BattlesWithTheSea

ByR.M.Ballantyne

BattlesWithTheSea

ChapterOneHeroesoftheLifeboatandRocket

SkirmisheswiththeSubjectGenerally.ItoughttobeknowntoallEnglishboysthatthereisaterribleandcostlywarinwhichtheBritishnationisatalltimesengaged.Nointervalsofpeacemarkthecourseofthiswar.Cessationsofhostilitiesthereareforbriefperiods,butnotreatiesofpeace.“Wartotheknife”isitscharacter.Quarterisneithergivennorsought.Ourfoeisunfeeling,unrelenting.Hewastesnotimeindiplomaticpreliminaries; he scorns the courtesies of national life. No ambassadors arerecalled,nodeclarationsofwarmade.LiketheRedSavagehestealsuponusunawares,and,witharoarofwrathfulfury,settlesdowntohisdeadlywork.How does thiswar progress? It is needful to put and reiterate this questionfrom time to time,becausenewgenerationsofboysarealwaysgrowingup,who,sofarfrombeingfamiliarwiththestirringepisodesofthiswar,andthedaringdeedsofvalourperformed,scarcelyrealisethefact thatsuchawarisbeingcarriedonatall,muchlessthatitcostshundredsoflivesandmillionsofmoneyeveryyear.Itmaybestyledanavalwar,beingwagedchieflyinboatsuponthesea.Itisawarwhichwillnevercease,becauseourfoeis invincible,andwewillnevergive in; a war which, unlike much ordinary warfare, is never unjust orunnecessary; which cannot be avoided, which is conducted on the most

barbarousprinciplesofdeathlessenmity,butwhich,nevertheless,bringstruegloryandhonour to thoseheroeswhoareever ready,nightandday, to taketheirlivesintheirhandsandrushintothethickofthefuriousfray.Althoughthisgreatwarbeganat least inasystematicmanneronly littlemorethan fifty years ago, it will not end until the hearts of brave and generousBritonsceasetobeat,andthewildwindsceasetoblow,fortheundyingandunconquerableenemyofwhomwewriteistheStorm!“Deathorvictory!” theoldfamiliarwarwhoop, isnot thefinalwar-cryhere.Deathis,indeed,alwaysfacedsometimesmetandvictoryisoftengained;but,finalconquestsbeingimpossible,andthe“pipingtimesofpeace”beingoutofthe question, the signal for the onset has been altered, and the world’s oldbattle-cry has been exchanged for the soul-stirring shout of “Rescue theperishing!”Though our foe cannot be slain, he can, like the genii of Eastern story, bebaffled.In the days of old, theStormhad it nearly all his ownway.Hearts, indeed,werenotlessbrave,butmunitionsofwarwerewanting.Inthismatter,asineverythingelse,theworldisbetteroffnowthanitwasthen.Ourweaponsaremoreperfect,ourenginesmoreformidable.Wecannowdashatourenemyinthe very heart of his own terrible strongholds; fight him where even theboldest of the ancient Vikings did not dare to venture, and rescue the preyfromtheveryjawsofdeathamidthescenesofitswildestrevelry.Theheroeswhorecruit thebattalionsofour invinciblearmyare thebronzedandstalwartmenofoursea-coasttowns,villages,andhamletsmenwhohavehadmuchandlongexperienceofthefoewithwhomtheyhavetodeal.Theirpanoplyisfamiliartomostofus.Thehelmet,asou’wester;thebreastplate,alifebelt of cork; the sword, a strong short oar; their war-galley, a splendidlifeboat;andtheirshieldtheHandofGod.InthisandsucceedingchaptersIpurposetoexhibitandexplainindetailourLifeboats, and thegreat, thegloriousworkwhich theyannuallyaccomplish;also the operations of the life-saving Rocket, which has for many yearsrescuedinnumerablelives,where,fromthenatureofcircumstances,Lifeboatscould not have gone into action. I hold that weespecially those of us whodwellintheinteriorofourlandarenotsufficientlyalivetothedeedsofdaring,thethrillingincidents,theterribletragediesandthemagnificentrescueswhichareperpetuallygoingonaroundourshores.Wearenotsufficientlyimpressed,perhaps,withthenationalityoftheworkdonebytheRoyalNationalLifeboatInstitution, which manages our fleet of 270 lifeboats. We do not fully

appreciate, it may be, the personal interest which we ourselves have in thegreatwar,andthedutytosaynothingofprivilegewhichliesuponustolendahelpinghandinthegoodcause.Before going into the marrow of the subject, let us put on the wings ofimagination,andsoartosuchaheightthatweshallbeabletotakeinatoneeagleglanceallthecoastsoftheUnitedKingdomasweepofabout5000milesall round! It is a tremendous sight, for a storm is raging! Black clouds aredriving across the murky sky; peals of thunder rend the heavens; lightninggleamsat intervals, revealingmoreclearly thecrestedbillows thathere roaroverthesands,ortherechurnandseetheamongtherocks.Theshriekinggalesweeps clouds of spray high over ourwindward cliffs, and carries flecks offoam far inland, to tell of thedreadwarfare that is ragingon themaddenedsea.Near the shore itself numerous black specks are seen everywhere, like ink-spotsonthefoam.Thesearewrecks,andtheshrieksandthedespairingcriesof the perishing rise above even the roaring of the gale. Death is busy,gatheringarichharvest,forthisisanotablenightinthegreatwar.TheStorm-fiendisroused.Theenemyisabroadinforce,andhasmadeoneofhismostviolentassaults,sothatfromShetlandtoCornwall,shipsandboatsarebeingbatteredtopiecesontherocksandsands,andmanylivesarebeingswallowedup or dashed out; while, if you turn your gaze further out to sea, you willdescryothershipsandboatsandvictimshurryingonwardtotheirdoom.Here,astatelybarque,withdisorderedtopsailsalmostburstingfromtheyardsasshehurries her hapless crewall ignorant, perchance, of its proximitytowards thedread lee-shore. Elsewhere, looming through the murk, a ponderousmerchantman,hermainmastandmizzengone,andjustenoughoftheforemastlefttosupportthebellyingforesailthatbearshertodestruction.Thinkyou,reader, that thissketchisexaggerated?Ifso, letusdescendfromour lofty outlook, and take a nearer view of facts in detail. I quote thesubstanceofthefollowingfromanewspaperarticlepublishedsomeyearsago.TheviolenceofthestormonWednesdayandThursdaynightwasterrific.Thedamage to shipping has been fearful. On sea the tremendous gale proveddisastrous beyond precedent. Falmouth Harbour was the scene of severalcollisions,andonebarqueandatugsteamersankattheiranchors.AwreckisreportedatLelant, towhich thePenzance lifeboatwith a stout-heartedcrewhad started, when our despatch left, to rescue thirteen men who could bedescriedhangingintheshrouds.AfinenewshipisonHaylebar,andanothervesselisbelievedtobewreckedtherealso.Doubtlesswehavenotyetheardofall thewrecks on the Cornish coast; but it is in themagnificent baywhichincludes Torquay, Paignton, and Brixham that the most terrible havoc has

occurred. OnWednesday, about sixty sail were anchored in Torbay. ElevenhavegoneashoreatBroadsands,fiveofwhicharetotalwrecks.Thenamesofthose we could ascertain were the Fortitude, of Exeter; the Stately, ofNewcastle;theDorset,ofFalmouth,andaFrenchbrigantine.Atfiveo’clockonThursdayeveningsomeofthecrewswerebeingdrawnashorebylinesandbaskets.AtChurstonCoveoneschoonerisashoreandatotalwreck;thereisalsoanother, theBlueJacket,whichmayyetbesaved.AtBrixhamtherearetwofineshipsashoreinsidethebreakwater.Atthebackofthepiertenvesselshavebeenpoundedtomatchwood,andallthatremainsareashatteredbarque,hermasts still standing, two brigs, and a schooner, all inextricablymingledtogether.Twelvetrawlershavebeensunkanddestroyed.OutofthesixtyshipsatanchoronWednesdaynighttherewerenotmorethantenleftonThursdayafternoon. Many of these are disabled, some dismasted. A fishing-boatbelongingtoBrixhamwasupsetintheouterharbourabouteighto’clock,andtwomarriedfishermenofthetownandaboyweredrowned.AtElburyanewbrig,theZouave,ofPlymouth,hasgonetopieces,andsixoutofhercrewoftenaredrowned.ElevenothervesselsareonshoreatElbury,manyofthemenbelonging to which cannot be accounted for. One noble woman, namedWheaton,wifeofamastermariner,savedtwolivesbythrowingaropefromthewindowofherhouse,whichisbuiltontherocksoverhangingthebayatFurzehamHill. Scores of poor shipwreckedmen arewandering distractedlyabout Brixham and Churston, the greater part of them having lost all theypossessed. The total loss of life arising from these disasters is variouslyestimatedatfromseventytoahundred.Is not this a tremendous account of the doings of one gale? And let it beobserved thatwehave liftedonlyonecornerof thecurtainand revealed thebattlefieldofonlyonesmallportionofourfar-reachingcoasts.Whatistobesaidoftheotherpartsofourshoresduringthatsamewildstorm?Itwouldtakevolumes instead of chapters to give the thrilling incidents of disaster andheroisminfulldetail.Toconveythetruthinallitsforceisimpossible,butaglimmering of itmay be obtained by a glance at theWreckChartwhich ispublishedbytheBoardofTradeeveryyear.Every black spot on that chart represents a wreck more or less disastrous,which occurred in the twelvemonths. It is an appalling fact that about twothousand ships, upwards of seven hundred lives, and nearly two millionssterling,arelosteveryyearontheshoresoftheUnitedKingdom.Someyearsthelossisheavier,sometimeslighter,butinroundnumbersthisisourannuallossinthegreatwar.Thatitwouldbefargreaterifwehadnolifeboatsandnolife-savingrocketsitwillbeourdutyby-and-bytoshow.The black spots on theWreck Chart to which we have referred show at a

singleglancethatthedistributionofwrecksisveryunequalnaturallyso.Nearthegreatseaportswefindthemthicklystrewn;atotherplaces,wherevesselspass in great numbers on their way to these ports, the spots are also verynumerous,whileonunfrequentedpartstheyarefoundonlyhereandthereinlittlegroupsoftwo,three,orfour.Awayonthenor’-westshoresofScotland,forinstance,wherethesealandthesea-mewhavetheoceanandruggedcliffsprettymuchto themselves, theplague-spotsarefewandfarbetween;butontheeastcoastwefindafairsprinklingofthem,especiallyinthemouthsoftheForthandTay,whitheragoodlyportionoftheworld’sshippingcrowds,andtowhich the hardy Norseman now sends many a load of timberboth log andbatteninsteadofcoming,ashedidofold,tobattenontheland.ItismuchthesamewithIreland,itsmoreimportantseaportsbeingontheeast.But there is a great and sudden increase of the spots when we come toEngland.Theycommenceattheborder,onthewest,wherevesselsfromandtothebusyClydeenterorquittheIrishSea.Darkeningthefringesofthelandon both sides, and clustering round the Isle ofMan, theymultiply until theportshavenoroomtoholdthem,and,asatLiverpool, theyarecrowdedoutinto the sea. From the deadly shores ofAnglesea,where theRoyal CharterwentdowninthegreatandmemorablestormofNovember,1859,thesignsofwreckanddisasterthickenaswegosouthuntilwereachtheBristolChannel,whichappearstobechokedwiththem,andthedangerouscliffsofCornwall,whichreceivetheill-fatedvesselsofthefleetsthatareperpetuallyleavingorenteringthetwogreatchannels.ButitisontheeastcoastofEnglandthatthegreatestdamageisdone.FromBerwicktotheThamestheblackspotsclusterlikebees.OnthecoastsofNorfolkandSuffolk,offGreatYarmouth,whereliethedangerousHaisboroughSands,thespotsarenolongerinscatteredgroups,but range themselves in dense battalions; and further south, off the coast ofKent, round which the world’s commerce flows unceasingly into the giantmetropolis, where the famous Goodwin Sands play their deadly part in thegreatwar,thedismalspotsareseentoclusterdensely,likegnatsinasummersky.Now,justwheretheblackspotsarethickestonthiswreckchart,lifeboatsandrocket apparatus have been stationed in greatest numbers. As in ordinarywarfare, so in battleswith the sea, our “StormWarriors” (See an admirablebook, with this title, written by the Reverend John Gilmore, of Ramsgate.(Macmillan andCompany)) are thrown forward in forcewhere the enemy’sassaultsaremostfrequentanddangerous.HencewefindtheeasternshoresofEnglandcrowdedateverypointwithlife-savingapparatus,whilemostoftheotherdangerouspartsofthecoastareprettywellguarded.Where andhowdoour coast heroes fight? I answersometimeson the cliffs,

sometimes on the sands, sometimes on the sea, and sometimes even on thepierheads.Their operations are varied by circumstances.Let us drawnearerandlookatthemwhileinaction,andobservehowtheenemyassailsthem.Ishallconfinemyselfatpresenttoaskirmish.Whenthestorm-fiendisabroad;whendarkcloudslower;whenblindingrainorsleetdrivesbeforetheangrygale,andmutteringthundercomesrollingoverthesea,menwithhardhandsandweather-beatenfaces,clad inoilskincoatsand sou’-westers, saunter down to our quays and headlands all round thekingdom.These are the lifeboat crews and rocket brigades.They are on thelookout. The enemy is moving, and the sentinels are being posted for thenightorrather,theyarepostingthemselves,fornearlyallthefightingmeninthiswararevolunteers!They require no drilling to prepare them for the field; no bugle or drum tosoundthecharge.Theirdrumistherattlingthunder;theirtrumpettheroaringstorm.Theybegantotrainforthiswarfarewhentheywerenotsotallastheirfathers’ boots, and there are no awkward squads among them now. Theirorganisationisrough-and-ready,likethemselves,andsimpletoo.Theheavenscall them to action; the coxswaingrasps thehelm, theoars aremanned, thewordisgiven,andtherestisstraightforwardfightingovereverything,througheverything,intheteethofeverything,untilthevictoryisgained,andrescuedmen,women,andchildrenarelandedinsafetyontheshore.Ofcoursetheydonotalwayssucceed,buttheyseldomorneverfailtodotheveryuttermostthatitisinthepowerofstronganddaringmentoaccomplish.Frequentlytheycantellofdefeatandvictoryonthesamebattlefield.So it was on one fearfulwinter night at themouth of the Tyne in the year1867.Thegalethatnightwasfurious.ItsuddenlychoppedroundtotheSouthSouthEast,and,as if thechangehadrecruited itsenergies, itblewaperfecthurricanebetweenmidnightandtwointhemorning,accompaniedbyblindingshowersofsleetandhail,whichseemedtocutlikeaknife.Theseawasrisingmountainshigh.Aboutmidnight,when the stormwasgathering force and the sentinelswerescarcely able to keep a lookout, a preventive officer saw a vessel drivingashoretothesouthoftheSouthPier.Instantlyheburntabluelight,atwhichsignal three guns were fired from the Spanish Battery to call out the LifeBrigade. Themenwere on the alert.About twentymembers of the brigadeassembled almost immediately on the pier, where they found that thepreventive officer and pier-policeman had already got out the life-savingapparatus; but the galewas so fierce that they had been forced to crawl ontheirhandsandkneestodoso.Afewminutesmoreandthenumberofbrigade

menincreasedtobetweenfiftyandsixty.Soontheysaw,throughthehurtlingstorm,thatseveralvesselsweredrivingonshore.Beforelong,fourships,withtheirsailsblowntoribbons,weregrindingthemselvestopowder,andcrashingagainsteachotherandthepier-sidesinamostfearfulmanner.TheyweretheMaryMac,theCora,andtheMaghee,belongingtoWhitstable,andtheLucernofBlyth.Severallifeboatswerestationedatthatpoint.Theywerealllaunched,manned,andpromptlypulledintotheNarrows,buttheforceofthehurricaneandseasweresuchthattheycouldnotmakeheadwayagainstthem.Thepowersofmanarelimited.Whenthereisawillthereisnotalwaysaway!Fortwohoursdidthese bravemen strain at the tough oars in vain; then they unwillingly putaboutandreturned,utterlyexhausted,leavingittothemenwiththelife-linesonshoretodothefighting.Thus,frequently,whenonearmoftheserviceispreventedfromacting;theotherarmcomesintoplay.Theworkof themenengagedon thepierwasperilousanddifficult, for thelineshadtobefiredagainstaheadwind.Thepierswerecoveredwithice,andthegalewassostrongthatthemencouldhardlystand,whilethecrewsofthewrecks were so benumbed that they could make little effort to helpthemselves.The men of the Mary Mac, however, made a vigorous effort to get theirlongboatout.Aboyjumpedintosteadyit.Beforethemencouldfollow,theboatwasstovein,theropethathelditbroke,anditdroveawaywiththepoorladinit.Hewasquicklywashedout,butheldontothegunwaleuntilitdriftedintobrokenwater,whenhewasswallowedbytheragingseaandtheboatwasdashedtopieces.Meanwhile thecrewof theCoramanaged to swing themselvesashore, theirvesselbeingclosetothepier.ThecrewoftheLucern,actingontheadviceofthebrigademen,succeededinscramblingonboardtheCoraandwerehauledashore on the life-lines. They had not been ten minutes out of their vesselwhensheturnedoverwithherdeckstowardstheterriblesea,whichliterallytoreherasunder,andpitchedherup,stemonend,asifshehadbeenatoy.Thecrew of the Maghee were in like manner hauled on to the pier, with theexceptionofoneladfromCanterbury.Itwasthepoorboy’sfirstvoyage.Littledidhe thinkprobably,whiledreamingof theadventuresofa sailor’scareer,whata terriblefateawaitedhim.Hewasapparentlyparalysedwithfear,andcouldnotspringafterhiscomradestothepier,buttooktotherigging.Hehadscarcelydonesowhenthevesselheeledover,andhewasswungtwoorthreetimesbackwardsandforwardswiththemotionofthemasts.It is impossible to imagine the feelings of the brave men on the pier, who

wouldsogladlyhaveriskedtheirlivestosavehimhewassonear,andyetsohopelesslybeyondthereachofhumanaid!In a very brief space of time the waves did their workship and boy wereswalloweduptogether.WhiletheseeventswereenactingonthepiertheMaryMachaddriftedoverthesandabouthalfamilefromwhereshehadstruck.Oneofhercrewthrewaleadline towards a seamanon the shore.Theheroplunged into the surf andcaughtit.Therestoftheworkwaseasy.BymeansofthelinethemenoftheLife Brigade sent off their hawser, and breeches-buoy or cradle (whichapparatusIshallhereafterexplain),anddrewthecrewinsafetytotheland.ThatsamemorningaWhitbybrigstruckonthesands.ThelifeboatPomfret,belongingtotheRoyalNationalLifeboatInstitution,putoutandrescuedhercrew. In themorning the shoreswere strewnwithwreckage, andamongst itwasfoundthebodyoftheboybelongingtotheMaryMac.All these disasterswere caused by themasters of the vesselsmistaking thesouth for the north pier, in consequence of having lost sight of Tynemouthlightintheblindingshowers.OfcoursemanylifeboatswereoutdoinggoodserviceonthenighttowhichIhavereferred,butIpassallthatbyatpresent.Thenextchapterwillcarryyou,goodreader,intothemidstofapitchedbattle.

ChapterTwoDescribesaTremendousBattleandaGloriousVictory

Before following our brilliant lifeboatthis gaudy, butterfly-like thing of red,white,andbluetothefieldofbattle,letmeobservethattheboatsoftheRoyalNational Lifeboat Institution have several characteristic qualities, to whichreference shall bemadehereafter, and that they areof various sizes. (A fulland graphic account of the Royal National Lifeboat Institutionits boats, itswork,anditsachievementsmaybefoundinaninterestingvolumebyits latesecretary, Richard Lewis, Esquire, entitled History of the Lifeboat and itsWorkpublishedbyMacmillanandCompany.)Oneof the largest size is thatofRamsgate.Thismaybe styledaprivilegedboat,forithasasteam-tugtowaituponitnamedtheAid.DayandnighttheAidhasherfires“bankedup”tokeepherboilerssimmering,sothatwhentheemergencyarises,avigorousthrustofhergiantpokerbringsthemquicklytotheboilingpoint,andsheisreadytotakeherlifeboatintowandtugherouttothe famed and fatal Goodwin Sands, which lie about four miles off the

coastoppositetoRamsgate.I drawattention to this boat, first because she is exceptionally situatedwithregard to frequency of call, the means of going promptly into action, andsuccess in her work. Her sister-lifeboats of Broadstairs and Margate may,indeed, be as often called to act, but they lack the attendant steamer, andsometimes,despite theskillandcourageof theircrews,find it impossible togetoutintheteethofatempestwithonlysailandoartoaidthem.EarlyinDecember,1863,anemigrantshipsetsailfortheAntipodes;shewastheFusilier,ofLondon.Itwasherlastvoyage,andfatedtobeveryshort.Theshores of Old England were still in sight, the eyes of those who sought to“bettertheircircumstances”inAustraliawereyetwet,andtheirheartsstillfullwith the grief of parting from loved ones at home, when one of the mostfuriousstormsoftheseasoncaughtthemandcasttheirgallantshipuponthedangerousSandsoffthemouthoftheThames.Thishappenedonthenightofthe3rd,whichwasintenselydark,aswellasbitterlycold.Whocandescribeorconceivethescenethatensued!thehorror,theshriekingofwomenandchildren,andtheyellingoftheblastthroughtherigging,foritwasanabsolutehurricane,whiletonsofwaterfelloverthedeckscontinually,sweepingthemfromstemtostern.The Fusilier had struck on that part of the sands named the Girdler. In themidstoftheturmoiltherewasbutonecourseopentothecrewnamely,tosendforthsignalsofdistress.Gunswerefired,rocketssentup,andtar-barrelsseta-blaze.Then,duringmanyhoursofagony,theyhadtowaitandpray.OnthatsamenightanothergoodshipstruckuponthesamesandsatadifferentpointtheDemeraraofGreenocknotanemigrantship,butfreightedwithacrewof nineteen souls, including a Trinity pilot. Tossed like a plaything on theSandsatthatpartnamedtheShinglesoffMargate,theDemerarasoonbegantobreakup,andthehelplesscrewdidasthoseoftheFusilierhaddoneandwerestilldoingtheysignalledforaid.Butitseemedaforlornresource.Throughthethick, driving,murky atmospherenothingbut utter blackness couldbe seen,though the blazing of their own tar-barrels revealed, with awful power, theseething breakers around, which, as if maddened by the obstruction of thesands, leaped and hissed wildly over them, and finally crushed their vesseloveronitsbeam-ends.Sweptfromthedeck,whichwasnolongeraplatform,but,asitwere,aslopingwall,thecrewtookrefugeintheriggingofoneofthemasts which still held fast. Themast overhung the caldron of foam, whichseemedtoboilandleapatthecrewasifindisappointedfury.Bydegreesthehullof theDemerarabegantobreakup.Hertimberswrithed

andsnappedundertheforceoftheever-thunderingwavesasiftormented.Thedeckwasblownoutbytheconfinedandcompressedair.Thecopperbegantopeel off, the planks to loosen, and soon it became evident that themast towhichthecrewwerelashedcouldnotlongholdup.Thus,fortenapparentlyendlesshours theperishingseamenhungsuspendedoverwhatseemed tobetheirgrave.Theyhungthusinthemidstofpitchydarknessaftertheirblazingtar-barrelshadbeenextinguished.Andwhat of the lifeboat-men during all this time?Were they asleep?Nay,verily!Everywheretheystoodatpierheads,almosttornfromtheirholdfastsbythefuriousgale,ortheycoweredundertheleeofboatsandboat-housesonthebeach, trying to gaze seaward through the blinding storm, but nothingwhatevercouldtheyseeofthedisastersontheseoutlyingsands.Thereare,however,severalsentinelswhichmountguardnightanddayclosetotheGoodwinandotherSands.ThesearetheFloatingLightswhichmarktheposition of our extensive and dangerous shoals. Two of these sentinels, theTongue lightship and the Prince’s lightship, in the vicinity of the GirdlerSands, saw the signals of distress. Instantly their guns and rockets gleamedand thundered intelligence to the shore. Such signals had beenwatched forkeenlythatnightbythebravemenoftheMargatelifeboat,whoinstantlywentoff to therescue.But thereareconditionsagainstwhichhumancourageandpower andwill are equally unavailing. In the teeth of such a gale from thewest-nor’-west,with the seadriving in thunder straighton thebeach, itwasimpossible for the Margate boat to put out. A telegram was thereforedespatchedtoRamsgate.Here,too,asatBroadstairs,andeverywhereelse,theheroesofthecoastwereonthelookout,knowingwellthedutiesthatmightberequiredofthematanymoment.ThestoutlittleAidwaslyingatthepierwithhersteam“up.”TheRamsgatelifeboatwasfloatingquietlyintheharbour,andhersturdylion-likecoxswain,Isaac Jarman, was at the pier-head with some of his men, watching. TheRamsgatemenhadalreadybeenoutonserviceatthesandsthatday,andtheirappetiteforsavinglifehadbeenwhetted.Theywerereadyformorework.Ataquarterpasteightp.m.thetelegramwasreceivedbytheharbour-master.Thesignalwasgiven.Thelifeboat-menrushedtotheirboats.“Firstcome,firstserved,”istherulethere.Shewasover-manned,andsomeofthebravefellowshadtoleaveher.Thetightlittletugtooktheboatintow,andinlessthanhalfanhourrushedoutwithherintotheintensedarkness,rightintheteethoftempestandbillows.Theenginesof theAidarepowerful, likeherwhole frame.Though fiercelyopposed she battled out into the raging sea, now tossed on the tops of the

mighty waves, now swallowed in the troughs between. Battered by thebreakingcrests,whelmedattimesby“greenseas,”staggeringlikeadrunkenthing,andbuffetedbythefiercegale,butnevergivingwayaninch,onward,steadilyifslowly,untilsheroundedtheNorthForeland.Thentherescuerssawthesignalsgoingupsteadily,regularly,fromthetwolightships.Nocessationofthesesignalsuntiltheyshouldbeansweredbysignalsfromtheshore.Allthistimethelifeboathadbeenrushing,surging,andboundinginthewakeof her steamer. The seas not only roared around her, but absolutelyoverwhelmedher.Shewasdraggedviolentlyoverthem,andsometimesrightthrough them.Hercrewcrouchedalmost flaton the thwarts, andheldon topreventbeingwashedoverboard.Thestoutcablehad tobe letout to its fullextenttopreventsnapping,sothatthemistandrainsometimespreventedhercrewfromseeingthesteamer,whilecrossseasmetandhurledherfromsidetoside,causinghertoplungeandkicklikeawildhorse.About midnight the Tongue lightship was reached and hailed. The answergiven was brief and to the point: “A vessel in distress to the nor’-west,supposedtobeonthehighpartoftheShinglesSand!”Awaywent the tugandboat to thenor’-west,butnovessel couldbe found,though anxious hearts and sharp and practised eyes were strained to theuttermost.ThecaptainoftheAid,whokneweveryfootofthesands,andwhohadmedals and letters from kings and emperors in acknowledgment of hisvaluableservices,wasnottobebalkedeasily.Hecreptalongasclosetothedangeroussandsaswasconsistentwiththesafetyofhisvessel.Howintently theygazedandlistenedbothfromlifeboatandsteamer,butnocrywastobeheard,nosignalofdistress,nothingbuttheroaringofthewavesandshriekingof theblast,andyet theywerenotfarfromtheperishing!ThecrewoftheDemerarawereclingingtotheirquiveringmastcloseby,butwhatcould their weak voices avail in such a storm? Their signal fires had longbeforebeendrownedout,andthosewhowouldhavesavedthemcouldnotseemorethanafewyardsaround.Presentlytheboomingofdistantcannonwasheardandthenafaintlineoffirewasseeninthefardistanceagainsttheblacksky.ThePrince’sandtheGirdlerlightshipswerebothfiringgunsandrocketstotellthatshipwreckwastakingplaceneartothem.Whatwastobedone?WeretheShinglestobeforsaken,whenpossiblyhumanbeingswereperishingthere?Therewasnohelpforit.Thesteamerandlifeboatmadeforthevesselsthatweresignalling,andastheexhaustedcrewonthequiveringmastoftheDemerarasawtheirlightsdepart,thelasthopediedoutoftheirbreasts.

“Hope thou in God, for thou shalt yet praise Him,” perchance occurred tosomeofthem:whoknows?Meanwhile the rescuersmade for thePrince’s lightship andwere told that avesselindistresswassignallingonthehigherpartoftheGirdlerSands.Away they went again, and this time were successful. They made for theGirdlerlightship,andontheGirdlerSandstheyfoundtheFusilier.Thesteamertowedthelifeboattowindwardofthewreckintosuchapositionthatwhencastadriftshecouldbeardownonher.Thenthecablewasslippedand the boatwent in for her own special andhazardouswork.Upwent herlittle foresail close-reefed, and she rushed into a sea of tumultuous brokenwaterthatwouldhaveswampedanyotherkindofboatintheworld.Whataburstof thrillingjoyandhopetherewasamongtheemigrants in theFusilierwhenthelittlecraftwasatlastdescried!Itwasaboutoneo’clockinthemorningbythattime,andtheskyhadclearedaverylittle,sothatafaintgleamofmoonlightenabledthemtoseetheboatofmercyplungingtowardsthemthroughaverychaosofsurgingseasandwhirlingfoam.Totherescuersthewreckwas rendered clearly visible by the lurid light of her burning tar-barrelsasshe layon thesands,writhingand trembling likea living thing inagony.Thewavesburstoverhercontinually,and,minglinginspraywiththeblacksmokeofherfires,sweptfuriouslyawaytoleeward.Atfirsteachwavehadliftedtheshipandlethercrashdownonthesands,butasthetidefellthisactiondecreased,andhadceasedentirelywhenthelifeboatarrived.Andnow the point of greatest dangerwas reached.How to bring a lifeboatalongsideofawrecksoastogetthepeopleintoherwithoutbeingdashedtopieces is a difficult problem to solve. It was no new problem, however, tothese hardy and fearless men; they had solved it many a time, before thatnight.Whenmorethanahundredyardstowindwardofthewreck,theboat’sforesailwasloweredandheranchorletgo.Thentheyseizedtheoars,andthecable was payed out; but the distance had been miscalculated. They weretwentyyardsorsoshortofthewreckwhenthecablehadruncompletelyout,sothemenhadtopullslowlyandlaboriouslybacktotheiranchoragain,whilethe emigrants sent up a cry of despair, supposing they had failed andweregoing to forsake them!At length theanchorwasgotup. Ina fewminutes itwasletgoinabetterposition,andtheboatwascarefullyveereddownundertheleeofthevessel,frombothbowandsternofwhichahawserwasthrowntoitandmadefast.Bymeansoftheseropesandthecabletheboatwaskeptsomewhatinpositionwithoutstrikingthewreck.

Itwasnoeasymatter tomake thevoiceheard insuchagaleand turmoilofseas, but the captain of the Fusilier managed to give his ship’s name andintendeddestination.Thenheshouted,“Howmanycanyoucarry?Wehavemore than a hundred souls on board; more than sixty of them women andchildren.”Thismightwellfillthebreastsoftherescuerswithanxiety.Theirboat,whenpacked full, could only carry about thirty. However, a cheering reply wasreturned,and,seizingafavourableopportunity,twooftheboatmensprangonthewreck,clamberedovertheside,andleapedamongtheexcitedemigrants.Some seized them by the hands and hailed them as deliverers; others, halfdeadwithterror,clungtothemasifafraidtheymightforsakethem.Therewasno time, however, to humour feelings. Shaking them all offkindly butforciblythemenwent toworkwithawill,brieflyexplained that therewasasteamernotfaroff,andbegantogetthewomenfirstintotheboat.Terror-stricken, half fainting, trembling in every limb, deadly pale, andexhaustedbyprolongedanxietyandexposure,thepoorcreatureswerecarriedratherthanledtotheship’sside.Itneededcourageeventosubmittobesavedonsuchanightandinsuchcircumstances.Twosailorsstoodoutsidetheship’sbulwarks,fastenedtherebyropes,readytolowerthewomen.Atonemomentthe raging sea rosewith a roar almost to the feet of thesemen, bearing thekickinglifeboatonitscrest.Nextmomentthebillowhadpassed,andthemenlookeddownintoayawningabyssoffoam,withtheboatsurgingawayfaroutoftheirreach,plungingandtuggingattheropeswhichheldit,asawildhorseoftheplainsmightstrugglewiththelasso.Nowonderthatthewomengazedappalled at the prospect of such a leap, or that some shrieked and wildlyresistedthekindviolenceoftheirrescuers.Buttheleapwasforlife;ithadtobetakenandquickly,too,forthestormwasveryfierce,andthereweremanytosave!Oneofthewomenisheldfirmlybythetwomen.Withwildly-staringeyessheseestheboatsweeptowardsheronthebreastofarushingsea.Itcomescloser.Someofthemenbelowstandupwithoutstretchedarms.Thewomanmakesahalf spring, but hesitates. Themomentary action proves almost fatal. In aninstanttheboatsinksintoagulf,sweepsawayasfarastheropeswilllether,andisburiedinfoam,whilethewomanisslippingfromthegraspofthemenwhoholdher.“Don’tlethergo!don’tlethergo!”isroaredbythelifeboat-men,butshehasstruggledoutof theirgrasp.Anotherinstantandsheisgone;butGodinHismercysends theboat inagainat that instant; themencatchheras she falls,anddragherinboard.

Thus,onebyone,werethewomengotintothelifeboat.Someofthesewomenwereoldandinfirm;somewereinvalids.Whocanconceivethehorrorofthesituationtosuchasthese,savethosewhowentthroughit?Thechildrenwerewrappedupinblanketsandthushandeddown.Someofthehusbandsor fathersonboard rolledupshawlsandblanketsand tossed themdowntothepartiallyclothedandtremblingwomen.Itchancedthatonesmallinfantwasbundledupinablanketbyafranticpassengerandhandedovertheside.Themanwhoreceivedit,mistakingitformerelyablanket,cried,“Here,Bill,catch!”andtosseditintotheboat.Bill,withdifficulty,caughtitasitwasflyingoverboard;atthesamemomentawomancried,“Mychild!mychild!”sprangforward,snatchedthebundlefromthehorrifiedBill,andhuggedittoherbosom!Atlasttheboat,beingsufficientlyfilled,washauleduptoheranchor.Sailwashoisted,andawaytheyflewintothesurgingdarkness,leavingtherestoftheemigrantsstillfilledwithterribleanxiety,butnotnowwithhopelessdespair.The lifeboatandher tenderworkadmirably together.Knowingexactlywhatmustbegoingon, andwhatwouldbe requiredofhim, thoughhecould seenothing, thecaptainof theAid,after theboathadslippedfromhim,hadrundownalongthesandstoleewardofthewreck,andtherewaited.Presentlyhesaw the boat coming like a phantom out of the gloom. It was quicklyalongside, and the rescued peopletwenty-five women and childrenweretransferred to the steamer, taken down to her cabin, and tenderly cared for.Making this transfer in such a sea was itself difficult in the extreme, andaccompaniedwith great danger, but difficulty and dangerwere the rule thatnight,nottheexception.Allwentwell.TheAid,withthewarrior-boatintow,steamedbacktowindwardofthewreck;thenthelifeboatslippedthecableasbefore, and returned to the conflict, leapingover the seethingbillows to thefieldofbattlelikeawarhorserefreshed.Thestirringscenewasrepeatedwithsuccess.Fortywomenandchildrenwererescuedonthesecondtrip,andputonboardthesteamer.Leadendaylightnowbegantodawn.Manyhourshadthe“stormwarriors”beenengagedinthewildexhaustingfight,neverthelessathirdandafourthtimedidtheychargethefoe,and each timewith the same result.All the passengerswere finally rescuedandputonboardthesteamer.Butnowaroseadifficulty.Thetidehadbeenfallingandleavingthewreck,sothatthecaptainandcrewdeterminedtosticktoherinthehopeofgettingheroff,ifthegaleshouldabatebeforethetideroseagain.It was therefore agreed that the lifeboat should remain by her in case of

accidents;sotheexhaustedmenhadtoprepareforawearywaitintheirwildlyplungingboat,whiletheAidwentoffwithherrescuedpeopletoRamsgate.Buttheadventuresofthatnightwerenotyetover.Thetughadnotbeengoneaboveanhourandahalf,when,tothesurpriseofthoseinthelifeboat,shewasseen returning,with her flag flying halfmast high, a signal of recall to herboat.Thelifeboatslippedfromthesideofthewreckandrantomeether.Thereason was soon explained. On his way back to Ramsgate the captain haddiscoveredanotherlargevesselonherbeam-ends,acompletewreck,onthatpartofthesandsnamedtheShingles.ItwastheDemerara,andhercrewwerestillseenclingingtothequiveringmastonwhichtheyhadspentthelivelongnight.Moreworkforthewell-nighwornoutheroes!Awaytheywenttotherescueasthoughtheyhadbeenafreshcrew.Dashing throughthesurf theydrewnearthedoomedship,whichcreakedandgroanedwhenstruckbythetremendousseas, and threatened to go to pieces everymoment.The sixteenmenon themastweredrenchedbyeverysea.Severaltimesthatawfulnighttheyhad,asitwere,beenmockedbyfalsehopesofdeliverance.Theyhadseentheflashingof the rockets and faintly heard the thunder of the alarm-guns fired by thelightships.Theyhadseenthelightsofthesteamerwhileshesearchedinvainforthemonfirstreachingthesands,hadobservedthesmallerlightoftheboatintow,whosecrewwouldhavebeensogladtosavethem,andhadshoutedinvaintothemastheypassedbyontheirerrandofmercytootherpartsofthesands,leavingthemapreytodarknessanddespair.ButamercifulandlovingGod had seen and heard them all the time, and now sent them aid at theeleventhhour.When the lifeboat at last made in towards them the ebb tide was runningstrongly,and, fromthepositionof thewreck, itwas impossible toanchor towindwardanddropdowntoleewardintheusualfashion.Theyhad,therefore,toadoptthedangerousplanofrunningwiththewind,rightinuponthefore-rigging,andriskbeingsmashedbythemast,whichwasbeatingaboutwithitsliving load like an eccentric battering-ram. But these Ramsgatemen wouldstick at nothing. They rushed in and received many severe blows, besidesdashing into the iron windlass of the wreck. Slowly, and one by one, theenfeebledmendropped from themast into theboat.Sixteenall saved!Therewasgreatshakingofhands,despitethetossingsofthehungrysurf,andmanyfervidexpressionsofthankfulness,asthesailwashoistedandthemenoftheDemerarawerecarriedawaytojointheotherrescuedones,whobythattimethrongedthelittleAidalmosttooverflowing.At Ramsgate that morningthe morning of the 4thit was soon known to theloungersonthepierthatthelifeboatwasout,hadbeenoutallnight,andmight

be expected back soon. Bright and clear, though cold, was themornwhichsucceededthatterriblenight;andmanyhundredsofanxious,beating,hopefulheartswereonthelookout.Atlastthesteamerandherwarrior-boatappeared,anda feelingofgreatgladness seemed to spread through thecrowdwhen itwas observed that a flagwas flying at themast-head, awell-known sign ofvictory.Ontheycame,rightgallantlyoverthestillturbulentwaves.Astheypassedthepier-heads,andthecrowdofpalefaceswereseengazingupwardsinsmilingacknowledgment of the hearty welcome, there burst forth a deep-tonedthrillingcheer,whichincreasedinenthusiasmastheextentofthevictorywasrealised,andculminatedwhenitbecameknownthatatonegrandswoopthelifeboat,afterafightofsixteenhours,hadrescuedahundredandtwentysoulsfromthegraspoftheragingsea!Reader, there wasmany a heart-stirring incident enacted that night which Ihave not told you, andmuchmoremight be related of that great battle andgloriousvictory.Butenough, surely,hasbeen told togiveyousome ideaofwhatourcoastheroesdareanddointheireffortstorescuetheperishing.

ChapterThreeLightandShadeinLifeboatWork

Butvictorydoesnotalwayscrowntheeffortsofourlifeboats.Sometimeswehave to tell of partial failureor defeat, and it is due to the lifeboat cause toshowthatourcoastheroesaretothefullasdaring,self-sacrificing,andnoble,inthetimeofdisasterastheyareinthedayofvictory.A splendid instance of persevering effort in the face of absolutelyinsurmountabledifficultywasaffordedbytheactionoftheConstancelifeboat,belongingtoTynemouth,onthenightofthe24thNovember,1864.OnthatnightthecoastofNorthumberlandwasvisitedbyoneoftheseverestgales that had been experienced formany years, and a tremendous seawasdashing and roaring among the rocks at themouthof theTyne.Many shipshadsoughtrefugeintheharbourduringtheday,but,astheshadesofeveningbegan to descend, the risk of attempting an entrance became very great.Atlast, as the night was closing in, the schooner Friendship ran on the rocksnamedtheBlackMiddens.Shortly afterwards a large steamer, the Stanley, of Aberdeen, with thirtypassengers (most of whom were women), thirty of a crew, a cargo ofmerchandise, and a deckload of cattle, attempted to take the river. Onapproachingshesentuprocketsforapilot,butnonedaredventureouttoher.

The danger of putting out again to seawas too great. The captain thereforeresolved to attempt thepassagehimself.Hedid so.Threeheavy seas struckthe steamer so severelyas todiverther fromhercourse, and she ranon therocksclosetotheFriendship,soclosethatthecriesofhercrewcouldbeheardabove thewhistlingwindsand thunderingwaves.Assoonasshestruck, theindescribablecircumstancesofadreaddisasterbegan.Thehugebillowsthathad hitherto passed onward, heaving her upwards, now burst over her withinconceivable violence and crushed her down, sweeping the deckscontinuouslythey rockedher fiercely to and fro; theygroundher sides uponthecruelrocks;theyliftedherontheirpowerfulcrests, letherfallbodilyonthe rocks, stove in her bottom, and, rushing into the hold, extinguished theenginefires.Thesoundofherrendingplanksandtimberswasmingledwiththepiercingcriesofthefemalepassengersandthegruffshoutingofthemen,astheystaggeredtoandfro,vainlyattemptingtodosomething,theyknewnotwhat,toaverttheirdoom.Itwaspitchdarkbythistime,yetnotsodarkbutthatthesharpeyesofearnestdaringmenon shore had noted the catastrophe.Themenof the coastguard,underMrLawrenceByrne,theirchiefofficer,gotouttherocketapparatusandsucceededinsendingalineoverthewreck.Unfortunately,however,owingtomismanagementofthoseonboardthesteamer,itprovedineffective.Theyhadfastenedthehawseroftheapparatustotheforecastleinsteadofhighuponthemast,sothattheropesbecamehopelesslyentangledontherocks.Beforethisentanglementoccurred,however,twomenhadbeenhauledashoretoshowthepossibilityofescapeandtogivetheladiescourage.Thenaladyventuredintothesling-lifebuoy,orcradle,withasailor,buttheystuckfastduringthetransit,and while being hauled back to the wreck, fell out and were drowned. Afiremanthenmadetheattempt.Againthecradlestuck,butthemanwasstrongand went hand over hand along the hawser to the shore, where Mr Byrnerushedintothesurfandcaughtholdofhim.Therescuernearlylosthislifeintheattempt.Hewasovertakenbyahugewave,andwasonthepointofbeingwashed awaywhen he caught hold of a gentlemanwho ran into the surf tosavehim.Therocketapparatushavingthusfailed,owingtothesimplemistakeofthosein the wreck having fastened the hawser too low on their vessel, the crewattempted to loweraboatwithfourseamenandfour ladies in it.Oneof thedavitsgaveway,theotherswunground,andtheboatwasswamped.Threeofthemenwerehauledbackintothesteamer,buttheothersperished.Themenwouldnotnowlaunchtheotherboats.Indeeditwouldhavebeenuseless,fornoordinaryboatcouldhavelivedinsuchasea.Soonafterwardsalltheboatswere washed away and destroyed, and the destruction of the steamer itselfseemedabouttotakeplaceeverymoment.

Whilethisterriblefightfordearlifewasgoingon,thelifeboat-menwerenotidle.Theyranouttheirgoodboat,theConstance,andlaunchedher.Andwhata fearful launching that was! This boat belonged to the Institution, and hercrewwerejustlyproudofher.Accordingtotheaccountgivenbyhergallantcoxswain,JamesGilbert, theycould seenothingwhatever at the timeof startingbut thewhite flashof theseas as they passed over boat and crew, without intermission, twelve orthirteen times. Yet, as quickly as the boat was filled, she emptied herselfthrough her discharging-tubes. Of these tubes I shall treat hereafter. Gilbertcouldnotevenseehisownmen,exceptthesecondcoxswain,who,Ipresume,was close to him. Sometimes the boat was “driven to an angle of forty orforty-five degrees in clearing the rocks.” When they were in a position tomakeforthesteamer,theorderwasgivento“backalloarsandkeepherend-ontothesea.”Themenobeyed;theyseemedtobeinspiredwithfreshvigouras they neared the wreck. Let Gilbert himself tell the rest of the story asfollows.“Whenabreastoftheportbow,twomentoldustheyhadaropereadyonthestarboard bow.We saidwewould be there in amoment. I then ordered thebow-mantobereadytoreceivetherope.Assoonaswewerereadywemadetwo dashing strokes, andwere under the bowsprit, expecting to receive therope,whenweheardadreadfulnoise,andthenextinstanttheseafelloverthebows of the Stanley, and buried the lifeboat. Every oar was broken at thegunwaleof theboat, and theouter endswere swept away.Themenmadeagraspforthespareoars.Threeweregone;twoonlyremained.Wewerethenleftwiththerudderandtwooars.Thenextseastrucktheboatalmostoverendonboard theFriendship, theboatat the timebeingnearlyperpendicular.Wethen had themisfortune to lose four of our crew.As the boatmade amostfearfulcrash,andfellalongsidethevessel,JamesGrantwas,Ibelieve,killedon the spot, betwixt the ship and the boat; Edmund Robson and JamesBlackburn were thrown out, Joseph Bell jumped as the boat fell. My ownimpressionisthatthemenalljumpedfromtheboatontothevessel.Wesawthemnomore.Therewerefourmenstandinginagroupbeforethemainmastof the schooner. We implored them to come into the boat, but no oneanswered.”Littlewonderatthat,JamesGilbert!Themassivewreckmusthaveseemedatleasttomenwhodidnotknowthequalitiesofalifeboatasurerfootholdthanthetossedcockleshellwith“onlytwooarsandarudder,”outofwhichfourofherowngallant crewhad justbeen lost.Even landsmencanperceive that itmusthaverequiredmuchfaithtotrustalifeboatinthecircumstances.

“The next sea that struck the lifeboat,” continues the coxswain, “landed herwithinsixfeetofthefoundation-stoneofTynemouthDock,withaquicknessseldomwitnessed.Thecrewplied theremainingtwooars to leewardagainstthe rudder and boathook.We never saw anything till coming near the threeShields lifeboats.Weasked themforoars toproceedback to theFriendship,buttheyhadnonetospare.”Thus thebraveConstancewasbaffled, andhad to retire, severelywounded,from the fight.Shedrove, inherdisabledandunmanageable condition, intotheharbour.Ofthefourmenthrownoutofher,GrantandRobson,whohadfound temporary refuge in the wrecked schooner, perished. The other two,Bell andBlackburn,were buoyed up by their cork lifebelts,washed ashore,andsaved.Theschooneritselfwasafterwardsdestroyed,andhercrewoffourmenandaboywerelost.Meanwhile thescreamsof thoseonboardofherandtheStanleywereborneon thegale to thevast crowdswho, despite darkness and tempest, lined theneighbouring cliffs, and the Shields lifeboats just referred to made gallantattemptstoapproachthewrecks,butfailed.Indeed,itseemedtohavebeenarashattempton thepartof thenoblefellowsof theConstance tohavemadetheventureatall.The second cabin of the Stanley was on deck, and formed the bridge, oroutlook.Onthisanumberofthepassengersandcrewhadtakenrefuge,butatremendous sea carried it, and all its occupants, bodily away.After this thefuryoftheseaincreased,andaboutanhourbeforemidnightthesteamer,withahideouscrash,brokeintwoamidships.Theafterpartremainedfast;theforepartswunground.Allthepeoplewhoremainedontheafterpartweresweptawayanddrowned.Thenewpositionintowhichtheforepartofthewreckhadbeen forcedwas so far an advantage to thosewho still clung to it, that thebows broke the first violence of thewaves, and thus partially protected theexhausted people, thirty-five of whom still remained alive out of the sixtysoulsoriginallyonboard.Tenofthesewerepassengerstwobeingladies.Meanwhile fresh preparations were being made by the rocket-men.MessengershadbeensentinhothastetoCullercoatsformorerockets,thoseatTynemouth having been exhausted. They arrived at five o’clock in themorning.Bythat timethe tidehadfallenconsiderably,admittingofanearerapproachtothewreck,andoncemoreagleamofhopecheeredtheheartsofthe perishing as they beheld the fiery messenger of mercy rush fiercelytowardsthemfromtheshore.Buthopewasstilldelayed.Fouroftherocketsmissed.Thefifthpassedrightover them,droppingthelifelineonthewreck,and drawing from the poor sufferers a feeble cheer, which was replied tolustilyfromtheshore.Thistime,fortunately,nomistakesweremadebythose

on board. The blocks and tackle were drawn out, the hawser on which thesling-lifebuoy traversedwas fastenedhighupon the foremast toprevent theropesfoulingtherocks,astheyhaddoneonthefirstattempt;thenthelifebuoywasrunout,and,eventually,everysoulwasdrawninsafetytotheshore.Thusdidthatbattleend,withmuchofdisasteranddeathtoregret,indeed,butwithupwardsofthirty-fiverescuedlivestorejoiceover.I have now shown the action and bearing of our coast heroes, both incircumstancesoftriumphantvictoryandofpartialsuccess.Beforeproceedingtoothermatters it iswell to add that,when intelligenceof this disasterwastelegraphed to the Lifeboat Institution, a new lifeboat was immediatelyforwarded to Tynemouth, temporarily to replace the damaged Constance.Instructionsweregiven for the reliefof thewidowsandchildrenof the twolifeboat-menwho had perished, and 26 poundswas sent to the crew of theboat.AttheirnextmeetingthecommitteeoftheInstitution,besidesrecordingtheirdeepregretforthemelancholylossoflife,voted100poundsinaidofafundraised locally for thewidowsandsevenchildrenof the twomen.Theylikewisebestowedtheirsilvermedalandavoteofthanks,inscribedonvellum,toMrLawrenceByrne,ofthecoastguard,intestimonyofhisgallantserviceson theoccasion.Contributionswerealsoraisedbya localcommittee for thereliefofthesufferersbythesedisasters,andaVolunteerCorpswasformedtoassistinworkingtherocketapparatusonfutureoccasionsofshipwreck.Letmeatthispointearnestlyrequestthereaderwhodwellsinaninlandhome,andwhoneverhearstheroaringoftheterriblesea,carefullytonotethatinthiscaseitwasmenofthecoastwhodidthework,andpeopleofthecoasttownwho gave subscriptions, who sympathised with sufferers, and raised aVolunteerCorps.Ponderthiswell,goodreader,andaskyourselfthequestion,“Isallasitshouldbehere?HaveIandmyfellow-inlandersnothingtodobutread, admire, and say,Well done?” A hint is sufficient at this point. I willreturntothesubjecthereafter.Sometimesourgallantlifeboat-menwhencalledintoactiongothroughaverydifferent and not very comfortable experience. They neither gain a gloriousvictory nor achieve a partial success, but, after all their efforts, risks, andexposure, find that their services are not required, and that theymust returnmeeklyhomewithnothingtorewardthembutanapprovingconscience!OnesuchincidentIoncehadtheopportunityofobserving.Iwaslivingatthetimefor purposes of investigation, and by special permissionon board of theGull Lightship, which lies directly off Ramsgate Harbour, close to theGoodwinSands.ItwasinthemonthofMarch.Duringthegreaterpartofmytwoweeks’sojourninthatlightshiptheweatherwasreasonablyfine,butone

eveningitcameontoblowhard,andbecamewhatJackstyles“dirty.”Iwenttorestthatnightinaconditionwhichmaybedescribedassemi-sea-sick.ForsometimeIlayinmybunkmoralisingonthemadnessofthosewhochoosethe sea for aprofession.Suddenly Iwas rousedand the seasickness instantlycuredby thewatchondeckshoutingdownthehatchway to themate,“SouthSandHeadLightisfiring,sir,andsendinguprockets!”Thematesprangfromhisbunkjustoppositetomineandwasonthecabinfloorbeforethesentencewaswellfinished.Thrustingthepokerwithviolenceintothe cabin fire, he rushed on deck. I jumped up and pulled on coat, nethergarments,andshoes,asifmylifedependedonmyspeed,wonderingthewhileatthepokerincident.Therewasunusualneedforclothing,forthenightwasbitterlycold.OngainingthedeckIfoundthetwomenondutyactivelyatwork,oneloadingtheleegun, theotherfittingarocket toitsstick.Afewhurriedquestionsbythemateelicitedallthatitwasneedfultoknow.TheflashofagunfromtheSouthSandHeadLightship,aboutsixmilesdistant,hadbeenseen,followedbyarocket,indicatingthatavesselhadgotuponthefatalsandsinhervicinity.While themenwere speaking I saw the flash of another gun, but heard noreport,owingtothegalecarryingthesoundtoleeward.Arocketfollowed,andat the samemomentwe observed the distress signal of the vessel in dangerflaringonthesoutherntailof thesands,butveryfaintly; itwassofaraway,andthenightsothick.Bythistimeourgunwaschargedandtherocketinposition.“Lookalive,Jack;fetchthepoker!”criedthemate,asheprimedthegun.Iwas enlightened as to the poker! Jack dived down the hatchway and nextmoment returned with that instrument red-hot. He applied it in quicksuccession to gun and rocket. A grand flash and crash from the first wasfollowed by a blinding blaze and a whiz as the second sprang with amagnificentcurvefarawayintosurroundingdarkness.ThiswasouranswertotheSouthSandHeadLightship.Itwas,atthesametime,oursignal-calltothelookoutonthepierofRamsgateHarbour.“That’sabeauty!”saidourmate,referringtotherocket.“Getupanother,Jack.Spongeherwellout,Jacobs;we’llgive’emanothershotinafewminutes.”Loudandclearwerebothoursignals,butfourandahalfmilesofdistanceanda fresh gale neutralised their influence on that dark and dismal night. Thelookout did not see them. In a few minutes the gun and rocket were firedagain.StillnoansweringsignalcamefromRamsgate.

“Loadtheweathergun!”saidthemate.Jacobsobeyed,andIsoughtshelterundertheleeoftheweatherbulwarks,forthe wind seemed to be made of pen-knives and needles! The sturdy Gullstraining and plungingwildly at her huge cables, trembled as our third gunthunderedforthitssummons,buttherocketstrucktheriggingandmadealow,wavering flight. Another was therefore sent up, but it had scarcely cut itsbrightlineacrosstheskywhenweobservedtheansweringsignalarocketfromRamsgatepier.“That’sallrightnow,sir;ourworkisdone,”saidthematetome,ashewentbelow and quietly turned in, while the watch, having sponged out and re-coveredthegun,resumedtheiractiveperambulationsofthedeck.I confess that I felt somewhat disappointed at the sudden terminationof thenoiseandexcitement.IwastoldthattheRamsgatelifeboatcouldnotwellbeoutinlessthananhour.Therewasnothingforit,therefore,butpatience,soIturned in, “all standing,” as sailors have it, with a request that I should becalled when the lights of the tug should come in sight. Scarcely had I laindown, however, when the voice of the watch was heard shouting hastily,“Lifeboat close alongside, sir!Didn’t see it till thismoment. She carries nolights.”OutIbounced,minushat,coat,andshoes,andscrambledondeckjustintimetoseeaboatcloseunderourstern,renderedspectrallyvisiblebythelightofour lantern. Itwasnot theRamsgatebut theBroadstairs lifeboat, themenofwhichhadobservedourfirstrocket,hadlaunchedtheirboatatonce,andhadrundownwiththefavouringgale.“Whatareyoufiringfor?”shoutedthecoxswainoftheboat.“Ship on the sands bearing south,” replied Jack, at the full pitch of hisstentorianvoice.The boat which was under sail, did not pause, and nothingmore was said.With amagnificent rush it passed us, and shot away into the darkness.Ourreplyhadbeenheard,andthelifeboat,steeringbycompass,wentstraightasanarrowtotherescue.Itwasathrillingexperiencetome!Spectralasavisionthoughitseemed,andbriefalmostasthelightningflash, itsvisitwasthereal thingat last.ManyatimehadIheardandreadofourlifeboats,andhadseenthemreposingintheirboat-houses,aswellasout“forexercise,”butnowIhadseenalifeboattearingbefore the gale through the tormented sea, sternly bent on the realwork ofsavinghumanlife.

Once again all became silent and unexciting on board theGull, and Iwentshivering below with exalted notions of the courage, endurance, andbusinesslike vigour of our coast heroes. I now lay wakeful and expectant.Presentlytheshoutcameagain.“Tug’sinsight,sir!”AndoncemoreIwentondeckwiththemate.The steamer was quickly alongside, heaving wildly in the sea, with theRamsgatelifeboat“Bradford”intowfarastern.Shemerelyslowedalittletoadmit of the same brief question and reply, the latter being repeated, as theboatpassed,forthebenefitofthecoxswain.AsshesweptbyusIlookeddownand observed that the ten men who formed her crew crouched flat on thethwarts.Onlythesteersmansatup.Nowonder.Itmustbehardtositupinastiffgalewithfreezingspray,andsometimesheavyseassweepingoverone.Iknewthatthemenwerewideawakeandlistening,but,asfarasvisionwentthatboatwasmannedonlybytenoilskincoatsandsou’-westers!A few seconds carried them out of sight, and thus, as regards the GullLightship, the drama ended.Therewas no possibility of the dwellers in thefloating lights hearing anything of the details of that night’s work until thefortnightlyvisitoftheir“tender”shouldfalldue,butnextmorningatlowtide,far away in the distance, we could see the wreck, bottom up, high on theGoodwinSands.Afterwards I learned that the ship’s crew had escaped in one of their ownboats,andtakenrefugeintheSouthSandHeadLightship,whencetheywereconveyed next day to land, so that the gallant men of Ramsgate andBroadstairshadalltheirtoilandtroublefornothing!Thus, you see, there are not only high lights and deep shadows, but alsoneutraltintsinthevariousincidentswhichgotomakeupthegrandpictureoflifeboatwork.There is a Fund connected with the Broadstairs Lifeboat which deservespassingnoticehere. Itwas raisedby the lateSirCharlesReed, in1867, theproceeds tobedistributedannuallyamong theseamenwhosave lifeon thatcoast. The following particulars of this fund were supplied by Sir CharlesReedhimself:“Eight boatmen of Broadstairs were interested in a luggertheDreadnoughtwhich had for years done good service on the Goodwins. OnenighttheywentoffinatremendousseatosaveaFrenchbarque;butthough

they secured the crew, a steam-tug claimed the prize and towed her intoRamsgateHarbour.TheBroadstairsmen institutedproceedings tosecure thesalvage, but they were beaten in a London law court, where they wereoverpoweredby theadvocacyofapowerfulcompany. In themeantime theylosttheirluggeroffthecoastofNormandy,andinthisemergencythelawyerstheyhad employeddemanded their costs.Thepoormenhadnomeans, andnot being able to pay they were taken from their homes and lodged inMaidstone Gaol. He (Sir Charles) was then staying in Broadstairs, and anappealbeingmadetohim,hewrotetothe‘Times’,andinoneweekreceivednearly twice theamount required.Thebillwaspaid, themenwere liberatedand brought home to their families, and the balance of the amount, aconsiderablesum,wasinvested,theinteresttobeappliedtotherewardingofboatmenwho, by personal bravery, had distinguished themselves by savinglifeonthecoast.”

ChapterFourConstructionandQualitiesoftheLifeboat

Inpreviouschaptersenoughhasbeentold,Ithink,toprovethatourlifeboatsdeserveearnestandthoughtfulattention,notonlyasregardstheirwork,butinreference to their details of construction. It has been said that the lifeboatpossesses special qualities which distinguish it from all other boats. Chiefamong these are the self-righting and self-emptying principles. Stability,resultingfrombreadthofbeam,etcetera,willdomuchtorenderaboatsafeinrough seas and tempestuous weather, but when a boat has to face mightyrollerswhichturnitupuntilitstandsstraightonend,likearearinghorse,andeven tumble it rightover,orwhen ithas toplunge intohorriblemaelstromswhichseethe, leap,and fume in themadcontentionofcrossseas,nodevicethatmanhasyetfallenuponwillsaveitfromturningkeelupandthrowingitscontentsintothewater.Insteadtherefore,ofattemptingtobuildaboatwhichcannotupset,menhavedeemed itwiser toattempt theconstructionofonewhichwillnot remain inthatposition,butwhichwill, ofnecessity, right itself.Theendaimedathasbeen achieved, and the boat now in use by the Lifeboat Institution isabsolutelyperfectinthisrespect.Whatmorecouldbedesiredinanyboatthanthat,afterbeingupset,itshouldrightitselfinafewseconds,andemptyitselfofwaterinlessthanoneminute?Aboatwhichdoesnotrightitselfwhenoverturnedisonlyalifeboatsolongasitmaintainsitsproperpositiononthewater.Letitsself-emptyingandbuoyantqualitiesbeeversogood,youhaveonlyto

upsetittorenderitnobetterthananyotherboat;indeed,inasense,itisworsethanother boats, because it leadsmen to facedangerwhich theywouldnotdaretoencounterinanordinaryboat.Doubtless, lifeboatson thenon-self-rightingprinciplepossessgreat stability,andareseldomoverturned;neverthelesstheyoccasionallyare,andwithfatalresults. Here is one example. In themonth of January, 1865, the Liverpoollifeboat, when out on service, was upset, and sevenmen of her crewweredrowned. This was not a self-righting boat, and it did not belong to theLifeboat Institution,most ofwhose boats are now built on the self-rightingprinciple.Moreover, theunfortunatemenhadnotputon lifebelts. ItmaybeaddedthatthemenwhoworktheboatsoftheInstitutionarenotallowedtogooffwithouttheircorklifebeltson.Takeanothercase.Onthe4thJanuary,1857,thePointofAyrlifeboat,whenundersailinagale,upsetatadistancefromtheland.Theaccidentwasseenfrom the shore, but no aid could be rendered, and the whole boat’screwthirteen in numberwere drowned. This boat was considered a goodlifeboat,anddoubtlessitwassoinmanyrespects,butitwasnotaself-rightingone.Twoorthreeofthepoorfellowswereseenclingingtothekeelfortwentyminutes,bywhichtimetheybecameexhausted,werewashedoff,and,havingnolifebeltson,perished.AgaininFebruary,1858,theSouthwoldlifeboatalargesailingboat,esteemedoneofthefinestinthekingdom,butnotontheself-rightingprinciplewentoutforexercise,andwasrunningbeforeaheavysurfwithallsailset,whenshesuddenlyranonthetopofasea,turnedbroadsidetothewaves,andwasupset.Thecrew in thiscasewere fortunatelynear the shore,hadon their lifebelts,and, although some of them could not swim, were all savedno thanks,however, to their boat, which remained keel upbut three unfortunategentlemenwhohadbeenpermittedtogooffintheboatwithoutlifebelts,andoneofwhomwasagoodswimmer,losttheirlives.Letitbenotedherethattheabovethreeinstancesofdisasteroccurredinthedaytime,andthecontrastofthefollowingcasewillappearallthestronger.One very dark and stormy night in October, 1858, the small lifeboat ofDungeness put off through a heavy sea to a wreck three-quarters of amilefromtheshore.Eightstoutmenofthecoastguardcomposedhercrew.Shewasaself-righting,self-emptyingboat,belongingto theLifeboatInstitution.Thewreckwas reached soonaftermidnight, and found tohavebeenabandoned.Theboat,therefore,returnedtowardstheshore.Now,thereisagreaterdangerin rowing before a gale than in rowing against it. For the first halfmile allwent well, though the sea was heavy and broken, but, on crossing a deep

channel between two shoals, the little lifeboatwas caught up and struck bythreeheavyseasinsuccession.Thecoxswainlostcommandoftherudder,andshewascarriedawaybeforeasea,broachedto,andupset,throwinghercrewoutofher.Immediatelysherightedherself,clearedherselfofwater,andwasbroughtupbyheranchorwhichhadfallenoutwhenshewasoverturned.Thecrewmeanwhilehavingonlifebelts,floatedandswamtotheboat,caughtholdof the life-lines festoonedroundhersides,clambered intoher,cut thecable,andreturnedtotheshoreinsafety!Whatmoreneedbesaidinfavouroftheself-rightingboats?Theself-emptyingprincipleisquiteequaltotheself-rightinginimportance.Ineverycaseofputtingofftoawreckinagale,alifeboatshipsagreatdealofwater.Inmostcasesshefillsmorethanonce.Frequentlysheisoverwhelmedbytonsofwaterbyeverysea.Aboatfullofwatercannotadvance,thereforebalingbecomesnecessary;butbaling,besidesbeingveryexhaustingwork,issoslowthatitwouldbeuselesslabourinmostcases.Besides,whenmenhavetobaletheycannotgivethatundividedattentiontotheoarswhichisneedful.Toovercomethisdifficultytheself-emptyingplanwasdevised.As,Idoubtnot,thereaderisnowsufficientlyinterestedtoaskthequestions,How are self-righting and self-emptying accomplished? I will try to throwsomelightonthesesubjects.First, as to self-righting.You are aware, nodoubt, that the buoyancyof ourlifeboat is due chiefly to large air-cases at the ends, and all round the sidesfromstemtostern.Theaccompanyingdrawinganddiagramswillaidusinthedescription.On theoppositepageyouhaveaportraitof, letussay,a thirty-threefeet,ten-oaredlifeboat,oftheRoyalNationalLifeboatInstitution,onitstransporting carriage, ready for launching, and, on page 95, two diagramsrepresentingrespectivelyasectionandadeckviewofthesame(Figures1,2,and3).The breadth of this boat is eight feet; its stowage-room sufficient for thirtypassengers, besides its crew of twelve menforty-two in all. It is double-banked;thatis,eachofitsfivebanks,benches,orthwarts,accommodatestworowers sitting side by side. The lines festooned round the side dip into thewater,sothatanyoneswimmingalongsidemayeasilygraspthem,andinthemiddlepartoftheboatjustwherethelargewheelscomeintheengravingtwoof the lines are longer than the others, so that a man might use them asstirrups,andthusbeenabledtoclamberintotheboatevenwithoutassistance.Therudderdescendsconsiderablybelowthekeeltogiveitmorepowerandhastoberaisedwhentheboatisbeinglaunched.

Theshadedpartsofthediagramsshowthepositionandformoftheair-caseswhichpreventalifeboatfromsinking.ThewhiteoblongspaceinFigure2isthefreespaceavailableforcrewandpassengers.InFigure3isseenthedepthtowhichtheair-chambersdescend,andtheheighttowhichthebowandstern-chambersrise.Itistotheselargeair-chambersinbowandstern,coupledwithgreatsheerorriseforeandaftofgunwale,andaveryheavykeel,thattheboatowesitsself-righting power. The two air-chambers are rounded on the top. Now, it isobviousthatifyouweretotakeamodelofsuchaboat,turnitupsidedownona table, and try tomake it rest on its two rounded air-chambers, youwouldencounterasmuchdifficultyasdidthefriendsofColumbuswhentheysoughttomakeaneggstandonitsend.Theboatwouldinfalliblyfalltoonesideortheother.Inthewaterthetendencyispreciselythesame,andthattendencyisincreasedby theheavyironkeel,whichdrags theboatviolentlyroundto itsrightposition.The self-righting principle was discoveredat all events for the first timeexhibitedat the end of last century, by the Reverend James Bremner, ofOrkney.He first suggested in the year 1792 that an ordinary boatmight bemadeself-rightingbyplacingtwowatertightcasksintheheadandsternsheetsof it, and fastening three hundredweight of iron to the keel. Afterwards hetriedtheexperimentatLeith,andwithsuchsuccessthatin1810theSocietyofArts voted him a silvermedal and twenty guineas. But nothing furtherwasdoneuntilhalfacenturylater,whentwentyoutoftwenty-fourpilotslosttheirlivesbytheupsettingofthenon-self-rightingShieldslifeboat.Then(1850)thelateDukeofNorthumberlandofferedaprizeof100guineasfor thebest lifeboat that couldbeproduced.No fewer than280models anddrawingsweresentin,andtheplans,specifications,anddescriptionsoftheseformedfivefoliomanuscriptvolumes!Thevariousmodelswereintheshapeof pontoons, catamarans or rafts, north-country cobles, and ordinary boats,slightly modified. The committee appointed to decide on their respectivemerits had a difficult task to perform. After six months’ careful, patientinvestigationandexperiment, theyawardedtheprize toMrJamesBeeching,of Great Yarmouth. Beeching’s boat, although the best, was not, however,deemedperfect.The committee therefore set Mr James Peake, one of their number, andassistantmaster-shipwrightatWoolwichDockyard,toincorporateasmanyaspossible of the good qualities of all the othermodelswithBeeching’s boat.Fromtimetotimevariousimportantimprovementshavebeenmade,andtheresult is the presentmagnificent boat of the Institution, bymeans ofwhichhundredsoflivesaresavedeveryyear.

Theself-dischargeofwaterfromalifeboatisnotsoeasytoexplain.Itwillbethe more readily comprehended if the reader understands, and will bear inremembrance, thephysicalfact thatwaterwill,andmust, findits level.Thatisnoportionofwater, smallorgreat, in tub,pond,or sea,can foramomentremain above its flat and level surface, exceptwhen forced intomotion, orcommotion.Left to itself it infallibly flattensout,becomescalm, lies still inthe lowest attainable positionin other words, finds its level. Bearing this inmind,letuslookagainatFigure3.Thedotteddouble lineabout themiddleof theboat,extendingfromstemtostern, represents the floor of the boat, on which the men’s feet rest whenstanding or sitting in it. It also represents, or very nearly so, the waterlineoutside,thatis,thedepthtowhichtheboatwillsinkwhenafloat,mannedandloaded.Therefore,theboat’sfloorandtheoceansurfaceareonthesamelevel.Observethat!Thespacebetweenthefloorandthekeelisfilledupwithcorkorotherballast.Now,therearesixlargeholesintheboat’sflooreachholesixinches indiameterintowhichare fittedsixmetal tubes,whichpassdownbythesideofthecorkballast,andrightthroughthebottomoftheboatitself;thusmakingsixlargeopeningsintothesea.“Buthallo!”youexclaim,“won’tthewaterfrombelowrushupthroughtheseholesandfilltheboat?”Itwill indeedrushup into theseholes,but itwillnot fill theboatbecause itwillhavefounditslevelthelevelofoceanonreachingthefloor.Well,besideshavingreacheditslevel,thewaterinthetubeshasreachedsixvalves,whichwillopendownwardstoletwaterout,butwhichwon’topenupwardstoletitin.Now,supposeahugebillowtopplesintotheboatandfillsitquitefull,isitnotobviousthatallthewaterintheboatstandsabovetheocean’slevelbeingabovetheboat’sfloor?Likeawiseelement,itimmediatelyseeksitsownlevelby the onlymode of egressthe discharging tubes; andwhen it has found itslevel, it has also found the floor of the boat. In otherwords, it is all gone!moreover,itrushesoutsoviolentlythatalifeboat,filledtooverflowing,freesitself,asIhavealreadysaid,inlessthanoneminute!The buoyancy, therefore, of a lifeboat is not affected for more than a fewsecondsbythetonsofwaterwhichoccasionallyandfrequentlybreakintoher.Toprovethis,letmereferyouagaintotheaccountoftheConstance,givenbyitsgallantcoxswain,asrecordedinthethirdchapter.Hespeaksofthelifeboatbeing“buried,”“sunk”bythewavethatburstoverthebowoftheStanley,and“immediately,”headds,“themenmadeagraspfor thespareoars!”Thereisnosuchremarkas“whenwerecoveredourselves,”etcetera.Thesinkingandleaping to the surfacewereevidently theworkofa fewseconds;and this is

indeedthecase,forwhentheforcethatsinksalifeboatisremoved,sherisesthatinstanttothesurfacelikeacork,andwhenshetumblesoversherecoversherselfwiththeagilityofanacrobat!The transporting-carriage isamostessentialpartofa lifeboatestablishment,because wrecks frequently take place at some distance from a station, andprompt assistance is of the utmost importance in all cases of rescue. It isdrawnbyhorses, and,with its exceedinglybroad and strongwheels, canbedraggedoveranykindofroadoracrosssoftsand.Itisalwaysbackedintothesurfsodeepthattheboatmaybelaunchedfromit,withhercrewseated,andtheoarsout,readytopullwithmightandmaintheinstanttheplungeismade.These first strokesof a lifeboat’s creware of immense importance.Want ofunionorenergyonthepartofsteersmanorcrewatthiscriticalpointmaybefatal.Theboatmustbemadetocutthebreakersend-on,soastopreventherturning broadside on and being rolled back on the beach. Even after theseinitialstrokeshavebeenmadesuccessfully, therestillremainsthepossibilityofanunusuallymonstrouswavehurlingtheboatbackendoverend.The boat resting on its carriage on the sands (Figure 1) shows the relativepositionof the two. Itwillbe seen, from thatposition, that avery slight tipwillsufficetocausethebowoftheboattodroptowardsthesea.Asitskeelrestsonrollers,comparativelylittleforceisrequiredtolaunchit.Suchforceisappliedbymeansofropesattachedtothestern,passingthroughpulleysattheouterendofthecarriage,sothatpeopleonshorehaultheropesinlandinordertoforcetheboatoffitscarriageseaward.Once the boat has got fairly over the surf and out upon the wild sea, herprogressiscomparativelysafe,simpletuggingagainstwindandseabeingallthathastobedoneuntilthewreckisreached,wheredangersofanotherkindawaither.I have now shown that the great qualities of our lifeboat arebuoyancy, or atendencynottosink;self-rightingpower,orinabilitytoremainupsidedown;self-emptyingpower,oracapacitytodischargeanywaterthatmaygetintoit;andstability,oratendencynottoupset.ThelastqualityIshallreferto,thoughbynomeanstheleast,isstrength.From what has been already written about lifeboats being hurled againstwrecksandrocks,itmustbeevidentthatthestrengthofordinaryboatswouldnotsuffice.In order to give them the requisite strength of frame for their tremendouswarfare, theyarebuiltof thebestHondurasmahogany,onwhat isknownasthediagonalplanthatis,theboathastwodistinct“skins”ofplanking,oneset

ofplanksbeing laidon inadiagonalposition to theothers.Moreover, theseplanksrunfromonegunwaleroundundertheboattotheothergunwale,andhaveacomplete layerofpreparedcanvasbetweenthem.Thusgreatstrengthand elasticity are combined, so that the boat can stand an inconceivableamountofbatteringonwreckage,rocks,orsand,withoutbeingdestroyed.ThatthisisreallysoIwillendeavourtoprovebyreferringinthenextchaptertoaparticularinstanceinwhichthegreatstrengthofoneofourlifeboatswaspowerfullyillustrated.Itmay be added, in conclusion, that the oars of a lifeboat are short, and somade as to combine the greatest possible strength with lightness. They arefastenedtothegunwalebyshortpiecesofrope,andworkinamoveableironcrutchonanironthole-pin.Eachboatisprovidedwithasetofspareoars.Herequipment of compass, cables, grapnels, anchors, etcetera, is, as may besupposed,verycomplete,andsheridesuponthestorminarathergaydressofred,white,andblue,inorderthatshemaybereadilydistinguishedfromotherboatsherlowerpartsbeingwhite,heruppersidesblue,andherlineof“fender”allroundbeingscarlet.

ChapterFiveMoreTalesofHeroism

Ifanyoneshoulddoubtthefactthatalifeboatisallbutindestructible,letthatscepticalonereadthefollowingtaleofwreckandrescue.Onaterriblenightintheyear1857aPortuguesebrigstruckontheGoodwinSands, not far from the lightship thatmarks the northern extremity of thosefatalshoals.Ashotwasfired,andarocketsentupbythelightship.Nosecondsignal was needed. The Ramsgate men were, as usual, keeping a brightlookout.Instantlytheyjumpedintothelifeboat,whichlaycalmlyfloatingintheharbouralongsidethepier.Soeagerwerethementoengageinthedeadlystrugglethattheboatwasover-manned,andthelasttwowhojumpedinwereobligedtogoashoreagain.ThetugAidwasallreadyaccordingtocustomwithsteamup.Shetooktheboatintowandmadeforthemouthoftheharbour.Staggeringoutintheteethoftideandtempesttheyploughedtheirwaythroughaheavycrosssea,thatsweptagainandagainoverthem,untiltheyreachedtheedgeoftheGoodwins.Herethesteamercastofftheboat,andwaitedforherwhileshedashedintothesurf,andborethebruntofthebattlealone.It was a familiar proceeding to all concerned.Many a time before had theRamsgateboatandsteamerrescuedmenandwomenandlittleonesfromthe

jaws of death on the Goodwins, but they were about to experience a fewnoveltiesthatnight.Itwasverydark,sothattheboathadmuchdifficultyinfindingthebrig.Oncomingwithin about eighty yards of her they cast anchor and veered downunderherlee.Atfirsttheywereinhopesofgettingthevesseloff,andsomehourswerespentinvainattemptstodothis,butthegaleincreasedinfury;thebrig began to break up. She rolled from side to side, and the yards swungwildlyintheair.Ablowfromoneoftheseyardswouldhavestovetheboatin,sothePortuguesecrewtwelvemenandaboyweretakenfromthewreck,andthelifeboat-menendeavouredtopushoff.Allthistimetheboathadbeenfloatinginabasinworkedinthesandbythemotionofthewreck;butthetidehadbeenfalling,andwhentheytriedtopullup to their anchor the boat struck heavily on the edge of this basin. Theyworked to get off the shoalswith the energy ofmenwho believe that theirlivesdependontheirefforts.Foramoment theysucceededingettingafloat,butagainstruckandremainedfast.Meanwhilethebrigwasliftedbyeachwave,thatcamerushingovertheshoalslike a mountain chain of snow, and let fall with a thundering crash. Hertimbersbegantosnaplikepipe-stems,and,assheworkednearerandnearertothe boat, the wildly-swaying yards threatened immediate destruction. Theheavy seas flew continually over the lifeboat, so that passengers and crewcould do nothing but hold on to the thwarts for their lives.At last the brigcamesonearthattherewasastiramongthemen;theywerepreparingforthelaststrugglesomeofthemintendingtoleapintotheriggingofthewreckandtaketheirchance.Butthecoxswainshouted,“Sticktotheboat,boys,sticktotheboat!”andthemenobeyed.At thatmoment theboat lifted a little on the surf andgroundedagain.Newhopewasinspiredbythis.Theypulledatthecableandshovedmightandmainwith the oars. They succeeded in getting out of immediate danger, but stillcouldnotpulluptotheiranchorintheteethofwindandtide.ThecoxswainthensawplainlythattherewasbutoneresourcelefttocutthecableanddriveawaytoleewardrightacrosstheGoodwinSands,whichatthatplaceweretwomileswide.But therewasnotyet sufficientwateron the sandseven for theattemptingof thatforlornhope.Asfarascouldbeseenin thatdirection,ay,and far beyond the power of vision, therewas nothing but a chaos ofwild,tumultuous,whirlingfoam,withoutsufficientdepthtofloatthemover,sotheyheld on, intending to wait till the tide, which had turned, should rise. Verysoon,however, theanchorbegan todrag.Thiscompelled them tohoist sail,cut the cable sooner than they had intended, and attempt to beat towindwardoffthesands.Itwasinvain.Amomentmore,andtheystruckwith

tremendousforce.Abreakercamerollingtowardsthem,filledtheboat,caughtheruplikeaplaythingonitscrest,and,hurlingherafewyardsonwards,letherfallwithashockthatwell-nightoreeverymanoutofher.Eachsuccessivebreakertreatedherinthisway!Thosewhodwellbytheseashoreknowwell thosefamiliarripplesthatmarkthe sandswhen the tide is out. On theGoodwins those ripples are giganticbanks, to be measured by feet, not by inches. I can speak from personalexperience, having once visited theGoodwins andwalked among the sand-banksatlowwater.Fromonetoanotherofthesebanksthissplendidboatwasthrown.Eachroaringsurfcaughtitbytheboworstern,and,whirlingitrightround,sent itcrashingon thenext ledge.ThePortuguesesailorsgaveupallhopeandclungtothethwartsinsilentdespair,butthecrewdidnotloseheartaltogether.Theyknewtheboatwell,hadoftengoneout tobattle inher,andhopedthattheymightyetbesaved,iftheycouldonlyescapestrikingonthepiecesofoldwreckwithwhichthesandswerestrewn.Thus, literally, yard by yard, with a succession of shocks, that would haveknockedanyordinaryboattopieces,didthatlifeboatdrive,duringtwohours,overtwomilesoftheGoodwinSands!A thrilling and graphic account of this wreck and rescue is given in theReverend JohnGilmore’s book, “StormWarriors,” inwhich he tells us thatwhilethisexcitingworkwasgoingon,theAidlayheadtowind,steaminghalfpower,andholdingherownagainstthestorm,waitingforherlifeboat,butnolifeboat returned to her, and her gallant captain became more and moreanxious as time flewby.Could it be possible that her sturdy little comrade,withwhomshehadgoneouttobattleinhundredsofgales,wasovercomeatlastanddestroyed!Theysignalledagainandagain,butgotnoreply.Then,astheir fears increased, they began to cruise about as near to the dangerousshoalsastheydaredalmostplayingwithdeathastheyeagerlysoughtfortheirconsort.Atlasttheconvictionwasforceduponthemthattheboatmusthavebeenstovebythewreckandswamped.Inthemidstoftheirgatheringdespairthey caught sight of the lightship’s bright beam, shining like a star of hopethroughthesurroundingdarkness.Withafainthopetheymadeforthevesseland hailed her. “Have you seen anything of the lifeboat?” was the eagerquestion.“Nothing!nothing!”wasthesadreply.Backtheywentagaintotheplacetheyhadleft,determinedtocruiseon,hopingagainsthope,tillthenightshould pass away. Hour after hour they steamed hither and thither, withanxiously strainingeyes.At lastgreydawnappearedand thewreckbecamedimlyvisible.Theymadeforit,andtheirworstfearswererealisedtheremnantofthebrig’shullwastherewithropesandwreckagetossingwildlyrounditbutnolifeboat!

Sadly they turned away and continued to search for some time in the fainthope that some of her crew might be floating about, buoyed up by theirlifebelts, but none were found, and at last they reluctantly made for theharbour.Andwhentheharbourwasgainedwhatsawtheythere?Thelifeboat!safeandsound,floatingascalmlybeside thepieras ifnothinghadhappened!As thecaptainof theAidhimself said,he felt inclinedatonce toshoutandcry forwonder,andwemaybesurethathiswonderwasnotdecreasedwhenheheardthelifeboat’sstoryfromthebravecoxswain’slipshowthat,afterdrivingrightacrossthesands,asIhavedescribed,theysuddenlyfoundthemselvesindeepwater.Thatthen,knowingtheextremityofdangertobepast,theyhadsetthesails, and, soon after, had, through God’s mercy, landed the rescuedPortuguesecrewinRamsgateHarbour!Itmustnotbeimagined,however,thatsuchworkasthiscanbedonewithoutgreatcosttothosewhoundertakeit.Some of themen never recovered from the effects of that night’s exposure.The gratitude of the Portuguese seamen was very great, as well as theiramazementatsucharescue!Itisrecordedofthemthat,beforearrivingintheharbour,theywereobservedtobeinconsultationtogether,andthatonewhounderstoodalittleEnglishspoketooneofthecrewinanundertone.“Coxswain,”saidthelifeboatman,“theywanttogiveusalltheirmoney!”“Yes, yes,” cried the Portuguese interpreter, in broken English; “you havesaved our lives! Thank you, thank you! but all we have is yours. It is notmuch,butyoumaytakeitbetweenyou.”Theamountwasseventeenpounds!Asmighthavebeenexpected,neitherthecoxswainnorhismenwouldacceptapennyofit.This coxswain was Isaac Jarman, who for many years led the famousRamsgate lifeboat into action, and helped to save hundreds of human lives.WhilestayingatRamsgateIhadthepleasureofshakingthestronghardhandofJarman,andheardsomeofhisadventuresfromhisownlips.Now,fromallthathasbeensaid,itwill,Ithink,beseenandadmittedthatthelifeboatsoftheInstitutionarealmostindestructible.The lifebelt, to which reference has been so often made, deserves specialnoticeatthispoint.Thefigureonthetitle-pageshowsitsappearanceandthemanner inwhichit isworn.Itwasdesignedin1854,byAdmiralJ.R.Ward,the Institution’s chief inspector of lifeboats. Its chief quality is its great

buoyancy, which is not only sufficient to support a man with head andshouldersabovewaterwhenheavilyclothed,butenablesthewearereasilytosupport another personthe extra buoyancy being 25 pounds. Besidespossessingseveralgreatadvantagesoverotherlifebelts,thatofAdmiralWardis divided in the middle by a space, where the waistbelt is fastened. Thispermits of great freedom of action, and the whole machine is remarkablyflexible.Itisalsoverystrong,formingaspeciesofarmourwhichprotectsthewearerfromsevereblows,and,moreover,helpstokeephimwarm.Itbehovesmenowtosayafewwordsabouttheinventoroflifeboats.Ashasbeentold,ourpresentsplendidboatisacombinationofallthegoodpointsandimprovementsmadeinsuchboatsdowntothepresenttime.Butthemanwhofirst thought of a lifeboat and invented one;who fought against apathy andopposition; who completed and launched his ark of mercy on the sea atBamborough,intheshapeofalittlecoble,intheyear1785,andwhoactuallysaved many lives therewith, was a London coachbuilder, Lionel Lukin byname.Assuredly thismandeserved thedeepestgratitudeof thenation, forhiswasthefirstlifeboateverbroughtintoaction,andheinsertedthesmallendofthatwedge which we have been hammering home ever since, and which hasresultedintheformationofoneofthegrandest,mostthoroughlynationalandunsectarianofourcharitableinstitutions.HenryGreatheada boatbuilder of South Shieldserroneously got the credit ofthis invention.Greatheadwasanoted improverandbuilderof lifeboats,andwaswellanddeservedlyrewardedforhiswork;buthewasnottheinventor.LionelLukinalonecanclaimthathonour.In regard to themenwhoman them, enoughhas beenwritten to prove thattheywelldeservetoberegardedastheheroesofthecoast!Andletmeobserveinpassingthattherearealsoheroinesofthecoast,asthefollowingextractfromtheJournaloftheInstitutionwillshow.ItappearedintheJanuarynumberof1865.“VotedtheSilverMedaloftheInstitution,andacopyofitsvoteofthanksonparchment, to Miss Alice R. Le Geyt, in admiration of her prompt andcourageousconductinrowingasmallboatintothesurfattheriskofherlife,andrescuingtwolittleboyswhohadfallenintotheseafromtheouterpieratLymeRegis,Dorset,onthe4thAugust.”Again, inOctober, 1879, theCommittee of theNationalLifeboat InstitutionvotedtheSilverMedaloftheInstitution,andacopyofthevoteinscribedonvellum, toMissEllenFrancisPrideauxBrune,MissGertrudeRosePrideaux

Brune, Miss Mary Katherine Prideaux Brune, Miss Beatrice May PrideauxBrune, andMissNoraO’Shaughnessy, in acknowledgment of their intrepidandpromptservicesinproceedingthroughaheavysurfintheirrowing-boat,andsaving,at considerable riskof life, a sailor fromaboatwhichhadbeencapsizedbyasquallofwindoffBrayHill,PadstowHarbour,Cornwall,onthe9th August.When the accident occurred, the ladies’ boat was being towedasternofafishing-boat,andMissEllenPrideauxBrune,withgreatgallantryand determination, asked to be cast off, and, with her companions, sheproceededwithallpossibledespatchtotherescueofthedrowningsailor.Alltheladiesshowedgreatcourage,presenceofmind,andmarkedabilityinthemanagementoftheirsmallboat.Theyrangreatriskingettingthemanintoit,onaccountofthestrongtideandseaonatthetime.Soitwouldappear that thespiritof thefar-famedGraceDarlinghasnotyetdepartedfromtheland!Ifheroismconsists inboldly facingand successfullyovercomingdangersofthe most appalling nature, then I hold that thousands of our men of thecoastfrom Shetland to the Land’s Endstand as high as do those among oursoldiersandsailorswhoweartheVictoriaCross.Letusconsideranexample.On that night in which the Royal Charter went down, there was aMaltesesailoronboardnamedJosephRodgers,whovolunteeredtoswimashorewitha rope. Those who have seen the effect of a raging sea even on a smoothbeach,knowthatthepowerofthefallingwavesisterrible,andtheirretreatingforcesogreat that themostpowerfulswimmersoccasionallyperish in them.But the coast to which Rodgers volunteered to swim was an almostperpendicularcliff.Iwriteasaneye-witness,reader,forIsawthecliffmyself,afewdaysafterthewreck took place, when I went down to that dreary coast of Anglesea toidentifythebodiesoflostkindred.Ay,andatthattimeIalsosawsomethingoftheawfulaspectoflossbyshipwreck.IwentintothelittlechurchatLlanalgo,whereupwardsof thirtybodies layupon the floorstill in theirwetgarments,just as they had been laid down by those who had brought them from theshore.AsIenteredthatchurchonebodylaydirectlyinmypath.Itwasthatofayoung sailor.Strange to say, his cheekswere still ruddyas thoughhehadbeenalive,andhislipsweretightlycompressedIcouldnothelpfancyingwiththeforceofthelaststrongefforthehadmadetokeepoutthedeadlysea.Justbeyond him lay a woman, and beside her a little child, in their ordinarywalking-dresses,asiftheyhadlaindownthereandfallenasleepsidebyside.Ihadtostepacrossthesesilentforms,astheylay,someinthefulllightofthewindows,othersindarkenedcornersofthelittlechurch,andtogazeearnestlyintotheirdeadfacesforthelineamentsofthosewhomIhadgonetofindbutI

did not find them there. Their bodies were washed ashore some daysafterwards. A few of those who lay on that floor were covered to hide themutilationtheyhadreceivedwhenbeingdrivenonthecruelrocks.Altogetheritwasanawfulsightwellfittedtodrawforththeprayer,“Godhelpandblessthosedaringmenwhoarewillingtorisktheirlivesatanymomentalltheyearround,tosavemenandwomenandlittleonesfromsuchafateasthis!”But, to return toJosephRodgers.Thecliff towhichhevolunteered toswimwasthunderedonbyseasraisedbyoneofthefiercestgalesthatevervisitedour shores. It was dark, too, and broken spars and pieces of wreck tossingaboutincreasedthedanger;whilethewaterwascoldenoughtochillthelife-blood in the stoutest frame. No one knew better than Rodgers the extremedangeroftheattempt,yetheplungedintotheseawitharoperoundhiswaist.Had hismotive been self-preservation he could have gained the shoremoreeasilywithoutarope;buthismotivewasnotselfishitwastrulygenerous.Hereachedthe land,hauledacableashore,made it fast toarock,andbegan torescuethecrew,andIhavenodoubtthateverysoulinthatvesselwouldhavebeen saved if shehadnot suddenly split across and sunk.Fourhundredandfifty-fiveliveswerelost,butbeforethecatastrophetookplacethirty-nineliveswere saved by the heroism of that Maltese sailor. The Lifeboat Institutionawarded its goldmedal, with its vote of thanks inscribed on vellum, and 5pounds,toRodgers,inacknowledgmentofhisnobleconduct.All round the kingdom the men are, as a rule, eager to man our lifeboats.Usuallythereisarushtothework;andasthemengetonlytenshillingspermaninthedaytime,andtwentyshillingsatnight,oneachoccasionofgoingoff, it canscarcelybesupposed that theydo itonly for the sakeof thepay!True,thosepaymentsareincreasedonoccasionsofunusualriskorexposure;nevertheless,Ibelievethataworthiermotiveanimatesourmenofthecoast.Idonotsay,orthink,thatreligiousfeelingisthecauseoftheirheroism.Withsome,doubtless,itis;withothersitprobablyisnot;butIsincerelybelievethattheWordofGodpermeatingasitdoesourwholecommunity,andinfluencingthese men either directly or indirectlyis the cause of their self-sacrificingcourage,asitisunquestionablythecauseofournationalprosperity.

ChapterSixSuppliesafewPointsforConsideration

I have now somewhat to say about the RoyalNational Lifeboat Institution,which has the entiremanagement and control of our fleet of 273 lifeboats.That Institution has had a glorious history. It was founded by Sir WilliamHillary, Baroneta man who deserves a monument inWestminster Abbey, Ithink;for,besidesoriginatingtheLifeboatInstitution,hesaved,andassistedin

saving,305lives,withhisownhands!Born in 1824, the Institution has been the means of saving no fewer than29,608livesuptotheendof1882.At its birth the Archbishop of Canterbury presided; the great Wilberforce,Lord John Russell, and other magnates were present; the Dukes of Kent,Sussex,andothermembersoftheRoyalfamily,becamevice-patrons,theEarlof Liverpool its president, and George the Fourth its patron. In 1850 goodPrinceAlbertbecameitsvice-patron,andherMajestytheQueenbecame,andstill continues, a warm supporter and annual contributor. This is a splendidarrayofnamesand titles,but letmeurge thereadernever toforget that thisnobleInstitutiondependsonthepublicfortheadequatedischargeofitsgrandwork,foritissupportedalmostentirelybyvoluntarycontributions.The soleobject of the Institution is toprovide andmaintainboats that shallsave the lives of shipwrecked persons, and to reward thosewho save lives,whether by means of its own or other boats. The grandeur of its aim andsinglenessofitspurposeareamongitsgreatrecommendations.When, however, life does not require to be saved, and when opportunityoffers,itallowsitsboatstosaveproperty.It savesand rewards thosewhoassist in savingmanyhundredsof liveseveryyear. Last year (1882) the number saved by lifeboatswas 741, besides 143livessavedbyshore-boatsandothermeans,forwhichrewardsweregivenbytheInstitution;makingagrandtotalof884livessavedin thatoneyear.Thenumber each year is often larger, seldom less.One year (1869) the rescuedlives amounted to the grand number of 1231, and in the greater number ofcases the rescues were effected in circumstances in which ordinary boatswould have been utterly uselessworse than useless, for they would havedrownedtheircrews.Inrespectofthismatterthevalueofthelifeboattothenationcannotbeestimatedat least,notuntilwe invent somesortof spiritualarithmeticwherebywemaycalculatethepriceofwidows’andorphans’tears,andofbrokenhearts!Butinregardtomorematerialthingsitispossibletospeakdefinitely.Itfrequentlyhappensinstormyweatherthatvesselsshowsignalsofdistress,eitherbecausetheyaresobadlystrainedastobeinasinkingcondition,orsodamagedthattheyareunmanageable,orthecrewshavebecomesoexhaustedastobenolongercapableofworkingfortheirownpreservation.Inallsuchcasesthelifeboatputsoffwiththeintentioninthefirstinstanceofsavinglife.Itreachesthevesselindistress;someoftheboat’screwspringonboard,andfind,perhaps,thatthereissomehopeofsavingtheship.Knowingthelocality

well, theysteerherclearofrocksandshoals.Beingcomparativelyfreshandvigorous, theywork the pumpswith awill,manage to keep her afloat, andfinallysteerherintoport,thussavingshipandcargoaswellascrew.Now let me impress on you that incidents of this sort are not of rareoccurrence. There is no play of fancy inmy statements; they happen everyyear.Lastyear(1882)twenty-threevesselswerethussavedbylifeboatcrews.Anotheryear thirty-three,anotheryear fifty-three,shipswere thussaved.Assurelyandregularlyastheyearcomesround,sosurelyandregularlyareshipsandpropertysavedby lifeboatssaved to thenation! Itcannotbe too forciblypointedoutthatawreckedshipisnotonlyanindividual,butanationalloss.Insuranceprotectstheindividual,butinsurancecannot,inthenatureofthings,protectthenation.Ifyoudropathousandsovereignsinthestreet,thatisalosstoyou,butnot to thenation;someluckyindividualwill findthemoneyandcirculateit.Butifyoudropitintothesea,itislostnotonlytoyou,buttothenation,indeedtotheworlditself,forever,ofcoursetakingforgrantedthatouramphibiousdiversdon’tfishitupagain!Well,letusgaugethevalueofourlifeboatsinthislight.Ifalifeboatsavesashipworthtenortwentythousandsovereignsfromdestruction,itpresentsthatsumliterallyasafreegifttoownersandnation.Afreegift,Irepeat,becauselifeboats are provided solely to save lifenot property. Saving the latter is,therefore, extraneous service.Of course itwouldbe toomuch to expect ourgallantboatmentovolunteertoworkthelifeboats,intheworstofweather,attheimminentriskof their lives,unless theywerealsoallowedanoccasionalchance of earning salvage. Accordingly, when they save a ship worth, say20,000 pounds, they are entitled to put in a claim on the owners for 200poundssalvage.Thissumwouldbedivided(afterdeductingallexpenses,suchaspaymentstohelpers,hireofhorses,etcetera)betweenthemenandtheboat.Thusdeduct,say,20poundsexpensesleaves180poundstodivideintofifteenshares;thecrewnumberingthirteenmen:13sharestomenat12poundseach156pounds2sharestoboat24poundsTotal180poundsLetusnowconsiderthevalueofloadedships.NotverylongagoalargeSpanishshipwassavedbyoneofourlifeboats.ShehadgroundedonabankoffthesouthcoastofIreland.Thecaptainandcrewforsook her and escaped to land in their boats. One man, however, wasinadvertently leftonboard.Soonafter, thewindshifted; theshipslippedoffthebankintodeepwater,anddriftedtothenorthward.Herdoomappearedtobefixed,butthecrewoftheCahorelifeboatobservedher,launchedtheirboat,and, after a longpull againstwind and sea, boarded the ship and foundher

withsevenfeetofwaterinthehold.Thedutyoftheboat’screwwastosavetheSpanishsailor,buttheydidmore,theyworkedthepumpsandtrimmedthesails and saved the ship as well, and handed her over to an agent for theowners.Thisvesselandcargowasvaluedat20,000pounds.Nowobserve,inpassing,thatthisCahorelifeboatnotonlydidmuchgood,butreceivedconsiderableandwell-meritedbenefit,eachmanreceiving34poundsfromthegratefulowners,whoalsopresented68poundstotheInstitution,inconsiderationoftheriskofdamageincurredtotheirboat.Nodoubtitmaybeobjectedthatthis,beingaforeignship,wasnotsavedtoournation;but,astheproverb says, “It is not lost what a friend gets,” and I think it is verysatisfactorytoreflect thatwepresentedthehandsomesumof20,000poundstoSpainasafreegiftonthatoccasion.Thiswasasavedship.Letuslooknowatalostone.Someyearsagoashipnamed theGoldenAgewas lost. Itwaswellnamed though ill-fated, for thevalueofthatshipandcargowas200,000pounds.Thecostofalifeboatwithequipmentandtransportingcarriagecompleteisabout650pounds,andthereare 273 lifeboats at present on the shores of the United Kingdom. Here ismaterialforacalculation!Ifthatsingleshiphadbeenamongthetwenty-sevensaved last year (and itmight have been) the sum thus rescued from the seawould have been sufficient to pay for all the lifeboats in the kingdom, andleave 22,550 pounds in hand!But itwas not among the saved. Itwas lostadead loss to Great Britain. So was the Ontario of Liverpool, wrecked inOctober,1864, andvaluedat100,000pounds.Also theAssage,wreckedontheIrishcoast,andvaluedat200,000pounds.Herearefivehundredthousandpoundshalfamillionofmoneylostbythewreckofthesethreeshipsalone.Ofcourse,thesethreeareselectedasspecimensofthemostvaluablevesselslostamongthetwothousandwrecksthattakeplaceeachyearonourcoasts;theyvaryfromafirst-ratemailsteamertoacoalcoffin,butsetthemdownatanyfigureyouplease,anditwillstillremaintruethatitwouldbeworthourwhileto keep up our lifeboat fleet, for the mere chance of saving such valuableproperty.But after all is said that can be said on this point, the subject sinks intoinsignificance when contrasted with the lifeboat’s true workthe saving ofhumanlives.Thereisyetanotherandstillhighersenseinwhichthelifeboatisofimmensevalue to the nation. I refer to themoral influence it exercises among us. Ifmanyhundreds of lives are annually saved by our lifeboat fleet, does it notfollow,asanecessaryconsequence, thathappinessandgratitudemustaffectthousandsofheartsinawaythatcannotfailtoredoundtothegloryofGod,aswellasthegoodofman?Letfactsanswerthisquestion.

We cannot of course, intrude on the privacy of human hearts and tell whatgoes on there, but there are a few outward symptoms that are generallyacceptedasprettyfairtestsofspiritualcondition.Oneoftheseispartingwithmoney!Lookingatthematterinthislight,therecordsoftheInstitutionshowthatthousandsofmen,women,andchildren,arebeneficiallyinfluencedbythelifeboatcause.Thehighest contributor to its funds in the land is ourQueen; the lowliest asailor’s orphan child. Here are a few of the gifts to the Institution, culledalmost at random from the Reports. One gentleman leaves it a legacy of10,000pounds.Sometimeagoasumof5000poundswassentanonymouslyby “a friend.” A hundred pounds comes in as a second donation from “asailor’s daughter.” Fifty pounds come from a British admiral, and fiveshillings from“the savingsof achild!”One-and-sixpence is sentbyanotherchildinpostage-stamps,and1pound5shillingsasthecollectionofaSundayschoolinManchester;15poundsfromthreefellow-servants;10poundsfromashipwreckedpilot,and10shillings,6pencefroman“oldsalt.”Imyselfhadonce the pleasure of receiving twopence for the lifeboat cause from anexceedingly poor but enthusiastic old woman! But my most interestingexperienceinthiswaywasthereceiptofanotewrittenbyablindboywellandlegiblywritten,tootellingmethathehadraisedthesumof100poundsfortheLifeboatInstitution.And this beneficial influence of our lifeboat service travels far beyond ourown shores. Here is evidence of that. Finland sends 50 pounds to ourInstitution to testify its appreciation of the good done by us to its sailors.PresidentLincoln,oftheUnitedStates,wheninvolvedinall theanxietiesofthegreatwarbetweenNorthandSouth,foundtimetosend100poundstotheInstitution in acknowledgment of services rendered to American ships indistress.RussiaandHollandsendnavalmentoinspectnotourarmamentsandmateriel of hateful war, butour lifeboat management! France, in generousemulation, startsaLifeboat Institutionof itsown,andsendsover toaskoursociety to supply it with boatsand, last, but not least, it has been said thatforeigners,drivenfaroutoftheircourseandstranded,sooncometoknowthattheyhavebeenwreckedontheBritishcoast,bytheperseveringeffortsthataremadetosavetheirlives!Andnow,goodreader,letmeurgethissubjectonyourearnestconsideration.Surelyeveryoneshouldbereadytolendahandtorescuetheperishing!Onewould think italmostsuperfluous tosaymore.So itwouldbe, if therewerenonewhorequiredthelineofdutyandprivilegetobepointedouttothem.ButI fear that many, especially dwellers in the interior of our land, are notsufficientlyalivetotheclaimsthatthelifeboathasuponthem.

Letmeillustrate thisbyacaseor twoimaginarycases, Iadmit,butnone thelessillustrativeonthataccount.“Mother,”saysalittleboy,withflashingeyesandcurlyflaxenhair;“Iwanttogotosea!”He has been reading “Cook’s Voyages” and “Robinson Crusoe,” and lookswistfullyoutupon thesmallpond in frontofhishome,which is thebiggest“bitofwater”hiseyeshaveeverseen,forhedwellsamongthecornfieldsandpasturesoftheinterioroftheland.“Don’tthinkofit,darlingWillie.Youmightgetwrecked,perhapsdrowned.”But“darlingWillie”doesthinkofit,andassertsthatbeingwreckedistheverythinghewants,andthathe’swillingtotakehischanceofbeingdrowned!AndWillie goes on thinking of it, year after year, until he gains his point, andbecomes thefamily’s“sailorboy,”andmayhap,for thefirst timeinher life,Willie’s mother casts more than a passing glance at newspaper records oflifeboatwork.But shedoesnomore.Shehasnot yet been awakened. “Thepeopleofthecoastnaturallylookafterthethingsofthecoast,”hasbeenhersentimentonthesubjectifshehashadanydefinitesentimentsaboutitatall.On returning from his first voyageWillie’s ship is wrecked. On a horriblenight, in the howling tempest, with his flaxen curls tossed about, his handsconvulsively clutching the shrouds of the topmast, and the hissing billowsleapingupasiftheywishedtolickhimoffhisrefugeonthecross-trees,WillieawakenstothedreadrealityaboutwhichhehaddreamedwhenreadingCookand Crusoe. Next morning a lady with livid face, and eyes glaring at anewspaper, gasps, “Willie’s shipiswrecked! five lostthirteen saved by thelifeboat.” One faint gleam of hope! “Willie may be among the thirteen!”Minutes, that seem hours, of agony ensue; then a telegram arrives, “Saved,MotherthankGod,bythelifeboat.”“Ay, thankGod,” echoesWillie’smother,with the profoundest emotion andsincerity she ever felt; but thinkyou, reader, that shedidnomore?Did shepasslanguidlyovertherecordsoflifeboatworkafterthatday?Didsheleavethemanagementandsupportoflifeboatstothepeopleofthecoast?Itrownot.ButwhatdifferencehadthesavingofWilliemadeinthelifeboatcause?WasherstheonlyWillieinthewideWorld?Arewetoactonsoselfishaprinciple,asthatweshalldeclinetotakeaninterestinanadmittedlygrandandgoodandnational cause, until our eyes are forcibly opened by “ourWillie” being indanger? Of course I address myself to people who have really kind andsympathetichearts,butwho,fromonecauseoranother,havenotyethadthis

subjectearnestlysubmittedtotheirconsideration.Tothosewhohavenoheartto consider the woes and necessities of suffering humanity, I have nothingwhatevertosay,except,Godhelpthem!Let me enforce this pleathat inland cities and towns and villages shouldsupporttheLifeboatInstitutionwithanotherimaginarycase.A tremendous gale is blowing from the south-east, sleet driving likeneedlesenough, almost, to put your eyes out. A “good ship,” under close-reefedtopsails,isbearingupforportafteraprosperousvoyage,buttheairissothickwithdriftthattheycannotmakeouttheguidinglights.Shestrikesandsticks fast on outlying sands, where the sea is roaring and leaping like athousand fiends in thewintryblast.There arepassengersonboard from theAntipodes,withboxesandbagsofgold-dust,theresultofyearsoftoilatthediggings. They do not realise the full significance of the catastrophe. Nowondertheyarelandsmen!Thetidechancestobelowatthetime;asitrises,they awake to the dread reality. Billows burst over them like miniatureNiagaras. The good ship which has formanyweeks breasted the waves sogallantly, and seemed so solid and so strong, is treated like a cork, andbecomesapparentlyanegg-shell!Night comesdarkness increasing the awful aspect of the situation tenfold.What are boxes and bags of gold-dust nownow thatwild despair has seizedthemall,exceptingthosewho,throughGod’sgrace,havelearnedto“fearnoevil?”Suddenly, through darkness, spray, and hurly-burly thick, a ghostly boat isseen!Thelifeboat!Welldotheseamenknowitsform!Acheerarousessinkinghearts, and hope once more revives. The work of rescuing is vigorously,violently,almostfiercelybegun.Themerestchildmightseethatthemottoofthelifeboat-menis“Victoryordeath.”Butitcannotbedoneasquicklyastheydesire; the rolling of thewreck, themadplunging and sheering of the boat,preventthat.A sturdy middle-aged man named Browna common name, frequentlyassociatedwithcommonsenseishavingaropefastenedroundhiswaistbyoneofthelifeboatcrewnamedJonesalsoacommonname,notseldomassociatedwithuncommoncourage.ButBrownmustwaitafewminuteswhilehiswifeisbeingloweredintotheboat.“Oh!becareful.Doitgently,there’sagoodfellow,”roarsBrown,interribleanxiety,asheseesherswungoff.“Neverfear,sir;she’sallright,”saysJones,withaquietreassuringsmile,forJonesisatougholdhand,accustomedtosuchscenes.

MrsBrownmissestheboat,anddipsintotheragingsea.“Gone!”gaspsBrown,strugglingtofreehimselffromJonesandleapafterher,butthegraspofJonesistoomuchforhim.“Hold on, sir? she’s all right, sir, bless you; they’ll have her on board in aminute.”“I’ve got bags, boxes, bucketfuls of gold in the hold,” roars Brown. “Onlysaveher,andit’sallyours!”Theshriekingblastwillnotallowevenhisstrongvoicetoreachthemeninthelifeboat,buttheyneednosuchinducementtowork.“The gold won’t be yours long,” remarks Jones, with another smile.Neptune’llhaveitallto-night.See!they’vegotherintotheboatallright,sir.Nowdon’t struggle so; you’ll get down to her in aminute. There’s anotherladytogobeforeyourturncomes.Duringthesefewmomentsofforcedinactiontheself-possessedJonesremarkstoBrown,inordertoquiethim,thatthey’llbeallsavedinhalfanhour,andasksifhelivesnearthatpartofthecoast.“Live near it!” gasps Brown. “No! I live nowhere. Bin five years at thediggings.Madeafortune.Going to livewith theoldfolknowatBlunderton,farawayfromthesea;highupamongthemountains.”“Hm!”gruntsJones.“DotheyhelptofloatthelifeboatsatBlunderton?”“Thelifeboats?No,ofcoursenot;neverthinkoflifeboatsupthere.”“Someofyouthinkof’emdownhere,though,”remarksJones.“Doyouhelpthecauseinanyway,sir?”“Me?No.Nevergaveashillingtoit.”“Well, never mind. It’s your turn now, sir. Come along. We’ll save you.Jump!”criesJones.And theydo savehim, and all onboardof that ill-fated ship,with asmuchheartfelt satisfaction as if the rescuedoneshadeachbeena contributorof athousandayeartothelifeboatcause.“Don’t forget us, sir, when you gits home,” whispers Jones to Brown atparting.

AnddoesBrownforgethim?Nay,verily!HegoeshometoBlunderton,stirsupthepeople,hiresthetown-hall,getsthechiefmagistratetotakethechair,andformsaBranchoftheRoyalNationalLifeboatInstitutiontheBlundertonBranch, which, ever afterwards, honourably bears its annual share in theexpense, and in theprivilege, of rescuingmen,women, and little ones fromthe raging seas.Moreover,Brown becomes the enthusiastic secretary of theBranch. And here let me remark that no society of this nature can hope tosucceed,unlessitssecretarybeanenthusiast.Now,reader,ifyouthinkIhavemadeoutagoodcase,letmeentreatyoutogo,withBrowninyoureye,“anddolikewise.”And don’t fancy that I am advising you to attempt the impossible. Thesupposed Blunderton case is founded on fact. During a lecturing tour onemansomewhat enthusiastic in the lifeboat causepreached the propriety ofinlandtownsstartingBranchesof theLifeboatInstitution.Upwardsofhalfadozen such towns responded to the exhortation, and, from that date, havecontinuedtobeannualcontributorsandsympathisers.

ChapterSevenTheLife-SavingRocket

We shall now turn from the lifeboat to our other great engine of war withwhich we do battle with the sea from year to year, namely, the RocketApparatus.Thisengine,however,isinthehandsofGovernment,andismanagedbythecoastguard.Anditmayberemarkedhere,inreferencetocoastguardmen,thattheyrenderconstantandeffectiveaidinthesavingofshipwreckedcrews.Atleastone-thirdofthemedalsawardedbytheLifeboatInstitutiongotothemenofthecoastguard.Every one has heard of Captain Manby’s mortar. Its object is to effectcommunication between a stranded ship and the shore by means of a ropeattachedtoashot,whichisfiredovertheformer.Thesameendisnowmoreeasilyattainedbyarocketwithalightrope,orline,attachedtoit.Nowtherocketapparatusisalittlecomplicated,andignoranceinregardtothemannerofusingithasbeenthecauseofsomelossoflife.Manypeoplethinkthat if a rope can only be conveyed from a stranded ship to the shore, thesavingofthecrewiscomparativelyasureandeasymatter.Thisisamistake.If a ropea stout cablewere fixed between a wreck and the shore, say at adistanceof threeor four hundredyards, it is obvious that only a fewof thestrongest men could clamber along it. Even these, if benumbed and

exhaustedasisfrequentlythecaseinshipwreckcouldnotaccomplishthefeat.Butletussuppose,stillfurther,thatthevesselrollsfromsidetoside,dippingtheropeintheseaandjerkingitoutagainateachroll,whatmancouldmakethe attempt with much hope of success, and what, in such circumstances,wouldbecomeofwomenandchildren?More than one rope must be fixed between ship and shore, if the work ofsavinglifeistobedoneefficiently.Accordingly,intherocketapparatusthereare four distinct portions of tackle. First the rocket-line; second, the whip;third,thehawser;and,fourth,thelifebuoysometimescalledthesling-lifebuoy,andsometimesthebreeches-buoy.Therocket-lineisthatwhichisfirstthrownoverthewreckbytherocket.Itissmall and light, and of considerable lengththe extreme distance to which arocketmaycarryitintheteethofagalebeingbetweenthreeandfourhundredyards.Thewhipisathickerline,rovethroughablockorpulley,andhavingitstwoendssplicedtogetherwithoutaknot, insuchamannerthatthejoindoesnotcheck the runningof the rope through the pulley.Thus thewhipbecomes adouble linea sortof continuous rope,or, as it is called, an“endless fall,”bymeansofwhichthelifebuoyispassedtoandfrobetweenthewreckandshore.Thehawserisathickrope,orcable,towhichthelifebuoyissuspendedwheninaction.The lifebuoy is one of those circular lifebuoyswith which most of us arefamiliarwhichhangat thesidesofsteamersandothervessels, tobereadyincaseof anyone fallingoverboard. It has, however, the additionof apair ofhugecanvasbreechesattached to it, toprevent thosewhoarebeing rescuedfromslippingthrough.Letussuppose,now,thatawreckisontheshoreatapartwherethecoastisruggedandsteep,thebeachverynarrow,andthewatersodeepthatithasbeendrivenontherocksnotmorethanacoupleofhundredyardsfromthecliffs.Thebeachissorockythatnolifeboatwoulddare toapproach,or, ifshedidventure,shewouldbespeedilydashedtopiecesforalifeboatisnotabsolutelyinvulnerable! The coastguardsmen are on the alert. They had followed thevesselwithanxiouslooksforhoursthatdayasshestruggledrightgallantlytoweathertheheadlandandmaketheharbour.Whentheysawhermissstaysonthelasttackanddriftshoreward,theyknewherdoomwasfixed;hurriedofffortherocket-cart;ranitdowntothenarrowstripofpebblybeachbelowthecliffs, andnow theyare fixingup the shorepartof the apparatus.Thechiefpartofthisconsistsoftherocket-standandtheboxinwhichthelineiscoiled,

in a peculiar and scarcely describablemanner, that permits of its flying outwithgreatfreedom.Whilethusengagedtheyhearthecrashingofthevessel’stimbersasthegreatwaveshurlorgrindheragainstthehungryrocks.Theyalsohearthecriesofagonisedmen andwomen rising even above the howling storm, and hastentheiroperations.Atlastallisready.Therocket,alargeonemadeofiron,isplacedinitsstand,astickandthelineareattachedtoit,acarefulaimistaken,andfireapplied.Amidablazeandburstofsmoketherocketleapsfromitsposition,andrushesout to sea with a furious persistency that even the storm-fiend himself ispowerlesstoarrest.Buthecanbaffleittosomeextentsufficientallowancehasnotbeenmadefortheforceanddirectionofthewind.Therocketflies,indeed,beyondthewreck,butdropsintothesea,alittletotheleftofher.“Anotherlookalive!” is thesharporder.Again the fierymessengerofmercyleaps forth, and this time with success. The line drops over the wreck andcatches in the rigging. And at this point comes into play, sometimes, thatignorancetowhichIhavereferredculpableignorance,forsurelyeverycaptainwhosailsupontheseaoughttohaveintimateacquaintancewiththedetailsofthe life-savingapparatusofeverynation.Yet,so it is, thatsomecrews,afterreceiving the rocket-line,havenotknownwhat todowith it, andhaveevenperishedwiththemeansofdeliveranceintheirgrasp.Inonecaseseveralmenofacrewtiedthemselvestogetherwiththeendofthelineandleapedintothesea! Theywere indeed hauled ashore, but I believe thatmost, if not all, ofthemweredrowned.Thosewhomwearenowrescuing,however,aregifted,letussuppose,withasmall shareof commonsense.Havinggotholdof the line,oneof the crew,separated from the rest, signals the fact to the shore by waving a hat,handkerchief,orflag,ifitbeday.Atnightalightisshownovertheship’ssideforashorttime,andthenconcealed.Thisbeingdone,thoseonshoremaketheendofthelinefasttothewhipwithits“tailed-block”andsignaltohaulofftheline.When thewhip isgotonboard, a tally, orpieceofwood, is seenwithwhite letters on a black ground painted on it. On one side the words areEnglishontheotherFrench.Oneofthecrewreadseagerly:“Makethetailoftheblockfasttothelowermastwellup.Ifmastsaregone,thentothebestplaceyoucanfind.Castofftherocket-line;seethattheropeintheblockrunsfree,andshowsignaltotheshore.”Mostimportantcautionsthese,forifthetail-blockbefastenedtoolowonthewreck,theropeswilldipinthewater,andperhapsfoultherocks.Ifthewhip

doesnotrunfreeintheblockitwilljambandtheworkwillbestopped;and,ifthesignalsarenotattendedto,thecoastguardsmenmaybegintoacttoosoon,or,ontheotherhand,wasteprecioustime.But the signals are rightly given; the other points attended to, and theremainderof thework isdonechiefly fromtheshore.Themen there,attachthehawsertothewhip,andbyhaulingonesidethereofin,theyruntheothersideand thehawserout.On receiving thehawser the crewdiscover anothertallyattachedtoit,andread:“Makethishawserfastabouttwofeetabovethetail-block.Seeallclear,andthattheropeintheblockrunsfree,andshowsignaltotheshore.”Thewreckedcrewarequickaswell as intelligent.Lifedependson it!Theyfastentheendofthehawser,asdirected,abouttwofeetabovetheplacewherethe tail-block is fixed to the stumpof themast.There ismuchshoutingandgratuitousadvice,nodoubt,fromtheforwardandtheexcited,butthecaptainandmatearecool.Theyattendtodutyandpaynoregardtoanyone.Signalisagainmadetotheshore,andthemenofthecoastguardatoncesetupatrianglewithapendentblock,throughwhichtheshore-endofthehawserisrove, and attached to a double-block tackle. Previously, however, a blockcalleda“traveller”hasbeenrunon to thehawser.Thisblock travelsonandabove the hawser, and from it is suspended the lifebuoy. To the “traveller”block thewhip is attached; then the order is given to themen to haul, andawaygoesthelifebuoytothewreck,runoutbythemenonshore.Whenitarrivesatthewrecktheorderis,“Womenfirst.”Butthewomenaretoo terrified, itmaybe, toventure.Canyouwonder? Ifyousaw theboilingsurftheheavingwater,theroaringandrushingwaves,withblackandjaggedrocksshowinghereandthere,overwhich,andpartlythroughwhich,theyareto be dragged, you would respect their fears. They shrink back: they evenresist. So the captain orders a ’prentice boy to jump in and set them theexample.Heisafine,handsomeboy,withcurlybrownhairandbrightblackeyes.He,too,hesitatesforamoment,butfromafardifferentmotive.Iflefttohimselfhewouldemulatethecaptaininbeingthatproverbial“lastmantoquitthewreck,”butaperemptoryorderisgiven,and,withablush,hejumpsintothe bag, or breeches, of the buoy, through which his legs project in asomewhat ridiculous manner. A signal is then made to the shore. Thecoastguardsmen haul on the whip, and off goes our ’prentice boy like aseagull.Hisflightisprettyrapid,consideringallthings.Whenabouthalf-waytolandheisseendimlyinthemistofspraythatburstswildlyaroundandoverhim.Thoseon thewreckstrain theireyesandwatchwithpalpitatinghearts.Theshiphasbeenrollingalittle.Justthenitgivesaheavylurchshoreward,

theropeslackens,anddowngoesour’prenticeboyintotheragingsea,whichseems to roar louder as if in triumph! It is but for amoment, however.Thedouble-blocktackle,alreadymentionedasbeingattachedtotheshore-endofthehawser,ismannedbystrongactivefellows,whosedutyitistoeaseofftheropewhenthewreckrollsseaward,andhaul it inwhensherollsshoreward,thuskeepingitalwaysprettytautwithouttheriskofsnappingit.Amomentmoreandthe’prenticeisseentoemergefromthesurflikeatruesonofNeptune;heisseenalso, likea truesonofBritain, towaveonehandabovehishead, and faintly, throughdriving surf andhowlinggale, comes acheer. It is still more faintly replied to by those on the wreck, for in hisprogresstheboyishiddenforafewsecondsbytheleapingspray;butinafewsecondsmoreheisseenstrugglingamongthebreakersonthebeach.Severalstrongmenareseentojoinhandsandadvancetomeethim.Anothermoment,andheissafeonshore,andafervent“ThankGod!”burstsfromthewreckedcrew,whoseemtoforgetthemselvesforamomentastheyobservethewavinghandkerchiefsandhatswhichtell thataheartycheerhasgreetedtherescuedsailorboy.Thereislittletendencynowtohesitationonthepartofthewomen,andwhatremains isput to flightbycertainominousgroansandcreakings, that telloftheapproachingdissolutionoftheship.Oneafteranothertheyareliftedtenderlyintothelifebuoy,anddrawntolandin safety, amid the congratulations and thanksgivings ofmanyof thosewhohave assembled to witness their deliverance. It is truly terrible work, thisdragging of tender women through surf and thundering waves; but it is amatterof lifeordeath, andeven themostdelicateofhumanbeingsbecomeregardlessofsmallmattersinsuchcircumstances.Butthecrewhaveyettobesaved,andtherearestilltwowomenonboardoneofthemwithababy!Themotherathin,delicatewomanpositivelyrefusestogowithoutherbabe.Thecaptainknowsfullwell that, ifhe letsher take it, thechild will be torn from her grasp to a certainty; he therefore adopts aseeminglyharsh,butreallymerciful,course.Heassistsherintothebuoy,takesaquick turnof a rope roundher tokeepher in, snatches thechild fromherarms,andgivesthesignaltohaulaway.Withaterriblecrythemotherholdsoutherarmsassheisdraggedfromthebulwarks,thenstrugglestoleapout,butinvain.Anotherwildshriek,withthearmstossedupwards,andshefallsbackasifinafit.“Poorthing!”muttersthecaptain,ashegazespitifullyattheretreatingfigure;“but you’ll soonbehappy again.Come,Dick, get ready to gowi’ the childnexttrip.”

DickShalesisahugehairyseaman,withtheframeofanelephant,theskinofawalrus,andthetenderheartofawoman!Heglancesuneasilyround.“There’sanotherladyyet,sir.”“Youobeyorders,”saysthecaptain,sternly.“Ineverdisobeyedordersyet, sir,andIwon’tdo itnow,”saysDick, takingthe baby into his strong arms and buttoning it up tenderly in his capaciousbosom.Ashespeaks,thelifebuoyarrivesagainwithajovialsortofswing,asifithadbeenactuallywarmedinto lifebyitsgloriouswork,andhadcomeoutof itsownaccord.“Now,then,lads;holdonsteady!”saysDick,gettingin,“forfearyouhurtthebabby. This is the first time that Dick Shales has appeared on any stagewotsomediverinthecharacterofawoman!”Dicksmilesinadeprecatingmannerathislittlejokeastheyhaulhimoffthewreck.ButDickiswrong,andhismatesfeelthisastheycheerhim,formanyatimebeforethathadheappearedinwoman’scharacterwhenwoman’sworkhadtobedone.Thecaptainwasrightwhenhemutteredthatthemotherwouldbe“soonhappyagain.”WhenDickplacedthebabywet,indeed,butwellinitsmother’sarms,sheknewakindofjoytowhichshehadbeenastrangerbeforeakintothatjoywhichmust have swelled thegrateful heart of thewidowofNainwhen shereceivedhersonbackfromthedead.Therestoftheworkissooncompleted.Afterthelastwomanisdrawnashorethecrewarequicklyrescuedthecaptain,ofcourse,likeeverytruecaptain,lastof all.Thus thebattle iswagedandwon, andnothing is left but a shatteredwreckforwindandwavestodotheirworstupon.The rescued ones are hurried off to the nearest inn, where sympatheticChristianheartsandhandsministertotheirnecessities.Thesearedirectedbythelocalagentforthatadmirableinstitution,theShipwreckedFishermen’sandMariners’ Societya society which cannot be too highly commended, andwhich,itiswelltoadd,issupportedbyvoluntarysubscriptions.Meanwhilethegallantmenofthecoastguard,rejoicinginthefeelingthattheyhavedonetheirdutysowellandsosuccessfully,thoughwetandwearyfromlongexposureandexertion,packtherocketapparatusintoitscart,runitbacktoitsplaceofshelter, tobetheremadereadyfor thenextcall toaction,and

thensaunterhome,perchancetotelltheirwivesandlittleonesthestoryofthewreck and rescue, before lying down to takemuch-needed andwell-earnedrepose.Letmesayinconclusionthathundredsoflivesaresavedinthismannereveryyear.ItiswellthatthereadershouldbearinremembrancewhatIstatedattheoutset,thattheGreatWarisunceasing.Yearbyyearitiswaged.Thereisnoprolongedperiodof rest.There is no timewhenwe should forget this greatwork; but there are timeswhenwe should call it specially to remembrance,andbearituponourheartsbeforeHimwhomthewindandseaobey.Whenthewildstormsofwinterandspringarehowling;whenthefrostiskeenandthegalesareladenwithsnowdrift;whenthenightsaredarkandlong,andthedays are short andgreythen it is that ourprayers should ascendandourhandsbeopened, for then it is thathundredsofhumanbeingsare indeadlyperilonourshores,andthenitisthatourgallantlifeboatandrocket-menareriskinglifeandlimbwhilefightingtheirfuriousBattleswiththeSea.

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