The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1859-11-08 00:00:00

SAVING LIFE DIIILLNG THE LATE STORMS.

A meeting of the Royal National Life-boat Institution
whs held on Thursday, at its house, John-street,
Adelphi, Thomas Baring, Esq., M.P., in the chair.
There were also present several other gentlemen.
Mr. Lewis, the Secretary, read the minutes of the pre-
vious meeting.
A reward of 1:14 was granted to the crew of the Insti-
tution's life-boat stationed at Filey, for putting off in
the night and rescuing the crew of three men from the
sloop George and Mary, of Hull, which, during the
fearful gale of the 25th ultimo, was stranded off Filey.
A reward of Di 10.. was also voted to the crew of
the Rhyl tubular life-boat, which belongs to the Society,
for going off and saving six men from the schooner
Oriental, of Lancaster, which, during the very heavy
gale of the 25th October, was wrecked near Rhyl.
A reward of was also given to the mew of the
Society's life-boat stationed at Aberdovey, for putting
off in her and rescuing four persons from the schooner
Endeavour, of Portinadoe, which was seen in a sinking
state off Aberdovey during • heavy gale of wind on the
26th ultimo. It was said this life-boat had only been •
few mouths on her station. The officer of Customs, who
reported the case, said, "this service and the last
quarter's exercise, have created unbounded confidence
in the new life-boat. Having been myself in the boat
on both occasions, I can testify to her behaviour in a
heavy sea." Whenever the new class of life-boats of
this Institution have had fair trials and have been
handled by able and willing crews, they have on all
occasions performed noble service. The Dean of Nor-
wich also reported to the meeting, that he was the other
day at Widmer, and had been himself told by the cox-
swain of the Institution's life-boat on that station that
her services on the Goodwin Sands during a recent ship-
wreck had been marvellous.
A reward of £7 10s. was likewise voted to the Insti-
tution's life-boat at Berwick, for rescuing the crew of
five men from the schooner Majestic, of Dundee, which
during a hurricane on the 25th ultimo, was wrecked off
Spital Point. The crew of the life-boat expressed their
admiration of her behaviour on that occasion.
A reward of 1:5 10s, was also voted to the crew of the
Society's life-boat stationed at Tenby, on the Welsh
coast, for going off and saving the crew of three men
from the sloop Brothers, o Milford, which was wrecked
off that place iluriii„.• a gale of wind on Tuesday.
The Society's life-boats stationed at Ispvesteft, Poke-
field, and Yarmouth, and other places, had also put off
to the rescue of shipwrecked crews during the late
heavy gales; but n-ports of these valuable services had
not as yet reached the society. In some places the crews
of the boats had also been assembled so auto be ready for
insbuitancons service.
The reports which had reached the Institution from
many of its branch,. on various porta of the Eugh,d,
and Welsh coast, described such general disaster, as was
perhaps never before witnessed by the oldest person
living. Ti, use the words of hispecting-Lieuteuant
llippisley, R.N., Coast-guard, Dungeness, "it wax a
perfect hurricane at times, as dark as pitch, and such a
sea that twenty vessels might have been lust before any
one could have reached the Institution's life-boat. In
fact, I expected that the life-boat houses had been blown
down, for it blew sometimes so hard that the buildings
sling this coast shook under Inc. Hail the poor crews
of the numerous wrecks on this coast made signals
before dark, and resolved to quit their vessels, I doubt
if any boat could have reached them." It is hupossible
to state with any degree of accuracy the number of
these dreadful disasters, for too many vessels have sunk
with all hands on board, that will never be beard of.
It cannot, however, be doubted that the late terrific
gale proved fatal to upwards of 800 of our fellow crea-
tures, from more than 3.50 vessels.
Several rewards, amounting to E 35, were granted to
various crews of shore and other boats for their coura-
geous conduct in rescuing shipwrecked crews on different
parts of the coast during the recent 'ooisterous weather.
One of these, a fishing-boat, iii the neighbourhood of the
wreck of the Royal Charter, with • crew of eight men, to
whom was voh.sl I:12, had striven for ups, arils of an hour
to save life from • wrecked schooner, and having been
driven on shore four times, succeeded at last in reaching
the wreck, and in bringing the poor fellows on shore in
• most exhausted state. Another Ismer crew, who re-
ceived £9O from the Society, had remained by a wreck all
night, watching for a favourable opportunity to snatch
her crew from a watery grave near the Goodwin Sands.
At last it occurred, and they were brought to Margate
the next morning. "Ye gentlemen of England, who sit
at home at ease," think of these castaways, and consider
whether out of your abundance you cannot spare a little
to succour them in the hour of their extremity.
It was reported that a lady, a resident in Staffordshire,
had munificently presented to the Life-boat Institution
the coat of two life-boats, and that a city merchant had
also given the like substantial proof of his desire to suc-
cour in the hour of distress, sailors who might be ship-
wrecked on the Scotch coast. It is hardly possible to
conceive a more suitable thank offering, and one which
is more calculated to confer • real boon on the cause of
humanity, in its most helpless state, than the presenta-
tion of a life-boat to a dangerous locality.
The meeting expressed great cominisseration and sym-
pathy for the families of the very large number of per-
sons who recently perished at the wreck of the Royal
Charter on the Anglesey coast.
The gold medal of the institution and £5 were ordered
to be presented to Joseph Rogerson, a coloured man,

who, when that ship wax thrown broadaide on the
rocky beach, had bravely volunteered to battle with the
boiling surf, And convey a line to the chore. By this
means several pi mono were rescued from the watery
grave which closed on 450 others.
A report was read by the Inspector of life-boats
to the Society on his recent inspection of its life-
boats on the north coast of England in Scot-
land.

.1 benevolent military officer offered to give IMO to the
Life-boat Institution, if five other gentlemen would con-
tribute the like amount towards the establishment of a
life-boat !station. An urgent application was made for a
life-boat to be stationed at Folkestone.
It was reported that the Institution wiut about to fur-
w.‘rd life-mats to the Lizard and Fumy, CUrn Mal. and
Skerries, near Dublin.
Payments amounting to £l,lOO for life-boata, trans-
porting carriages, and boat-houses, having been made,
the proceedings closed.