August, 1837.
On the 5th August, 1837, H.M.S. 'Rodney' was on her passage from
Palmas Bay (Sardinia) to Minorca, when a seaman, named James Ray,
fell from the maintop-sail yard-arm into the sea. On the cry being
raised of "A man overboard!" Mr. F. H. Stevens, mate, seeing the man
floating past the quarter in a state of insensibility, without
waiting to take off his clothes, jumped overboard, and by great
exertion, kept him above water until the boat reached them.