The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-05-21 00:00:00

A YoAtt OF LIFEBOA WORK.

In recounting briefly the annual work of the
National Lifeboat Institution, we may mention
that the Institution has now been in existence
Ufty-seven years, and that at no period since its
foundation has it more entirely possessed the cmi-
tidence ot the public: than now; and its need was
never more strikingly exemplified than during the
past twelve months more especially in the fierce
6ales and blinding snow storms oi January last on
uur east:Ern cons!, which wiaiessed some of the mot
daring exploits of our Lifehoatmen that have ever
ueeu recorded—exploits which not only testified to
their humanity and courage, but to their wonderful
physical endurance. In evidence of the same it
will suffice to state that On seve:al occasions during
those sto: ins the Lifeboats' crews were it sea from
iiteen to twenty-lour hums, and in one instance for
twenty-six hours, exposed to the full fury of toe
storm, in the bitterest cold, in some cases without
food throughout th:se long houis, and with their
clothes stiffened with ice. Shortly afterwards His
Itoyai Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, Admiral
superintendent a Naval Reserves, was kind enough
to present the medals and votes of thanks awarded
by the Institution to the crews of the Ramsgate
Harbour Lifeboat and steamer, in acknowledgment
of their bravery and long exposure, on the 6th
and oth of January last, in resening the survivors
OE the crew of the barque Indian Chief, wrecked on
toe Long Sands.
Again the perilous character of the Lifeboat
work is at once realised by the fact that in accomp-
lishing it eighteen noble fellows perished during the
storms of last winter from the Lifeboats. Towards
the maintenance of the widows and orphans of the
brave men the Institution subscribed £lBOO, to he
added to the local contributions 'raised on their
behalf.

Twelve new Lifeboats were sent to the following
stai )ns last year : Cu. Durham, Whitburn ;
Yorksuire, Saltburn ; Kent, Kicgsg4te ; Sussex,
Hastings ; Cornwall, Sennen Cove ; Cardiganshire,
Aberystwyth ; Ayrsuire, Ardrossan ; Aberdeenshire,
Fraserburgh ; Louth, Giles Quay ; Waterford,
Tramore and Ardmore ; and Cork, Ballycotton.
Five other boats are about to be forwarded to
Areas, Norfolk; Rye, sussex ; Brauuton, North.
Devon; St. Anne's, Lancashire ; and Newcaste,
County Down.
The Lifeboats of the Institution were the means
of saving five hundred and seventy-seven lives during
the past year from wrecked or endangered ve,seis
most of them u icier perilous circumstances, win'',
oidinary boats could not with safety have been
employed. The services of the Lifeboats of the
Institution during each mouth of the year wcri as
follows :—January, 13 launches, 8 live-+ and two
vessels saved; February, 34 launches, 81 lives and
4 vessels ; March, 17 launches, 46 lives and 2
vessels ; April, 13 launches, 13 lives and 1 vessel ;
May, June, and July, 17 launches, 46 lives and 3
vessels ; August., 12 launches, 13 live ; September
17 launches, 50 lives; October, 61 launches, 137
lives and 7 vessels ; Novemb?r, 39 launches, 120
lives and 5 ves•Tls ; December, 22 hunche4, 63
lives and 3 vessels. Total number of Lifeboat
launches during the year, 213; lives saved, 577 ;
andyessels saved, 21. In addition to these Life-
boat services, 120 lives were saved from shipwrek
by shore-boats and other means, making a total of
i 697 lives preserved n 1880, for wnich honorary or
pecuniary re..vards ware tua,do by the Institution.
There were voted last year one gold, six silver
medals and clasps, fitteou votes of thanks inscribed

o;-! v I!ri •, .‘ 42 7 i ca:, for ea.\ iig thes
t 3. v en;so ,aved last ytar
of nee ipp rittus belonging to the
BiJa, o wrked so efficiently by
the Coastguard a .d tie locket Volunteer Brigades
The numte=r of 1 yes saved since the establi,huit-nt
of the Institution to the end of the year 1880,
either by its Lifeboats or .1.. y special exertions for
which i ha, grau'4l rewards, is 27,603. In view
if facts like these the L feb!at Institution cannot
I to milotairi its hold on the suppo.t of the
British public. We will only add that contributions
are received for the Lifeboat lustituanl by all the
London and country bankers, and by the Secretary,
Richard Lewis, Esq., 14, John. Street, Adelphi,
London.