face. He must have been dashed against -the ship's rail. A mighty wave came thundering down, for a moment he -was visible upon its foamy crest, and then he disappeared for ever. -Another man succeeded in getting half-way to the shore, when he was seen -to throw up his arms, and the waters closed over him. All who made the -attempt shared a similar fate. - -[Illustration: A PERILOUS REFUGE.] - -The sea was now close up to the mizzentop where the survivors were -standing, and every moment they expected that the mast would go by the -board. With the setting of the sun the hope of being rescued, which had -buoyed them up throughout the weary hours of that long day, died out, -and their spirits sank to the depths of despair. They were almost -perished with cold and faint with hunger, and as no help came they gave -themselves up for lost. - -What were the lifeboatmen doing all this time? Surely they were not -going to let fellow-creatures perish without an effort to save them? -No! Early that morning the lifeboat had put off from Sandgate to the -assistance of the _Benvenue_, but such terrific seas were encountered -that she was driven back to the shore. As it was considered impossible -to launch again at Sandgate, the boat was put on the carriage and -conveyed to Hythe. - -At half-past nine she was launched, manned by a crew of twenty men. The -sea was, however, heavier than that experienced at Sandgate, and before -the boat could get clear of the surf, she was struck by a heavy wave and -capsized. The whole of her crew with the exception of three men, were -thrown into the water. Nineteen of them managed to reach the land, but -the other poor fellow lost his life in the raging breakers. The boat -was then brought ashore and replaced on the carriage. Though repulsed, -the lifeboatmen were not beaten, and they remained by their boat all -day, ready to launch on the first favourable opportunity. It was not, -however, until half-past nine at night, exactly twelve hours since the -second attempt had been made, that their patience was rewarded. Then, -as the sea had considerably moderated, it was decided to make another -attempt to rescue the shipwrecked crew. - -With the utmost difficulty the boat was got off, and for a time failure -seemed certain. The gallant lifeboatmen persevered, and, bending to the -oars with all the strength of their muscular arms, won the victory. The -ship was reached, and the twenty-seven survivors, out of the crew of -thirty-two men, were taken into the lifeboat. They had watched with -eager eyes the almost superhuman efforts that were being made on their -behalf, and when they found themselves safe on board, the pent-up -feelings of many found vent in tears. - -The scene on the landing of the lifeboat at Folkestone baffles -description. Thousands of people had assembled at the harbour, and as -soon as the boat appeared, cheer after cheer was raised, and rescuers -and rescued were quickly brought ashore. The former received the hearty -congratulations of everyone. The latter appeared too exhausted to bear -the excitement of the moment, so they were at once conducted to a place -where they received the care they needed after their exposure to the -wind and waves. - -Next morning the crew wrote a letter of thanks to all who had taken part -in their rescue, in the following terms, touching in their simplicity,-- - -"We desire to tender our heartfelt gratitude for the way in which we -have been rescued and cared for by the crew of the lifeboat, and the -others who assisted in our rescue." - -At noon a special service of thanksgiving was held in the parish church, -Folkestone, and as the men bad lost all their belongings, a collection -was made on their behalf. - - - - - CHAPTER XIV. - - THE STRANDING OF THE "EIDER." - - -On the night of Sunday the 31st of January 1892, the North-German Lloyd -liner _Eider_, bound from New York to Southampton, stranded on a reef of -rocks off the Isle of Wight. A dense fog prevailed at the time, and a -very rough sea was running. Signal rockets were immediately sent up, -and about eleven o'clock the Atherfield lifeboat proceeded to her -assistance. There was no immediate danger to the passengers and crew, -so the captain decided to telegraph for steam tugs. The telegrams were -accordingly handed into the lifeboat, and she returned to the shore to -send them off. - -At daylight next morning signals were made by the _Eider_, and the -lifeboat again went out, and found that the captain wished to land some -of the mails, and they were therefore brought ashore. Meanwhile news of -the stranding of the steamer had been sent to the lifeboat stations at -Brighstone Grange and Brooke, and these lifeboats at once put off and -made for the scene of the disaster with all speed. The captain of the -_Eider_ then decided that it would be best to land the passengers, and -during the day the lifeboats made altogether eighteen trips to the ship, -and safely landed two hundred and thirty-three passengers, besides -specie and mails. Darkness, however, came on and put an end to the -work. - -The next day eleven journeys were performed by the lifeboats, and one -hundred and forty-six people were brought to land without accident. -During Wednesday and Thursday the boats were engaged in bringing ashore -bars of silver, specie, the ship's plate, and passengers' luggage. -Forty-one journeys in all were made by the gallant lifeboatmen, who -worked hard and nobly, and rescued three hundred and seventy-nine -persons. The captain and several of the crew remained on board, and the -vessel was eventually towed off the rocks and safely berthed in -Southampton docks. - -In recognition of the devotion to duty and self-sacrifice shown by the -lifeboatmen in the work of rescue, the Emperor of Germany presented each -of the coxswains of the three lifeboats with a gold watch bearing His -Majesty's portrait and initials. The institution also awarded the -second-service clasp to the coxswain of the Atherfield lifeboat, the -silver medal to the coxswain of the Brighstone Grange lifeboat, and the -third-service clasp to the coxswain of the Brooke lifeboat. - -We reproduce the following poem on the stranding of the _Eider_, by -special permission, from _The Star_:-- - - The _Eider_ rode on the open sea - With her safety in God's own hand - For a thousand miles--ay, two, and three, - With never a sight of land. - - A shell of steel on the world of waves - That severs the hemispheres, - That covers the depths of a thousand graves - And the wrecks of a hundred years. - - She bore, unhurt, through the storm-god's din, - Through shower, and shade, and sheen, - With the death without and her lives within, - And her inch of steel between. - - From the port behind, to the port beyond, - With never a help or guide, - Save the needle's point and the chart he conned, - The master has fought the tide. - - On the bridge, in the Sunday twilight dim, - He has taken his watchful stand; - And he hears the sound of a German hymn, - And the boom of a brazen band. - - He looks for the lights of the royal isle, - Ahead, to left, and to right; - Below there is music and mirthful smile, - For land must be soon in sight. - - In sight? Not yet! for a fog creeps round - And the night is doubly dark. - "Slow speed! Hush! is it the fog-bell's sound, - Or the shriek of the siren? Hark!" - - The fog-bell clangs from its seaward tower, - And the siren shrills in fear; - But the vapours thicken from hour to hour, - And the master cannot hear! - - On the seaward headland, the beacon's blaze - Like a midday sun would seem, - But its warning rays are lost in the haze, - And the master sees no gleam! - - "How goes the line? There is time to save!" - "It is ten fathom deep by the log." - "We have not tarried for wind or wave, - We cannot wait for the fog." - - On, on! through the dark of a double night; - On, on--to the lurking rock! - No sound, no gleam of a saving light - Till the _Eider_ leaps to the shock. - - All night she bides where the sea death hides, - And her passengers crowd her deck; - While the leaping tides laugh over her sides - And sink from the stranded wreck. - - The _Eider_ has gold, she has human lives; - But these can assist no more. - Pray, pray, ye German children and wives, - For help from the English shore! - - A signal is sent, and a signal is seen, - And a lifeboat--ay, two, and three, - From the shore to the vessel their crews row between, - And fight with the stormy sea. - - They fight day and night, as true Englishmen can, - 'Mid the roar of the storm-lash'd waves; - And the _Eider's_ four hundred are saved to a man - From the terror of sea-bed graves. - - The _Eider_ bides, all broken and bent; - With the tide she shivers and starts, - And stands--for a time--as a monument - Of the courage of English hearts. - - But longer lasting, the memoried grace - Of a noble deed and grand - Will knit the hearts of the English race - To the hearts of the Fatherland! - - - - - CHAPTER XV. - - THE WRECK OF THE "NORTHERN BELLE." - - -During a dreadful storm which swept over the British Isles several years -ago, the American ship _Northern Belle_, from New York to London, came -to anchor off Kingsgate, near Broadstairs, about a mile from the shore. -The sea made great breaches over her, and, in order to lighten the -vessel and help her to ride out the storm, the crew cut away two of the -masts. With the flood-tide, however, the gale increased, and it was -feared that the vessel would drag her anchors and come ashore. A -swift-footed messenger was accordingly despatched to summon the -Broadstairs lifeboat. - -Without delay the crew were mustered, and the boat, on her carriage, was -dragged overland to Kingsgate, a distance of two miles. It was nine -o'clock when the _Mary White_ arrived, and by that time the cliffs were -lined with crowds of people. Shortly afterwards two luggers were seen -bearing down upon the unfortunate vessel. One of these crafts, when -trying to take out one of the ship's anchors, was overwhelmed by a heavy -sea, and sank. Not one of her crew of nine men were ever seen again. -The other was more successful, and five of her crew managed to get on -board the _Northern Belle_. Every moment the multitude of spectators -expected to see the vessel run ashore and be dashed to pieces on the -rocks at the foot of the cliff; but as the day wore on and the anchors -still held, it was thought that she would yet be safe. Heedless of the -heavy snow and bitter cold, the people watched her till darkness came on -and shut out the vessel from their gaze. - -[Illustration: THEY BENT THEIR BACKS TO THE OARS.] - -About midnight, the long-expected catastrophe took place, the cable -broke and the vessel was driven on the rocks. In the storm and darkness -it would have been worse than useless to launch the lifeboat, so the men -were reluctantly compelled to put off the rescue till a new day should -give them sufficient light to see what they were doing. Next morning, -about seven o'clock, the remains of the ill-fated ship could be seen, -and lashed to the only remaining mast were the figures of twenty-three -perishing sailors. What they must have suffered in the cold and -darkness of that terrible night may be imagined, but it cannot be -described. - -The lifeboat was dragged down to the water's edge, and the crew got into -their places. The coxswain stood up in the stern, grasping the yoke -lines, and watching for a favourable moment to put off. The faces of -the men were grave, for they knew the terrific struggle that was before -them, and, with such a high sea running, who knew if they would come -back again? The coxswain gave the word, and the boat was pushed off -into the raging surf. The boatmen bent their backs and made headway in -spite of the storm. Over and over again they were lost to sight, and -those on shore were filled with fear for their safety, but the good boat -breasted each wave gallantly, and quickly drew near to the wreck. - -Great difficulty was experienced in getting alongside, and in the -struggle the bow of the lifeboat was badly damaged, but at last the boat -was made fast. The poor sailors were so benumbed by their long exposure -to cold that they were almost helpless, and this made the task of the -boatmen still more difficult. At length, after tremendous exertions, -they succeeded in taking off seven of the crew. On account of the -broken condition of the boat and the high sea, it was not judged prudent -to take more, so she was cut adrift from the wreck and returned to the -shore with her precious burden. - -Fearing that an accident might happen to the _Mary White_ and disable -her for further service, a second lifeboat had been brought over from -Broadstairs. She was now launched, and made for the wreck, from which -she shortly afterwards returned with fourteen men. Only two sailors now -remained on board, the aged captain and the pilot. The former -stubbornly refused to leave his ship, declaring that he would rather be -drowned; and the latter said that he was not going to leave the old man -to perish by himself. - -The coxswain allowed two hours to pass, expecting that the captain would -change his mind and signal for them to come and take him off; but when -he showed no signs of yielding, he called the men together and launched -the lifeboat. After a stiff pull they reached the wreck, and tried to -persuade the captain to save himself, but he remained obstinate. Then -the men declared that they would remain by the wreck as long as she held -together, even if they waited a week. The coxswain pointed out to the -captain that he was not only throwing his own life away for no good -reason, but that he was also endangering the lives of those in the boat, -and he told him that it was his duty to save himself. At length he was -persuaded of the folly of his action, and came down from the rigging. -The pilot, whose chivalrous feelings alone had kept him in this perilous -position, also gladly entered the saving boat. - -Great were the rejoicings on the beach when it became known that the -whole crew had now been rescued. The shipwrecked men were taken to a -house near at hand, but they were so exhausted that they were unable to -eat. - -Shortly afterwards three horses were harnessed to the transporting -carriage of the _Mary White_, and she was taken back to Broadstairs. As -she approached the town, the people came out to meet her, and with -cheers loud and long welcomed the heroes home. - -An eye-witness of the rescue says: "The lifeboatmen were not labouring -under any species of excitement when they engaged in the perilous duty, -which they performed so nobly and so well. Under the impression that -these men would never return,--the impression of all who witnessed their -departure from the shore,--I watched their countenances closely. There -was nothing approaching bravado in their looks, nothing to give a -spectator any idea that they were about to engage in a matter of life or -death, to themselves and the crew of the ship clinging to the -fore-rigging of the _Northern Belle_. They had no hope of a decoration -or of a pecuniary reward when, with a coolness of manner and a calmness -of mind which contrasted strongly with the energy of their movements, -they bounded into the lifeboat to storm batteries of billows far more -appalling to the human mind than batteries surmounted by cannon and -bristling with bayonets. There could be no question about the heroism -of these men." - - - - - CHAPTER XVI. - - A GALLANT RESCUE. - - -Shortly after daybreak, on the 4th January 1894, the lookout on the pier -at Clacton-on-Sea saw a vessel strike on the Buxey Sand, about six miles -from the shore. Without a moment's delay the warning was given, the -lifeboat, _Albert Edward_, was manned and launched. There was need of -the utmost speed. A strong easterly gale was raging at the time, -accompanied by a nipping frost and blinding snowstorm. Owing to the -extreme cold, it was feared that the shipwrecked crew would be unable to -hold on till help arrived. - -When the lifeboat reached the distressed vessel, it was found to be -impossible to get alongside, so the coxswain ordered the anchor to be -let go to windward. This was done, and the boat veered down to the full -length of her cable. The waves continually broke over the vessel, and -caused her to bump upon the sand in a frightful manner, thus preventing -the lifeboat from approaching her. Under these circumstances, the -boatmen decided to haul in the cable, and to drop the anchor nearer the -vessel. This was a work of no little difficulty, and was rendered on -this occasion highly dangerous by the anchor having fouled something on -the sand. They tugged and strained for some time, but all to no -purpose, and they were at last compelled to cut the rope. The sail was -then set, and the lifeboat proceeded to the leeside of the ship. - -There everything was in a terrible muddle, for the masts and rigging, -which hung over the bulwarks, swayed about, threatening death to anyone -who ventured within their reach. The sea was running too high to permit -the men to board the ship, but by ebb-tide the coxswain thought that the -sea would become smoother, and thus enable him to rescue the men at less -risk. The crew of the vessel were nearly frozen to death, and it seemed -as if they could not hold out much longer. The coxswain made signs to -the poor fellows to fasten a buoy to a line, and slack it away from the -ship towards the lifeboat. His signs were understood and promptly -obeyed, but unfortunately the line caught in the rigging alongside and -stuck fast. - -The resources of the lifeboatmen were not yet exhausted. Sailing as -close as possible to the vessel, they threw out a grappling line, which -luckily caught on, and the boat was held. The coxswain shouted to the -sailors to make another rope fast, but they paid no heed to his order. -No sooner did they perceive that the boat was fixed than they began to -crawl along the mast. Only one man had been taken on board, when a -heavy sea swept down upon the lifeboat. The rope which fastened her to -the wreck was not strong enough to bear the strain, and once more the -_Albert Edward_ was driven from the ship. - -Canvas was again set to windward for about half an hour, and then the -boat was headed for the wreck. The tide was now on the ebb, and less -difficulty was experienced in getting a hold on the ship. One by one -the poor fellows were taken on board the lifeboat, till only the captain -remained. He was an old man, and so exhausted by suffering that he was -unable to jump for the boat. A line was therefore thrown to him which -he fastened round his waist, and the coxswain went to assist him over -the rail of the ship. Just as he was in the act of performing this -humane service he was knocked overboard by a sudden lurch. As he -struggled in the water, he received a severe blow on the head and a -wound across the eye from pieces of floating wreckage. His case was -desperate, but he did not lose his presence of mind for a moment. -Seizing hold of the rope which was made fast round the captain, he -managed to keep himself afloat till his companions rescued him from his -perilous position. Nothing daunted, he then made further efforts to -save the captain, who was at length hauled through the surf and lifted -on board in safety. - -Just as this was accomplished, a heavy sea snapped the rope, and the -lifeboat left the wreck, having on board the whole crew of seven men. -In getting off the sands, on her homeward journey, the boat was -frequently smothered by the heavy seas, and several of the men were -badly hurt by being dashed against the side. At length, after a long, -toilsome struggle, the harbour was reached, the lifeboat and her crew -being covered with ice. In spite of the severity of the weather, a -number of people were on the pier to give the heroes a hearty reception. -The shipwrecked men, who were completely exhausted, were supplied with -food and put to bed to recover from the effects of their exposure and -fatigue. Their vessel was the St. Alexine of Copenhagen, bound for -Stranraer with deals. - - - - - CHAPTER XVII. - - A BUSY DAY. - - -In the early morning of the 7th of November 1890, while one of the -severest storms known for years on the coast of Lancashire was at its -height, signal flares were observed about three miles out at sea. A gun -was fired to arouse the lifeboatmen, and in a few minutes the Fleetwood -boat was launched and hurrying on her errand of mercy in the wake of a -steam-tug. It was almost dark at the time, and the two vessels were -quickly lost to view. The news rapidly spread that the lifeboat had -been summoned, and soon a number of people were making their way to the -beach in the hope of catching a sight of the distressed vessel. - -It was not until seven o'clock that the hull of a large barque loomed in -sight to those on shore, and it was then evident that but for the -gallant services of the lifeboatmen all on board would be lost. Having -got well to windward, the tow-rope was let go, and the boat drifted -gradually down to the wreck. Here lay the real danger, and it required -all the seamanship of the coxswain to prevent the boat from being dashed -against the side of the ill-fated vessel, or swept past the mark by the -force of the sea. When within a short distance, the boat was brought to -an anchor, and veered down on her cable close to the wreck, which was -found to be the _Labora_, a Norwegian ship. - -The work of rescue was promptly begun, and as it was found to be utterly -impossible for the lifeboat to approach near enough to take the men off, -the coxswain shouted to the sailors to throw him a line. A lifebuoy was -accordingly thrown overboard with a rope attached, and floated to the -boat. Communication having been thus established, the crew were dragged -through the surf in safety. The work of rescue lasted above two hours, -and the boat was repeatedly filled with water, so that the fact that not -a single life was lost reflects great credit on the seamanship of the -coxswain and his men. The whole crew of the _Labora_, thirteen in -number, were taken on board, the captain being the last man to leave the -ship. - -Sail was then hoisted on the lifeboat, and she made for the shore with -all speed. Notwithstanding the gale and the driving rain, hundreds of -spectators had assembled along the beach to await the return of the -boat. When at length she appeared, she was greeted with shouts of joy, -and landed the rescued crew amid a perfect salvo of cheering. - -A few hours later, news of another wreck was brought to Fleetwood. -Utterly regardless of their rough experience in the early morning, the -crew again donned their lifebelts and manned the lifeboat. As they were -towed out by the steamer, a magnificent sight was witnessed, the waves -dashing furiously over the boat as she ploughed her way through the -water, and both vessels were often completely hidden from sight by the -seas breaking over them. - -[Illustration: SIGHTING THE WRECK.] - -Regardless of the drenching they received, they held resolutely on their -way, and soon the distance of five miles which intervened between them -and the wreck was covered. The crew hailed the approach of the saving -boat with loud cheers, but great difficulty was experienced in effecting -the rescue, as all the masts and rigging were dashing about alongside -the ship. To avoid the wreckage striking the lifeboat, and at the same -time to get sufficiently near for the sailors to jump aboard, required -great skill and judgment, as well as a cool head and a steady nerve. - -Owing to the position in which the stranded vessel was lying, every sea -broke over her, and threatened to swamp the lifeboat. Eventually the -whole crew of eleven men were rescued, and the lifeboat was headed for -the shore, where the crew were landed in a most exhausted condition. -But for the brave efforts and untiring exertions of the lifeboatmen, the -crews of both of those vessels would have been lost, and well might the -noble fellows congratulate themselves on having within a few short hours -saved twenty-four of their fellow-men from death. - - - - - CHAPTER XVIII. - - A RESCUE IN MID-OCEAN. - - -It is a common belief at the present day that our sailors are no longer -the same bold, kind-hearted fellows that they were before the -introduction of steam and other modern improvements. From time to time, -however, a brief account of some splendid act of heroic daring, -performed on the high seas, finds its way into the newspapers, and -proves that, after all, Jack is of the same race as the men who, in -bygone days, won for England the proud title of "Mistress of the Seas." - -Recently, while the Cunard steamer _Parthia_ was crossing the Atlantic -from America to England, her passengers had an opportunity of witnessing -a genuine feat of derring-do of the old heroic kind. It was a Sunday -afternoon, and for some hours the barometer had been steadily falling, a -sure sign of a coming gale. Overhead the blue sky was dotted with white -clouds, but away to the south and west the heavens were of a dull leaden -colour. - -About four o'clock, true to the indications it had given, the storm -burst. The fury of the wind raised a tremendous sea, and after running -for a time, it was judged prudent to bring the _Parthia_ head on to the -waves. All the passengers were ordered below lest they should be washed -overboard, and the hatches were securely battened down to prevent the -cabins being flooded. Every now and again the crew on deck were waist -deep in water, as the steamer dipped her bows into the sea and took -great surging waves on board. - -For six hours the vessel lay-to, and during all that time the tempest -raged with undiminished fury. The wind screamed and whistled mournfully -through the rigging, and the mountainous waves dashed themselves with -tremendous force against the sides of the ship, throwing the spray as -high as the masthead At ten o'clock the gale moderated, and the steamer -once more resumed her voyage. The night passed without further -incident, and when the sun rose next morning out of the heaving waters -it gave promise of a fair day. - -Meanwhile a far different scene was being enacted on the angry ocean -some miles away. A sailing ship was being tossed about like a -plaything. One by one her sails were blown to ribbons, her planks -sprung a-leak under the continued pounding of the waves, and as the -vessel slowly settled down the crew gave themselves up for lost. As the -water-logged hull tumbled about in the trough of the sea, they expected -that she would go down every moment, but day broke and found them still -afloat, looking for help in every direction and finding none. -Assistance was, however, at hand. - -All this time the _Parthia_ had been steadily steaming on her homeward -voyage. About nine o'clock in the morning the look-out man reported -that a vessel was in sight. As the steamer approached, it became -apparent to all on board that the ship was in distress. She lay low in -the water, her rigging was all in a tangle, and upon the deck twenty-two -wretched, pale-faced men could be counted, watching the steamer with -wistful gaze. All these had to be saved, and every man on board the -_Parthia_ knew that this could only be done at the risk of the lives of -those who went to their assistance, for a heavy sea was still running. - -Few things are more perilous and difficult than lowering a boat during a -storm in mid-ocean. The most seamen-like smartness may fail to save the -frail fabric from being dashed to pieces against the iron side of the -vessel, and even if the boat succeeds in getting away, the utmost skill -is necessary to prevent her from being upset. Everyone of the -_Parthia's_ crew knew the danger, but not one of them shrank from the -duty which faced them. - -"Volunteers for the wreck!" shouted the captain, and in response to his -summons eight men sprang forward and scrambled into the lifeboat. The -third officer stepped into the stern, and took the rudder lines in his -hands. Every man sat silent and ready while the boat swung from the -davits. Calmly the order was given to lower, and the boat sank swiftly -down to the water. As she rose on the crest of the next wave, the -blocks were unhooked, and in another moment she was making for the -wreck. - -The passengers who thronged the deck of the _Parthia_ watched the -lifeboat in an agony of excitement. Now she disappeared as completely as -if she had gone to the bottom; then she rose on the crest of a mighty -billow, where she poised for an instant before taking the headlong -plunge into the watery abyss beyond. A short struggle brought the boat -within reach of the doomed vessel, and the mate shouted to the crew to -heave him a line. It was caught, a lifebuoy was attached to it, and it -was hauled on board the wreck. To the lifebuoy was tied a second line, -one end of which was held by the lifeboat crew. The meaning of these -arrangements soon became apparent. One of the shipwrecked sailors -slipped his shoulders through the lifebuoy, plunged into the sea, and -was dragged into the lifeboat. One by one the sailors were hauled on -board, till eleven had been rescued. Then, with a cheering shout to -those who were left behind, the boat returned to the steamer. - -Meanwhile the captain of the _Parthia_ had been busy making all the -necessary preparations for taking the shipwrecked men on board. A rope -with a loop at the end was suspended from the foreyard arm, and under -this the lifeboat was stationed. The rope was then passed down, and the -loop slipped under the arms of one of the men, who was then hoisted on -board by the sailors. - -When the first boatload had been safely deposited on the deck of the -steamer, the lifeboat returned to the wreck. By means of the lifebuoys -and lines the remainder of the crew were taken off, and afterwards -hoisted on board the steamer in the same way as their companions. Her -work having been accomplished, the lifeboat was hauled in, and the -_Parthia_ went "full speed ahead," to make up for lost time. - -An eye-witness of this perilous and gallant rescue says:-- - -"To appreciate the pathos and pluck of an adventure of this kind, one -must have served as a spectator or actor in some such scene. The -expression on the faces of those shipwrecked men, as they were hoisted -one by one over the _Parthia's_ side; the bewildered rolling of their -eyes, their expression of suffering, slowly yielding to the perception -of the new lease of life mercifully accorded them, graciously and nobly -earned for them; their streaming garments, their hair clotted like -seaweed on their foreheads; the passionate pressing forward of the crew -and passengers to rejoice with the poor fellows on their salvation from -one of the most lamentable dooms to which the sea can sentence, will -ever be vividly imprinted on the minds of those who witnessed the -occurrence." - - - - - CHAPTER XIX. - - THE "THREE BELLS." - - -Captain Leighton, of the British ship _Three Bells_, some years ago -rescued the crew of an American vessel sinking in mid-ocean. Unable to -take them off in the storm and darkness, he kept by them until morning, -running down often during the night, as near to them as he dared, and -shouting to them through his trumpet, "Never fear! hold on! I'll stand -by you!" - - Beneath the low-hung night-cloud - That raked her splintering mast, - The good ship settled slowly, - The cruel leak gained fast. - - Over the awful ocean - Her signal guns pealed out. - Dear God! was that Thy answer - From the horror round about? - - A voice came down the wild wind, - "Ho! ship ahoy!" its cry: - "Our stout _Three Bells_ of Glasgow - Shall stand till daylight by!" - - Hour after hour crept slowly, - Yet on the heaving swells - Tossed up and down the ship-lights, - The lights of the _Three Bells_. - - And ship to ship made signals, - Man answered back to man, - While oft to cheer and hearten - The _Three Bells_ nearer ran. - - And the captain from her taffrail - Sent down his hopeful cry, - "Take heart! hold on!" he shouted, - "The _Three Bells_ shall stand by!" - - All night across the water - The tossing lights shone clear; - All night from reeling taffrail - The _Three Bells_ sent her cheer. - - And when the dreary watches - Of storm and darkness passed, - Just as the wreck lurched under, - All souls were saved at last. - - Sail on, _Three Bells_, for ever, - In grateful memory sail! - Ring on, _Three Bells_ of rescue, - Above the wave and gale! - - J. G. WHITTIER. - - - - - CHAPTER XX. - - ON THE CORNISH COAST. - - -One stormy December day, a few years ago, a horse reeking with foam -galloped into Penzance, bearing a messenger with news that a ship which -had got into the bay was unable to make her way out, and would in all -probability be wrecked. The news spread through the quaint old town -like wildfire, and in a few minutes hundreds of people were on the shore -anxiously watching for the ship. From time to time she could be seen -through the mist, and it was evident that her captain and crew were -making every effort to head her out to the open sea; but there was -little chance of success with such a furious gale blowing directly -inshore. Anchors were thrown out in the hope of averting the threatened -disaster, but they were of no use, and soon the vessel was drifting -helplessly to the shore. "Man the lifeboat! man the lifeboat!" was then -the cry, and coastguards and fishermen rushed off to the boathouse at -full speed. - -[Illustration: LIVES IN PERIL.] - -There was not a moment to spare. Horses were brought out and harnessed -to the carriage, the men took their places, and away went the horses at -full speed. The boat was launched into the breakers with a hearty -cheer, and headed straight for the wreck. - -Meanwhile a terrible tragedy was being enacted between the wreck and the -shore, some distance to the east. The captain had seen two shore boats -put off to his assistance, and after battling bravely with the sea for -some time give up the attempt. He did not see the lifeboat, and, -thinking that the safety of himself and his crew depended on their own -efforts, he ordered one of the ship's boats to be lowered. No sooner -had it touched the water than it was dashed to pieces against the side -of the ship. A second boat was got out of the davits, and the captain -and nine men got into her in safety, and made for the shore. She had not -gone far when a huge wave pounced down upon her, whirled her round, and -in another moment the men were struggling in the water, about three -hundred yards from the shore. A few sailors seized the keel of the -upturned boat, but again and again they were dashed from their hold by -the heavy breakers, others seized the oars, and the captain struck out -for the shore, followed by a few of his men. On the beach the people -were helpless; but, seeing the captain swimming towards them, some of -the strongest men joined hands, and waded out into the sea to meet him. -One brave man, famous for miles round on account of his great strength, -threw off his coat, and, followed by several others, dashed into the -surf, determined to rescue at least one of the perishing sailors. When -he got hold of one man he handed him over to his companions to be taken -ashore, and, in defiance of the enormous breakers, he stayed out until -he had rescued three men from certain death. Nine men reached the -shore, but only four of those, who, full of health and strength, had put -off from the wreck half an hour before, survived. - -Now let us return to the lifeboat. "After a pull of more than an hour -she reached the vessel. As she was pulling under her stern, a great sea -struck the boat, and immediately capsized her. All on board were at -once thrown out; the noble boat, however, at once self-righted. The -coxswain was jammed under the boat by some wreckage, and very nearly -lost his life, having to dive three or four times before he could -extricate himself. When dragged on board, he was apparently dead, and -in this state was brought ashore. Another man, pulling the stroke oar, -was lost altogether from the boat, and the men were all so exhausted -that they could not pull up to rescue him; but his cork jacket floated -him ashore, when a brave man, named Desreaux, swam his horse out through -the surf and rescued him. - -"The inspecting-commander of the coastguard, who expressed an earnest -wish to go off on this occasion, was also on board, and with others -suffered severely. It is due to him to say that his great coolness and -judgment, as well as his exertions, greatly aided in bringing the boat -and her exhausted crew to shore. The second coxswain also behaved like a -hero, and, though scarcely able to stand, managed the boat with the -greatest skill when the coxswain was disabled. - -"Judge of the dismay of those on shore when they saw the boat returning -without having effected a rescue. It was at once clear that some -disaster had happened, and they rushed to meet her. There was the -coxswain, apparently dead, a stream of blood trickling from a wound in -his temple, one man missing, and all the crew more or less disabled. -Volunteers were at once called for. The second coxswain pluckily -offered to go again, but this was not allowed, and his place was taken -by the chief officer of the coastguard. In a short time another crew was -formed, and the boat put off. - -"No words can describe the struggle which followed. The boat had to be -pulled to windward in the teeth of a tremendous gale. Sometimes she -would rise almost perpendicular to the waves, and the people on shore -looked on with bated breath, fearing she must go over. The way was -disputed inch by inch, and at last the victory was won. Long and loud -rang the cheers as the boat neared the shore, and quickly the -shipwrecked mariners and their brave rescuers were safe. - -"It was afterwards found that one of the second crew had three ribs -broken, and several of the others had wounds and bruises more or less -severe. Happily, none of the injuries proved fatal, and before long all -the men, even the coxswain, went about their work as usual. The wrecked -vessel was the _North Britain_, with a cargo of timber on board from -Quebec." - - - - - CHAPTER XXI. - - A PLUCKY CAPTAIN. - - -Lizard Point in Cornwall, the most southerly headland in England, is a -piece of rocky land, which "has caused more vivid and varied emotions -than any other on our coasts. The emigrant leaving, as he often thinks, -his native land for ever; the soldier bound for distant battlefields, -and the sailor for far-distant foreign ports, have each and all strained -their eyes for a last parting glimpse of an isle they loved so much, and -yet might never see again. And when the lighthouses' flash could no -longer be discerned, how sadly did one and all turn into their berths to -think--ay, 'perchance to dream'--of the happy past and the doubtful -future. - -"How different are the emotions of the homeward bound--the emigrant with -his gathered gold, the bronzed veteran who has come out of the fiercest -conflict unscathed, and the sailor who has safely passed the ordeal of -fearful climes. The first glimpse of that strangely named rocky point -is the signal for heartiest huzzas and congratulation." - -There is, unfortunately, another side to this pleasant picture. Not -unfrequently vessels become enveloped in the fogs, which prevail off -this dangerous coast, and go crashing on to the rocks, there to become -total wrecks. On the 4th of March 1893 an incident of this kind -occurred. While the steamship _Gustav Bitter_ of Newcastle-on-Tyne was -proceeding from London to the Manchester Ship Canal with a general -cargo, she stranded during a dense fog on the Callidges Rocks, off the -Lizard Point. The engines were immediately reversed in the hope of -getting her off, but she stuck fast. The captain gave the order for the -long-boat to be lowered, and he got into her with seven men. As he was -about to secure the boat's painter the rope was suddenly cut, and the -strain being thus taken off, caused the captain to tumble into the sea, -and he was compelled to swim to the boat to save his life. The second -mate jumped from the deck of the doomed vessel, and tried to reach the -boat, but unhappily he failed in the attempt, and was drowned. - -News had already reached the shore that a ship was in danger, and the -Polpear lifeboat was promptly manned and launched. When she reached the -vessel the fog had lifted, and it was found that her bow was under -water, and four men were clinging to the rigging. Great difficulty was -experienced in getting near the vessel, as the seas were breaking -completely over her and over the lifeboat. The lifeboatmen, however, -succeeded in getting their grapnel on board, and the boat was brought up -alongside. Three of the crew, watching their opportunity, left the -rigging and went hand over hand along the grappling line from the -steamer to the lifeboat. The fourth man, who is said to have been -disabled by rheumatism, was unable to move from the rigging. His case -was indeed desperate, for it was impossible to take the boat to the side -of the ship on which he was lashed, on account of the shallowness of the -water. To add to the difficulty of the situation, one of the men who -had been rescued was in a very exhausted condition, and it was feared -that he would not live much longer. After a little delay the boatmen -decided, as there was no immediate danger of the vessel breaking up, -that they would make for the shore, land the three men, and then return -for the sufferer. The grapnel was accordingly freed from the rigging, -and they pulled for the shore with all speed where the poor fellows were -landed and well cared for. The lifeboat then proceeded on her return -journey to the steamer. - -Meanwhile another lifeboat had put off from the shore. On her way to -the scene of action she fell in with the long-boat in which the captain -and seven men had left the wreck. The little vessel was nearly half -full of water and in great danger of being swamped, so her occupants -were taken on board the lifeboat. They then told their rescuers that -they had left four of their companions on board the steamer. Though the -men were greatly exhausted with the hard pull of three miles which they -had already performed, they gave a hearty shout and again bent their -backs to the oars, and the remaining distance of a mile to the wreck was -soon covered. - -They of course were surprised to see only one man in the rigging instead -of the four they had expected to find. The reason of his being where he -was having been explained by the captain, several lifeboatmen -volunteered for the dangerous task of rescuing the unfortunate man. The -coxswain, however, thought it best to accept the offer of the captain, -who was well acquainted with the ship, and had already proved himself a -good swimmer. Two grapnels were thrown into the rigging of the steamer, -and the captain swung himself on board by means of one of the lines. He -reached the rigging, took the man out, and fastened a running line to -his waist. Then he made a signal, and the poor fellow was hauled on -board the lifeboat. - -[Illustration: COMING ASHORE--"ALL SAVED!"] - -The captain was now compelled to take to the rigging again to avoid -being washed overboard by the heavy seas, which were breaking over the -ship. Twice he attempted to get off, but he was driven back each time. -Watching his opportunity he tried again, and without either lifebelt or -line plunged into the sea and swam to the boat. The work of rescue -being then accomplished, the boat returned to the shore. - -The silver medal of the Institution, accompanied by a copy of the vote -inscribed on vellum, was awarded to Captain David Graham Ball, the -master of the vessel, in recognition of his gallant conduct. - - - - - CHAPTER XXII. - - BY SHEER STRENGTH. - - -During the terrific storm which spread such destruction over a large -area of the United Kingdom in October 1889, a vessel was seen to be -labouring heavily, and showing signals of distress, some two or three -miles off the coast of Merionethshire. As she was rapidly drifting -towards a very dangerous reef of rocks, the Aberystwyth lifeboatmen were -speedily summoned. The tide was low at the time, and great difficulty -was experienced in getting the boat to the water's edge. Several times -she stuck in the soft sand, and the united exertions of the lifeboatmen -could not move her forward a single inch. Plenty of willing helpers, -however, were at hand, and after much labour and loss of valuable time, -the boat was at length pushed into the sea on her carriage, and the crew -took their places. - -To avoid being blown on the rocks the men found it was necessary to row -out for a considerable distance. The oars were manned, and the helpers -eagerly waited for the word of command from the coxswain to let her go. -The order was given; but here a fresh obstacle presented itself. The -waves were rolling inshore with such fury that the greatest exertions of -the boatmen failed to get her off, and notwithstanding the fact that -scores of men went into the water till the waves broke over their heads, -a considerable time passed before the boat could be got clear of her -carriage and set afloat. Then the crew began a struggle against wind -and waves, the like of which had not been seen for nine years, when one -of the boatmen lost his life through exposure. - -The men tugged at the oars with all their might, and seemed to be -gaining slowly; but after they had been rowing for an hour they found -themselves just where they started. Great white seas broke over the -boat, drenching the men to the skin, and carrying her back towards the -shore. Again and again the struggle was renewed, and again and again -the boat was carried back on the crests of the waves. Sometimes the boat -would be thrown on end, in an almost perpendicular position, and then -fall into the trough of the sea and disappear. - -For two hours the struggle against the angry sea and the fierce wind was -kept up. During that time six oars were broken, and several times the -boat narrowly escaped being upset. Then three huge rollers came in -quick succession and carried the boat into the comparatively smooth -water near the pier. She was brought alongside the landing-stage, and -more oars and five additional men were taken on board. - -As soon as the extra men were put in their places, another attempt was -made to get the boat out to sea. The wind still blew with unabated -force, and sea after sea broke over the little vessel. Slowly but -steadily she made headway, and though she was often lost to sight in the -trough of the sea, or buried in spray, she at length gained a point -where the coxswain thought it was safe to hoist the sail. This was -done, and away sped the lifeboat after the retreating vessel. - -On getting alongside it was found that she was an American ship, and -though terribly battered she was still holding on to her anchors. Two -of the lifeboatmen were put on board to assist in navigating her, and, -at the request of the captain, the boat remained alongside for some -time, in order to be in readiness to save the crew in the event of the -cables parting. While she was in this position an immense wave dashed -right into the lifeboat, and three of the crew were swept overboard. -They were afterwards picked up in a very exhausted condition. - -Seeing that their services were not now required, the lifeboatmen cast -off from the wreck and made for home, which was reached shortly before -midnight. Their undaunted spirit won for them the admiration of the -thousands of spectators who had watched their battle with the storm, and -the owners of the vessel, wishing to show their appreciation of the -crew's services, sent the sum of L30 "to be divided among the men as -some slight recognition of their gallant conduct." - - - - - CHAPTER XXIII. - - WRECKED IN PORT. - - -The spacious harbour of Milford Haven, on the south-west of -Pembrokeshire, the finest in the kingdom, and large enough to shelter -the whole British fleet, was, a few months ago, the scene of a most -gallant rescue by a crew of South Wales lifeboatmen. On the 30th of -January 1894, the full rigged iron ship _Loch Shiel_ of Glasgow was -stranded on Thorn Island, at the entrance to the Haven. She was bound -for Australia with a general cargo, and had on board thirty-three -persons, seven of whom were passengers. - -As soon as the vessel struck, the captain tried the pump, and found that -there was a quantity of water in the hold, and that the ship was rapidly -sinking by the stern. He at once ordered the boats to be lowered. Then -a mattress was brought on deck, soaked with paraffin oil, and lighted as -a signal of distress. The flare was seen by the coastguard at St. -Anne's Head, several miles away, and they telegraphed the news of the -disaster to the lifeboat station at Angle. Obedient to the summons, the -lifeboat put off to the rescue. Meanwhile several of the shipwrecked -men had been forced to take refuge in the mizzen rigging, and others had -climbed over the jibboom and landed on the rocks. - -Presently the lifeboat came dashing along in splendid style. On nearing -the vessel the anchor was dropped, and the boat's bow brought close to -the mizzen rigging, to which six men could be seen clinging. One of -these was an invalid passenger, and great difficulty was experienced in -getting him on board. More than once the men expected to see him lose -his hold and fall into the sea, but he, fortunately, had sufficient -strength to hold on till he reached the arms stretched out to save him. -The remaining sufferers were then quickly taken out of the top, the -anchor was hauled in, and the boat pulled round to the leeside of the -island, to take off the remainder of the crew and passengers. - -Mr. Mirehouse, the Honorary Secretary of the Angle Branch of the Royal -National Lifeboat Institution, who had accompanied the boat, and Edward -Ball and Thomas Rees, two of the crew, now landed. Taking with them a -rope and a lantern, they crawled along the edge of the cliff until they -arrived above the spot where the people had taken refuge. They then -lowered the rope over the cliff, and, in spite of the darkness of the -night and the fury of the storm, they hauled up the remainder of the -crew and passengers of the _Loch Shiel_, one of whom, a lady, was in a -very weak and exhausted condition. But the rescue was not yet -completed. The return journey had yet to be made along the narrow and -dangerous pathway, in some parts barely a foot wide. The difficulties -of the passage were further increased by having to guide the rescued and -exhausted persons. To the credit of Mr. Mirehouse and his two men, be it -told, that after great exertions and several narrow escapes they -succeeded in bringing all in safety to the place where the lifeboat was -in waiting. - -As a very heavy surf was running, it was decided that the boat should -make two trips. Twenty persons were accordingly put on board and landed -at Angle. Then she returned immediately to the island for the -remainder. At half-past six on the following morning she completed her -second journey, and the whole thirty-three men and women were again in -safety on the mainland. Some of the rescued people were taken to the -residence of Mr. Mirehouse, and were most kindly cared for by him and -his family; others were taken charge of by other residents. - -Some time afterwards the following letter was received by Mr. Mirehouse -from the captain of the vessel:-- - -GLASGOW, 21*st February* 1894. - -DEAR SIR,--You and your dear lady, and your household, and all the -inhabitants of Angle, please accept my humble thanks for the great -kindness you all did to me and to my crew and passengers on the 30th and -31st January 1894; firstly, in taking us from the wreck of the ship -_Loch Shiel_, on Thorn Island, and then having us at your house and -other houses in Angle for some considerable time, thirty-three people in -all.--I am, dear sir, - -THOMAS DA VIES, -Master of the ill-fated ship _Loch Shiel_ of Glasgow. - -A highly gratifying letter was also received by the Honorary Secretary -from the owners of the vessel, conveying their thanks for the services -rendered to the crew and passengers. The crew of the ship also wrote -expressing their thanks to the lifeboatmen for saving their lives, and -to those who afterwards supplied them with food and clothing. - -The silver medal of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution was awarded -to Mr. Mirehouse, Thomas Rees, and Edward Ball in recognition of the -bravery displayed by them, in going to the edge of the cliffs and -rescuing the remainder of the passengers and crew, and in afterwards -conducting them to a place of safety. - - * * * * * - -[The Royal Lifeboat Institution, the story of whose noble work we have -followed, is supported solely by voluntary contributions, and to our -credit as a nation be it said, that this admirable Society has never -appealed in vain for funds to carry on its work. To the usual sources -of revenue--annual subscriptions, donations, and legacies--another has -been recently added, known as "Lifeboat Saturday." Originated in -Manchester in 1891 by Mr. C. W. Macara, it rapidly spread from place to -place, till now nearly every important town, both maritime and inland, -sets apart one Saturday in each year to collect funds for this purpose. -A procession is organised and one or two fully manned lifeboats are -hauled through the streets, and where there is water launched at a -convenient place. The presence of the boats and their crews never fails -to arouse the greatest enthusiasm. The object of this movement is to -further increase the funds of the Institution, that they may be able not -only to reward the crews, but also in the event of loss of life, or -permanent injury to health, to compensate those and all dependent on -them for support. I have just been informed by the Secretary of the -Royal National Lifeboat Institution that already this year (August 1894) -they have granted rewards for saving nearly 500 lives. The lifeboatmen -are all volunteers, and, as we have seen, each time they go out on -service they literally take their lives in their hands. As the -President of the Board of Trade recently said: "I trust the time will -never come when the English public will abdicate their duty and their -highest privilege of supporting such a noble Institution."] - - - -[Illustration: THE END] - - - - PRINTED BY MORRISON AND GIBB LIMITED, EDINBURGH - - - - - - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK STORIES OF THE LIFEBOAT *** - - - - -A Word from Project Gutenberg - - -We will update this book if we find any errors. - -This book can be found under: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/42394 - -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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