A NIGHT IN THE GULL LIGHTSHIP, OFF THE GOODWIN SANDS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 125, 30 June 1870, Page 7

A NIGHT IN THE GULL LIGHTSHIP, OFF THE GOODWIN SANDS.

BY MR. B. M. BALLANTYNR (From the Edinburgh " Scotsman.") Eamsgate, March 26, 1870. The eye-witness of a battle from an unusual point of view may, without presumption, believe that he has something interesting to tell. I therefore send you an account of what I saw in the Gull lightship, off the Goodwin Sands, when the Germans, of Bremen, was wrecked on the South-sand Head. Having been an inhabitant of the Gull lightship for a week,, and cut off from communication with the shore for several days, I have been unable to write soonei\ Our never-ending warfare with the storm is well known. Here is one specimen of the manner in which it is carried on. A little before midnight on Thursday last (the 24th), while I was rolling uneasily in my " bunk," contending with sleep and sea-sickness, and moralising on the madness of those who choose "the sea" for a profession, I was roused — and sickness instantly cured — by the watch on deck suddenly shouting down the hatclvway to the mate, " Sonth-sand Head light is firing, Sir, and sending up rockets.". The mate sprang from his " bunk," and was on the cabin floor before the sentence was finished. I followed suit, and pulled on coat, nether garments, aud shoes, as if my life depended on my own speed. There was unusual need for clothing for the night was bitterly cold. A coat of ice had formed even on the salt-water spray which had blown into the boats. On gaining the deck, we found the two men on duty actively at work — the one loading the lee gun, the other adjusting a rocket to its stick. A few hurried questions from the mate elicited all that was needful to know. The flash of a gun from the South-sand Head lightship, about six miles distant, had been seen, followed by a rocket, indicating that a vessel had got upon the fatal Goodwins. While the men spoke, I saw the bright flash of another gun, but heard no report — owing to the gale carrying the sound to leeward. A rocket followed, and at the same moment we observed the light of the vessel in distress just on the southern tail of the Sands. By this time our gun was charged, and the rocket in position. " Look alive, Jack, get the poker," cried the mate, as he primed the gun. Jack dived down the companion hatch, and, in another moment, returned with a redhot poker, which the mate had thrust into the cabin fire at the first alarm. Jack applied it in quick succession to the gun and the rocket. A blinding flash and deafening crash were followed by the whiz of the rocket as it sprang with a magnificent curve far away into the surrounding darkness. This was our answer to the South-sand Head light, which, having fired three guns and three rockets to attract our attention, now ceased, firing. It was also our note of warning to the look-out on the pier of Ramsgate Harbour. " That's a beauty," said our mate, referring to the rocket ; "get up another, Jack, sponge her well out, Jacobs, we'll give 'em another shot in a few minutes." Loud and clear were both our signals, but four and a-half miles of distance and a fresh gale neutralised their influence. The look-out did not see them. In less than five minutes, the gun and rocket were fired again. Still no answering signal came from Ramsgate. " Load the weather gun," said the mate. Jacobs obeyed, and I sought shelter under the lee of the weather bulwarks, for the wind appeared to be composed of pen-knives and needles. Our third gun thundered forth, and shook the lightship from stem to stern ; but the rocket struck the rigging and made a low wavering flight. Another was therefore sent up, but it had scarcely cut its bright line across the sky when we observed the answering signal — -a rocket from Ramsgate Pier. That's all right now, Sir, our work is done," said the mate, as he went below, and, divesting himself of his outer garments, quietly turned in, while the watch, having sponged out and recovered the gun, resumed their active perambulation of the deck. I confess that I felt somewhat disappointed at this sudden termination of the noise and excitement ! I was told that the Ramsgate lifeboat could not well be out in less than an hour. It seemed to my excited spirit a terrible thing that human lives should be kept so long in jeopardy, and, of course, I began to think, " Is it not possible to prevent this delay!" Bat excited spirits are not always the best judges of such matters—^-although they have an irresistible tendency to judge. There was nothing for it, however, but patience, so I turned in " all standing," as the sailors have it, wit'n orders that I should be called when the lights of the tup; should come in sight. It seemed but a few minutes after, when the voice of the watch was again heard shouting hastily — " Lifeboat close alongside, sir. Didn't see it till this moment. She carries no lights." I bounced out, and, minus coat, hat, and shoes, scrambled on deck just in time to see the Broadstairs lifeboat rush past us before the gale. She was close under our stern, and rendered spectrally visible by the light of our lantern. " What av a . you firing for ?" shouted the coxswain of the boat. " Ship on the sands, bearing south,"

replied Jack, at the full pitch of his stentorian voice. The boat did not pause. It passed with a magnificent msh into darknesss. The reply had been heard, and the lifeboat shot straight as an arrow to the rescue. We often hear and read of such scenes, but vision is necessary to enable one to realise the full import of all that goes on. A strange thrill ran through me as I saw the familar blue-and- white boat leaping over the foaming billows. Often had I seen it in model, and in quiescence in its boat-house — ponderous and ungainly — but now I saw it, for the first time, endued with life. So, I fancy, warriors might speak of our heavy cavalry as we see them in barracks and as they saw them in Alma. Again all was silent and unexciting on board of the G-ull. I went shivering below, with exalted notions of the courage and endurance of lifeboat men. Soon after, the watch once more shouted, "Tug's in sight, sir ;" and once again, the mate and I went on deck. On this occasion, the tug Aid had made a mistake. Some one on shore had reported that the guns and rockets had been seen flashing from the Gull and JS T orth-sanA-Head lightships, whereas the report should have been from the G-ull and /SW/i-sand-liead vessels. The single word was all important. It involved an unnecessary run of about twelve miles, and an hour and a-half loss of time. But we mention this merely as a fact, not as a complaint. Accidents will happen. The Ramsgate lifeboat service is admirably regulated, and for once that an error of this kind can be pointed out, we can point to dozens — ay, hundreds — of cases in which the steamer and lifeboat have gone straight as the crow flies to the rescue, and have done good service on occasions when all other lifeboats wou|d have failed, so great is the value of steam in such matters. On this occasion, however, the tug appeared late on the scene, and hailed us. When the true state of the case was ascertained, the course was directed aright, and full steam let on. The Rauisgate lifeboat Bradford was in tow far astern. As she passed us the brief questions and answers were repeated for the benefit of the coxswain of the boat. I observed that every man in the boat lay flat on the thwarts except thet coxswain. No wonder. It is not an easy matter to bit up in a gale of Avind, with freezing spray, and sometimes green seas sweeping over one. They were, doubtless, wide awake and listening ; but, as far as vision went, that boat was manned by ten oilskin coats and sou-westers. A few seconds took them out of sight ; and thus, as far as the G-ull lightship was concerned, the drama ended. There was no possibility of our ascertaining more, at least during that night, for whatever might be the result of these efforts, the floating lights had no chance of hearing of them until the next visit of their tender. I was therefore obliged to turn in once more, at 3 a.m. Next forenoon we saw the wreck, bottom up, high on the Goodwin Sands. On Friday morning, the Alert — tender to the lightships of this district, under command of the Trinity Superintendent, Captain Vaile — came off to us, and we learned the name of the vessel, that she was a total wreck, and that the crew seven men, had taken to their boat, and siiccedccl in reaching the Sonth-sand Head lightship, whence they were almost immediately after taken by the Deal lifeboat, and safely landed at Deal. It is to be carefully observed here that although in this case much energy was expended unnecessarily, it does not follow that it is often so expended. Often — too often — all the force of lifeboat service on this coast is insufficient to meet the demauds on ib. The crews of the various boats in the vicinity of the Goodwin Sands are frequently called out more than once in a night, and they are sometimes out all night, visiting various wrecks in succession. In all this work the value of the steam-tug is very conspicuous; for it can tow its boat again and again to windward, and renew the efforts to save life in cases where, unaided, lifeboats would be compelled to give in. Embarking in the Alert, I sailed round the wreck at low water, and observed that the Deal luggers were swarming round her like flics — the crew stripping he bottom of copper and saving her stores, while, apparently, hundreds of men were busy upon her deck dismantling her shattered hull. This, after all, is but an insignficant episode of wreck on the Goodwins. Many wrecks there are, every year, much more worthy of record, but this is sufficient to give a general idea of the manner in which our great war with the storm is conducted — the promptitude with which relief is rendered, and the energy with which our brave seamen are ready to imperil their lives almost every night, all round the coast, and all the year round.

The "Nelson Mail" states that in reply to an enquiry as to how his property at Westport was affected by the encroachment of the sea, a gentleman in Nelson has received tlxe following highly satisfactory information: — " No 33 is an amphibious section ; Nos 902, 903, and 905 — Bi eakers on the surface ; 919 and 929 — Navigable by ocean steamers.