The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-01-09 00:00:00

LOSS OP THE POINT OF AYR LIFE BOAT.

• The marine sub-committee produced a report from
Lieutenant Parkes, marine surveyor, of the loss of the
Point of Ayr lifeboat. The committee recommended
that £5OO should be given in aid of the general subscrip •
tion for the relief of the families of the men who perished.
The following report of the names of the men lost, and
their families were then read :

Robert Beck (master), fisherman, aged 56 ; has left a wife
and two daughters, one married and one iu service; appointed
Juno, 1839.

John Sherlock (mate), fisherman, aged 50 ; has left a wife;
ao-fra.
John Blydden (boatman), sawyer, aged 55 ; has left a wife
and one daughter, married ; appointed June, 1827.
Thomas Owens (boatman), labourer, aged 23; has left
father and mother ; appointed 1852. His father served 20
years in the boat.
Joseph Davies (boatman), coachman, aged 48; has left a
wife ; appointed June, 1832.
David Davies (boatman), shopkeeper, aged 43 ; has left a
wife (encenle) and five children, eldest nine years of ago ;
appointed April, 1838.
Thomas Roberts (boatman), miner, aged 46, nearest rela-
tive, widowed sister with large family ; appointed April,
1838.

Richard Davies (boatman), miner. aged 42 ; has left a wife
and six children, eldest twelve years of age ; appointed
October, 1843.

John Ellis (boatman), labourer,_ aged 21 ; has left father
and mother ; appointed 1852. His father served about 20
years in the boat.
Edward Roberts (boatman), gardener, aged 33 ; has left a
wife (enciente) and three children, eldest about eight years of
age; appointed 1849.

Edward Phillips (boatman), gardener, aged 46; has left a
Wite and six children, eldest eleven years of age, and father
and mother; appointed 1851.
Robert Roberts (boatman), miner, aged 35 ; has lett a wife
(enceinte) and two children, eldest five years of age ; appointed
1862.

Robert Williams (boatman), labourer, aged 28 ; has left a
mother, very infirm, entirely dependent ; appointed 1855.
A report was also read from Mr. Dawson, of Gronanti
stating that seven bodies were picked up.
the Chairman said it was quite clear that the boat was
under sail at the time. _

Mr. Gladstone asked whether the lifeboat was fit for
service.

Mr. Lockett said she was perfectly so. There were
some very wrong impressions abroad which he wished
to correct. It was said there was not a sailor on board.
Now the master and mate of the boat were both perfect
sailors. There was also an imprerion that the boat was
not furnished with life belts. In March, 1854, the com-
mittee ordered -a number of life belts, of which 13 were
sent to that boat. They were still in the boat house, and
therefore, the men must have omitted to take with them
what would probably have saved their lives.
The Chairman I recollect the subject being discussed
at the time, and the men then made a strong objection,
such is the force of prejudice, to putting anything of the
kind on. I hey thought it interfered with the free action
of the chest and limbs.
Mr. Lockett said be understood the belts had been
taken out more frequently in that boat than in any other.
The Chairmain said two of the men from the Hoylake
life boat received extra wages to go to that boat, being
competent seamen.
Mr. Gladstone : Who passed the boat as a fit life boa` ?
Mr. Lockett said the late marine surveyor, Lieut. Lord.
It was not possible for any life boat to right if she had
got her sails and masts up.
Mr. Gladstone : Was the boat constructed for canvass ?
Mr. Lockett : They are all constructed for canvass.
Mr. Gladstone Was she guaranteed to right herself in
such a case ?
Mr. Lockett: Oh, no; certainly not.
The Chairman said they had made trial of several boa's
for that purpose. The Duke of Northumberland offered a
prize for the best lifeboat for that end, and the boat which
won the prize was tried in one of the basins here. The
men got upon the side and ni.e:t her. She did not right,
and nearly drowned one or two of the men. Assistance
had to be procured from the quay to right her. No doubt
that arose on account of the men clisging to the boat and
preventing her from rising. The sail, or course, would
have the same effect. There were a great many boats which
professed to right, but such circumstances happened and
prevented their righting. The men themselves preferred
the boats which the doc 4 committee had to any other kind.
Mr. Barber thought there must have been some defect in
the mode of stepping the mast, if it interfered with the boat
righting herself, for if she capsized the mast should have
come out, if it were not shackled. If only the sheet were
hauled in, that would not have interfered with the righting
of the boat. He thought it would be very important to have
an instruction issued that the mast should not be so fastened
as to prevent it from falling out.
The Chairman expressed a doubt whether the mast with
the wet sail round it would fall out. In open air no doubt
it would, but under water he very mach questioned it.
Mr. Mandell said it would fall out if the halyards wire
Made fast to the mast. But if, as was too often the
custom, tlie halyards were made fast to the foot of the boat,
it would not fall out.
The Chairman remarked that from the report it would
be seen a great many of the men had been eighteen or
twenty years in the boat.
Mr. Mandell raid he could testify to their ability as
rowers.

Mr. Evans asked how they were paid ?
Mr. Lockett said they go-. 7s. Gd. each every time
they went out. In some instances they bad been allowed
tom 10s. to 20s. The master and the mate, in order to
have competent sailors, were brought from Ileylake._ The
master received in addition 12s. a week for seven months of
the year, and 13a. a week for the five months in winter.
Mr. ivans : Are not the Wages supposed to be an
equivalent for the work ?
fr. Gladstone suggested tb4t the opinion of three or

our qualified nautical gentlemen should be taken before a
ifeboat was passed for service.
The Chairman explained that a great number of mem-
bers of the committee and of the lifeboat men examined
each boat.
Mr. Evans said he never heard of a lifeboat upsetting
before.
Mr Lockett said, one upset about twenty years ago, and
and five men were drowned.
Mr. Barber asked if there was any security that the air-
tight compartments were in perfect order.
The Chairman said, they had a party to look over the
boots regularly.
Mr. Littledale, said, no boat ever constructed would be
right if the sails were set, and her sheet made fast. He was
afraid the only parties to blame were the poor fellows them-
selves, who, probably wishing to get quickly on, were carry-
ing too much sail, and to ease themselves at the time, made
the sheet fast.

Mr. Evans asked if the commi.tee were about to give
4500.

The Chairman : We gave the same sum twenty years ago.
when five persons were lost in the Formby life boat.
Mr. Evans : But we ought to go on improving.
The Chairman : Then the improvement would be in vot-
ing a larger sum, dolyou consider 0£560 too small ?
Mr. Evans : I consider it much too large. I think this
is among the vicissitudes of life. The merchant does not
compensate the families of the crews who are lost.
The Cliairrnan : These were men in our savica employed
in very dangerous service. and who unfortunately lost their
lives in the discharge of their duty.
Mr. Evans : But they have not been compelled into the
service. They are supposed to be contented with the
remuneration which is given both for their labour and their
risk

Mr. Palmer said thensen lost their lives in endeavouring
to save the lives of others. . .

Mr. Rathbone sail: Putting the twitter in the merest
pounds, shillings, and pence point of view ; as a question
of expenditure, and without introducing anything of feeling
whatever, it seemed to him that it wmld be far the advan.
tare of the committee to give some encouragement to such
men to risk their lives to save life. Tris, he thought,
would be the duty and interest of any private employer.
Mr. Evans: How many families are to partake of it ?
The Chairman : Thirteen men were lost, and they had
all, more or less persons dependent upon them.
Mr. Evans : If we are to become guardians of all the
families, we ought to take care to employ men who have
not large families. Does the merchant ask after the widow,
or provide for the families of his crews ? lam sure Mr.
Rankin would say no.

Mr. Rankin : Oh, I think you ought to appreciate exer-
tion,: to save life. You wore near losing your own life in
the St. Lawrence.

Mr. Evans : But I got nothing for it. (Laughter) I
had to give 100 dollars to get back my trunk. (Laughter.)
The Chairman : Well ; I suppose you do not intend to
make any motion in opposition to the grant ?
Mr. Evans : It is only on the ground that, I know I
shooli not succeed, I do not do so.
The grant was then passed.
The tender of Messrs. Bancroft and Co., was accepted
for olive oil.
The annual returns were laid before the committee of
the lifeboats, lighthouses, wrecks, &c., during 1856. It
appeared that the vessels assisted by the lifeboats in 1856,
were 21 against 10 in 1853. The number of lives saved in
1856, was 226, against 21 in 1855. Tho Formby lightship
was damaged by a collision; the Prince, lightship was
damaged; the Bell beacon broke from her moorings,
had the bell damaged once, and the mast once car-
ried away. • The consumption of oil in the light-
houses was 4,777 gallons in 1856, against 4,754 in 1855;
ii,942 wicks were consumed in 1956, against 9,012 in 1855 ;
40,500 vessels passed inwards and outwards. The wrecks
in Liverpool bay were as follows :
January.—Flat Adam, sunk in the river; destroyed by
blesting.
February.—Ship Ocean Rover, on Crosby Point ; got off by
tugs. Ship Clangregor, on Crosby Point ; got off by tugs.
kllen, sunk off Clarence Dock ; lifted b) water
bailiff; bloke in two. _ _

August.—Schooner Elizabeth Randle, near No. 32, per
chart ; a total wreck ; went to pieces.
September.—Small vessel, unknown ; destroyed by blasting ;
came to pieces in lifting off the Sloyne. Ferry steamer Fairy,
sunk by collision ; raised and beached.
October.—Schooner Margaret, sunk by collision in Crosby
mised and beached.

November.—Brigantine Tiger, sunk off .New Come Knoll ;
mast taken out; has since gone in the sand. Ship Louisiana,
struck and wont to pieces on Little Burbo. Ship S. M. Fox,
struck on Burbo, and remains. Ship Silas Wright, struck on
West Middle ; total wreck ; part of her bottom only remains.
Flat Richard Cobden, grounded on an anchor, and sunk off
Victoria Tower ; raised by owner. Flat Swan, sunk by collision
cff Manchester Basin; raised and beached. Flat Sisters, sunk
by collision off Birkenhead Dock wall ; raised and beached.
December.--Schooner Mary, total wreck on Taylor's Bank.
Flat Sisters, sunk off Victoria Tower ; raised by water bailiff.
Brigantine Carl, on Formby Beach, and remains. Flat
Hannah, sunk in the river; raised by owner. Schooner
Mermaid, on West Hoyle; wrecked. Schooner Kate. on
Formby Point ; total wreck. Schooner Hannah, on West
Hoyle; total wreck,
Mr. Hubback gave notice that, on the next day, he
would move for a special committee to enquire into the
whole subject of dock fines, and report to the general
committee.
This closed the general business,