Lifeboat

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=185 BGCOLOR="#003333" TEXT="#F7F7FF" background="040b9c00dduajq.jpg"> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="70" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 76 WIDTH="66"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="76" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="66" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B><IMG SRC="26997b20.jpg" border=0 width="151" height="178" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> 1868 - Lifeboat Launch</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Modern Links</B></div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.falmouthlifeboat.co.uk" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.falmouthlifeboat.co.uk"><U>The Falmouth Lifeboat</U></A> </div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.falmouthlifeboat.co.uk" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.falmouthlifeboat.co.uk"><U><B><IMG SRC="2609d620.jpg" border=0 width="157" height="98" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.falmouthlifeboat.co.uk/lifeboat.html" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.falmouthlifeboat.co.uk/lifebo"><U>"The WILL"</U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <div> Coverack Coastwatch Team</div> <div> <IMG SRC="265997e0.jpg" border=0 width="153" height="126" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Coverack Lifeboat 1901</div> <div> <I>Constance Melanie</I></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#FFFBF0" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Falmouth Packet Archives 1688-1850</B></FONT>    |     <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Falmouth Packet Archives 16881850"><U>home</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id32.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Tallships Falmouth for Orders"><U>'Tallships' & "Falmouth for Orders"</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id121.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Falmouth Docks"><U>Falmouth Docks</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id33.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Falmouth Pilots"><U>Falmouth Pilots</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id144.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Training Ships based at Falmouth "><U>Training Ships based at Falmouth </U></A>   |   <A HREF="id85.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Tugs Local Steamers "><U>Tugs & Local Steamers </U></A>   |   <A HREF="id60.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Shipping Agents"><U>Shipping Agents</U></A>   |   <B>Lifeboat</B>   |   <A HREF="id122.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Harbour Master"><U>Harbour Master</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id132.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Harbour Commissioners"><U>Harbour Commissioners</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id131.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Misc"><U>Misc</U></A></div> <div> Lifeboat</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Readers might like to view <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000080" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.falmouthlifeboat.co.uk/Boathistory.html" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.falmouthlifeboat.co.uk/Boathi"><U><B>Historical Facts about the Falmouth Lifeboat</B></U></A><B> </B></FONT>from which page there is also a link to<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>purchase a copy of <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B><I>Early Lifeboats of Cornwall, </I></FONT>from <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.willowbooks.co.uk" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.willowbooks.co.uk"><U>Willow Books</U></A>, </FONT>of St. Agnes, Cornwall.</div> <bR> <div> Useful  <A NAME="family_history_sources_"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A>FAMILY HISTORY SOURCES </div> <div> Records of the <B>Royal National Lifeboat Institution</B> are held at RNLI HQ, West Quay Road, Poole, Dorset BH15 1HZ. </div> <div> Records of HM Coastguard are held at the Public Record Office. </div> <div> Records of Trinity House Newcastle are held at Tyne & Wear Archives, Blandford House, Blandford Square, Newcastle-Upon Tyne NE1 4JA. The other Trinity Houses retain their own records : Trinity House, Trinity House Lane, Hull, Humberside HU1 2JE. Trinity House (Leith), 99 Kirkgate, Edinburgh EH6 6BJ. </div> <div> Records of Scottish Lighthouses are held by the Commissioners of Northern Lighthouses, 84 George Street, Edinburgh EH2. </div> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >[qf </FONT> <A HREF="http://www.ihr.sas.ac.uk/ihr/ghinfo7.html" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.ihr.sas.ac.uk/ihr/ghinfo7.htm"><U>http://www.ihr.sas.ac.uk/ihr/ghinfo7.html</U></A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > ]</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >The</FONT> <A HREF="http://www.nmm.ac.uk/cgi-bin/empower " TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.nmm.ac.uk/cgi-bin/empower "><U>National Maritime Museum Homeport</U></A> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >illustrates the power of money behind their great, fully functional, site; </FONT></div> <div> "<I>Boolean operators can be combined in more complex ways using brackets, e.g.: Searching on '(lifeboat OR lifesaving) AND (lighthouse NOT optics)' will find records that contain either "lifeboat" or "lifesaving" and "lighthouse" but not "optics"</I></div> <bR> <div> Meanwhile, I feel <U>references to Cornwall's lifeboats form an important part of our maritime heritage story,</U> and that the following (<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >word-searchable</FONT>) cuttings may be of interest to visitors, many looking for references to relatives.  I have tried to include news of events as reported, to help paint a period picture of the area and era.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="267d9230.jpg" border=0 width="473" height="291" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div>  <A NAME="oil_painting_of_a_pulling_lifeboat_town_hall_falmouth"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A>Oil Painting of a pulling lifeboat on display above the Falmouth Town Hall staircase </div> <div>                 [Details of the boat and artist would be appreciated]</div> <bR> <div> In <B>1837</B>, when there was no lifeboat on the coast, Mr. Trevelyan received the premium offered for the model of one; since then lifeboats have rescued many lives in Cornish waters.</div> <bR> <div> <B>The writer</B> [Mr. Charles Fox]<B> has omitted to mention that he was the first to offer</B><B> </B><B>premiums</B> for the best machines for the ascent and descent of mines; as well as the first £100 for any mine which would adopt one chosen.  Mr. Charles Fox also offered the premium for the analysis of air in mines, which led to important experiments in ventilation;<B> </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >the premium <B>for the best model of a lifeboat</B>, fourteen of which have been established on the Cornish coast; <B>and the premium for a mode of securing a fortnight's supply of food in cases of disaster at sea.</B></FONT></div> <div> [<A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Falmouth Packet Archives 16881850"><U>Royal Cornnwall Polytechnic Society,</U></A> <B>1869</B>.]</div> <bR> <div> FP. Sat. 6th March, <B>1858 </B> (Price 3d.)</div> <div> Captain Saulez, R.N. Inspecting Commander of the Coast Guard, has been required by the Board of Trade to report as to whether a Life-boat will be of use at this port, and if so, what amount of support is likely to be given to the object locally.  It is suggested, that, should one be allotted, it's location will be St. Anthoney Creek.  [St. Anthoney-in-Meneage, <B>close to the Manacles</B>.]</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="26b5cfb0.jpg" border=0 width="604" height="251" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div>               Wreck of the <I>North Britain</I>, December 6th, <B>1868</B> - as depicted by the artist J. H. UREN</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="26d5d580.jpg" border=0 width="605" height="344" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Another boat is rowing out from Marazion, while a large audience is gathered on the beach opposite the Mount</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="26f61810.jpg" border=0 width="609" height="385" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div>  14 crew, but, the artist seem to have stopped short of including sweeps on the lifeboat's starboard side....</div> <bR> <bR> <div> FP Sat. 5/2/<B>1898:</B>     Wreck of a Channel Steamer.</div> <div> <I><B>Channel Queen</B></I>, (1895) 386 tons gross, Captain E. J. Collins, an old and trusted servant who has had charge of the vessel since the commencement of her career.  Owned by the <B>Plymouth, Channel Isles and Brittany Steamship Company</B>, she was reported to be a good sea boat.  At this period of the year, she was solely occupied in weekly service to and from Plymouth and the Channel Isles.</div> <div> The vessel left Plymouth about 20 minutes past ten on Monday night [31 Jan] and should have reached Guernsey between 5 and 6 o'clock on Tuesday morning, and would afterwards have sailed for Jersey and <B>St. Brieux.</B></div> <div> She carried a crew of 17 all told, and had <B>47 passengers, 44 of the latter being natives of Britanny - boys and young men who had been in Plymouth for some months as vendors of onions for French onion merchants. </B> The vessel had a full general cargo.</div> <div> During the night a dense fog came on, and, at five in the morning, when the lead was being used and sounding being taken, it was found that the steamer was in a perilous position. It was then low tide and a sea was running.  The order was given for the engines to stop, but the vessel crashed against the Black Rock, which stands a mile and a half to the North-west of Guernsey.  Some of the Bretons were below and others on deck when the vessel struck.</div> <div> 7 crew, one baby and <B>at least 12 Breton onion seller lost their lives,</B> their names being; Fru-gile, <B>Cabot</B>, Garrach, Nenne, Leront, Creignon, Melier, Louis Esprit, Claude, Marie, Francois (senior) and Francis (junior).</div> <div> [description of the scene]</div> <div> The tugs "<I>Assistance</I>" and <I>Alert</I>"  and the lifeboat went to render aid, but were too late.</div> <div> Great praise was due to two Guernsey fishermen, named Beway and Gaudion; who went as near the wreck as possible.</div> <div> <B>The Bretons who lost all their six months earnings were supplied with clothing </B>by M. le Motte, the French Consular Agent at Guernsey.</div> <bR> <div> FP 30/7/<B>1898</B>:  <I>Lake's Falmouth Packet and Cornish Advertiser</I>, Saturday August 6, 1898.  </div> <div> <B>A new lifeboat for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution was tested at the [Falmouth] Docks on Tuesday last, being capsized by means of the steam crane, both with and without her masts.  She answered every test successfully in the presence of the representative of the institution.</B></div> <bR> <div> This boat, which is not yet named, but known as "<I><B>No. 1, Civil Service,</B></I>" is intended to be stationed at Margate as companion boat to one sent there a few months back.  <B>Both were entirely built by Mr. Henry Roberts, Chapel-street, Mevagissey, </B>who has also recently built two others for the institution.  The repeated orders received are evident proof that the boats have given every satisfaction.</div> <div> It is interesting to notice that just at a time when ordinary ship and boat building show signs of decay as an industry in our small fishing ports, a start should have been made in a new direction, and we trust it will meet with continued success.</div> <bR> <div> FP 22/10/1898:     Steamer <I><B>MOHEGAN</B></I></div> <div>  </div> <div> Lifeboat signalled too late - Although<B> lifeboats </B>from <B>Falmouth, Porthoustock, Cagwith </B>and the <B>Lizard</B> went to the scene of the disaster, only the Porthoustock lifeboat managed to save anyone.</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id34.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Falmouth Quay Punts"><U><B>Frank Jose</B></U></A><B>, Coxswain of the Falmouth lifeboa</B>t, <A HREF="id34.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Falmouth Quay Punts"><U>Mr. F. Capet</U></A>, one of the crew. Mr. Jose stated that at a quarter to eight there was a rumour amongst the men near the Custom House Quay, that a boat had gone ashore on the Manacles, and immediately the greater part of the crew went into the lifeboat house, in readiness to start as soon as the signal was sent up by the Coastguards for them to launch the boat.</div> <div> <I><B>The Falmouth lifeboat is not supposed to go to the Manacles  unless specially requested</B></I> , as there is a lifeboat station at Porthoustock. </div> <div>    [after much waiting] the boat was put in the water and towed by the tug <I>Penguin</I></div> <div> - arrived at the Manaces within an hour, no sign of the vessel]</div> <div> Tug <I>Victor</I> also searched in the area.[ref. also to Tug <I>Eagle</I>, Capt. Hitt.]</div> <bR> <div> FP 22/10/1898:  <B>Wreck of the </B><I><B>MOHEGAN</B></I><I> </I></div> <div> [A new vessel, on her 2nd voyage from London to New York. Struck at 6.45pm, October 15th, 1898. Only 52 of 153 saved.]</div> <bR> <div> The Transport Company's steamship <I>Mohegan</I> [ex.<I>Cleopatra</I>, belonging to the Wilson Company], Captain R. Griffiths [drowned], on a clear night.... foundered in 20 minutes, after striking the VARSIS rock, ¼ mile inside the bell-buoy, at 11 knots.</div> <div> <I><B>The bell-buoy now in use is totally inadequate.. should have been discarded for a lightship or lighthouse</B></I>.</div> <div> About 40 magnificent crosses and wreaths were sent to Mr. J. C. Badger, of the Seamens' Bethel, for placing on the coffins at the Sailors' Home. (including from; Mr. W. Morrison & Mr. W. Morrison Jr.)</div> <div> Among the various parties searching for the drowned was a volunteer party, organised by Mr. John Chard, Mr. J. C. Badger, missionary of the British and Foreign Sailors' Society, and Captain Quenault, of the tug <I>Telephone</I>.  They went in the s.s.<I>Telephone</I>, towing <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#BF0000" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="id34.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Falmouth Quay Punts"><U>a six-oared gig, the property of Mr. Chard</U></A></FONT><A HREF="id34.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Falmouth Quay Punts"><U>.</U></A>  The party, consisting of Messrs. R. Toms, J. Dunstone, J. Carbis, G. Fittock, J. Rusden, W. Fenton, F. Thomas, carried with them gear for decently covering any remains they might find.  They skirted the coast from Coverack to Falmouth, and brought back the body supposed to be that of Mr. Davis, chief engineer of the ill-fated steamer, the watch on whose body was stopped at ten minutes to twelve.</div> <div> The  Falmouth Chamber of Commerce resolved to draw the attention of the Board of trade to the danger of allowing electric light to be used as a masthead light, as, <I><B>owing to the electric light being extinguished, the lifeboats were unable to find the wreck</B></I>.</div> <bR> <div> <B>The proposed Manacles lighthouse</B>.</div> <div> <A HREF="id19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Falmouth Town Library "><U>Mr. Passmore Edwards</U></A> <A NAME="passmore_edwards_"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A> writes:- <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#CC0033" FACE="Arial" >"</FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#CC0033" FACE="Arial" ><I>I certainly offered to build a lighthouse at the Manacles, to the memory of Adams, the distinguished Cornish astronomer, and joint discoverer with Leverrier of the planet Neptune; but after some discussion at Falmouth it was thought that a hospital and a free library could be more acceptable and useful.  I accepted the decision and provided the hospital and free library.  I hoped, and expressed the hope at the time, to erect one lighthouse in Cornwall and another to the memory of Leverrier on the coast of France, so that both should acknowledge with luminous nods the dominant claims of commerce and brotherhood of nations.</I></FONT>"</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id60.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Shipping Agents"><U>G. C. Fox & Co</U></A>., agents of the American(sic) [Atlantic] Transport Company, have issued bounties of £10 rewards to the finder of each or both of the bodies of Miss Hannah Hart, aged about 48, and Mr. Henry Morrison, jun., age 42. [passenger listed as missing]</div> <bR> <div> <B>St. Keverne  Church</B><B> <A NAME="st__keverne_church_"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B> (Vicar, Canon Rev. Diggins) spire is a noted landmark on the eastern side of the Lizard peninsula, and the church itself dates back to the 12th century.  It is an ancient priory church.  During the past century it has been associated with three great shipping disasters - the wrecks of the <I>John</I>, in 1855, the transport <I>Despatch</I>  at Coverack Cove, in 1809, and the catastrophe which has just occurred.  </div> <bR> <div> The steamer left the Thames on the Thursday afternoon, with 53 saloon passengers, and the total number of persons on board is officially state to be 156. [157]  As this was her return journey, she was light on cargo, and her hull was high out of the water.   It was a clear night, although the darkness was intense.  She ought to have been 10-15 miles [south of the Lizard] from the land.  Great rents must have been made in the bottom of the hull, for the inrushing water lifted up the metal plates forming the flooring of the engine-room, and rose 3 feet in less than a minute.  The electric light appliances were soon submerged, and the whole vessel was plunged in darkness. The ship began to settle by the bow, and to one side.  There were 8 lifeboats, of which only two were launched before the foundering of the ship precipitated the mass of human beings who were on the deck into the sea.  Most of the crew were fresh for this voyage.  </div> <div> One man, named Maule, [George Moule, Cattleman] was rescued by the Falmouth tug (Messrs Rowe's <I>Penguin</I>) after having been in the water over 7 hours.</div> <div> Mr. James Hill, coxswain of the Porthoustock Lifeboat.</div> <div> Mr. Jeffers, chief of the coastguard at <B>Coverack</B>.. <I><B>the brave fellows had pushed their heavy rocket apparatus to the top of Coverack-hill before horses could be procured. </B></I></div> <div> [A very long and steep climb.  Following the wrecks of <I>Paris</I> and <I>Mohegan</I>, a lifeboat was stationed at Coverack]</div> <div> Their second rocket, after travelling over a mile, passed right between two masts of the vessel.  It did not carry a line, as the Mohegan was too far from the shore to be reached by such means. </div> <div> 42 passengers drowned, 11 saved.</div> <div> 65 Officers & Crew drowned, 39 saved</div> <bR> <div> FP 3/12/1898:     <I>Mohegan</I> Disaster - End of the Inquiry (Westminster Town Hall)  [extracts] </div> <div> Inasmuch as the electric dynamo was situated a hundred feet from the compasses, the court did not consider that they were effected by it.</div> <div> Vessel passed the Eddystone Lighthouse at 4.15 on October 14th, at a not greater distance than 3 miles, the course steered was W. by N.</div> <div> The light reported shortly after 6 p.m. was St. Anthony's light.</div> <div> The ship never went within the area illuminated by the Lizard lights. </div> <div> There were two officers on the bridge, and a proper lookout was set. But the court was not prepared to state that a proper lookout was kept.</div> <div> The cause of the stranding was that a wrong course, West by North,  was steered after passing the Eddystone at 4.17 p.m.</div> <div> The reason so few distress signals were discharged was that the rocket socket was on the port side and the ship listed heavily to that side.</div> <div> The  reason that the oil lamps were not got out when the electric light was extinguished, was that the fore part of the vessel, where the lamps were stored, was under water, and the room inaccessible.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> FP 6/5/<B>1899</B>:     <B>Falmouth Lifeboa</B>t - Criticising the Crew</div> <div> Recent completion of <B>telephone communications</B> between the <B>coast-guard stations</B> at <B>Falmouth, Maenporth, Helford Passage and Gillan Creek</B>.</div> <div> The difficulty of launching at the slipway at low water was still a problem [causing delays]</div> <div> The information of the steamship <I>Mohegan</I> stranding on the Manacle rocks was known at Falmouth as early as 7 p.m., and the crew were assembled for duty accordingly; but in consequence of no definite application having been received by the coastguard for assistance until about 9.30 p.m., their <B>signal mortar</B> was not fired until 9.40 p.m. and that delay, with the inconvenience of launching at low water, prevented the boat - although in the tow of a tug - from reaching the scene until about 11 o'clock.  At that time the <B>Porthoustock boat</B> had done most of the work …  (and) .. the boat was able only to bring back the body of a woman, while the tug secured one passenger and picked up the body of a child.</div> <div> The cost for these services for the lifeboat was defrayed by the parent institution, and amounted to £37 10s., with £10 for the services of the tug <I>Penguin</I>.</div> <div> The annual subscriptions received during 1898 were £19 17s. 2d., while the sum received from the parent institution during the same period was £28. The coxswains' salaries etc., and payments to the crew for exercises of the boat amounted to £35 12s 6d. and the cost of incidentals was £6 4. 8d.</div> <div> The committee again presumed to submit to the residents of Falmouth the claims of this excellent institution, earnestly trusting that future subscriptions might, at the least, be sufficient to meet the current expenses with the life-saving services of the branch.</div> <div>  </div> <div> The chairman remarked that events connected with the <I>Mohegan</I> disaster seemed to have created some sensation in the town. He had heard a great many unpleasant observations. There was no fault to find with the crew in respect of the launching of the boat, but what he did complain of was the disgusting language and horrible noise emanating from a body of men going on an errand of mercy. People told him subsequently that, after the conduct of the crew, they had no faith in them, and did not believe they were going to do justice.  A great many persons left <B>the Docks*</B> that night sick at heart, and he (the speaker) felt the same.</div> <div> He felt the Falmouth might do more. <B>For the past 20 years there had been a lifeboat at Falmouth,</B> and the list of lives saved, notwithstanding that the boat had gone on service many times, and that large sums of money had been saved - was blank.  </div> <div> The record was a corpse.</div> <div> People who gave their money expected a return for it.</div> <div> Mr. Olver remarked  (that) the man who entered the lifeboat with no higher object than payment was the wrong man in the right place.</div> <div> <A HREF="id34.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Falmouth Quay Punts"><U>A. Tonkin</U></A>, a member of the crew, was sorry to hear such a bad opinion of Falmouth people.  There was bad language at the launch of the boat, it was true; but it came mostly from people at the top of the quay.</div> <div> Discussion then drifted to another deaable [debatable] point - whether or not the Falmouth lifeboat crew, in their efforts to discover the wrecked ship, went among the Manacle rocks, or merely made a detour of them.</div> <div> A member of the crew: <I>We did go among the rocks</I>.</div> <div> The Chairman: Y<I>ou made a detour of the rocks.</I></div> <div> Mr. S. Collins thought this sort of discussion was out of place at the annual meeting.</div> <div> Porthoustock people, having seen the lights of the ship when she struck the Manacles, could mark her position.  When the Falmouth life-boat went out, she had nothing to guide her. Knowing the danger of the Manacles, he could not see any blame attaching to the Falmouth crew for not finding the ship.</div> <div> Mr. F. G. Bowles saw no advantage in continuing the discussion.</div> <div> <B>Mr. F. J. Bowles never thought that the life-boat  house at the docks was on the most suitable site</B>, though it was approved by the inspector. <B>That site was chosen because it could be had for a shilling a year. </B>He considered a better position would be worth more money.</div> <div> Mr. Collins agreed that the site rendered launching very difficult under certain conditions of weather. </div> <div> Mr. Fooks, Collector of Customs, explained that he was not antagonistic to the life-boat crew, who, he hoped, would escape censure in future by endeavouring to do their best.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="270581f0.jpg" border=0 width="600" height="287" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div>  This cropped image illustrates the position and tidal restriction of the Lifeboat House (above) in the Docks</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> FP 20/5/<B>1899</B>:     A Boon to Mariners</div> <div> That much-maligned <A HREF="id149.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Trinity House"><U><B>Trinity Brethren</B></U></A><B> have at last been induced to place a light on the Manacles </B>is gratifying news.</div> <div> Long before the <I>Mohegan</I> went to her doom, the absolute uselessness of the present bell-buoy, which has simply rung the death knell of drowning people, was insisted on [by Trinity House].</div> <div> The <I>Mohegan</I> mystery [of how she came to be off course, seeing only St. Anthony's light, believing it to be the Lizard (!)] sealed the fate of the doleful bell, a great and influential agitation having made the Trinity Brethren amenable to reason.  The probability is that the proposed substitution of <B>a gas-lighted, automatic, sound producing buoy</B> would have been long deferred had not Mr. T. Webb, C.C., had an interview with the Trinity House authorities.</div> <div> That the buoy will be placed in position speedily… will be the prayerful hope of all. </div> <bR> <div> FP 27/5/<B>1899</B>:     Ashore on the Manacles - s.s. <I>PARIS</I> - Every Soul Saved.</div> <div> In a mysterious and unaccountable way, <B>the American liner </B><I><B>Paris</B></I><B> went ashore on the Manacles</B> in the early hours of Whit-Sunday morning.  The complete immunity from loss of life can only be ascribed to the comparative calmness of the elements, the breaking of dawn soon after the mishap, and the rare good fortune on avoiding huge rocks on either side after passing inside the treacherous ridge.</div> <bR> <div> With commendable alacrity, <B>the Falmouth life-boat was launched</B>.  Accompanied by tugs, she breasted the waters of the bay about 2 o'clock in the morning. </div> <bR> <div> It seems the <I>Paris </I>was bound from Southampton for New York, via Cherbourg.  She left Southampton at noon on Saturday. When she left Cherbourg, (6 p.m. Saturday) she had on board nearly 400 passengers, 372 officers and crew, 140 bags of mails and general cargo.  From 6 - 10 p.m. the weather was rather boisterous. At that time Captain F. Watkins was shaping a course for Prawle Point, Devon, which was sighted and reported. This would bring her much more to the north and to the east than if she had steered for the Lizard.  The  weather moderated, there was occasional haze and misty rain, but no fog.  A short time before the disaster, the engines were reduced to half-speed, and this is generally taken to indicate that the officer on the bridge was not sure of his exact whereabouts.  The Lizard light would have been about that time due, and its non-appearance may have led to this precautionary measure having been taken.  Passengers were awakened by a loud scrunching and scraping sound. At once the engines were stopped, then reversed - at 1.21 a.m.</div> <div> The look-out men then reported that land was close by, and it was soon ascertained that the <I>Paris</I> was fast on what is known as <B>the Lowlands</B>, which form part of the <B>Manacles</B>, and are only a few hundred yards to the west of that reef.</div> <div> Passengers were reassured by the Captain.  Stewards served tea and coffee, and this was handed round to passengers. <I><B>Captain Watkins sent up rockets for assistance, and the first reply was made by the Falmouth coastguard detachment.</B></I>  Meantime, Captain Watkins went ashore in his gig and despatched messages for tugs, which were speedily on the spot from Falmouth. Later telegrams were sent to Government authorities at Devonport, asking for assistance, and the gunboat <I>Antelope</I>, which had her fires banked ready to proceed to the Bristol Channel,   left at 6 o'clock for the scene of the wreck.  She was followed by the gunboat <I>Renard</I> and destroyer <I>Thrasher.</I></div> <bR> <div> When the dawn broke <I><B>passengers saw, within a few hundred yards of them, the masts of the steamship </B></I><I><B>Mohegan</B></I>, wrecked in October with the loss of 106 lives, and the useless bell-buoy.</div> <div> By the time dawn broke, passengers were relieved to find the shore close on one hand and the <B>lifeboats of Falmouth</B> (Capt. Francis Jose), <B>Porthoustock</B> and <B>Coverack</B> on the seaward side of the <I>Paris</I>.</div> <bR> <div> The Falmouth tugs <I>Dragon</I> (Captain White) was the first steamer on the scene, and the difficult task of transferring the passengers to the lifeboats and thence to tug was soon commenced and finished without any mishap.  All, were brought into Falmouth by the tugboat about seven o'clock in the morning.  There they were met by Mr. Robert Fox and Mr. R. B. Fox, <A HREF="id60.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Shipping Agents"><U>agents</U></A> of the company, and conducted to hotels and boarding houses. It was found extremely difficult to provide for all, especially for the steerage passengers.</div> <bR> <div> The precise position of the <I>Paris</I> is about midway between the Foam Rock and Lowland Point. (not round the Maenland reef).</div> <div> The <B>Falmouth life-boat crew, numbering 15</B>, were towed by a tug and reached the scene of the wreck about quarter past four.  The water was smooth, but at times there were thick showers.  The ship's boats were already out.  We saw one boat almost filled with women and children, and we assisted in taking that boat to the tug <I>Dragon</I>.  The <B>Porthoustock lifeboat had also taken about 80 people to the tug</B>.  We waited for some hours, but as the captain of the <I>Paris</I> told us there was no further need for our services, we left for Falmouth.</div> <bR> <div> Captain Evenson, a Norwegian was in charge of 12 Norwegians who were on their way to join a ship at New York. He said: <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#BF0000" FACE="Arial" ><I>Twelve months ago I was wrecked within a few yards of the spot where the </I><I>Paris</I><I> struck this morning.</I></FONT>  I was then mate on an English barque, the <I>Aberyte</I>.  I was surprised on coming on deck to recognise the locality where we had struck - when I struggled with my fate in an angry sea to save my life.   It was a miracle that I was saved then,</div> <bR> <div> A Trinity Pilot belonging to<B> </B><A HREF="id33.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Falmouth Pilots"><U><B>No. 13 cutter,</B></U></A> said he was<B> on guard-duty when about two miles north-west of the Manacles buoy </B>the lights of a steamer suddenly appeared just ahead of the cutter.  It was very hazy, but a smooth sea was running, and the Manacles buoy could be distinctly heard.  <B>The pilot boat showed her flash light and the steamer starboarded her helm to get clear of the cutter. </B> On passing they observed the steamer had three funnels, and thought she was the <I>Paris</I> or <I>New York</I>.  She was heading straight for the Manacles buoy, and <B>had she not starboarded her helm she would have gone on the Manacles rocks at a point just near the </B><I><B>Mohegan</B></I>.  About a quarter of an hour afterwards, the <I>Paris</I> was heard blowing off steam.  Thinking the vessel had stranded, the pilots launched a boat, but it was so misty that they were in dangerous proximity to the Manacles themselves.  Fortunately there was very little wind and a smooth sea.  Had there been a strong wind from the south-east at the moment of stranding the results might have been much more serious.</div> <bR> <div> At the Falmouth Hotel, Baron Oppenheim, (passenger) banker of Paris and New York, proposed they should all unite in a silent prayer of gratitude to God.   </div> <div> Mr. Archer, of London suggested <B>a collection, </B>which<B> raised </B><B>£30</B>.  <A HREF="id60.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Shipping Agents"><U>Mr. Howard Fox, American Consul at Falmouth,</U></A> was asked to distribute the proceeds pro-rata among the crews of the <B>Coverack coastguard galley</B> (sic) and the<B> Porthoustock</B> and <B>Falmouth lifeboats.</B></div> <bR> <div> Mr. Frederick A. Jeanne, of New York, a saloon passenger, has handed £5 to the United States Consul, to be given to the pilot who showed the flashlight as the vessel was approaching the Manacles.</div> <div>  </div> <div> The <I>Paris</I> and the <I>New York</I>, sister ships built by J, & G. Thomson of Clydebank, were added to the fleet of the Inman Line in 1889, and were subsequently transferred to the American Line.   They were the first Atlantic liners to use twin screws. L.O.A. 560ft, L.W.L.525ft., 63 ¼ ft beam, 42feet deep and 10,699 gross tonnage.   In the outer shell of the hull, which has a double bottom throughout, Siemens-Martin steel was used.  Each ship is divided into 15 watertight compartments separated by transverse bulkheads from the keel to the saloon deck, rising 18ft above the load line.  There are no doors or openings of any kind.   The engines can work up to 20,000 horse power, while the boilers are worked at 150 p.s.i.  Each of the 9 boilers has six furnaces, and the 54 furnaces consume some 300 tons of coal  per day.   The only hatches are those down which air is drawn by 12 fans at 400 r.p.m.  The twin screws are fixed in a solid structure of cast steel weighing 26 tons, and a separate set of machinery works each.  One [alone] is capable of propelling the ship at 15 knots.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Mr Osborne, the well-known photographer</B>, of Arwenack Street, was soon at the scene of the disaster on Sunday and obtained good photographs of the <I>Paris</I> from various positions. On Bank Holiday, <B>his shop was besieged with trippers and passengers of the </B><I><B>Paris</B></I><B> who purchased and ordered photos of the liner.</B></div> <bR> <div> During the recent Spanish-American war, the <I>Paris</I> sailed as an armed cruiser under the name of <I>Havard</I>.  Her crew obtained considerable prize money for capturing blockade runners.</div> <div> In 1890, the Paris was then known as the <I>City of Paris</I>, and had a terrible experience.  She left New York on arch 19th with 680 passengers and 370 crew, and on March 25th the starboard engine broke down.  The inflow of water stopped the other engine, and eventually the vessel was without machinery or sailing apparatus - a helpless log.  Help arrived the following day, and without losing a single life, the vessel was towed into Queenstown, (Cork) </div> <bR> <div> On Tuesday, passengers left Falmouth on two special trains for Southampton, the second train carrying 291 steerage passengers.  What attracted people most was the style of dress <A NAME="1899_dress_adopted_by_many_of_the_continental_women"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A> adopted by many of the (continental) women, whose head-gear consisted of a sort of handkerchief or small shawl.</div> <bR> <div> FP 8/7/<B>1899</B>:     Portrait - <B>Mr. Thomas Webber, J.P., C.C.</B></div> <div> Born at Barnstable, Devonshire, on 3 December 1829, the son of an Excise officer, he <B>came to Falmouth in 1848</B>, where for over 30 years he carried on a business as a corn and flour merchant, sampler of grain cargoes, and army and navy contractor.  In the 1840's the railway had not reached Falmouth, which then witnesses the departure of the lumbering old coaches and the coming and going of the Royal Mail packets, that service being in full swing.  [The service ended in December 1850]</div> <bR> <div> After a residence of about two years, <B>Mr. Webber married the daughter of Mr. H. Giffen (sic) [Griffin]   who was at one time the sailing master of one of the H. M. Mail packets.</B>  The day is not far distant which will mark the golden wedding anniversary of Mr. & Mrs Webber.</div> <div> He joined the Corporation [in 1856] and has been elected Mayor no less than eight times. 1866-1868, 1876-1879 and in 1892, as the first Mayor of the enlarged borough.  He led the van on the question of accepting Lord Kimberley's offer of Kimberley Park, overlooked by "Woodville" the pretty residence of Mr. Webber [no building in front of <U>his</U> house!].  Another venture of the "something attempted, something done" order was his efforts in connection with the Free Library.  When it was quite certain that the Ferris bequest would be paid, Mr. Webber laid before the Council the question of adopting the Free Library Act - it was accepted by the largest majority of any town in the Western Counties.  The <B>intimate friend of Mr. Passmore Edwards, the great Cornish philanthropist</B> [who gave] £2000 towards the scheme. </div> <div> Mr. Webber has been connected with Cornwall County Council ever since its formation, and has been returned unopposed each time.  Appointed Justice of the Peace in 1868, he has <B>adjudicated on shipping cases of the utmost gravity</B>. An active member of the Chamber of Commerce, he is <B>a sub-commissioner of pilotage,</B> and has <B>represented the Board of Trade on the</B><A HREF="id132.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Harbour Commissioners"><U><B> Harbour Board</B></U></A><B> since 1870. </B> For nearly 30 years too, he was <B>on the Committee of the Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society.</B>  A <B>member of the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club</B>, the members of which will ever hold him in grateful remembrance for his praiseworthy and successful efforts to procure the royal warrant, and <B>the right to fly, as a distinguishing mark, the plume of feathers of the Prince of Wales</B>.   <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#BF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>For 20 years he was chairman and treasurer of the local Lifeboat Society.</B></FONT>  A contributor to The Field, he has a judge, officiated at large dog shows, and as breeder of Gordon and English setters and other sporting dogs, he has a big and world-wide reputation.  £500 worth of prizes have been won by his exhibits.    </div> <bR> <div> FP 29/7/<B>1899</B>:  <A HREF="id62.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Marine Artists"><U><B>Falmouth Art Gallery</B></U></A> summer exhibition.  </div> <div> Nearly sixty works adorn the little gallery. (Including):- Mr. Napier Hemy, A.R.A., Mr. H. M. Rheam, R.I.</div> <div> Mr.<B> Ayerst Ingram, R.B.A</B>.   "<I>The Rescue</I>" - a large canvas. Evening, in the distance a leviathan liner - the <I>Paris,</I> perhaps - hove to. </div> <div> <B>A lifeboat has been lowered and is being pulled towards a water-logged and sinking ship.</B> The figures of the rowers are projected against a primrose coloured sky, which indicates a break in the weather. Angry waves still dash against the labouring vessel, which is partly dismantled, survivors are waving madly at the masthead as the lifeboat approaches.  One of the most stirring of pictures.  </div> <div> [<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="mailto:falmouth.packet.archives@dial.pipex.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:falmouth.packet.archives@dial.pip"><U>Please advise me</U></A></FONT> where a copy of this painting may be viewed]</div> <div> <B>H.S. Tuke.  </B>Faithful to Falmouth, he shows some very accurate transcripts of shipping in the port.  </div> <div> Undoubtedly, his best work is "<I>Going to Sea</I>."</div> <div> He has succeeded in investing in every-day occurrence with a poetic touch.  There is the tug <I>Dragon</I> - one can tell her at a glance - attached to a splendid barque.  The hawser is not yet rigid, but the <I>Dragon</I> is under weigh.  Everything is animated, the suggestion of movement being very realistic.  With advantage, we think, the patch of green in the background might be toned a little.  It is too pronounced at present.</div> <div> One of the best portraits Mr. Tuke has ever done is that of "<A HREF="id60.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Shipping Agents"><U>Mr. H. R. Fox</U></A>," it being so life-like and full of merit.</div> <bR> <div> FP 28/10/<B>1899</B>:   <B>  A Lifeboat for Coverack</B></div> <div> Captain St. Vincent Napean, chief inspector of lifeboats, with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution's architect, visited Coverack on the 19th inst., and decided to place there a lifeboat of the latest type.  In view of the recent disasters on the Manacles and the proximity of Coverack to those dreaded rocks, it is asserted with confidence a lifeboat would be of the greatest assistance in the case of wrecks there.   </div> <bR> <div> FP 23/12/1899: <B>Death of Mr. Thomas Webber</B> [on 17 Dec.] (aged 71) of "Woodville"</div> <div> [Brother of Mr. A. E. Webber]</div> <div> Born Barnstable 1829, came to Falmouth in 1848, and for over 30 years carried on a business as a corn & flour merchant, sampler of grain cargoes, army and navy contractor....[see FP 8/7/1899, above]</div> <div> For 20 years he acted as Chairman and Treasurer of the local branch of the lifeboat Institution. Justice of the Peace for 30 years. Member of the National Liberal Club. Deceased leaves a son and two married daughters*. </div> <div> [Funeral list include Mr.[Captain]  John Meyrick & Dr. Leon, sons-in-law* and Falmouth Liberal Association President (1899) Mr. J. Mead.]</div> <bR> <bR> <div> FP 6/2/<B>1914</B>. Shipping Disaster At the Gull Rock -<B> German Barque Founders</B></div> <div> After a voyage extending over 91 days, and within sight of her destination, the magnificent 4-mast barque <I>Hera</I> met with her doom near Portscatho on Saturday night [30th January] during a heavy gale from the southward. She carried a crew of 24, only five survived, [clinging to the jigger top-mast] nineteen drowned.</div> <div> [Guns were heard in Falmouth; Coastguard reported that a vessel was sending up rockets off Portscatho.]  "<B>In 25 minutes from the firing of the first signal, the Falmouth lifeboat </B><I><B>Bob Newbon</B></I> [ Samuel Hingston, Coxswain;  George Frederick Jones, Second Coxswain, W. Leuty, bowman.] <B>was on her errand of mercy.</B>" <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#BF0000" FACE="Arial" >[saving five crew]</FONT> </div> <div> Crews of the tugs <I>Triton</I>, <I>Victor</I>, and <I><B>Perran</B></I> [which <B>towed the lifeboat to Gull Rock</B>] were quickly mustered.</div> <bR> <div> The <I>Hera </I>belonged to Hamburg, 1,994 registered tonnage, from Pisagua, Chili, with a cargo of nitrate, and bound for Falmouth for orders. The chronometer having gone wrong, considerable haze, the captain had no idea as to his whereabouts, the Lizard was not discerned, and, through getting too far to the eastward, the St. Anthony light was mistaken for the moon. [!]</div> <bR> <div> Mr. A. Johanson, Able Seaman, a big burly man with a huge head and long locks, and a beard of a few weeks' growth, was the eldest of the survivors and spokesman of the party.  This was the third time he had been shipwrecked, and one of the crew had been rescued off the <I><B>Pindos</B></I><B> </B>when that [sister] vessel was wrecked at<B> Coverack </B>some time ago. [1912]</div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Triton </B></I><B>towed the lifeboat, with five rescued crew, back to Falmouth</B>.  The ship lay about 400 yards out, in 18 fathoms of water. </div> <bR> <div> Drowned: Captain J. Lorenz, (47); First Mate, L. Muhleisen; Second Mate, Walter Petersen (24); Sailmaker, Carl Hammen (29); Blacksmith, August Matschineck (25); Carpenter, Ludwig Fischer (21); Cook, Emil Wagner (45); Seamen, Rudolph Laske (18), E. Meyer, Walter Smith (17),  H. Diebel, Heinrich Muller (20), F. Sondermann, Carl Huse (24), P. Illver, Alfred Witte (18), H. Brens.  Boys, O. Clausen, H. Bahr.</div> <div> Rescued: Third Mate, W. Hoffmann.  Seamen, G. Cauci, A. Johansen and A. Larsen.  Boy, C. Bersier.</div> <div> The seaman named Smith was the only Englishman of the crew.  He was said to have been in the ship on her outward and homeward voyage. He belonged to Port Talbot, and was shipped at Cardiff.</div> <bR> <div> <B>The inquest was held at the Bible Christian Schoolroom at West Portholland</B>, and among those present was Mr. R. Barclay Fox, German Vice-Consul (of Messrs. G.C. Fox & Co., <A HREF="id60.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Shipping Agents"><U>shipping agents</U></A>, Falmouth).</div> <bR> <div> The first witness was A. Johanson …"<I>The Captain had been to Falmouth several times.  He could not get in himself without a pilot, and if he had not got one, he would have hung about until daylight</I>."</div> <bR> <div> The third Mate, W. Hoffman … <I>We did not have any bearings for three days.  The chronometer was wrong, and we were quite out of our reckoning by log, that is all, but the captain was always quite sure he was near the Lizard Light</I>."  … "<I>She was only going about two miles [an hour], she was a good steering vessel … </I><I><B>it takes a mile to wear the ship around</B></I><I>.</I>." … </div> <bR> <div> Johanson said they never saw a pilot.</div> <div> A. juror: "<I>Where were the pilot boats</I>?"</div> <div> Mr. Fox remarked that <B>generally the pilot boats would be midway between the Manacles and the Castle Point</B>, and would not have seen the Hera, which probably overstepped the mark.  They would be expecting vessels coming round the Manacles.  He could not say where they were. </div> <bR> <div> <B>Second Coxswain of the lifeboat,</B> [Jones] said: "<I><B>We slipped the tow of the Perran, about half past three</B></I><B>.</B> [The Hera struck at about 11.30 p.m.] <I><B>Owing to the heavy sea, we could only be towed at half speed.</B></I> <I><B>We were not expecting to find anybody on a spar, we were looking for a ship. ….</B></I><B> </B><I><B>Everybody pulled as hard as they could, and at last we got alongside, and took them off one by one.  If it had not been for the whistle, we should not have found them</B></I><B>."</B> </div> <bR> <div> The <I>Hera</I> was the property of Rhederei Aktien, of Hamburg, who also owned the <I>Pindos</I>, which became a total wreck at Coverack in 1912.</div> <div>  The nitrate lost in the wreck of the <I>Hera </I>is expected to be worth £30,000…. Last year, [1913] - after a passage of nearly 10,000 miles from Chile and Peru to the Lizard, three nitrate ships were wrecked in the neighbourhood.  On November 28th, the British ship <I>Thornlibank</I> was lost   on the Crim Rock, Scilly.  The German ship <I>Susanua</I> was wrecked on the Bishop Rock on 15th August, and the British ship <I>Cromdale </I>was lost on Beast Point on May 25th. There was also the loss of the grain-laden ship <I>Queen-Margaret</I> on Stag Rocks, on May 5th.  </div> <div> In <B>1912</B>, there were two wrecks of nitrate ships.  The Norwegian barque <I>Gunvor</I> was wrecked on the Beagle Point on April 7th. The German nitrate barque <I>Pindos</I> struck near the Coverack coastguard station on February 1st.     </div> <bR> <div> FP Friday 18/2/<B>1914</B>: The Loss of the <I>Hera</I> - Funeral at Veryan. 500 persons in the church, 200 outside.</div> <div> The bodies of two other men belonging to the <I>Hera</I> have been washed ashore, one at Portloe, and one at Portholland. Alfred Johannson recognised them as Peter Illner and Hans Diedel.  On Wednesday, the body of the captain was recovered near Portloe.</div> <bR> <div> FP Friday 4/12/<B>1914</B>: <B>French Barque Ashore in Falmouth Harbour.</B></div> <div>  Misfortune overtook the French four-mast barque <I>Asniers</I><I> <A NAME="asniers_wrecked_1914"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></I> on Wednesday [2 Dec] just at the completion of her long voyage from San Francisco with a cargo of barley.  She was bound for Falmouth for orders, and arrived off the port during a heavy gale from the southward.  Terrible seas ran in the bay, which was a mass of foam, and <B>it was impossible for any pilot to have boarded the vessel</B>.  During the height of the gale <B>the French captain decided to run for Falmouth harbour without a pilot</B>.  The barque came in at a good rate, when she suddenly brought up and it was found that she was ashore.  <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#BF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>A telephone message was despatched to the lifeboat authorities and in a few minutes the lifeboat crew were conveyed to the Docks in motors, etc., and the "</B><I><B>Bob Newbon</B></I><B>" was quickly launched, being towed to the scene by the tug PERRAN.</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> The wind blew with such force that it drove the barque further ashore.  Meanwhile, <A HREF="id34.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Falmouth Quay Punts"><U><B>Mr. W. Morrison, jun</B></U></A>., at great risk to himself and to his motor boat [<I>Black Bess</I>?] which narrowly escaped being wrecked, took ropes to the tugs <I>Dragon</I> and <I>Perran</I> which started towing operations.   The lifeboat went alongside the barque and offered to take off the crew, who would not leave the vessel.   Coxswain Hingston then decided to anchor a little distance from the <I>Asniers</I> in order to prevent any spars from falling into the lifeboat, and to rescue the crew in case of emergency.  The Falmouth tugs continued towing and a large Dutch tug also assisted, but all attempts to refloat the barque failed.  The lifeboat returned home in the evening, the Frenchmen deciding to remain on board the ship for the night.  Early yesterday morning another effort was made to tow the vessel off without success.  It was found that several feet of water had made their way into the barque, and that the cargo was starting to swell.  Barges were at once procured and quantities of barley discharged into them. </div> <div> The barque lies just beyond St. Mawes Castle.  She is "down by the head" and seems firmly fixed on the rocks.  Hopes are entertained that she will be refloated in a few days, but many people are of the opinion that she will become a total wreck.</div> <div> Heavy weather again prevailed this morning and <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#BF0000" FACE="Arial" ><I><B>the services of the lifeboat were requisitioned to take off the crew, 25 of whom have been landed</B></I></FONT><B>.</B>  The crew are now at the Royal Sailor's Home.</div> <bR> <div> Of interest, perhaps, in 1914...</div> <bR> <div> FP Friday 11/12/<B>1914</B>: Heavy gale at Falmouth this morning:</div> <div> The steamer <I>Alexandra</I>, which is acting as one of the <B>harbour patrol boats</B> for the government, touched the ground near St. Mawes Castle, but she was afterwards towed off by the company's steamer <I>Roseland</I> and taken to her moorings apparently undamaged.</div> <div> FP Friday 25/12/1914:  <B>Warning to Boatmen</B></div> <div> Falmouth boatmen ought to take heed of the warning not to enter or leave the harbour without first having obtained permission from the patrol boats.  One day this week two shot were fired across the bows of a boat belonging to a local waterman, who tried to leave or enter the harbour without permission.  Unless strict attention is paid to the regulations serious results will follow.</div> <div> FP Friday 25/12/1914  [three-month trial] <B>Falmouth - Bilbao Mail service</B> to be discontinued at the end of the month. The Spanish government wanted to give the service another 3-months trial, but the company owning the steamers required a twelve months' agreement.  This the government declined to consent to. .</div> <bR> <div> FP 12/2/<B>1915</B>:  Four-mast Ship Ashore Near Falmouth</div> <div> Magnificent work by <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#BF0000" FACE="Arial" >Portscatho Rocket Brigade - Rescues 27 persons</FONT></div> <div> Women take refuge in the rigging. Captain's 7-year-old daughter falls asleep in the Mainmast rigging. <I>Where's my pussy</I>? [saved]</div> <bR> <div> The magnificent 4-mast barque <I>Andromeda</I> of London 1,762 tons, went ashore at Killygerran Head near St. Anthony lighthouse during a heavy southerly gale. The vessel became a total wreck, and <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#BF0000" FACE="Arial" >out of 29 persons on board, 28 were rescued. [27 by rocket apparatus]</FONT>.  Communication was established with the second rocket.</div> <div> The <I>Andromeda</I> belonged to Messrs. Black, Moor and Co., London, and was bound from Oregon with 3000 tons of wheat for Falmouth for orders.  The ship was commanded by Captain Deeks, and carried a crew of 26 hands. In addition, there was on board the captain's wife and 7-year-old daughter.  For 116 days of the voyage all went well, and on Friday [5 Feb.] night the <I>Andromeda</I> passed the Lizard and reported "All Well"</div> <bR> <div> A terrific gale from the southward sprang up, and prevented the pilot boat or tugs from leaving Falmouth harbour to take charge of the barque. The gale increased and was accompanied by torrential rain. In Falmouth Bay the <I>Andromeda</I> hove to, [dropped anchors and signalled for a pilot, but none came] and she gradually drifted and crashed into the rocks close to St. Anthony Lighthouse, at the entrance to the harbour. … <B>Falmouth lifeboat found it impossible to get alongside the barque</B>.  The vessel's poop was under the water, <B>crew forced to take to the rigging. </B></div> <div>  </div> <div> <B>Captain Deeks</B> said, owing to war conditions he hoved to, hoping the anchors would hold. Under ordinary conditions if a pilot had not come, he would have attempted to enter harbour, as he had done so many times before.  The ship went ashore at 3.35 a.m. and when he [the last on board] got ashore it was half past eight. He had been <B>23 years at sea, the last 12 years on the </B><I><B>Andromeda</B></I><B>, it was his home and it was the first wreck he had had.  </B></div> <div> The Falmouth lifeboat was summoned about 5.30 a.m., but was unable to complete her crew.  Two men were short, but one volunteer was forthcoming in the person of the Second Mate of the French barque <I>Asniers</I>, and he, curious to relate, thus served in the same lifeboat which effected his own rescue recently [1914] when his vessel went ashore in the harbour.</div> <div> ["<I>It is another, and very pleasing, symbol of the brotherhood between the two nations."</I>]</div> <bR> <div> The <I>Andromeda</I> is the sister ship of the <I>Queen Margaret</I>, which went ashore near <B>Coverack</B> some time ago.  It is an interesting coincidence that the <I>Queen Margaret</I> had her orders for Limerick, and orders were waiting at Falmouth to instruct the <I>Andromeda</I> to proceed to the same port.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> FP 1/6/<B>1934</B>: <B>Little Falmouth Yacht Yard</B></div> <div> Overhauls have been carried out on the <B>Padstow Lifeboat</B> (58 tons) and the <B>St. Mary's Lifeboat</B> (24 tons).</div> <div> A motor ferry boat built for Mr. A. R. Kessel has been completed, and is christened the <I>Miranda II</I>., the ceremony having been performed by Mrs. W.H. Dowman [of Trevissome, wife of the <I>Cutty Sark</I>'s owner Wilfred Harry Dowman] </div> <div> This craft has been built as additional ferry between Flushing and Prince of Wales Pier to Board of Trade regulations to carry 70 persons.</div> <bR> <div> FP 1/6/<B>1934</B>: <B>Ponsharden Shipyard</B>:</div> <div> <B>Overhaul of the following lifeboats</B> have been carried out; <B>Falmouth</B>; <B>Lizard</B>; <B>Port Askaig</B> and <B>Sennen Cov</B>e.  </div> <div> The <B>Fowey</B> lifeboat is due for survey shortly.</div> <div> The above yard has been responsible for fitting out the famous tea clipper <I>Cutty Sark</I>, and also of the 225-ton motor yacht<I> Karen</I>, both owned by Capt. W.H. Dowman of "Trevissome"</div> <div> Craft fitted out or fitting out at the yard include; Motor cruiser <I>Scotia</I>, Capt. W.H. Dowman; Bristol Pilot Cutter WHIMBREL, Mr. F. Bewes;</div> <div> 34-ton Bristol Pilot Cutter, Black Bess, Commander Dennison R.N.</div> <bR> <div> FP 24/8/<B>1934</B>: <B>New Lifeboat - "</B><I><B>Three Sisters</B></I><B>" </B>at<B> Coverack</B></div> <div> The new motor lifeboat the <I>Three Sisters</I> reached Coverack on Friday afternoon, a large number of people witnessing her arrival.  She had a splendid passage from Cowes, which place she left on Tuesday week. </div> <div> On arrival the boat was hauled up the slip and into the boathouse, and at 2.30, again launched, under Superintendent Coxwain W. Corin..... [FP article continues...]</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>