The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1847-02-23 00:00:00

GALLANT CONDUCT.—On Thursday morning last, a 1
youth, named George Shepherd, son of Mr. William
Shepherd, of Mill-road, Everton, while stepping from on
board the Prince, Dublin steamer, where he had been at
work repairing the machinery, on to the Mersey, Birken-
head ferry-boat, which was lying alongside of the Prince,
missed his footing and fell into the river between the two
vessels. It was blowing fresh at the time, and a strong
flood tide running ; buoys and ropes were immediately
thrown overboard from both vessels, but without avail,
for such was the strength of the current that the poor
youth was being carried far beyond their reach, where he
must inevitably have perished, had it not been for the
praiseworthy daring of a seaman, belonging to the Bir-
kenhead boat, named William Kane, who leaped into the
river, taking with him a small line ; he succeeded in
reaching the youth just as he was about sinking, probably
never to rise again, and with great difficulty managed to
have the rope tied round the boy's middle, by means of
which the people in the steamer haled him on board.
He was immediately conveyed to Willoughby's Hotel, at
Birkenhead, where every atention and kindness was shown
him, and he shortly recovered. We are given to under-
stand that this is the tenth individual Kane has succeeded
in rescuing from a watery grave. Let us hope that his
conduct will not be overlooked by the Humane Society.
The Registrars of Births and Deaths in Liverpool have
presented to their superintendent, Mr. Eckersley, a hand-
some gold pencil-case and pen, as a testimony of their
esteem for his personal character, and their admiration of
the manner in which he has for several years discharged
the duties of his office.
SHIPWRECK.—DREADFUL SUFFERINGS OF A CREW.—
The brig Marwood, Charles Balberine, master, sailed from
Bonny on the 9th of September last, with a cargo of palm
oil, for Liverpool. The provisions fell short. On the
29th December a sea struck her, stove in the cabin dead-
lights, filled the cabin full of water, and destroyed the
charts, books, papers, and nautical instruments. All
hands were then employed at the pumps, as the ship was
making much water. They had no provisions, except a
gill of rice or farina per day. On the 13th of January
the rudder was carried away, and the ship became ungo-
vernable. Land was seen, on the 20th, and the crew left
in the boat, but could not reach it, and they were obliged
to return to the ship. They cast anchor and cut away the
masts. The poor fellows were by this time starving.
They eat leather, palm oil, dried monkey skins, buttons,
pouches, or anything they could get. Some of them
drank salt water, some their urine, and when a heavy dew
or light rain fell, they licked about the rails and deck of
the ship until the blood oozed from their lips and tongue.
On the 22nd another man died from hunger. The crew
were unable to bury his corpse, they were so weak. It
lay about amongst them, and at last,,by feeding upon it,
they obtained strength enough to save themselves. On
the morning of the 24th they, got into the boat, ran
her into a narrow inlet, and found themselves close to a
fishing village. One or two of the crew who were able to
walk made towards the village, and found the inhabitants
at church. They immediately, however, came to the res-
cue
of the poor fellows, treated them in the most humane
manner, and gave them what nourishment was necessary
in their weak state. The crew had landed on Videroe,
one of the Ferroe Islands belonging to Denmark, and the
inlet at which they ran their boat ashore was the only
place of landing on the island. The governor of the
island took the crew to the town of Throsound, and gave
them clothes and every necessary. A small Norwegian
ship was at Throsound, and the captain agreed to take
them to Shetland. They sailed again on the 4th instant,
but having encountered another gale of wind, they landed
at Wick on the 10th. The Marwood sunk at her moor-
ings, and the crew saved nothing but what was on their
backs.

THE BIRKENHEAD BALL—This ball, on Tuesday even-
ing, was very fully and fashionably attended at the Monks'
Ferry Hotel. A large temporary saloon was constructed
and annexed to the large room of the building, three of
the windows of the latter being removed. In the centre
window a sort of double orchestra was placed, so as to
serve both rooms. This was occupied by Mr. Gribbins,
and his excellent band. The walls of the saloon were
decorated with coloured draperies and evergreens, and
from the centre of the roof was suspended an enormous
chandelier, sustaining a circle of globular lamps, and a
blazing horizontal star of many rays. On the other side
of the corridor, and still on the same level, were the card
room and drawing room, in the latter of which Mrs.
Fielden and Mrs. Shaw received the company as they
arrived and were presented. Up to eleven o'clock the
rooms became gradually more and more crowded, till we
should think not less than five hundred ladies and gentle-
men were present—the latter predominating in number,
so that no gentleman was without a partner. We never
witnessed a ball in which enjoyment, and the highest
degree of ! politesse, were more harmoniously united.
About eleven o'clock refreshments were announced, and
from that time parties repaired to the supper-room at
their convenience, where choice viands, and the usual ac-
companiments, were supplied with a profusion and good
order scarcely to surpassed, and which did the highest
credit to Mr. and Mrs. Hilliar, whose reputation in such
matters is established. The tables were laid in the up-
stairs corridor, which, owing to its length, formed a noble
room for the purpose. After one o'clock the company began
to depart. Amongst the company present we noticed—
Lieutenant Taylor, Rev. R. France, Rev. Brown,
Rev. Harcourt Vaughan, Rev. Dr. Hamilton, Rev. R.
M. Fielden and party, J. R. Shaw, Esq., and party, W.
Jackson, Esq., Wm. Potter, Esq., Wm. Laird, Esq., and
party, Mr. and Mrs. Cole, J. W. Harden, Esq., and
party, H. Wood, Esq., and party, Mr. and Miss Malaby,
Mr. Dixon," surgeon, and party, John Lowe, Esq., and
lady, Dr. Vaughan, r. Steel, surgeon, Mr. Norton, sur-
geon, and lady, Mr. Foulkes, surgeon, Mr. Brine, Mr. J.
S. Porter, Mr. L. Hornblower, Mr. J. Kemp, Mr. N. M."
Raynes, Mr. Jackson, of Noctorum, and party, Mr. J,
Macauley, Mr. Robins, Mr. T. A. Bushby, and party, &c.