The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-06-09


driving his chariot over the sea.
We supposed we had heard of all sorts
|of heroes, but find ourselves to have been
mistaken. A hero in humble life has been
made known to US OF quite new order
This brave man. BY name Richard Hood
less, following the occupation Of a farmer
near GrsinthroPe on the coast OF Lincoln
shire, has for many years been devoting
himself to the saving Of nariners from
drowning. and this without any of the usual
apparatus for succoring ships in distress
Unaided by such appliances, and unaccom-
panied by any living creature but his horse,
Hoodless has been the means Of saving
many unfortunate sailors from Perishing
amidst the waves.
Cultivsting a small piece Of ground,
which is, as il were, rescued from the sea,
and almost cut off from the adjacent cOun-
Try by the badness Of the roads, this re-
maTkable man may be said to devote him
self TO the saving Of human life. On the
approach Of stormy weather, he mounts 10
an opening on the top of his dwelling. and
there pointing his telescope to the tumul-
tuous ocean, watches the approach of yes
sells towards the low and dangerous shores.
By night or by day he is equally ready 10
perform his self imposed duty. A ship is
struggling amidst the terrible CONFUSION OF
waters; no human aid seems TO be at hand
all on board give themselves up for lost,
when something is at length seen to leave
the shore, and 10 be making an effort to
reach the vessel. Can il be possible,
man on horseback! Yes. it IS Richard
Hoodless, coming TO the rescue, seated on
his old nag, an animal accustomed to these
saltwater excursions Onward the faith
full beast swims and plunges, only turning
when a wave threatens to engulf him in
its bosom. There is something grand in
the struggle Of both horse and mantle
spirit Of unselfshness eagerly trying to do
It's work. Success usually crowns the sx-
ertions Of the horse and his rider. The
ship is reached; Hoodless mounts two or
three mariners ca cTOuPe, and taking them
To dry land, returns for another iDstalment.
That horse could be trained to these
unpleasant and hazardous enterprises, may
seem somewhat surprising. But it appears
that in reality no training ia necessary; all
depends on the skill and firmness Of the
rider. Hoodless declares he could manage
the most unruly horse in the water; for as
soon as the animal finds that he has lost
his footing, and is obliged to swim, he be-
comes as obedient to his bride as boat TO
its helm. The same thing is observed in
this ssgacious animal when being hoisted
TO the deck Of a ship. He struggles
vehemently at first against his impending
fate, but the moment his feet fairly leaves
the pier, he Is calm and motionless, as if
knowing that resistance would compromise
his safety in the erial passage. The only
plan which our hero adopts is this, when
meeting particularly angry surf or swell
to turn his torse's head, forward, and allow
the wave to roll over thcm. We're horse
to face the larger pillows, and attempt to
pierce them, the water would enter his
nostrils, and render him breathless, by
which he would be soon exhausted.
| In the year 1888, Hoodless signalised
himself by swimming his horse through a
stormy sea to the wreck Of the Hermoine,
and saving her crew, for which gallant
service ne afterwards received a testimonial
from the Royal Humane Society The
words of the resolution passed BY the soci-
ETY. on this occasion, may be transcribed,
TOR they narrste circumstance worthy Of
being widely known.
alt was resolved unanimously, that the
whole courage and humanity displayed by
r. Hoodless, for the preservation Of the
crew Of the "Hemoine" from drowning,
when that vessel was wrecked near Donna
Nook, on the coast Of Lincolnshire, on the
3lst Of August, 1888, and the praise
worthy manner in which he risked bis life
on that occasion; by swimming his horse
through heavy sea to the wreck, when il
was impossible to launch the life boat. has
called forth the lively admiration Of the
Institution. which is hereby unanimously
adjudged to be presented to him at tn. neat
ensuing anniversary festival"
| As it may not be generally understood
that horse can be made to perform the Of
fee Of life.boat; when the vessels of that
kind could not with safety be launched. the
fact of Hoodless performing so many feais
in the manner described cannot be too
widely disseminated. On some occasions,
we are informed, he swims by himself to
the wreck, but more usually he goes on
horseback; and is seldom unsuccessful in
his efforts. About two years ago he saved
the captain Of vessel and bis wife, and
ten seamen-some on the back Of the horse.
and others hanging on by the stirrups.-
Should vessel be lying on her beam ends,
Hoodless requires to exercise great caution
in his approach, in consequence Of the
ropes and rigging concealed in the water.
On one occasion he experienced much in.
convenience on this account--he had Sc
cured two seamen, and was attempting to
leave the vessel for the shore, but the horse
could not move from the spot. After vari-
Gus Intellectual plunges, Hoodless discover.
ed that the animal was entangled in rope
under water. What was to be done, The
sea was in tumult, and to dismounI was
scarcely possible. Fortunately. he at length
picked up the rope with his foot. then in
stsntly pulling knife from his pocket,
leaned forward into the wtter, cut the
rope--no easy task in stormy sea-and
so got off with safety! .s-.-sl
Two-thirds of the human familv--sav