January, 1843.
On the 5th of January, 1843, James Doran, an able seaman of H.M.S.
'Vanguard,' at Port Mahon, perilled his own life to save that of a
shipmate, in a manner that called forth the admiration of the whole
of the officers and crew of that ship. It blew a violent gale of
wind at N. by E.; the top-masts were struck, and when at its greatest
fury, a man fell overboard who could not swim. James Doran gallantly
dashed into the sea, and succeeded in bringing the poor fellow
alongside, although he was quite dead from the effects of his
submersion.
MR. THOMAS DAVIS, MATE, R.N., AND JOSEPH BRATHWAITE,
SEAMAN, R.N., BANTRY BAY,
January, 1844.
In the month of January, 1844, Her Majesty's steamer 'Flamer' was
lying at anchor in Bantry Bay, when the jolly-boat belonging to that
vessel was capsized through the boys letting go the brails too soon,
while in the act of wearing. The life of one of the boys was saved
through the coolness of Mr. Thomas Davis, mate of the 'Flamer,' who
was in the boat at the time. Instead of swimming for the ship, he
remained with the boy until assistance reached him. Joseph
Brathwaite, sailmaker, seeing the other boy was sinking, instantly
jumped overboard and brought him on board in a senseless state. He
had, on a previous occasion, been the means of saving two lives. It
was blowing very hard at the time, which rendered their services more
difficult.