LINES ON THE FATAL DISASTER AT TIMARU HARBOUR, 14th MAY, 1882.

Temuka Leader, Issue 9413, 1 June 1882, Page 3

LINES ON THE FATAL DISASTER AT TIMARU HARBOUR, 14th MAY, 1882.

When the Benvenue arid" the * City of Perth were abandoned by their crews. Captain Mills, then Harbormaster, with his brave crew put off from the shore to try and save the City of Perth, when other boats followed, -and on returning from the ship the boats were swampad Toll for the brave ! The brave that are no more ! All sunk beneath the wave Fast by Timaru shore. 'Sev'n of tlie brave—- , :, Whose, ,courage, well.wastried— To face the foaming wave They are gone. Toll for the brave, Whose courage well was tried. Brave Mills is gone— His last brave action done. It was not in the battle— The tempest gave the shock Which o'erturned the boat, . When , to the ; resctje wrought.,,, v He manly said "'bout ship," And to his comrades sped.; , -. ..'•< When, lo ! a sudden sea , - -O'erturned hie tiny craft. ..s, t .,:| ■ Then what anxious'minutes For them poor drowning men ; To the'rescue-sped the lifeboat (In haste through the-'Waters flew). Man the lifeboat! Man the lifeboat! > See ! they arc tempest, tossed ; ->< ■: • ' ;Man the lifeboat ! Man the lifeboat ! Or they will be all lost. , ~.-„' t ■•■' : ..'."'C • O'erturned by the stormy billows, Not hurricane, -but waveir ■ '?■ "(' • Overwhelmed the lifeboat, With keel uppermost.'; jj"' ; '' ou Closely clinging - , they, ''*' s tli f pnf niJuod To the keel; when,; lo ! she'srigllted (The lifeboat). While on, the shore- >v ; .>;'''; 'tooli Hundreds of I townsmen sland (No aid can they render) Wringing each pther'gihanda.:'.-": Toll for the brave. They come, and he commands the boat, "Of the breakwater take care ;" Nearly the last words are spoken— Farewell 1 Captain Mills, Farewell 1 Three hearty cheers they gave him ; When he was carried on shore, Little did they think They would never see him more, Jesus, lover.:of my soul,; ! ; :«' ; - a '• J,u Lei me vto> Thy bosom fly; tl " ;!; f While the tempest still is high. He's gone out of his troubles,. To be with his God above, Where his friends will soon meet him; Farewell, then to the brave. See! see ! the streets are thronged ; Hark to to the muffled drum ! Hark to the minute gun ! See th? cortege is coming To bear himitpihls^long^Jpngilio'tti^^ ' See the thrown j U . On his earthly tomb. ~,; ~,,,_ \. i;;i) .•-;! By his.brpther By whom he was beloved. ; The thousands who did follow, BO A\: All, all do testify To his greatheartedness and l abiKty. : Then toll for tie brave . Who lie. in the silent tomb, For we no more shall greet him Till the-resurrection, morn. -,-.,; •;. '.'".■"'""'■ , '."■"■.:.'.:!/.., w.t..n.,>.'