THE LIFE-BOAT JOURNALOF THE

Bational %ife=boat Jnstitutfon.(ISSUED QUABTBBLT.)

VOL. XIII.—No. 142.] NOYEMBEK 1, 1886. [PRICE 3d.

TELEGEAPHIC COMMUNICATION WITH LIGHTSHIPS.

IN the number of this Journal publishedin February 1885, we referred to theefforts then being made to connect theSunk Lightship off the coast of Essexwith the shore at Walton-on-the-Naze, adistance of about nine miles, by means ofelectric telegraph.

We are rejoiced to hear that thoseefforts have been crowned with the successthey deserved, and that the undertaking,which was at that time in the " experi-mental stage," has now become an accom-plished fact, thereby verifying our pre-dictions, that whatever the difficulties tobe overcome might be, they would notprove insurmountable to the electricengineers of this country.

The ship's moorings are compesed oftwo anchors, the chains from which comeup and shackle on to the lower side of aswivel, the chain from the vessel's bowsbeing attached to the upper side. Sincethe commencement of these experiments,these moorings have been materiallystrengthened to prevent a recurrence ofthe vessel dragging them. Under ordinarycircumstances this swivel would have asolid bolt; in this case the bolt is hollow,and the telegraph cable passes up throughit to the ship, making, it may be said, athird arm or ground-chain to the moorings.If this swivel were always suspended at afixed uniform distance from the bottom,

the three cables (including the telegraphcable) would retain the same relativepositions and distances from each other,and there would then be no danger of thelast-named being injured, but unfortu-nately this is not the case. The constantlyvarying strain brought on the moorings,by the action of the wind and sea uponthe vessel, together with the rise and fallof the tide, is always changing theirpositions, and leading to friction of thetelegraph cable. Added to these causesthere is one that we fancy must entaila greater danger to the electric wires, andthat is, the necessity for veering a con-siderable length of cable in bad weather.Indeed, sufficient is veered to admit ofthe mooring-swivel lying on the ground,but experience has shown that the presentcable is able to withstand this strain, aswell as that caused by its being draggedover the ground as the ship moves about,or being twisted round the riding-cableabove the swivel by the ship swinginground when the cable is veered out.It is very interesting to consider thepractical workmanlike way in whichthe Telegraph Construction and Main-tenance Company have devoted theirskill and energy to bringing this im-portant work to a successful issue, bymeeting each new difficulty as it developeditself. The first appears to have been

VOL. XIII.—No. 142.—LIFE-BOAT JOUBNAI,.

190 THE LIFE-BOAT JOUKNAL. [NOVEMBER 1. 1886.

caused by the copper conductor, whichwas a strand of seven wires, breaking,probably from the constant bending of thecable on the bottom caused by the cease-less rise and fall of the ship. Curiouslyenough, occasionally as the tension slack-ened, the two broken ends came togetherand restored communication for a time,until the cable stretched and separatedthem again. Permanent communicationwas, however, restored by introducing aspecial form of conductor, a solid copperwire surrounded spirally with a finer wire,so that, in the event of the large wirebreaking from undue strain, or any othercause, communication would be main-tained by the smaller wire being drawnout in the form of an extended spiral.On one occasion the vessel draggedher anchors in a heavy gale, causingthe chains to become twisted together,with the cable jammed between them;under these very adverse conditions, com-munication was maintained for twenty-one days, when the telegraph cable broke,through the constant and undue strainand friction brought on it. The dangerof this happening again has been pro-vided against by laying down heaviermoorings, which, together with the tele-graph cable, have come completely unhurtthrough the severe trials of the lastwinter, although for more than half thetime the swivel was lying on the groundsixty fathoms from the ship. On the23rd of June last, the cable was finallyinspected by a committee of the ElderBrethren of the Trinity House, accom-panied by Mr. GBAY, C.B., and CaptainSir G. NABBS, K.N., K.C.B., on the partof the Board of Trade, and officially takenover by the former Corporation, whichmust be considered as convincing proofof the success of the undertaking.

The instruments used are the ABC,the Morse, and the Telephone. To anyonefamiliar with a ship, it must seem veryremarkable that the latter instrument isapplicable. "Why does it not convey withthe human voice all the thousand and oneindescribable noises from creaking bulk-

heads, grinding cables, etc., etc., to bealways heard on board a ship, especiallyin rough weather ?

We believe the whole risk of failurelay upon the Telegraph Construction andMaintenance Company, who contracted toestablish communication and maintain itfor a year, before it was taken over bythe Trinity House, and therefore to themis the credit due of having first carriedto a successful issue an enterprise thathas hitherto been pronounced impractic-able, although in winning the race theyhad very little to spare, because theGermans connected the "Aussen Jade"Lightship with the coast in July 1885,and maintained the communication untilthe removal of the ship from her stationfor the winter in December last.

"We look upon the completion of thiswork as a very valuable advance in themeasures for saving life from shipwreck,because it ensures more speedy and moreexact information respecting the actualsite of any casualty, than it is possible togive by the present system of signals byguns and rockets, or flags in the daytime,for summoning Life-boats to the assistanceof vessels in distress.

We most fervently hope that the under-taking will not be allowed to rest whereit is, but that in reasonable time we shallsee all our outlying Lightships connectedwith the shore in .a similar way. Everyone interested in the subject will eagerlywatch for the Eeport of the Committee,about to be appointed by the Board ofTrade, to inquire into and report on thesubject. We trust their inquiry -willnot be confined to the question of Light-ships, but that it will include lighthouseson outlying rocks, and other points,which place them in advantageous posi-tions for giving notice of vessels in distress.Whilst writing these pages, an excellentillustration has occurred of the immenseadvantage these communications, whengenerally adopted, will be to the Life-boatservice, both in procuring the more speedydispatch of Life-boats to vessels in distress,and in preventing unnecessary launches.

NOVEMBER 1, 1886.] THE LIFE-BOAT JOURNAL. 191

On the evening of the 27th of September,a smack arriving at Bamsgate gave infor-mation of having passed a vessel on theKentish Knock. The Eamsgate tug beingunable to go, the information was wiredto the Life-boat authorities at Harwich,arriving there at 5.55 P.M., or seven hoursafter the vessel had been got off again•without assistance. Had the KentishKnock Light-vessel been connected withthe shore, she would have flashed the newswithin a few minutes of the accidenthappening, and would again have sentword of her having got off without

assistance, possibly so quickly after thefirst message, as to be in time to save theLife-boat and her crew going out fornothing. If the state of the weatherprevented the Lightship seeing the vesselin distress, the vessel that took the newsto Eamsgate might possibly have beenable to communicate it to her, and sohave saved many precious hours.

One instance of preventing unnecessarylaunches by cancelling a call for Life-boatassistance, in consequence of the necessityfor it having passed very quickly, hasalready oceurred.

THE LIFE-BOATS OP THE UNITED KINGDOM.

LXVII. BKIGHTON.— The Sobert Bailees,32 feet by 7} feet, 10 oars.

IT is not our intention here to enter intoa description of so well known a townas Brighton, which has been so happilydescribed as "London by the sea-side,"but we shall content ourselves with a rapidsurvey of its history, and begin by remind-ing our readers that in the first century,when Agricola was subjugating Britain,Roman soldiers were encamped on the longrange of chalky hills a few miles inlandfrom the south coast of as yet uncultivatedBritain. Beneath them lay a vast expanseof valley, to which the height on which theywere encamped presented an almost pre-cipitous front. Close by was a huge gorgewith steep sides, which was made a yetmore formidable obstacle to the approachof an enemy by careful Eoman engineering.Looking to the north, the horizon wasbounded by the shadows of a dense forest,in which were doubtless hidden fierceBritish warriors. To the south, a fewmiles distant, the surf was breaking alongthe line of shingle. On the east could beseen a lofty mass of rock, a bastion of thewhite walls from which the Romans hadnamed the island " Albion "; and on thewest, the long range of hills approachingthe sea and breaking the coast into morevaried outlines. These hills, on whichthe enemy were encamped, are now knownas the Sussex South Downs; and thehuge semicircular trench which protectedthe flank of the camp, as the "Devil's

Dyke." A magnificent sea-side town, witha three miles frontage to the sea, and asuburb of the greatest city in the world,occupies the silent line of beach, defyingthe action of the ocean by sea-walls whichreflect the greatest credit on the engineer-ing talent engaged in their construction,and possessing residences, hotels, andbaths second to none in the kingdom.

Brighton derives its name from a Saxonbishop, one Brighthelm, who resided some-where at the foot of the South Downs.The Saxon residents who succeeded theKomans, named the collection of hutsdotting the shore, Brighthelmstone. Inthe twelfth century a colony of Flemings,driven from their own country, settledhere and became fishermen. They builthouses on the beach and under the cliff,and East, West, Ship, and Middle Streetswere occupied by an industrious andthriving population. They were continu-ally harassed by inundations and encroach-ments of the sea, and portions of the cliffbecoming undermined, fell in, driving thepopulation to higher ground. The townwas attacked in the fourteenth and fif-teenth centuries by the French, and manyhouses were burnt, but the energy andvalour of the men of Sussex made themretreat with considerable loss. In thedays of Elizabeth, Brighthelmstone wasnoted for its hardy fishermen, and fishing-boats. At that time there were, we aretold, 400 seafaring men, 80 boats, and10,000 nets in the town.

About fifty years after the queen's death,

M 2

192 THE LIFE-BOAT JOUBNAL. [NOVEMBER 1, 1886.

Brighthelmstone was the scene of an eventof real historical interest. On the nightof the 14th October, 1651, a tall swarthyyoung man, with one companion, slippedquietly into the George Inn, in WestStreet, and stated that they had appointedto meet a seafaring friend there. The inn-keeper had in earlier days been employedabout the royal palace, and at once recog-nized in the visitor Prince Charles, son ofhim who ten years before had been be-headed at Whitehall. Shortly after, thecaptain of a collier, Nicholas Tettersell,was introduced to Charles and his friendWilmot (afterwards the notorious Earl ofEochester). A bargain having been struck,he took them on board, and landed themsafely at Fecamp, on the French coast.The royal fugitive was of course profuse inhis promises, and forgot them after theRestoration, which occurred nine yearsafter. Tettersell, finding that no inquirieswere made about him, steered his collierinto the Thames and moored it oppositeWhitehall. The dirty-looking craft at-tracted attention; inquiries were made,and the king remembered Ms obligations.Tettersell received a ring, and an annuityfor himself and descendants of WOl. a year,his ship being admitted as a ship ofthe Eoyal Navy, and renamed the LuckyEscape. The ring is still in the possessionof Sir Henry Shiffnerl, a descendant of thecaptain, and his grandfather was the lastto receive the pension.

The sea in the meanwhile continuedto make further encroachments, and thehardships and miseries of the inhabitantswere brought to a climax in 1705 by aterrible storm, which nearly swept thetown out of existence. One hundred andthirty houses were destroyed, and pro-perty to the value of 40,QQQZ.; the wholeof South Street being buried beneath theshingle washed up by the encroaching sea.A century later, when some excavationswere made, remains of old houses werefound at a depth of 15 feet. In 1732authority was granted to the town au-thorities to erect barriers against the sea.Groynes, or strong wooden jetties, wererun out to break the action of the waves;and in more recent times concrete groyneshave been constructed, and make excel-lent breakwaters. Notwithstanding themisfortunes of the town, the Sussex gentryhad a liking for it, and a few years after,a physician, Dr. Eussell, who had gained

considerable reputation for treating glan-dular diseases, and for his advocacy ofsea-water for strengthening the constitu-tion, took up his residence here. Hispatients followed him, and when a chaly-beate spring was discovered at Wick,about a mile to the east, possessing, aswas alleged, wonderful curative proper-ties, the reputation of the town wasat once secured. In 1750 Brighton wasstill only a fishing-village, with but onechurch, "St. Nicholas," where the re-mains of Nicholas Tettersell, to whomwe have alluded, lie buried. The rapidrise of the town is really due to its beingthe chosen residence of George IY. 'whenPrince of Wales, who in 1784-7 built theEoyal Pavilion, with which most of ourreaders are probably acquainted, and whichwas purchased by the Town from theCommissioners of Woods and Forests for53,OOOZ. in 1851. So far the history ofBrighton.

We now desire to draw attention to oneof the numerous charitable institutionswhich abound in and round Brighton;we mean the EOYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOATINSTITUTION. It may not be uninterestingto relate how it was that the above-namedSociety was led to establish a Life-boatstation on the beach nearly opposite theBedford Hotel. On the 10th of October,1857, at an early hour, the inhabitants ofBrighton were aroused from their bedsby the report of an approaching wreck.It had been blowing hard all night fromthe south, and the sea, as far as the eyecould reach, was covered with foam, whenat daybreak a brig was seen in the S.E.driving before the wind, and showingsignals of distress. It was soon seen shewas making for the shore—a step attendedwith infinite peiil; and though, it was notyet seven in the morning, thousands hadassembled on the cliff to witness her im-pending fate. Presently she struck onthe sand near the pier end, and it soonbecame evident she must go to pieces,and the crew perish, unless succour couldreach them. There were at that timethree Life-boats at Brighton; one, webelieve, belonging to the town authorities.A second had formerly been the propertyof the Brighton Humane Society, butabout three years since she had been con-demned as unserviceable. She was, how-ever, at that time bought by a well-knownspirited and justly popular Brighton

NOVEMBHB 1,1886.] THE LIFE-BOAT JOUENAL. 193

boatman, named JOHN WRIGHT, who gaveher a thorough refit, and resolved tomaintain her as a second Life-boat at hisown expense. A third, we believe, wasthe property of the Brighton HumaneSociety. Before the ill-fated brig hadtaken the ground, the two first-namedboats had put off to attempt to reach her.WEIGHT'S boat, being the fastest sailer, atfirst made the most progress; but she wasstruck by a heavy sea, which filled theboat, and carried away five of the oars,the sails having been taken down, as shewould not fetch to windward. Thus dis-abled, she was obliged to return to theshore. The Town Life-boat then succeededin getting alongside, and took off five outof the eight of the brig's crew, who weresafely landed. Two more attempts werenow made by WEIGHT to take off theremainder of the crew, but withoutsuccess; the Town boat also made anotherattempt, but was compelled by the violenceof the sea to put back. Four of WEIGHT'Screw had now deserted him, and he wasalmost in despair for volunteers, whenthe officer in command at the coastguardstation at Hove, Lieutenant MANSELL, K.N.,came to the spot, and with four of hismen offered to make up the deficiency.WEIGHT gladly availed himself of theservices of the men, but declined those ofthe lieutenant, wishing to retain commandof his own boat; and thus reinforced, afourth attempt was made, this time withsuccess, and the remainder of the crewwere landed in safety, amidst the cheersand hearty greetings of the crowds as-sembled to receive them. A public meet-ing was subsequently held at Brighton,when it was resolved to take immediatesteps to provide the most efficient Life-boat protection, which resulted in theformation at Brighton of a Branch of theBOY.AL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION,the inhabitants providing a house for theboat, and undertaking to subscribe an-nually a sufficient amount for its per-manent support. In 1868 the stationwas thoroughly re-organized, a new andhandsome boathouse being built on a siteof ground, granted by the Town Council,on the beach near the New West Pier.The old boat was replaced by a fine newone, pulling ten oars double-banked, itscost having been defrayed by the childrenin the Sunday-schools of London and itsneighbourhood, the fund having been

raised through the kind and zealousexertions of J. E. BTFBCHETT, Esq., CHABLESSEABE, Esq., and other gentlemen. TheLife-boat was named The Robert Saikes,after the great founder of Sunday-schools.In 1876 the Institution lost a warm friendin the person of Sir COBDY BUBBOWS, whohad been for many years Chairman of theBranch.

Brighton was the spot selected forcarrying out the Life-boat competition,a prize of 6001. having been offered bythe Fisheries Exhibition Commissioners in1883. Only three competitors appeared inthe field, viz., the EOYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, Messrs. FOBBESTT ANDSON, Boat-builders, and Messrs. TIMMISAND HODGSON. Owing to the exceptionallyfine weather experienced in the first half ofthe year 1884, a considerable time elapsedbefore weather possessing the necessarydegree of roughness set in, and then therewas a difficulty in assembling the jurors.More than one preliminary trial, however,took place in the presence of a largeconcourse of people, and finally the prizewas awarded to the self-righting boat ofthe Life-boat Institution.

In consequence of the excessive loss ofbeach where the Life-boat house is situated,through the action of the sea, which lastyear carried away the groyne provided forthe accumulation of the shingle, and haswithin the last month done so much moredamage, it has become necessary to movethe house to another site, and successfulnegotiations with the Corporation havejust been completed, by which the Societyacquires the use of two roomy archesopposite Cannon Place on very favourableterms. One arch will take in the boatand carriage, and the second will beutilized as a store, with possibly a wait-ing-room partitioned off. The Society hasbeen most fortunate in securing theservices of such well-known and philan-thropic gentlemen as Mr. Alderman Cox,Messrs. E. BOOTH, A. H. SUTHERLAND,W. JOHNSTON, W. E. WOOD and others, totake care of the interests and efficiency ofthe station. In June, 1884, Mr. W. E.WOOD, jun., who has acted as HonorarySecretary to the Branch for some years,was presented "by the Institution with apair of binocular glasses, in recognitionof his long and valuable services and co-operation, to continue which we trust hemay long be spared.

194 THE LIFE-BOAT JOURNAL. [NOVEMBER 1, 1886.

ADDITIONAL STATIONS AND NEW LIFE-BOATS.

WORKINGTON, CUMBERLAND.—In COn-sequence of a shipwreck having occurredhere, •with, loss of life, in September 1885,the local residents made application tothe Institution to form a Life-boat esta-blishment at this port, and as a largenumber of vessels enter and leave thereevery year, and it was considered a Life-boat would prove useful, the Committeedecided to comply -with that request.A substantial and commodious boat-house was accordingly erected, on a suit-able site, from designs furnished by theArchitect of the Institution, and on the5th April last the new Life-boat Sta-tion was publicly inaugurated. The boatplaced here is 34 feet long, 7^ feet wide,and rows 10 oars double banked. Likealmost all the Life-boats now sent to thecoast, it is provided with the water-ballast fittings, which have everywhereproved most successful. As we have men-tioned in former numbers of The Life-boatJournal, the object of these fittings is toincrease the ballast and immersion of theboat, and consequently her draught ofwater and stability, when circumstancesadmit of so doing, without materially in-creasing her fixed weight for land carriageor her draught of water when launching,or in very shallow water. The Life-boathas all the other characteristics of theboats of the Institution in the way ofself-righting, self-ejecting water, &c. Anew transporting and launching carriagehas been provided for the boat.

The cost of the Life-boat, carriage andequipment, was defrayed by a lady re-siding near London, and, in accordancewith her wishes, the boat is named TheDodo. Great preparations were madelocally for the reception of the new Life-boat, and many thousands of personsassembled on the occasion of her launch,the only drawback in their case being theweather, which, although suitable enoughfor testing the efficiency of the Life-boat,by no means conduced to their comfortand enjoyment, a strong wind blowingfrom the S.W., accompanied by blindingshowers, while rather a heavy surf brokeon the beach. However, the whole pro-gramme was carried out with completenessand care, and gave entire satisfaction.First of all, the Life-boat on its carriage,

drawn by eight horses, was escortedthrough the town in procession, whichcomprised Naval Eeserve men, Artilleryand Bifle volunteers, the Freemasons,Foresters, Odd Fellows, and other benevo-lent Societies, the Life-saving Brigade, theVolunteer Fire Brigade, and several bandsof music. On reaching the shore on thesouth side of St. John's pier, a halt wasmade and the energetic local honorarysecretary, J. C. THOMPSON, Esq., addressedthe spectators, and then called upon theDistrict Inspector of Life-boats, LieutenantTIPPING, B.N., who represented the Insti-tution on the occasion, to hand over theboat to the care of the Local Committee.The gift was acknowledged by CaptainGAMBLES, after which a hymn was sungby the united school choirs, and prayerwas offered up by Eev. J. J. THORNLEY,vicar of St. John's. The boat was thennamed by Mrs. GAMBLES, and afterwardslaunched and pulled outside the breakers,when the usual exercise was gone through,after which the boat was towed by thesteam-tug Grace up the harbour, whereshe was placed under a crane and capsizedtwice, three of the crew remaining in her.She righted immediately each time, andthe crew were much pleased with her;the second time the water-ballast tankswere full. At the luncheon afterwardsthe toasts of the Donor of the Life-boat,and the BOYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOATINSTITUTION were very cordially received.A concert in the evening, the proceeds ofwhich were added to the Life-Boat Fund,brought the proceedings to a close.

BLTTH, NORTHUMBERLAND. — A newLife-boat has been sent to this Portto take the place of the old No. 1 Life-boat on the station. The cost of thenew boat, which is 34 feet long and 8 feetwide, and is named The Palmer, was de-frayed from a legacy bequeathed to theInstitution by the late Mrs. ANNE DALMER,of Eyde, Isle of Wight.

SOUTHSEA, HAMPSHIRE.—The EOYALNATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION hasformed a Life-boat establishment onSouthsea Beach, which, in the opinion ofexperts, is considered to be an excellentposition whence a Life-boat can proceed,

NOVEMBER 1, 1886.] THE LIFE-BOAT JOURNAL. 195

either under sail or in tow of the Admi-ralty or other steam-tags, to shipwrecksalong that coast and round the easternapproaches to Spithead. The cost of theboat, which is one of the large class, 37feet long, 9 feet wide, and rowing 12 oarsdouble banked, and which is named TheHeyland, has been defrayed from a specialfund raised to found a memorial to thelate Lieutenant HEYLAND, K.N., who losthis life in saving a sailor who fell over-board from H.M.S. Minotaur. A house hasbeen constructed for the boat on a sitekindly granted by the War Department.The new Life-boat Station was publiclyinaugurated on the 5th June last, underthe superintendence of the Chief Inspectorof Life-boats, Captain the Hon. H. W.CHETWYND, B.N., and the District In-spector, Commander ST. VINCENT NEPEAN,B.N. The boat and carriage were per-mitted by the naval authorities to bereceived at the Dockyard, and the pro-cession, consisting of the band of theEoyal Marine Artillery, a body of NavalPensioners, who requested permission tojoin it; some officers and petty officerslate of H.M.S. Minotaur, Members of theLocal Committee and friends, proceededby way of the Hard, High Street, &c., tothe boat-house. Here the usual inauguralceremony was performed in the presenceof a large number of people, the Mayor ofPortsmouth presiding, Staif-CommanderPHILLIPS, E.N., of H.M.S. Fire Queen, andlate of H.M.S. Minotaur, representing theDonors, and the Mayoress of Portsmouthnaming the Life-boat, which was thenlaunched, and the crew exercised in theusual way.

ILFKAOOMBE.—A new Life-boat has re-cently been sent to this place by the In-stitution to take the place of a smallerone stationed there many years since.The new boat is 34 feet long, 7£ feetwide, rows 10 oars, double banked, andis provided with a transporting- andlaunching-carriage. The cost of the newLife-boat, carriage and equipment was pre-sented to the Institution by the Co-opera-rative Wholesale Society, the head-quar-ters of which are at Manchester, andwhich also possesses branches at London,Newcastle, Plymouth and other places.This is the second Life-boat presented bythe Society, and it is named The Co-opera-tor No. 2. The first boat was stationed at

Cullercoats, on the coast of Northumber-land, in September 1884, and it has alreadybeen instrumental in helping some dis-tressed fishing-boats. The Ilfracombenew Life-boat was publicly launched atPlymouth en route to its station on the16th June last, the last day of the Ply-mouth Co-operative Congress, under thesuperintendence of the District Inspectorof Life-boats, Commander LA PBIMAU-DATE, E.N.

The delegates of the co-operative so-cieties invited the local Life-boat com-mittee to anjnaugural luncheon at 1 P.M.,after •which a procession was formed atthe Friary Station, where the boat waswaiting on her carriage.

The boat was drawn by six horsesthrough the streets of the town, whichwere crowded with people, and she wascontinuously cheered on the way. Thelaunch took place at a favourite site belowthe Hoe in the grounds of the sea baths.When fairly in a position for launchingthe shafts were unshipped and a platformbrought forward. A hymn was sung andprayers offered by the Eev. PrebendaryWILKINSON. The General Secretary to theCo-operative Society, Mr. E. VANSITTAKTNEALE, transferred the boat to the DistrictInspector, who thanked the Donors.

The Boat was named by Mrs. A.ACLAND, and subsequently successfullylaunched over the quay.

The Plymouth Life-boat was afloat towelcome the new boat, and both boatspulled about and were much admired.

Admiral A. PHILLIMOBE, Commander-in-Chief, Mr. A. ACLAND, and other gentle-men attended the launch, which was wit-nessed by a vast number of people.

When the boat reached its station itmet with a public reception, large crowdsof spectators assembling to witness thelaunch. After it was afloat the detach-ment of Naval Artillery Volunteers onboard the gunboat Tay manned the rig-ging and gave lusty cheers for the boatand its crew.

SHEKINGHAM, NOBFOLK.—In response tothe strong wishes of the fishermen andmost of the principal inhabitants of thisplace, the Life-boat placed here nineteenyears since has been replaced by a larger14-oared boat on the self-righting prin-ciple, 41 feet long and 9^ feet wide, clench-built of larch, the cost of which has been

196 THE LIFE-BOAT JOUKNAL. [NOVEMBER 1, 1886.

met by a legacy bequeathed to the Institu-tion by the late Mr. WILLIAM BENNETT,of Albert Street, Eegent's Park, for a Life-boat to be named after himself. The boathas very great stability; with the crewand gear in their places it takes forty mensitting on one gunwale to bring it to thewater's edge. It was taken to its stationby water in July last, being towed nearlythe whole distance, and was then tested oneach of the two following days underoars and sails, and the fishermen were sowell pleased with the result that theyspontaneously proposed that a meetingshould be called to enable them to ex-press their thanks to the Institution. Themeeting was held accordingly under thepresidency of the local hon. secretary, theBev. LETHBBIDGE MOOBE, when the Teryhearty thanks of the fishermen were ex-pressed. On the following Sunday a spe-cial service was held in the church onbehalf of the boat, and was very well at-tended by them.

FETHARD, COUNTY WEXFOBD.—Withthe full concurrence of the Committee ofthe late Waterford Harbour and Duncan-non Branch, the Duncannon Life-boatStation has been abolished, and a newLife-boat Establishment in its place hasbeen formed at Fethard, to guard BannowBay and the neighbouring part of the coast.It was from Fethard that the DnncanBonLife-Jboat was launched and saved 33lives from the stranded ship Ear I Beacons-field, on the 14th February, 1881. Thenew boat, which is one of the 34-feet 10-oared class, is provided with a transport-ing carriage. It was sent to its stationin July last. The whole cost of this newLife-boat Station has been met from thebequest of the late Mrs. HELEN BLAKE,of Handcross House, Sussex,—receivedthrough the Lords Commissioners of H.M.Treasury—and the boat is named afterthe deceased lady.

ABEBDOVEYJ AMD POBTHADOC, NOBTHWALES.—The [Institution has despatchednew Life-boats to Aberdovey and Portma-doc, to take the place of the former Life-boats on those stations. Each boat is 34feet long, and rows 10 oars, doublebanked.

A new transporting and launchingcarriage has been provided for the Aber-dovey boat. The cost of this Life-boat,

which is named The Thomas Nicolls Strat-ford, has been defrayed from a legacybequeathed to the Institution by the lateMr. T. N. STBATFOBD, of Worcester. ThePortmadoo ,boat is named The Caroline,and has been provided from a legacyreceived from the late Miss CABOLINELAMB, of Clifton, and a fund raised byCapt. A. KODNEY BLANE, E.N., to help inmeeting the cost of a new Life-boat.

The naming and launching of theAberdovey boat took place on the 30thSeptember. The coxswain and crewwere delighted with their new Life-boat,and expressed their readiness to go afloatin her in any weather and any sea.

The Portmadoc Life-boat was launchedfor the first time on the 9th of August,

{ the Eector offering up a few appropriateprayers, and the ceremony of namingbeing performed by the wife of the Lord-Lieutenant of the county in the presenceof a large concourse of people. Thisboat has also given much satisfaction.

PoBTHOUSTOCK, Si. IVES AND BUDEHAVEN, COBNWALL.—These three Life-boat Stations have likewise been providedwith new and improved boats and car-riages in the place of those sent theremany years since. The Porthoustocknew Life-boat is 37 feet long, 8 feet wide,and rows 12 oars double banked; its costwas defrayed by "A. F. S.," a lady livingnear London, and in accordance with herrequest it is named The Charlotte. Theother two boats are of the 34-feet 10-oared class. The one for St. Ives, like itspredecessor, is named The JSxeter, thelegacy of the late Mr. W. KENDALL, ofthat city, having been appropriated tothat Station. The Bnde boat also bearsthe name given to the old boat, TheElizabeth Moore Garden, this Life-boatStation having been endowed by thefamily of the late K. T. GABDEN, Esq.,of Eiver Lyons, King's County, Ireland.

NEWQUAY, CABDIOAJTSHIKE.—TMs Sta-tion has likewise received one of the new37-feet 12-oared Life-boats, the gift ofMr. and Mrs. FBANOIS G. SMABT, of Tun-bridge Wells, the boat bearing their jointnames, The Frank and Marion. This isthe third Life-boat that Mrs. SMABT haspresented to the Institution. On theoccasion of the first launch of the newLife-boat, on the 23rd September, the

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whole town of Newquay kept holiday,and the inhabitants, as well as those ofthe district for miles round, turned outto witness the proceedings—a most en-thusiastic reception being extended tothe donors, who were present, to whomthe following address was presented bythe EOT. D. GBIFFITHS :—

"Mr. and Mrs. FRANCIS J. SMART.—Thelocal committee of the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION at Newquay, for themselvesand on behalf of the general community on thiscelebration of the first public launch of thelife-boat Frank and Marion, desire to conveyto you their deep feelings of gratitude andappreciation of the noble generosity whichprompted you to the gift of the grand Life-boatnow about to be launched. Of the numerouscharitable institutions which abound in ourcountry, none are more worthy to be supportedthan the LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, and it is asubject of deep thankfulness that the calls ofthe Institution are ao liberally met throughoutthe length and breadth of the land. God, theFather of all, puts it into the hearts of ladiesand gentlemeu such as you, who are endowedwith wealth, to think of the perils and dangersof those of our brothers whose work lies, andwhose lives are spent, on the sea, and to providethe means, in so tar as human skill and couragecan attain that end, of saving their lives andalleviating their miseries when their ships aretossed on our coasts by the fierce tempests whichso frequently visit these shores. This localcommittee, on behalf of the entire communityof the district, now asks you to receive theirassurance of our warmest thankfulness for en-trusting us at this station with such a noble andcostly boat as the Frank and Marion. Themen who will man her when need arises have

been scanning her closely since her arrival atthe station, and their feeling of admiration forand confidence in their new boat is unbounded.They know that, thanks to your Christiangenerosity, all that money and science andskill can secure in the construction of a Life-boat has been lavished on theirs, and when thecall comes and the signal goes forth that thereare brothers in danger of perishing on this partof the rockbound coast of Cardigan Bay, youmay feel assured that the boat called after yournames will be cheerfully manned by as boldand fearless and skilful a set of men as everfaced the howling wind and roaring waves inthe effort to save life."

Mr. SMABT appropriately acknowledgedthe receipt of the address, and said thatit gave him and his wife great pleasureto be present, and that they felt verygratified at the cordial and warm recep-tion afforded them. A short religiousservice was then conducted by the Rev.D. GRIFFITH, after which the ceremonyof naming the boat was performed byMra. SMABT, who broke the customarywine-bottle over the stern, when the boatglided into the water amid the vociferouscheering of the crowds.

The donors afterwards caused tea to beprovided for the Life-boatmen and theirwives and a number of aged persons, aswell as for 550 school children. Onleaving Newquay they were waited on bythe Life-boat crew, and MX. GBIMTTHTHOMAS, the second coxswain, who ex-pressed their sincerest and warmest thanksfor their great liberality.

OUE INLAND BEANCHES.

HUDDEESFIELD.HEMMED in on all sides by high hills, andoccupying a position in the very heart ofthe manufacturing districts of Yorkshireand Lancashire, itself a large centre ofpopulation engaged in the woollen andcloth trades, is situated the town of Hud-dersfield, on a considerable extent of highground sloping down to the River Colne,a tributary of the Calder. The import-ance of the town is mainly due to aplentiful supply of coal and water, exten-sive railway communication with all partsof the kingdom, and to canals in connec-tion with both the Mersey and the Hum-ber. That connecting with the Merseyis carried at the highest canal level inEngland, through a remarkable tunnel,

three and a quarter miles in length,which pierces the chain of hills called thePenine Chain, or English Apennines, 652feet beneath the surface, and is so straightthat the light can be seen from end toend. Parallel with it, but at a slightlyhigher level, is the railway tunnel, at theend of which is Marsden Station.

The history of the West Hiding of York-shire, of which Hnddersfield is one of thelargest towns, is, considering its greatsize, very scanty in its materials, andvery few of the remains of the originalinhabitants, or of the Romans, are now tobe seen. Of the few places of historicinterest contained in the parish may bementioned " Slack," the supposed site of

198 THE LIFE-BOAT JOURNAL. [NOVEMBEB 1, 1886.

the ancient city of Cambodunum, whichoccupied the attention and labours of theHuddersfield Archaeological and Topo-graphical Association during the latterpart of 1865 and the early part of 1866,when several Roman remains were ex-cavated. Almondbury, about two milesfrom Huddersfield, was once a place ofsome importance, and, possessed a churchbuilt by Paulinus, the companion of St.Augustin, the only certain memorial ofwhose labours is the ancient stone crossat Dewsbury, which marks the spotwhere he first preached to the heathen,and afterwards baptized them in the EiverCalder. It was on this account thatDewsbury Church was and is still lookedupon as the Mother Church of a largeecclesiastical district, including even Hud-dersfield, which owes allegiance and paysan annual tribute. Above the village ofAlmondbury is the Castle Hill, 900 feethigh, where a castle, built in the reign ofStephen, is said to have existed formerly;no trace, however, of either building nowremains. Kirklees Priory, distant aboutfour miles, must not be omitted, as it isthe only ruin of antiquity of its class inthe neighbourhood. This Priory wasfounded in the year 1155 in the reign ofHenry II., and is chiefly of interest fromits association with the name of " EobinHood." A small closet in this gate-houseis pointed out as the room in which EobinHood spent the last hours of his life, incompany with his friend and counsellorLittle John. Having been obliged tosolicit surgical assistance from his cousinthe Prioress of Kirklees, who, by the way,is said to have opened a vein in his armwhile he was asleep, and finding his endapproaching, Eobin Hood made his lastrequest to his friend that he would takehis bow, and, opening the window, shootan arrow,

" And where the arrow down should fallThere buried should he be."

He is supposed to be buried in the parknear a small plantation, through which afootpath to the left leads to the spotwhere Little John's arrow is said to havefallen. An epitaph is let into the wall ofa small quadrangle protected by an ironrailing, in which he is described as Earl ofHuntingdon.

The earliest mention of the district inwhich Huddersfield now stands is in

Domesday Book, where the town is re-ferred to under the name of " Oderesfelt "as belonging to one "Ilbert de Lacy,"who received the barony of Pontefractfrom William the Conqueror when hedivided the lands of the Saxons amonghis Norman followers. The originalparish church is supposed to have beenbuilt by him in 1073. The most im-portant period of the modern historyof Huddersfield was during the Ludditeinsurrection in 1811-12, which wasbrought about by the introduction ofmachinery for finishing cloth. Commenc-ing in Nottinghamshire, it soon spread toYorkshire,- and Huddersfield was one ofthe towns most deeply engaged in it.The greatest discontent prevailed through-out the neighbourhood owing to the com-mercial distress which existed for severalyears after the substitution of steam formanual labour; several acts of violencewere committed, and several deeds ofrebellion were agreed upon, but the insti-gators of the several movements wereeither captured or dispersed.

In 1842 the Plug riots, originated bya large number of operatives from Lan-cashire, commenced. These men marchedacross the country to Huddersfield, draw-ing the plugs out of the boilers at all thefactories where they could. A meetingwas held in the town to consider whatfurther steps should be taken, but theirdeliberations were speedily brought to aclose by the military, the Eiot Act havingbeen read.

For a manufacturing town, Huddersfieldis one of the best built, most regular, andcleanest of all the prosperous towns inthe North of England. Being entirelybuilt of a good white freestone, and thefact of the land on which it is built allbelonging to one owner, Sir John N.Eamsden, at whose offices all plans ofproposed buildings have to be submitted,due attention to street architecture isensured. The best part of the town isthe open space in front of the station, inwhich is a statue in white marble of thelate Sit Robert Peel. The inhabitantshave the reputation of being a hard-headed, practical people, always ready tohelp every philanthropic work whichcommends itself to them, or to receivea stranger, when properly introduced,with the open arms of hospitality. Theyare passionately fond of music, and a

NOVEMBER 1,1886.] THE LIFE-BOAT JOURNAL. 199

band will always attract hundreds of thepopulation in a few minutes. Nothingsurprises a stranger to the locality morethan their love of music. Not long sincea Hussar regiment passing through Hud-dersfield en route for Manchester, wasbilleted for the night in the town. Nex<morning, when the regiment assembledon parade in St. George's Square, theband, which was formed up in front,struck up a selection of music which wasvery prettily played, and with the greatesttaste. The large square was speedilythronged, much to the writer's surprise,with spectators, principally from thelabouring class, who, at the conclusion ofthe performance, showed their delightby loud clapping of hands. The ser-vices in the churches and chapels, thoughmusical, are thoroughly evangelical, andthe most unpretending choir can performan oratorio with credit; indeed, ministerswould lose their congregations if the tasteof the people for music were not recognisedand satisfied. The service in the parishchurch is on Sunday evenings a sightwell worth seeing, when every part ofthe building is thronged by all denomi-nations to listen to the powerful preachingof the vicar, the musical rendering of theservice leaving nothing to be desired.The large attendance of the working-classes at the Bible lectures on Sundayafternoons testify their appreciation ofthe vicar's worth and merits. A strongman is wanted in Huddersfield to combatthe infidelity so prevalent, and all we cansay is, the requirements of Huddersfieldare well satisfied in this respect.

The staple trade is the fancy woollencloth trade, but there are also large con-cerns engaged in the cotton, silk and irontrades. The manufacturing class hasalways shown itself alive to accept andutilize change of fashion, with the resultthat Huddersfield still retains a positionfar ahead of all its rivals in the supply ofclothing fabrics.

Notwithstanding the long-continued de-pression in trade which has now extendedover so many years, but which has onlybeen comparatively slightly felt in Hud-dersfield because of the numerous occu-pations which the working classes areable to engage in, steady progress hasbeen made by the town. A splendidsupply of water has been obtained fromworks erected on the moors by the Cor-

poration at a cost of 750,000?. Fiftyyears ago there was only one post office,one letter carrier, and one delivery a day;now there are in the same district fifty-eight post-offices and receiving-boxes,and forty-two letter carriers, besidessupernumeraries who are at work all day.In connection with the post-office we mustnot fail to call attention to the Post-OfficeSavings Bank, which in great measureowed its establishment to a Huddersfieldman, Sir Charles W. Sikes, the managingdirector of the Huddersfield BankingCompany. He first suggested the matterto Mr. Gladstone, who deputed the lateMr. F. I. Scudamore, C.B., then secondSecretary of the Post-Office, to consultwith Mr. Sikes, and together they elabo-rated the arrangements which Parliamentmade law in 1861. The result, aftertwenty-five years' working of the Act, isthat upwards of 47 millions sterling nowstand to the credit of the working classes,and the idea has been adopted by almostevery civilized nation in the world. Thisbrilliant success merited and received itsdue recognition in the honour of knight-hood conferred upon the author by HerMajesty the Queen.

As regards the educational departments,the Huddersfield Colleges for boys andgirls are both large and successful. Thetwo institutions have lately been unitedunder one board of management, and theyoccupy conspicuous and handsome build-ings in the North Eoad. Great alterationshave been and are still taking place forthe enlargement of the railway station, inorder to admit of the development of thetraffic, and at the present moment 5000trains daily pass in and out of Hudders-field. When the work is completed thestation will be one of the finest in thekingdom. The town also possesses twofine parks, one the gift of Mr. H. F. Beau-mont, M.P., containing 20 acres of ground,upon which 30,0002. was laid out by theCorporation. The other park was bought'rom Sir J. H. Kamsden, and has alto-gether cost the town 66,000?.

All these provisions for the comfortand welfare of the inhabitants, and thesteady and marvellous manner in which;he population has increased, viz., from7000 at the commencement of the century;o 87,000 at the present time, bear wit-ness to the uninterrupted progress of the;own.

200 THE LIFE-BOAT JOUBNAL. [NOVEMBER 1, 1886.

At the head of the charities stands theinfirmary. It has twice been enlargedsince it was built fifty years ago, and itnow contains 100 beds. The workingclasses contribute upwards of 1,0001. ayear towards its support; it also has a longlist of subscribers, and the interest accru-ing from nearly 40.000Z. bequeathed byfriends at various times. A scheme fora third enlargement has just been broughtout and has met with a munificent re-sponse. There are many other localcharities on a smaller scale which are allwell supported, particularly that in aid ofthe funds of the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, which obtained a localfooting in 1866. In that year the resi-dents of Huddersfield, through the bene-volent exertions of Mr. THOMAS CBESS-WELL and others, presented 10342. to theSociety for a Life-boat to be called the" Huddersfield." At that time the Institu-tion had decided to establish a Life-boatStation at Hasborough on the coast ofNorfolk, it being a place where vessels indistress were frequently run ashore, andthis money was appropriated to the pur-pose. A substantial house was built ontop of the cliff to keep the boat in, and

in July 1866 the Life-boat and transpoit-ing-carriage were forwarded to Hudders-field en route to their destination, werepublicly exhibited in the armoury, andvisited by large numbers of persons. TheLife-boat was drawn on her carriagethrough the streets, attended by a proces-sion of volunteers and others. Her self-righting qualities were afterwards ex-hibited at the junction of the riversCalder and Colne in the presence of notless than 20,000 spectators, the greatestenthusiasm prevailing throughout theproceedings. ¥01 some years after thisthe Institution did not receive muchsupport from Huddersfield, and in 1872the' annual subscriptions amounted toabout 81. only. Mr. J. A. HABBISON wasthen appointed Hon. Secretary, and thecontributions rapidly increased until atthe time of his death in 1883 theyamounted to 109Z. Mr. J. T. KILNEB thenundertook the vacant post, and thanks tohis valuable and energetic co-operation, inconjunction with Mr. F. H. SHAW, thesubscriptions have largely increased, andnow amount to 1891.

The Hftddersfield Life-boat has beeninstrumental in saving 50 lives.

THE WRECK REGISTER AND CHART FOR THE YEAR 1884-85.No Wreck Eegister having been issued this autumn by the BOABD OF TBADE, woare unable, as has been our wont for upwards of thirty years, to furnish ourreaders, in the November number of our Journal, with a Chart showing the wrecksand shipping casualties which have taken place around the coast of the UnitedKingdom during the year 1884-85, and with the other interesting and im-portant statistics connected therewith, which it has been our practice to bringunder their notice. We have been informed by the BOABD OF TBADE that theWreck Register in question will not be published before next year.

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

HOLYHEAD.—On the 4th of April, 1886,at midnight, the schooner Lorn, of Lan-caster, bound from Wicklow for Liver-pool, showing signals of distress during amoderate gale from the S.W., the ThomasFielden Life-boat put off to her assistance.She was about half-a-mile from the headof the breakwater, and was dragging her

anchors. Her crew, consisting of fourmen, were brought ashore by the Life-boat, and on the following morning theboat again went out, and assisted to bringthe vessel into the harbour.

The Thomas Fielden Life-boat put off at9 P.M. on the 17th May, signals of distresshaving been shown by the schooner Glad

L

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Tidings, of Aberystwith, in ballast, whichwas in a dangerous position in the bayduring a strong gale from the S.W. and aheavy sea. Great difficulty was expe-rienced by the Life-boat in getting along-side the vessel as she was labouringheavily in the trough of the sea; but even-tually this was accomplished, and hercrew, consisting of five men, were takenoff and brought safely ashore.

On the 27th September, at 3.30 A.M.,signals of distress having been shown bythe schooner Fairlie and Jane, of Beau-maris, bound from Dublin from Llanael-haiarn in ballast, during a strong galefrom the W.S.W., the Thomas Fielden Life-boat put off to her assistance. On reach-ing the vessel she was found to be striking

collision between two fishing cutters, andthat one of them, named the W. H. M.,

•of Yarmouth, had sunk. The crew, ofsix men, had taken refuge on the othervessel, the Eettie, of Kamsgate, whichwas at anchor in a dangerous position.After repairing damage, she sailed to thesouth at daylight; the crew of the sunkenvessel having in the meantime been takenoff by the Life-boat, which landed themat Winterton at 2.30 A.M.

CLACTON-ON-SEA.—On the evening ofthe 7th of April a small vessel wasobserved in the Wallet Channel, S.E. ofClacton Pier, during a strong S.W. windand a very rough sea. With the aid ofa powerful glass, it was seen that she was

heavily on the rocks at the breakwater;her crew had been landed by means ofropes, and the master alone remained onboard. At his request the Life-boat stayedby the vessel until she floated: an attemptwas then made to get her into the har-bour, but she was unfortunately driven onthe rocks. Subsequently, however, a steam-tug managed to tow her into the old har-bour. The master was brought ashorein the Li'e-boat.

WINTEBTON.—Flares having been re-ported by the Coast Guard, at about 11 P.M.on the 4th of April, the No. 2 Life-boat,the Husband, was launched, proceeded inthe direction in which the signals hadbeen seen, and found there had been a

disabled, and there appeared to be nobodyon board. Still as there was a possibilityof the crew being in the cabin, it wasdeemed advisable to launch the AlbertEdward Life-boat, in case help should beneeded. The Life-boat put off at 6.45,and on reaching the vessel found thatshe was a small cutter yacht of about5 tons, named the Oruisada, abandoned,half full of water, and with everything indisorder. The Life-boat took her in towand made for Harwich, arriving there atabout 9 P.M., and having handed her overto the proper authorities, returned to herStation on the following day.

PALLING.—During a strong wind fromthe N.E. with a heavy sea and foggy

202 THE LIFE-BOAT JOURNAL. [NOVEMBER 1, 1886,

weather, the No. 2 Life-boat, BritishWorkman, put off at 6 P.M. on the 15th ofApril to the assistance of the barqueFranziska, of Porsgrund, Norway, boundfrom that port for Liverpool, with a cargoof pit-wood, which had stranded on theHasborough Sand. The Life-boat re-mained by the vessel during the night,and in the morning, finding her rapidlybreaking up, took off her crew, consistingof ten men, and landed them safely at1 P.M. Shortly after leaving the vesselshe became a total wreck.

SDNDERLAND.—The report of a gunwas heard at 7.45 A.M. on the 19th ofApril, during a light E.N.E. wind, astrong sea, and foggy weather, and thescrew steamer, Langdale, of Sunderland,was seen on the North rocks. The No. 1Life-boat Good Templar was launched,and took off the crew, numbering sixteenmen. Much difficulty was experiencedin getting the boat alongside the wreck,owing to the rocks and the state of thetide.

DEAL.—Full particulars of the servicesrendered by this Life-boat on the 20thApril on the occasion of the wreck ofThe August Herman Francke, are given inthe August number, pages 171-2.

ABEBSOCH, NOBTH WALES.—The MabelLouisa Life-boat was launched, at 2.30 A.M.on the 29th of April, with much difficulty,the night being very dark, the tide farout, and a very heavy sea breaking onthe shore. She proceeded to the smackEndeavour, of Portmadoc, bound fromNewport, Monmouthshire, for Abersoch,with a cargo of coal; but meanwhile thevessel parted both chains, and droveashore on the beach. There were onlythree lads on board, and as the coxswainfeared they might try to get ashore intheir boat, and possibly be drowned inthe attempt, the Life-boat made for thevessel, and took them off. The boatthen went to the schooner Eliza Bell,of Amlwch, coal laden from Liverpool toAbersoch, which had parted one of herchains, and rescued the crew of threemen, and the mate's wife and child.

BAMSGATE.—At 11.45 A.M., on the 12thMay, during a moderate E. wind and thickweather, signal guns were fired by the

light-ships. The Bradford Life-boat wentout in tow of the harbour steam-tugVulcan and found the schooner EdwardArthur, of Carnarvon, 141 tons, boundfrom Newcastle to Lisbon with a cargo ofcoal and carrying a crew of six men, ashore«m the N.E. part of the Goodwin Sands.The master having engaged the services ofthe Life-boatmen to try to save the vessel,her sails were stowed, an anchor and cablegot ready for running out, and at 4 P.M.the steamer commenced to tow her. Aftertowing until 5 o'clock she came afloatstriking heavily, and at the master's re-quest was towed to Dover, six of the Life-boatmen remaining on board her to assistat the pumps, &c. Dover was reached at8.30 P.M., and the steam-tug returned tothe station at 10.30.

CAEDIGAN.—The fishing-boat President,of Aberayron, put into Cardigan bay,during a N.N.E. wind and a heavy groundsea on the morning of the 13th May, andmade signals of distress. The Life-boatLizzie and Charles Leigh Clare put off toher assistance, took three of her occu-pants out and brought them ashore, andput a pilot on board, to take the boat intoport as soon as there was sufficient waterto enable her to cross the bar.

BUBNHAM, SOMERSETSHIRE. — Intelli-gence having been received that theschooner Eliza, of Bridgwater, 69 tons,bound for Cardiff with a cargo of coal,and having a crew of three men, had sunkon the Gore Sands, the crew of the Life-boat Cheltenham were called, the boatwas promptly launched at 6.15 on theevening of the 15th of May, and proceededto the assistance of the vessel's crew. Onher way out she met the ketch FannyJane with the men on board: they weretaken into the Life-boat and safely landedat about 8 P.M.

COUBTMACSHEBBY, Co. CoBE. — Thefishing-smack Harry, of Courtmacsherry,while getting under weigh to run forshelter from the roadstead to the pier ina heavy W.S.W. gale, at 3 P.M. on the 17thMay, lost one of her anchors. When underweigh she missed stays and went on thebar on which a very heavy sea was break-ing; she let go another anchor but thechain parted. However, she floated off thesand and stood out Ao sea. The Life-boat

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Warrant put off to her assistance, takingout an anchor to her, and remained along-side until she had crossed the bar, where,if she had again missed stays, she wouldin all probability have been lost with hercrew of six men. When they got intothe shelter of the harbour's point the Life-boatmen ran out a warp and hauled thesmack into a safe position.

NEW BRIGHTON. — Information wasbrought to the Life-boat Station at 9.45P.M. on the 17th May, that a vessel hadbeaten over the Brazil Bank and had sunkin the Kock Channel. The wind wasblowing from the W.S.W. at the time;the weather was squally, and there was aheavy sea. The Willie and Arthur Life-boat promptly put off to the help of thevessel, which proved to be the schoonerAdmiral Nelson, of Beaumaris, laden withstone, and rescued her crew of two men,who were in an exhausted condition.

WORKINGTON, CUMBERLAND. In theevening of the 17th May, a strong W.wind, which had been blowing all day,suddenly developed into a heavy gale,and at 8.45 signals were shown by asmall schooner, the General Cathcart, ofGreenock, bound from Ballywalter forWorkington in ballast, which was anchoredtwo miles N. of the harbour. The Life-boat Dodo, which had been recently placedon the station, was quickly manned; wastowed out by the steam-tug Grace, reachedthe schooner, and after four attempts suc-ceeded in taking off her crew, number-ing four men, and brought them safelyashore.

On the following day the Life-boat, atthe request of the master, again proceededto the vessel, with her crew, and assistedto bring her into the harbour.

KILMOKE, Co. WEXFORD.—The JohnRobert Life-boat was launched at noon onthe 24th May, to the assistance of thes.s. Pontiac, of and for Liverpool, fromNew Orleans, with a cargo of cotton andmaize, which had struck on St. Patrick'sBridge during a dense fog. She was gotafloat by steam-tugs, the Life-boat re-maining by her until no farther servicewas required.

NEWHAVEN.—At 2 P.M. on1 the 24thMay, the Michael Henry Life-boat was

launched to the aid of the dandy HappyReturn, of Newhaven. The vessel wasloaded with chalk, which had been takenfrom the beach, when she was suddenlyovertaken by a squall which threatened toengulf her. The Life-boat remained byher until she reached the harbour, hercrew of three men being reassured by thepresence of the boat.

BALLYCOTTON, Co. COEK.—The ketchArgo, of Bridgwater, bound from New-port for Clonakilty, with coal, and carry-ing a crew of three men, was observed tobe in distress during a moderate galefrom the S. on the morning of the 21stJuly. She seemed unmanageable, butultimately anchored to leeward of Bally-cotton Island, still exhibiting signals ofdistress. A Coastguard boat went to heraid, but finding her rudder unshipped orbroken, her mainsail split, and her crewexhausted, was unable to render anyassistance, and therefore returned ashore.The Oliver Goldsmith Life-boat then wentto the vessel, put some men on board, andbrought her safely into harbour.

BERWICK-ON-TWEED.—At 8.30 P.M., onthe 13th August, the Albert Victor Life-boat put off to the assistance of the yachtPuffin, of Berwick, which was broughtup in a dangerous position off SpittalBeach. The owner and crew of the yachthaving been landed by a fishing-boat, theLife-boat put two men on board the vessel,which was afterwards towed into port.

CEMAES, ANGLESEY.—The AshtonianLife-boat put off at 2.30 P.M., on the 28thAugust, and brought safely back to landa boat containing two men, which wasdrifting out to sea during a strong S.W.wind. Her occupants were inexperiencedin the management of a boat, and beingnearly exhausted, were quite unable toregain the harbour.

TROON, SCOTLAND. —The schooner Mistle-toe, of Brixham, bound from Saffi, N. Africa,for Irvine, with a cargo of beans, wentashore on Lady Island, on the night ofthe 6th September. On the following daya strong gale sprung up from the S.W.,with a very heavy sea, and at about1 P.M. the schooner hoisted signals for theLife-boat, there being upwards of twentymen on board the vessel, in addition to

204 THE LIFE-BOAT JOUENAL. [NOVEMBER 1, 1886.

her crew, throwing overboard the cargo.The Mary Sinclair Life-boat at once pro-ceeded to her, and remained alongsideuntil she was towed off by a steam-tug,and no farther danger was apprehended.

LOWESTOFT.—Intelligence having beenreceived that two steamers had been incollision in the north part of StanfordChannel, The Samuel Plimsoll Life-boatput off at 9.15 A.M., on the' 10th Sep-tember, and reached the vessels as theycleared each other. One of them, the s.s.Erasmus Wilson, 496 tons, of and forLondon, coal laden, and having a crew of17 persons and 8 passengers, was sobadly damaged as to necessitate her beingbeached to prevent her from sinking.The Life-boat, having been towed south-wards by the steam-tug Rainbow, througha very heavy sea, the wind blowingstrongly from the S.S.W., dropped heranchor, veered down to the vessel, andrescued eleven persons who were on board.The remainder of the crew and passengershaving taken refuge on the other steamer,the Lord Alfred Paget, of London, whichwas not badly injured and had broughttip in the South Boads, the Life-boat pro-ceeded to her; took off the fourteen per-sons, and landed all the people safely inLowestoft harbour at 11.20.

PETEKHEAD.—At 5.30 P.M., on the llthSeptember, The People's Journal No. 1Life-boat put off, during a gale from theW.S.W., to the assistance of the schoonerEesolue, of Lossiemouth, bound fromShetland for Sunderland in ballast, whichwas showing signals of distress near Kirk-ton Head. The crew, consisting of fivemen, having expressed much anxiety to

be taken off their vessel, fearing she mightbe driven ashore at any moment, theywere taken into the Life-boat and safelylanded in the North Harbour, considerabledifficulty being experienced by the Life-boatmen in returning to the shore.

LlZAED ANDCADGWITH. The S.S. Suffolk,

of London, 2,900 tons, bound from Balti-more for London, with a cargo of flour,tobacco, &c., and having a large numberof cattle on board, struck the rocks at theLizard Head during a dense fog at 4 o'clockon the afternoon of the 28th of September.As there was imminent danger of thevessel breaking up, the master decided toabandon her at once, and he and his crew,forty-five persons in all, put off in threeboats, remaining for some time in Pen-traeth Bay to see if help would come fromthe shore. Immediately on intelligence ofthe casualty being received, the rocketapparatus was called into requisition, anda line was fired over the vessel, but as nouse of it was made, the crew having lefther, the Lizard No. 2 Life-boat, TheEdmund and Fanny, stationed at Polpear,was launched, and fortunately succeededin finding the boats. The crews of two ofthem, numbering 24 persons, were takeninto the Life-boat, and endeavours madeto save the boats, but the heavy seasrendered it utterly impossible to do so,and they had to be abandoned. TheCadgwith Life-boat, The Joseph Armstrong,also put off to the help of the shipwreckedmen, and rescued the crew of the thirdboat, consisting of 21 persons; 45 liveswere thus happily rescued by these twoLife-boats, their crews having very hardwork, and being much exhausted on theirreturn to their stations.

THE WASTING OP THE ENGLISH COAST.

(From The Times, 5th October, 1886.)

ENGLISHMEN do not, as a rule, realise theperishable and perishing nature of theland on which they live. Although morethan fifty years have now elapsed sinceSir Charles Lyell collected and emphasisedthe evidences which showed that thestructure of the solid rocks might be in-terpreted by rightly reading the changesgoing on at the present day, it is doubtful

whether one Englishman in a hundredknows that many thousands of tons areyearly and regularly subtracted from ourcountry by the action of rain, atmosphere,and rivers, thus steadily reducing theaverage level of the land, and transport-ing the old surface of England into thesea. It may be supposed that a largerproportion, who live near the sea-shore

NOVEMBEB 1,1886.] THE LIFE-BOAT JOUENAL. 205

or annually visit it, are aware of thereality of inroads of the sea and theserious necessity which exists in manyplaces for taking strong measures againstthe devouring element which at timesrages so furiously. But the experienceof any given seaside resident, and even ofmigratory visitors, is limited, and althoughgeologists have from time to time notedevidences of the erosion of the coast, orderived important geological evidencefrom new exposures of surface by clifffalls, there does not yet exist a completerecord from which the average English-man may know how fast his country iswasting, and which may guide our nationaland municipal authorities as to the bestmeans of limiting the destruction andmaking it less injurious if inevitable. TheBritish Association, however, in 1882made an important step in advance byappointing a strong committee of geolo-gists, engineers, and naval authorities toinquire into the rate of erosion of the seacoasts of England and Wales and the in-fluence of artificial abstraction of shingleor other material on that process. Forsome four years this committee has beenengaged in collecting and collating evi-dence from many local inhabitants whohave long noticed the state of the coast intheir respective neighbourhoods, and fromengineers who have had practical experi-ence ia. constructing harbours or otherworks of defence against the sea. Thefirst substantial report of the committee,recently published, is chiefly confined tothe districts south of the Thames, thereports from other districts being lesscomplete. It must be remembered thataccurate reporting, while vitally necessary,cannot at first accomplish much, for theevidences which a single half century canaccumulate are but slight compared withthe facts of many centuries; and untilthe principles of geology were formulated,observation founded upon them could notbe adequately commenced. It may notbe before many such reports have beenmade and until a complete system ofcorrect observation shall have been estabrlished by the nation (not necessarily atgreat expense) that we shall be in aposition to judge whither our land istending, and what should be done.

The coast-line of England consists of avery great variety of materials, in a variedstate of consolidation, and of very different

height in successive localities. Frommud to elvan, from chalk to granite, fromsand to limestone and flint, it passes atirregular intervals, and often consists ofnumerous strata of different hardnessoverlying one another, and making allangles with the sea-level, from horizontalto vertical. The coast is exposed to wearand tear, not only from the force of thesea and wind, bnt also from the effects ofrain and atmospheric changes, which forthe most part tend in one direction,towards destruction of the existing land.These forces all tend to reduce everythingto one dead level, and however construc-tive they may be in other localities, onthat portion of the earth which existsabove water they concentrate almost un-varying efforts of destruction. Yet thevery process of destruction^ in most local-ities establishes a preservative action.Unless the cliffs consist of mere clay orfine sand a bank of gravel or shingle isformed, which acts as a valuable barrierbetween the sea and the land. But likemany natural operations this is liable tovariations, owing to the changes of windand tide. At one period, or for a seriesof years, the quantity of shingle maydiminish greatly along a particular partof the coast, giving correspondinglygreater access to the violence of the seaand accelerating the progress of its de-structive effects.

Naturally these operations have runcounter to the schemes of man. Wishingto dwell near the sea-shore or to protecthis shipping, he has often found hisstructures threatened or destroyed; andthese results more than any other haveled to very extensive works of repair orpreservation, which have been carried outlocally, without much concert, often with-out skilled advice, and certainly, for themost part, without any Government ornational concern being felt in them. Itis now time that some general informa-tion should be collected and made avail-able as to these matters, so that localauthorities shall not be left in the dark,and that people living inland may havesome notion of what is going on alongour coasts.

First, as to the actual rate of destruc-tion. Without going into the wearingback of the cliffs during uncertain num-bers of centuries, which can be proved byvarious evidences, and coming down to

206 THE LIFE-BOAT JOUENAL. [NOVEMBER 1,1886.

the time when the one-inch ordnancesurvey map was published, in 1813, atLangney, near Beachy Head, the MartelloTowers 69, 70, 71, and 72 were all somedistance above high-water mark. Theyare now all destroyed, and only the ruinsof two of them are laid bare at half tide.Near the Wish Tower a house stood fiftyyears ago, the site of which is nowcovered with shingle, and a furlong ofland appears to have wasted in 100 or130 years. Beachy Head itself, 532 feethigh, being composed at the base of thehard lower chalk, offers great resistanceto the sea, and the upper portion wastesfaster, owing to rain, frost, and salt spray,than the lower. These facts give a re-presentation of the state of things over aconsiderable region of the south and eastcoasts where artificial works have notinterfered.

On the Dorset coast a very considerabledestruction of the cliffs, composed of veryvaried material, takes place by landslips,and the sea gradually clears away thedebris. Golden Gap, 620 feet high, has,during th* past thirty or forty years,been lowered as many feet. Some fieldshave been reduced to one-half their formersize. Better draining would in somecases reduce the rate of decay, by pre-venting so much erosion by rain-waterand frost action. From Sidmouth theopinion comes that there is a slightsinking of the land going on, perhapsnot more than ten inches in a hundredyears. But accurate observations over asufficient length of time are wanting.They should be undertaken by someGovernment department at well-selectedstations all over the coast.

But it may be thought that the landgains in some directions what it loses inothers. Notably, the district known asKomney Marsh is a comparatively modernaccretion. The estuary of the Wantsum,which once separated the Isle of Thanetfrom the mainland, has been recoveredfrom the sea, partly by human agencies,and in great measure by the silting upof the river, caused by the sea currentsdiverting its mouth in a northerly direc-tion, by the travelling of sea beaches, andby accumulation of blown sand. Theembankments of Brading Harbour, in theIsle of Wight, have reclaimed a tract of600 acres from, the sea. Much of thelowland of Sheppey has been reclaimed

from the sea in the past 300 years. Allthis, however, is but slight compensationfor what is lost; new low land, mud flatsrequiring constant protection, and sandbanks do not replace lost cliffs. And itbehoves every Englishman to protect hisland as far as he can from a more power-ful destroyer than human potentates.

But if the coast is being destroyedrather fast, it is chiefly due to humanaction, and first in the removal of shingle,gravel, and sand. All along the coast wefind almost the same tale of uncheckedremoval of material for agricultural road-making and building purposes. Thus atSidmouth, when the Board of Trade someyears ago set up a claim to the foreshore,and forbade the removal of shingle, sucha disturbance was made by the inhabitantsthat the attempt was given up; and nowshingle, gravel for walks and roads, andsand for mortar are taken without let orhindrance. In some parts, as near Lyme,limestone is taken from the cliffs andledges, and lime is copiously extractedfrom them. The very ledges of the shoreare stripped off. From a tract east andwest of the Eiver Brit, belonging respec-tively to General Pitt-Kivers and the Earlof Ilchester, and leased to private in-dividuals, something like 10,000 tonsmay be carted away in six months.Between Littlehampton and Brighton itis said that most of the walls within twomiles of the sea have been built withboulders from the beach; hence it isonly natural that the shingle has beendiminishing, as also has the broad tractof fine or mud sand. At Brighton thesands are clearly at a lower level thanformerly. No one part of the country ismuch more guilty than another in respectof the removal of shingle, although someparts are more injured by it than others.The common answer to objections is thata single tide will sometimes bring in moreshingle than a year's operations will takeaway, and that no real harm can be doneby such abstraction. But it must beremembered that every existing portionof shingle is a product of destruction, andalthough its removal may not appear tomake much impression, the same seawhich destroyed cliffs to make that shinglewill almost certainly destroy an equalportion to make up for that which isremoved; and this process will go onfaster in proportion to the increasing

NOVEMBEB 1,1886.] THE LIFE-BOAT JOUBNAL. 207

demands of mankind. And although ina state of nature shingle varies in itsdistribution at different times, moving asa circulating medium of defence, accordingto the prevailing wind and set of the tide,the preponderating movement at presentbeing up channel, in consequence of theprevalence of south-west winds, yet be-cause nature moves shingle from one spotto another, that is no argument for manremoving it altogether, causing nature tomanufacture more shingle out of cliffs.

This is peculiarly an imperial matter.It concerns the imperial dominion, whichextends over the sea-shore and all estuarieswithin reach of the tide, and mustnaturally control all proceedings tendingto damage the cliff or diminish the sea-shore. We believe it is, primd facie,illegal to remove anything from the coastor from the region between high and low-water mark, and that no special legislationwould be required, and that after adequatenotice prosecution could be maintainedagainst offenders. But probably somefurther inquiry would be desirable beforeputting restrictions in force which havebeen so long unobserved.

A second and equally important ques-tion concerns the methods to be adoptedby local authorities to protect the coast-line from erosion. It is asserted thatduring the present century great injuryhas been done by the extensive buildingof groynes, or rows of piles bandedtogether, and intended to stop the naturaltravelling of the shingle and prevent theloss of coast. Some of these do damageby heaping up the shingle along one sideof the groyne, while a corresponding de-ficiency is created on the other side, andthus a natural process of movement isbarred, diminishing the supply to a lessfavoured locality. Thus, although insome localities this process may seem toanswer, it is injurious to others, and frommany of the places where they have beenextensively adopted we hear complaints offailure, of faulty construction, of diminish-ing shingle, of costliness, and of thegroynes being out of order. It is onlywhere strong broadside sea-walls havebeen built that a definite cessation 01inroads of the sea has been effected, andprogress in this matter appears to looktowards the general substitution of strongstone embankments of judicious form,

instead of wooden ramparts, which are:ostly, more easily destroyed, and often

want renewing. But there are some,perhaps timber merchants, who will assertthat there is nothing like wood. So theysaid about ships and railway bridges; butwe have learnt better. Watering-placesespecially will find their account in con-structing good walls, for they are of thehighest service as furnishing first-classmarine promenades.

The erection of stone harbour piers inmany ports has been alleged as sewouslyaiding in the destruction of the coast.Folkestone is a typical case, and a con-nexion is believed to be made out betweenthe elongation of the pier to the westwardof the harbour, and the denudation ofEast Wear Bay of shingle, causing analarmingly rapid fall of the chalk under-cliff, to the imminent jeopardy of theSouth-Eastern Eailway. Dover presentsmuch the same phenomena since thebuilding of the Admiralty Pier. Fromthe Castle jetty to St. Margaret's the baseof the cliff is being abraded, and whatforriftd a carriage-way into Dover underthe cliff some 30 years ago has now en-tirely disappeared. It is suggested thatin most cases where a moving beach hasto be crossed, it would be best to com-mence the solid work of the pier sea,wardof the shingle mass, connecting it by openpiling with the shore, and leaving thelittoral movement uninterfered with. Howfar all these evils and dangers can be metby legislation or by more skilful engineer-ing is certainly a subject worthy of con-sideration. At any rate, we ought not toacquiesce calmly in any more rapid wast-ing of our co'ast line than is inevitable.All actions which are detrimental to theQueen's dominion should be forbiddenand prevented, and wherein the forces ofnature cannot be gainsaid, much may besaved by skilful works of defence. Wemay add that Mr. W. Topley has editedthe report of the British AssociationCommittee on this subject, and that Mr.W. Whitaker has supplied a valuablebibliography of works, papers, and pamph-lets bearing on coast changes and shoredeposits in England and Wales. A furtherreport dealing with the erosion of theEast Coast of England will appear in thenext volume of the British Associationreports.

208 THE LIFE-BOAT JOUBNAL. [NOVBMBBB 1, 1886.

SUMMARY OF THE

MEETINGS OF THE COMMITTEE.

THURSDAY, 3rd June, 1886.His GRACE THE DUKE or NORTHUMBERLAND,

K.G., President, in the Chair.

Bead and confirmed the Minutes of the pre-vious meeting. Also read those of the Financeand Correspondence, and Wreck and RewardSub-Committees, and ordered their recommenda-tions to be carried into effect.

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

Northern District—Berwick-on-Tweed, Eye-mouth, Holy Island (two Boats), Blyth (twoBoats), Tynemouth (two Boats), Newbiggin,Cresswell, Hauxley, Boulmer, North Sunder-land, Bamburgh Castle, Dunbar, Alnmouth,North Berwick, Stromness, Longhope, andThurso.

Southern District—Totland Bay.Eastern District — Walmer, Kingsdowne,

North Deal, Harwich, Lowestoft, Pakefield(two Boats), South wold'(two Boats), Dunwich,and Kessingland (three Boats).

Western District — Holy head, Bhosneigir,Cemaes, Llanddwyn, Bhoscolyn, Cemlyn, Aber-goch, Porthdinllaen, Llanaelhaiarn, and Port-madoc.

Irish District—Black Bock and Giles Quay(Dundalk), Drogheda (two Boats), Howtb,Wicklow, and Poolbeg.

Decided that the No. 2 Life-boat stationed atPakefield be transferred to Lowestoft.

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

£ s. d.The late Captain HENRY LEIGHTON,

of Glasgow, per his sister, MissAGNES LEIGHTON, of Glasgow, fora Life-boat to be named The Henryand John Jjeighton 700 - -

Miss ALLAN, Sydenham . . . 25 - -The Most Hon. The MARQUIS OF

ELY, annual subscription . . . 20 - -ALGERNON PEOKOVEK, Esq., Wis-/

beach (additional) \20 - -The Worshipful Company of Cloth-

workers (additional) . . . . 20 - -G. W. OBMEROD, Esq., Teignmouth

(additional) 15 15 -—To oe severally thanlied.

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

£ *. d.The late W. D. SOUTH, Esq., of the

East India United Service Club 2,000 - -The late Miss MARY STERNDALE

BOOKE, of Keswick (duty free) . 1,000 - -The late G. M. THOMSON, Esq., of

Glasgow 200 - -

Voted the Silver Medal of the Institution anda copy of the Vote inscribed on vellum to thefollowing Coxswains of Life-boats in recognitionof their long and valuable services in the Life-boats :—

Mr. JOHN BRIMS, Thurso.Mr. WILLIAM CALLOW, Castletown.Mr. JAMES GILBERT, Tynemouth.Mr. BEBNAKD HAMILTON, Dundalk.Mr. PATRICK KAVANAGH, Carnsore.Mr. EDWIN TEEVASKIS, Hayle.Mr. THOMAS PBINGLE, North Sunderland.Mr. GEORGE WABFOBD, Pakefield.

Also a Binocular glass, bearing a suitableinscription, to each of the following coxswainsof Life-boats in acknowledgment of their goodservices in saving life:—

Mr. HUMPHREY JONES, Barmouth.Mr. WILLIAM ORB, Groomsporfc.Mr. WILLIAM POBTEH, Cahore.Mr. EGBERT EGBERTS, Penmon.Mr. EDWARD BUTTER, Cadgwith.Mr. DAVID SINCLAIR, Irvine.Mr. DAVID SULLIVAN, Ballycotton.

Also the thanks of the Committee to J. T.DUNNING, Esq., in recognition of his past kindservices as Honorary Secretary of the SidmouthBranch of the Institution.

Decided, that the present Life-boats at Troonand the Isle of Whithorn (Scotland), andHowth (Ireland), be replaced by new ones pos-sessing all the latest improvements.

Appointed Mr. CHARLES E. F. CUNNINGHAMEGBAHAM, late lieutenant Koyal Navy, Inspectorof Life-boats for the Eastern District, viceCommander G. C. C. CARTEB, E.N., resigned.

Paid 1,039/. 11s. Zd. for sundry charges onvarious Life-boat Establishments.

Voted 931. 10s. to pay the expenses of theWorkington, Cardigan, Bnrnham, Couitiaao-sherry, New Brighton No. 1, Holyhead, New-haven, and Kilmore Life-boats in rendering thefollowing services:—

lavessaved.

Schooner General Cathcart, of Greenock . 4Fishing boat Preetdent, of Aberayron . . 3Schooner Eliia, of Bridgwater. Beudered

assistance,Fishing boat Harry, of Courlmacsherry.

Saved vessel and 6Schooner Admiral Nelson, of Beaumaris . 2Schooner Glad Tidings, of Aberystwyth . 5Dandy Happy Return, of NewhaVen. Be-

mained by vessel.Steamer Pontiac. Remained by vessel.

The Eamsgate Life-boat was also out threetimes in the month of May: she assisted to savethe stranded schooner Edward Arthur of Car-narvon, and her crew of six men.

(Details of these services will be found onpages 200-203.)

Also 134Z. 16«. 6d. to pay the expenses of theLife-boats at Donna Nook, Walmer, Deal,Kingsdowne, Howth, Lizard, Cadgwith, Moel-fre, and Kingstown, in assembling their crewsor putting off to the assistance of vessels whichdid not ultimately need their services.

Voted 25Z. to the widowed mother of DAS.BROOKS, one of the crew of the Donna NookLife-boat, who was unfortunately drowned bythe capsizing of a ship's boat while endeavour-ing to rescue some of the crew of the brigMermaid, of Whitby, at Donna Nook during a

NOVEMBEB 1, 1886.] THE LITE-BOAT JOURNAL. 209

gale from the N.E. and a very rough sea onthe 13th May.

Also 101. to ten men for gallantly putting offin the galley punt Siloam from Deal beach athalf-past eleven o'clock on the night of the10th May and, at considerable risk, saving thecrew, consisting of four men, of the schoonerSamson, of Cowes, which had stranded on theGoodwin Sands in a heavy sea.

Also 4Z. to four men for putting off in a smallboat, at great risk, and saving three out of fourmen whose boat, laden with seaweed, had beencapsized off Bush, co. Dublin, during a strongN.E. gale, at 7 P.M., on the 28th April.

Also 31. 15«. to three men for putting off ina boat at great risk and rescuing two men froma pilot boat which had been capsized by aheavy sea off South Shields at Jl o'clock onthe night of the 23rd February.

Also 11. to PETEK McGivERN for rescuingfour men from two boats, loaded with seaweed,which were swamped in Mill Bay during astrong S.S.W. gale on the 7th April. An addi-tional II. was granted to the salvor to coverthe loss he sustained by throwing overboardhis boat's load of seaweed in order to effect therescue of the endangered men.

Also II. 5s. to five men for putting off in aboat and saving three persons from another boatwhich had been capsized by a squall off Innis-kera, co. Donegal, on the 25th April. Therescuers afterwards saved the boat and hergear.

Also 10a. to two men for rescuing two menwhose boat had been capsized off Wintertonduring a moderate breeze from the S.W. onthe 29th May.

THURSDAY, 1st July.Colonel FiTzEoT CLAYTON, V.P., in the Chair.

Head and confirmed the Minutes of the pre-vious meeting. Also read those of the Financeand Correspondence, and Wreck and RewardSub-Committees, and ordered their recommen-dations to be carried into effect.

Bead the Beport of the Chief Inspector ofLife-boats on his recent visits to Southsea,Huna, Thnrso, Ackergill, and Dornoch.

Also the reports of the District Inspectors ofLife-boats on their visits to the followingStations:—

Northern District.—Thurso, Huna, Acker-gill, Nairn, Lossiemouth, Buckie, Banff, Peter-head, Fraserburgh, Port Erroll, Whitelink Bay,Newburgh, and Stonehaven.

Southern District. — Exmouth, Sidmouth,Lyme Begis, Southsea, and Hayling Island.

Eastern District.—Aldborough, Thorpeness,Walton-on-the-Naze, Clacton-on-Sea, South-wold (two Boats), Margate, Broadstairs, Kings-gate, Dover, and Hythe.

Western District.—Barmouth, Aberduvey,Aberystwith, Newquay (Cardiganshire), Cardi-gan, "Fishguard (two Boats), Newport (Pem-brokeshire), St. Davids, Solva, Littlehaven,Milford Haven, and Ilfracombe.

Irish District.—Balbriggan, Skerries, Kings-town, Greystones, Wicklow, Arklow, Courtown,Cahore, Wexford (two Boats), Carnsore, Kil-more, and Dunraore.

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

£ i. d.Executors of the late Mr. ALFBED

BUBOES, of Blackheath . . . 100 - -EDWARD F. WHITE, Esq., and Miss

S. E. WHITE, annual subscription 75 - -Messrs. COURAGE & Co., Horsely-

down (additional) 20 - -Canteen of H.M.S. Assistance, per

Lieut. CHARTER, B.N 2 2 -Children of St. Paul's, Clerkenwell,

per the Bev. STYLEMAN HERRING - 15 --—To be severally thanked.

Also that the late JOHN WORSLEY, Esq., ofClifton, had bequeathed to the InstitutionNineteen Guineas.

The Committee expressed great regret at thedeath of Sir EDWABD G. L. PERROTT, Bart., oneof the Vice-Presidents of the Institution, whohad been connected with the Society for thirty-six years, and decided that a letter of condolencebe sent to his relatives.

Also at the decease of the following Gentle-men, who bad rendered the Institution valuableservices for many years past:—Mr. CHRISTOPHER BROWN, Honorary Secretary

of the Settle Branch.Mr. C. A. BAKEB, Honorary Secretary of the

West Hartlepool Branch.Mr. JOHN POOLE, Honorary Secretary of the

—^Hayle Branch.Beported the transmission to their Stations of

Life-boats for Southsea and Ilfracombe.Decided, on the application of the local

residents, to form a new Life-boat Station atDornoch Firth, Sutherlandshire; and to appro-priate the Station to a contribution receivedfrom an anonymous donor (" D.") for the pur-pose of forming a new Life-boat establishment,the boat to be named The Daisie.

Paid 4,0342. 5s. 7d. for sundry charges onvarious Life-boat Establishments.

Voted 871. 6s. to pay the expenses of theNewport (Pembrokeshire), St. David's, Swansea,Caister No. 2, and Deal Life-boats, in puttingoff to the assistance of vessels which did notultimately need their services.

The Bamsgate Life-boat also went out on twooccasions, but her help was not required.

Voted 751. in aid of a fund being raised bySir THOMAS F. BRADY, Inspector of IrishFisheries, for the relief of the families of threemen who were unfortunately drowned by thecapsizing of their curragh, having put off tothe assistance of the crew of another curragh,which wag in. danger off the middle island ofArran, during squally weather and a heavy sea,on the 8th of April. The men had left sixteenpersons totally unprovided for. The other boatand her three occupants succeeded in reachingthe shore in safety.

Also 21. 5s. to three men and a woman forputting off in a boat and saving three men,whose boat had been upset by a squall nearTJsinich Lighthouse, Inverness-shire, on the19th May.

Also 11.10s. to three men for rescuing thecrew of two men of the fishing hooker St.Patrick, which was struck by another vessel

210 THE LIFE-BOAT JOURNAL. [NOYEMBBB 1,1886.

and foundered off Killeen Point, co. Galway,during a fresh E. breeze on the 23rd April.

Also 11. to two men for saving a boat, con-taining two boys, which was in danger close tothe Scroby Sands during fine weather on theevening of the 8th May. No risk was incurredby the salvors, but they were obliged to abandontheir fishing lines until the following day.

THUBSDAY, 5th August.

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

Bead and confirmed the Minutes of the pre-vious meeting. Also read those of the Financeand Correspondence, and Wreck and RewardSub-Committees, and ordered their recom-mendations to be carried into effect

Bead the Report of the Chief Inspector o!Life-boats on his recent visits to Sheringham,Holy Island, Eyemouth, Berwick-on-Tweed,North Berwick, Liverpool, Southport, and Con-way.

Also the Reports of the District Inspectors ontheir recent visits to the following Stations :—

Northern District.—Broughty Ferry, BuddonNess, Arbroath, Kildonan, Gourdon, Montrose(three Boats), St. Andrews, Anstruther, Crail,Holy Island (two Boats), Berwick-on-Tweed,Eyemouth, Dunbar, and North Berwick.

Southern District. — Hastings, Winchelsea,Rye, and Newhaven.

Eastern District.—Whitburn, Seaham, andSunderland (three Boats).

Irish District. — Tramore, Fethard, Dun-cannon, Duhgarvan, Ardmore, Youghal, Bally-cotton, Queenstown, Tramore, and Tralee.

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

£. t. d.Mrs. R. F. BROWNE, balance of cost

of the Richard Brown Life-boatfor Greystones 150 - -

A. F. H. (additional) . . . . 100 - -ANCIENT ORDER OF FORESTERS,

annual subscription in aid of thesupport of their two Life-boats . 100 - -

WOBSHIPFUL COMPANY OF DBAPEKS,annual subscription . . . . 52 10 -

WORSHTPFUL COMPANY OF GBOCERS(additional) 50 - -

Mrs. J. DUNCOMBB SHAFTO (addi-tional) 50 - -

ARTHDB HUTCHINSON, Esq., and theMisses CHARLOTTE and FANNYHnTCHiNsoN (additional) . . . 25 - -

NOBE YACHT CLCB 24 15 8WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF VINTNERS 10 10 -Collected on board the Steam Yacht

Ceylon, after divine service, onher last cruise to Norway, &o. . 8 15 9

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

of the new Life-boats for Sheringham (Norfolk),and Fethard (Waterford).

The Great Eastern Railway Company con-veyed the transporting carriage of the Shering-ham Boat to its Station and brought back theold carriage to London free of charge, and theWaterford Steam Ship Company granted a

free passage to the Fethard Life-boat fromBristol to Waterford.—To be thanked.

Voted the special thanks of the Committeeto the Rev. W. W. F. KEELING and Mr. J.McGoNAGiL, in recognition of their valuableservices as Honorary Secretaries of the HolyIsland and Duncannon Branches of the Institu-tion for many years past.

The Report of the Special Committee ap-pointed to consider the desirability and feasi-bility of propelling Life-boats by steam wasreceived and adopted. The Report stated thatthe Committee had carefully investigated themerits of all the models and drawings bearingon the subject shown at the Liverpool Exhibi-tion, and had also examined the coxswainsuperintendents of the principal Life-boatStations, where tugs are employed for towingtho boats; further, that the coxswains in ques-tion were unanimous in condemning the ideaof a steam Life-boat, giving it as their opinionthat the employment of a tug where necessaryis decidedly preferable to having steam appliedto the Life-boat itself. In view of all the cir-cumstances, the Special Committee were unableto recommend the adoption of any pattern ofsteam Life-boat at present.

Decided, that a vote of thanks be given tothe Special Committee, and that a copy of theirReport be sent to the exhibitors.

Paid 2,44:01. 6«. for sundry charges on variousLife-boat establishments.

Voted 91. to pay the expenses of the WalmerLife-boat in putting off to the assistance of abrig; her services, however, Yfere not required.

The Ballycotton Life-boat saved the disabledketch Argo, of Bridgwater, and her crew ofthree men, during a moderate S. gale.

Read letter from the Honorary Secretary ofthe Moray Firth Branch, reporting that theKing of Sweden and Norway had forwardedsilver medals and a pecuniary reward for pre-sentation to the crew of theMoray Firth Life-boat, in recognition of their services in rescuingthe crew of the barque Himalaya, of Tvede-strand, on the 13th August last.

Voted 31. 10s. to seven men for rescuing, atmoderate risk, four men whose boat, laden withseaweed, had filled and capsized off PortrushHead, co. Antrim, during a fresh breeze fromthe N.N.E. on the 20th May.

Also 21. to two men for putting off in a boatand, at considerable risk, rescuing three menfrom a fishing boat which had been capsized offSelsey, during a strong gale from the S.W. onthe 12th July.

Also 21. to four men for saving two menfrom a pilot boat, which was capsized off Ben-head, Co. Meath, during a moderate gale tinthe 19th July.

Also 21. to four men for putting off in a boatand saving two men from a fishing boat, whichhad been capsized off Rossdohan, co. Kerry,during a moderate gale from the S.E. on the12th April last.

Also II. 15s. to five men for putting off in aboat and rescuing fire persons from the pleasureboat Sunrise, of Bangor, which had lost hermast and was disabled off Groomsport, co.Down, during squally weather on the 25thJuly.

NOVEMBER 1, 1886.] THE LIFE-BOAT JOUENAL. 211

Also II. We. to two men'for rescuing, at con-siderable risk, a man from a fishing boat, whichwas sinking in Arran Koads, oo. Donegal, onthe evening of the 24th July.

Also II. to a man for putting off in a smallboat and rescuing, at great risk, four boys,whose boat had capsized in Walney Channel,off Barrow in Furness, during a strong breezefrom the N.W. on the 9th July.

Also 11. to two men for rescuing two menfrom a foy boat, which had ner rope brokenwhile in tow of a steamer, throwing the menoverboard, at the mouth of the Tyne, during astrong B.N.E. breeze on the 27th July.

THDKSDAT, 2nd September.Sir EDWARD BIBKBECK, Bart., M.P., V.P., in the

Chair.Bead and confirmed the minutes of the pre-

vious meeting. Also read those of the Financeand Correspondence, and Wreck and RewardSub-Committees, and ordered their recommenda-tions to be carried into effect.

Bead the Reports of the District Inspectors ofLife-boats on their recent visits to the followingStations •—

Northern District—Ballantrae, Girvan, Tyne-motith (two Boats), Cullercoats, and Blyth (twoBoats).

Southern District—Southsea.Eastern District — Sunderland, Hartlepool

(three Boats), West Hartlepool (two Boats),Seaton Carew, Middlesbrough, Staithes, Salt-burn, Bedcar, Runswick, Whitby (two Boats),tlpgang, Bobin Hood's Bay, Scarborough,Filey, Flamborough (two Boats), BridlingtonQuay, Barmston, Hornsea, Withernsea, Grimsby,Mablethorpe, Sutton, and Donna Nook.

Western District — Bude, Looe, Newquay.(Cornwall), Fowey, Meragissey, Portloe, Fal-mouth, Cadgwith, Lizard (two Boats), Mullion,Porthleven, Porthoustock, and Scilly.

Irish District—Valentia and Oourtmacsherry.Reported the receipt of the following special

contributions since the last meeting:—£ «. d.

Collected on board the R. M. S. Don,per Mr. H. B. WHITMAKSH (addi-tional) . . • 6 10 -

Collected on board the s.s. Orient,per Capt. HEWISON (additional) . 4 4 -

—To be severally thanked.Also that the following legacies had been

bequeathed to the Institution:—The late Miss FRANCES SPBOT, of Edin- £.

burgh 500The late Capt. WILLIAM MANSELL, R.N.,

of Hammersmith (duty free) . . . 50Reported the transmission to their Stations

of the new Life-boats for Aberdovey, Portmadoc,and Porthoustock.

Decided that various works be carried out atthe Wicklow and Dornoeh Firth Life-boat Sta-tions at a cost of 1,267Z.

Paid 1,194Z. Is. for sundry charges on variousLife-boat Establishments.

Voted 202. 4s. to pay the expenses of theBerwick-on-Tweed and Cemaes Life-boats inrendering the following services :—

Yacht Puffin, of Berwick, assisted to save vessel.A pleasure boat. Rendered assistance.

Details of these services are furnished onpage 203.

Voted 257. 17s. to pay the expenses of theCourtmacsherry, Llanddwyn, and Deal Life-boats in putting off in reply to signals, theirservices not ultimately being needed.

The Bamsgate Life-boat also went out twicein reply to signals, but her assistance was noteventually required.

Voted SI. 10s. to four men for saving a boatand one man, the boat being half full of waterand her occupant helpless and exhausted, be-tween Bock Curachan and Bum Island, WesternHebrides, during a N. gale on the 26th July.

Also 15s. to three fishermen of Groomsport,Ireland, for saving a punt, containing two boys,which was drifting out to sea during a stron<*S.W. gale on the 20th July. °

OUR SAILOES.

THE tide is full, the wind is fair,The hour is striking now,

And word goes round, with hearty cheer,"Up anchor to the bow."

The capstan creaks as bars are mannedBy sailors stout and true;

The captain smiles as from the strandThe anchor comes to view.

With sails unfurled to catch the breeze,And cargo trim and taut,

The gallant ship glides o'er the seas,Towards her destined port.

Oh, pray the God that rules the main,To keep that vessel fair,

And make the voyage, though long, a, gain,That all may blessings share.

God help and bless our seamen brave,When tempests fierce alarm;

Be swift to hear, be strong to save,Make bare Thy mighty arm.

When silent on the deck they treadIn midnight reverie,

When thunder near the breakers dreadGod help our men at sea.

God watch and save our kinsmen dear,In sunshine, storm, and calm;

When friends are far, when home is near,Oh, shield them safe from harm!

Oh, bring the ship and all her crewSafe to our shores again;

God bless the men on ocean blue:Let each one say, Amen!

And landsmen, too, a voyage must takeAcross life's stormy sea:

Lord, help us all the port to make,In immortality.

GEORGE EVANS.

NOTICE.

The next number of the Life-boat Journalwill be published on the 1st February next.

EOTAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION,I SOLELY BY VOLTOTABY COSTRrBUTTOSS.

<6rsdoa»Sut-:}9airaKtS8—HEB ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCESS OF WALES.

His ROYAL HIGHNESS THB Psmcx op WALES, K.G.VIOE-ADJUBAL H.R.H. THE Dtnss o» EDDTBDKGH, K.Q.

—His GUACK THB DUKK o» NOWHUMBKELAKB, K.G.

r EDWABD BLBKBBCK, BAKT., M.P., V.P. Jtprtjj-Cfestrmatt—Colonel Fuz-RoY CLATIOS, V.P.

APPEAL.THE COHMITTKB OF MANAGEMENT have to state that during the past year (1885) the

EOTAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITBTION expended £44,068 on various Life-boat Establishmentson the Coasts of England, Scotland, and Ireland. During the same period it contributed to thesaving of 555 persons from various Shipwrecks on our Coasts. Every winter that comes and goeshas its black record of wrecks, and its terrible list of lost lives, the average loss of lives fromShipwreck annually, on the shores of the United Kingdom, being 700.

GENERAL SOMMABY or THE WOBK OF THE INSTITUTION BDBITO 1885.Number of lives rescued by Life-boats, in addition to £. i. d.

20 Vessels saved by them 371Number of Lives saved by Shore-boats, &c 184 ...Amount of Pecuniary Rewards for Saving Life during

the Year 8,644 11 1Honorary Rewards:—Silver Medals and Clasps . . . 2

Binocular Glass 1Votes of Thanks on Vellum. . . 7 ... ...

Total . . . . 10 655 £3,644 11 1

The Committee desire to acknowledge, with gratitude, the liberal support which they havereceived from the British Public during the past few years,—a support which has enabled themto establish their present great Life-saving Fleet of 293 boats on the shores of the UnitedKingdom. Deeply sensible, however, of the great responsibility that rests on them to maintainthe Life-boats in a thoroughly efficient state, and their crews practised in the management oftheir boats, which can only be effected by a large and permanent Annual Income, they earnestlyappeal to all classes of their countrymen to continue to aid them in upholding and perpetuatingso great and truly national a Work,

. The number of Lives saved either by the Life-boats of the Society, or by special exertions,for which it has granted rewards since its formation, is 32,336: for which services 97 Gold Medals,985 Silver Medals, 24 Binocular Glasses, 8 Telescopes and upwards of £89,500 in cash have beengiven as Rewards.

Annual Subscriptions and Donations are earnestly solicited, and will be thankfully receivedby the Secretary, CHARLES DIBDIN, Esq., at the Institution, 14 JOHN STREET, ADELPHI, London;by the Bankers of the Institution, Messrs. CODTTS and Co., 59 Strand; Messrs. HEBBIES,FARQCHAB, and Co., 16 St. James's Street; Messrs. HOAEE, 37 Fleet Street, London; and by allthe other Bankers in the United Kingdom.—November, 1886.