The Sun.
London, England, 1854-06-20 00:00:00

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LONDON MODEL YACHT CLUB,

The first match of the season of this rapidly-progressing
club took place yesterday, and was accompanied by
several gentlemen's yachts. The prize was a handsome
piece of plate, and the distance from Gravesend and
back. The followed started
Yachts. Tons. Owners.
Blue-eyed Maid
Adelaide
Gnat
4
Kate
Quickstep
The start took place at 20 minutes to 12. The wind
was fresh from south and by west, and gave the sailing
captains plenty to do. They were started under the
direction of Mr. Williams, the vice-commodore, and all
canted to the northward at the same moment ; but the
Quickstep being the lightest vessel took the lead, fol-
lowed by the Adelaide and Blue-eyed Maid, and then
by the Gnat. The Blue-eyed Maid passed the Adelaide
before reaching Black wall, and the Gnat overhauled the
Blue-eyed Maid in Barking Reach, while shifting top-
sails. In Long Reach the Gnat was first, Blue-eyed
Maid second, Quickstep third, and Adelaide fourth, in
which order they rounded at Gravesend as follows :----
H. M. S.
Gnat 1 34 0
Blue-eyed Maid
Quickstep 1 36 30
Adelaide
On their return the Gnat still kept the lead, the
Quickstep passing the Maid off Grays, owing to her
light draught of water. They arrived at Greenwich
thus :

H. M. B.
Gnat 4 50 0
Quickstep 4 52 0
Blue-eyed Maid
A protest was entered against the Gnat for booming
her foresail to windward iu St. Clement's Reach. This
will be decided by the sailing committee.

DISTRESSING ACCIDENT ON THE RIVER AT RICHMOND.
—EXTRAORDINARY PRESERVATION OP LIFE.— Sunday
evening at sunset a painful sensation was created
amongst the holiday seekers and aristocratic sojourners
of Richmond who were breathing the fresh air on the
banks of the Thames by an accident on the river, which
it was feared would be attended with fatal consequences,
but which fortunately, through some singular and, in-
deed, extraordinary circumstances, did not terminate so
distressingly. It appears that as a pleasure boat, in
which were a lady and gentleman was making up the
river towards Richmond-bridge, it came in collision with
another light barque, which had the effect of completely
overturning its opponent, and capsizing its occupants into
the water. For some time the excited spectators on the
banks gave both parties up for lost, and their horror was
more keenly depicted when they saw the lady gradually
sinking, until in a second or so she disappeared under the
water. The gentleman, who at first appeared confused,
and continued to buffet with the tide, which, running
strong at the time,. rapidly bore him down, no sooner
perceived the perhous situation of his fair companion,
than he boldly and determinedly dashed forward, the
threatened fate of his companion lending impulse to his
arm. Upon coming to the spot where she had disap-
peared, he immediately dived down after her, and
through the shallowness and transparency of the stream,
was enabled to perceive her apparently lifeless corpse
lying at the bottom. As quick as thought, he snatched
her from her perilous position, and upon gaining the sur-
face of the water a boat was in readiness, in which,
without delay, she was conveyed to the shore, and car-
ried into a neighbouring hotel, where a warm bath was
instantly procured and medical assistance called in. All
supposed that the vital spark had fled. and that all as-
sistance would be unavailing, when, to their great sur-
prise, within a brief period it was announced that the
lady had so far recovered as to be enabled to proceed home
in the course of a few hours. The gentleman who acted
so heroically only suffered from a severe immersion.