"On the 16th August, 1890, about 12.30 p.m., two ladies had a narrow
escape from drowning whilst bathing at Tramore, Co. Waterford. Mr. Jas.
Power, who ran out from an adjacent hotel on hearing the alarm, saw a
young man with a life-buoy struggling in the sea about 150 yards from
shore; further out, and fully 250 yards from the beach, two ladies
appeared to be in imminent danger, being rapidly carried out by the
strong ebb tide. Mr. Power first swam to the young man, but finding
that he was unable to swim and could not dispense with the life-buoy, he
turned on his back and towed the man with the life-buoy out to where the
ladies were, and then with the aid of the buoy he brought the three
safely to land. The Silver Medal was voted to Mr. Jas. Power."
[Illustration: JOHN CONNELL.
_From a Photo. by Amey, Landport._]
JOHN CONNELL, Boatman, Coastguard Service.
"About 4 a.m. on the 19th October, 1890, the sailing vessel _Genesta_,
of Grimsby, became stranded on the Yorkshire coast near Withernsea.
Three of the crew were safely landed in the breeches buoy, after
communication had been effected by means of the rocket apparatus, but
one man, who had taken refuge in the crosstrees, was unable from
exhaustion to avail himself of the means afforded. The ship's mate
attempted to get him clear of the rigging, but the man seemed powerless
to help himself, yet equal to holding on tenaciously at his post. In
this position the man was left until John Connell gallantly went off to
the vessel and rescued him at considerable personal risk. The ship was
bumping, and might have gone to pieces at any moment. The weather was so
bad that one man died in the rigging from exhaustion. The Silver Medal
was awarded to John Connell."
[Illustration: CONSTABLE WILLIAM PENNETT.
_From a Photo. by Wright, Whitechapel._]