BY SHEER STRENGTH.
During the terrific storm which spread such destruction over a large
area of the United Kingdom in October 1889, a vessel was seen to be
labouring heavily, and showing signals of distress, some two or three
miles off the coast of Merionethshire. As she was rapidly drifting
towards a very dangerous reef of rocks, the Aberystwyth lifeboatmen were
speedily summoned. The tide was low at the time, and great difficulty
was experienced in getting the boat to the water's edge. Several times
she stuck in the soft sand, and the united exertions of the lifeboatmen
could not move her forward a single inch. Plenty of willing helpers,
however, were at hand, and after much labour and loss of valuable time,
the boat was at length pushed into the sea on her carriage, and the crew
took their places.
To avoid being blown on the rocks the men found it was necessary to row
out for a considerable distance. The oars were manned, and the helpers
eagerly waited for the word of command from the coxswain to let her go.
The order was given; but here a fresh obstacle presented itself. The
waves were rolling inshore with such fury that the greatest exertions of
the boatmen failed to get her off, and notwithstanding the fact that
scores of men went into the water till the waves broke over their heads,
a considerable time passed before the boat could be got clear of her
carriage and set afloat. Then the crew began a struggle against wind
and waves, the like of which had not been seen for nine years, when one
of the boatmen lost his life through exposure.
The men tugged at the oars with all their might, and seemed to be
gaining slowly; but after they had been rowing for an hour they found
themselves just where they started. Great white seas broke over the
boat, drenching the men to the skin, and carrying her back towards the
shore. Again and again the struggle was renewed, and again and again
the boat was carried back on the crests of the waves. Sometimes the boat
would be thrown on end, in an almost perpendicular position, and then
fall into the trough of the sea and disappear.
For two hours the struggle against the angry sea and the fierce wind was
kept up. During that time six oars were broken, and several times the
boat narrowly escaped being upset. Then three huge rollers came in
quick succession and carried the boat into the comparatively smooth
water near the pier. She was brought alongside the landing-stage, and
more oars and five additional men were taken on board.
As soon as the extra men were put in their places, another attempt was
made to get the boat out to sea. The wind still blew with unabated
force, and sea after sea broke over the little vessel. Slowly but
steadily she made headway, and though she was often lost to sight in the
trough of the sea, or buried in spray, she at length gained a point
where the coxswain thought it was safe to hoist the sail. This was
done, and away sped the lifeboat after the retreating vessel.
On getting alongside it was found that she was an American ship, and
though terribly battered she was still holding on to her anchors. Two
of the lifeboatmen were put on board to assist in navigating her, and,
at the request of the captain, the boat remained alongside for some
time, in order to be in readiness to save the crew in the event of the
cables parting. While she was in this position an immense wave dashed
right into the lifeboat, and three of the crew were swept overboard.
They were afterwards picked up in a very exhausted condition.
Seeing that their services were not now required, the lifeboatmen cast
off from the wreck and made for home, which was reached shortly before
midnight. Their undaunted spirit won for them the admiration of the
thousands of spectators who had watched their battle with the storm, and
the owners of the vessel, wishing to show their appreciation of the
crew's services, sent the sum of L30 "to be divided among the men as
some slight recognition of their gallant conduct."