March, 1849.
On the 21st March, 1849, a seaman named Hayes, whilst employed
painting ship at Genoa, fell overboard, and not being able to swim,
would inevitably have been drowned before assistance could have
reached him but for the intrepid and gallant conduct of Commander J.
W. Tarleton, R.N., of H.M.S. 'Vengeance,' who instantly jumped
overboard from his cabin-port and succeeded in saving the poor fellow
from a watery grave, and he was promptly got on board again, to the
delight of all hands. The praiseworthy and noble act obtained for
Commander Tarleton the admiration of every one in the ship.
He had previously received the thanks of the American Government for
his exertions in 1847, when he went to the assistance of the crew of
the U.S. brig 'Somers,' which foundered off the port of Vera Cruz.