The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-03-09 00:00:00

REWARDS FOR BRAVERY.

The Royal Humane Society has just awarded its
m.dallion, together with suitable testimonials, to John
Williams, Owen Roberts, and Robert Roberts, three
pilots, for saving nine men from the screw steam,r.
Pioneer, vhch was wrecked at Puffin Island, Beau.
mans, on the 25th of January. On that day the
steamer was observed by the three men in a disabled
state in a heavy gale of wind and rough sea. She
had parted from two tug-boats, and was apparently
doomed to inevitable wreck upon the steep rocks of
the island, about three-quarters of a mile from
tha Anglesea shore, when the pilots put off their
own boat, and assisted by a tug, landed on the
island with two coils of rope, with one of which they
descended to the bottom of the cliff where the wreck
happened. This was a ma-t dangerous task, but it
was carried out successfully, the other end of the rope
establishing a communication with the only remaining
masthead of the steamer, to the rigging of wkich the
crew were clinging. By that communication and with
a life-buoy the nine men were pulled one by one
through the surf, seized by the pilots, and lauded on
the rocks. They all ascended the cliff by aid of the
first rope, and were then taken into the life-boat on
the lee of the island whence they were towed to
Beaumaris, a distance of five miles. The work of
rescue occupied altogether about seven hours.

A meeting of the Liverpool Local Marine Board
was held on Tuesday to present silver medals to Capt.
W. H. Thompson, of the National steamer England,
and Mr. A. D. Hardy, first officer, and bronze medals
to nine of the crew, awarded by the Board of Trade for
services rendered on the occasion of the wreck of the
Swansea bark Kwasind, while voyaging from Betts
Cove, Newfoundland, to Swansea. The Kwasind ex-
perienced terrific gales on the Atlantic frogs the time
she sailed (November 2) until the 15th of the same
month, when the England sighted her and rescued her
crew under circumstances of great risk, owing to the
heavy sea running. Only -four of the crew—W.
Evans, W. Cooper, M. Ryan, and P. Brown—were
present to receive their medal,4.. The other men of the
rescuing boat's crew—C. Glesin, J. Thorns, J. Lutney,
P. Burns, and C. P. Keboe—will receive the medals
when they return from sea. Mr. Hadley, as well as
Captain Thompson, has received recognition of pre-
vious services in saving life at sea.

A fire at Bordeaux has destroyed three streets. Two
men and several horses pPrished in the flames.

Reform in the length of ladies' dresses is being
attempted at Vienna, where some of the principal ladies of
the Court recently organized n ball at which short costumes
were compulsory. The innovation of short dresses for
dancing might well he introduced into our hall-rooms, where
they are absurdly lung for dancing —Court Journal.
An English writer of some note says a fine land-
scape can be viewed to better advantage by stooping down
and looking back between the legs. The fashion will look a
little curious if adopted this year by th visitors to the
Royal Academy.—Ootat Journat.