The Sun.
London, England, 1862-11-26 00:00:00

A BRAVE MAN.

A public meeting was held a few days ago at Caufpbel-
town, Kantyre, to present a beautiful silver medal, which
had been voted by the National Lifeboat Institution to Jas.
ISPMillan, a mechanic, upwards of 70 years of age, in testi-
mony of his general services in saving life from wrecks, and
particularly for his gallant exertions in rushing into the surf
and rescuing, at the imminent peril of his life, William
Fordyce, belonging to the ship Genova, of London, which
was wrecked during a heavy gale of wind in Glenmanuilt
Bay, Kantyre, N. 8., on the 13th Oct. last. The chair was
occupied by Mr. J. L. Stewart, who was supported by some
of the principal residents of the district. The chairman
said that the National Lifeboat Institution, which they re-
presented on that occasion, did more than any other society
in fostering the courage and daring of our coast population
in saving life from shipwreck. It was one of the noblest
societies to which England had giverOirth. Its object was
the saving of human life from the fury of the devouring
waves. "Few of us," continued Mr. Stewart, are acquainted
with the horrors of that situation whore man, in his weak-
ness, is left to contend with the elements in their fury.
May it never be the lot of any of us to know them. Yet it
is to be hoped that all of us will be ever ready, as you were,
to risk even our lives to help shipwrecked mariners, and
rescue them from a watery grave. I have much pleasure
in coming hero to-day, as president of this branch of the
National Lifeboat Institution; but the pleasure is much
increased by the fact that your father, who lived upon
strongrsirou surgen
dl
with
a
my father's property and mine, was known as a strong
and a brave man. He never lifted his arm in his own
cause; but many a time he has raised it with effect for the
help of others, and especially for the weak. In words
which I feel justified in using, I may say—
' Although his arm was strong to smite,
'Twas also strong to save.'
You, James, his son, have inherited from him this disposi-
tion to succour the weak and helpless, and to risk your own
life for the preservation of others. This is not the first
time you have done so. You saw this man clinging feebly
to a rock, and, having lost his hold of it, he was eertawinhitolo
h
ohtaveer beena n younger
menoff
were b y
and
let
standingriC
stUao prrunia
e to arm
meet and nobleit
returning
g
; and
you rushed
)ti no waves,
by
you,y as He favours the brave,
braveintoorr
a ou
vur
courage,
the foaming
ahtaiGodn shad
eto:
g land. you
address him as I now do you ; and it
must be no small satisfaction to you that he whom you
amearQtessfethe
wt I ai
tnht
tehtehoe
ovne
os
vs eal
oi
fn
Lwo whichn
,Fwo
ar df
eyrcl eo g
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anda
s
rescued from death was likewise a brave man, Half-way
n
deserted by the captain and crew. With four other men
Fordyce volunteered to take charge of the Genova and
bring her into port. They encountered severe weather,
lost their sails and tackling; and yet, notwithstanding
all the difficulties he had to contend with, he all but ac-
complished his purpose. By this brave act of yours you
have added to the value of your own life. A life thus pre-
served will, I doubt not, be guided by the same principles
of self-sacrifice and courage which have animated yours.
James, to you who must feel how great a thing it was to
save a brother's life from the dangers and horrors of that
night, I need say nothing more. Take this parchment, on
which the National Lifeboat Institution has recorded its
high appreciation of your acts. Mr. Watson, Lloyd's agent,
will attach the medal to your breast ; and long after your
eons shall have returned from laying you in the grave, your
medal will remind them of what you were, and stimulate
them and their sons to acts of mercy, courage, and daring."
Mr.lll‘Millan returned thanks for the gifts he had received
and the honours that had been done him, and said,—
" Although I am now getting an old man. yet if another
wreck should occur, I hope I may still have strength to be
of some use to my fellow-creatures." The medal, which
was handed round among those present, was very much
admired, the portrait of her Majesty being most perfect on
it ; and they all expressed their sense of the handsome man-
ner in which the institution had recognised Mr. M'Millan's
exertions.

Importing Tea without colour on the leaf pre-
Chinese passing off inferior leaves as in the usual
kvienndtsg the Chinese
orniman's Tea is uncoloured, therefore always
good alike. Sold in packets by 2,280 agents.