MAN THE LIFE BOAT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 4, Issue 1093, 7 June 1882, Page 3

MAN THE LIFE BOAT.

The London Time's reports that Dr Pierco, Denbighshire Coroner, held an inquest on the 4th February;, on the bodies of Richard Hughes aiid Thomas Williams, who were drowned on the coast near Colwyn, through the wreck of the fllonp Hecla. The captain, who swam ashore, blamed the crow of the life-boat at Liandulas for not puttiug out, The coroner, in summing up the jury, very warmly consurod tne life-boat crew. Tho Hocln, ho pointod out, ran aahoro in broad daylight at a point about half-a milo from the life-boat station, The men who wero drowned were clinging to tho rigging upwards of two houis, and although tho wreck was about fifty yards from tke shore, no attempt was niacin to rescue them. Ho stigmatised the iife boat crew as being nothing better than fair weather sailors, who in tho present instarico} had aoted in an unworthy, cowardly and unmanly way. The Llandulns lifeboat was, in tho hands of such men,, nothing better than a washing tub, and he regret led .that ho had no power to commit the orew on a charge of manslaughter. The affair has created great excitement in the distriot, ; and is to be formally brought under the notice of the National Lifeboat Institution,.