A Story of Heroism

Feilding Star, Volume XIII, Issue 103, 27 February 1892, Page 4

A Story of Heroism

The rescue by the New Brighton and Liverpool lifeboats of the captain and crew of the barque Hannah Landles, wrecked in the gale of December 9, is a splendid story of human courage and perseverance. The New Brighton boat, with her crew of 16 men, was towed out by a tug, the sea running very high at the time, with a great gale blowing from tho north.. After three liours' fruitless efforts, in darkness so complete that lhey could see nothing but the lights of the labouring vessel, the lifeboat's crew succeeded about midnight, in anchoring under her stem, where all aboard appeared to have mustered, Rising and falling continually with the sea, it was only when the lifeboat was on the high crest of a wave that there was a chance of affording succour. Then it was that a man from above, seizing the moment, chopped and was caught m tbe arms of two lifeboat-men below. This perilous process went on for half an hour, till passengers, crew, pilot, and captain, in all 25 persons, were taken in, Still the lifeboat lingered, though the masts of the barque were badly sprung, aud were expected to go over every moment. Finally after half an hour, the cry went up, " Any more aboard ?" and there being no answer, the lifeboat-men raised their anchor, when to their grief a voice was faintly heard amidst the howling wind and darkness. Some thought the words were "Goodnight;" others that they were "Don't leave us." Luckily the Liverpool lifeboat No. 2, towed out to the scene in like manner, now came to their relief ; but the New Brighton boat Still continued to hover about until she learnt that her comrade had succeeded, and gallantly completed the work of rescuing all aboard the unfortunate vessel.