Few boats have been the means of saving more lives from destruction than
that of the lifeboat belonging to Lowestoft, on the Suffolk coast. We
will mention a few instances to show the way in which the seamen and
boatmen of that place have risked their lives for the sake of those of
their fellow-creatures. On the 26th of October 1859, the schooner _Lord
Douglas_ parted from her anchors in a heavy gale from the south, and
foundered off the village of Carton, on the Suffolk coast; the crew, as
she went down, climbing into the rigging, where they lashed themselves.
The Lowestoft lifeboat proceeded under sail to the spot, and, having
anchored to windward of the wrecked vessel, succeeded in getting lines
down to the crew, who were then drawn from the masts safely on board,
and were landed at Carton. So heavy was the gale, that she split her
foresail in the service. Scarcely had the lifeboat returned from saving
the crew of the _Lord Douglas_, than another schooner, though lying with
three anchors ahead, drove ashore at Carton. A foresail was borrowed,
and the lifeboat again started on her mission of mercy. She reached the
vessel under sail, and happily succeeded in rescuing all the crew; but
having split her borrowed sail, she was compelled to run in for Yarmouth
beach. Here the shipwrecked crew were hospitably received at the
Sailors' Home.
Again, on the 1st of November, the screw-steamer _Shamrock_, of Dublin,
ran on shore on the Holme Sand during a heavy gale from the south-west.
As soon as the position of the unfortunate vessel was discovered, the
lifeboat was launched, and proceeded under sail to the spot. The sea
was breaking fearfully over the mast-head of the steamer, repeatedly
filling the lifeboat. To increase the danger, an expanse of shoal-water
lay close to leeward of the wreck, so that had the lifeboat's cable
parted, her destruction and that of her crew might have followed. Fully
aware of the risk they ran, they persevered, as brave men will, in spite
of danger to themselves; and, sending lines on board the wreck, the
whole crew, not without considerable difficulty, were hauled on board.