A HEROIC RESCUE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10037, 25 January 1896, Page 2 (Supplement)

A HEROIC RESCUE.

Under the date November 10 last, Mr. F. Cecil Lane, of the Royal South Western Yacht Club, writes as follows to tho editor of the Yachtsman :— -May 1 tell your readers (who will, I know, appreciate it) the short story of one of the boldest and bravest deeds I have heard of in the annals of seafaring exploits for some time ? The Aunt Mary, a Plymouth trawler, on Tuesday, the sth inst., buoyed her trawl and warp, and ran for this port, from near the Eddystone, as a gale of freshening force compelled her. In about fifteen minutes after running, her stick and the gear went over her bows, and she drove in as best she could towards the Rame Head. Wind S.W., and sea very heavy. On getting on to the Ledges, she dropped three anchors, but she dragged all day. Toward five o'clock > p.m. (and no one appears to have seen her in the daylight —that is, who had been able to help her desperate condition, except another Plymouth trawler, who has since stated that lie, having hurst his own mainsail, could not bear down) the Aunt Mary burnt flares, and the Brixham ketch trawler Excel, Skipper Harley, who was also bound into Plymouth, went down to the distressed vessel, which was by this time driving ashore between the Mewntone and tne Shagßtone Rocks. Harley sailed the Excel round and round, and made fourteen attempts to get alongside, or to get a warp fast to the Aunt Mary, but was unable to do so. At last, about nine o'clock p.m., it was evident to both crews that a final effort had to bo made, the Aunt Mary being off the Reny'a rocks, with broken water about 40!) or 500 yards to leeward of her stern, and the vessel dragging fast all the time, with the water shoaling, So Harlcy worked the Excel out to windward, and then the Aunt Mary's crew saw that Harley put his helm up. " God help us, Hoys, he s going to run aboard us I" cried the skipper of tne doomed trawler; "'tis death or glory, hoys." And, sure enough, down went the Excel, before wind and sea, with her sheets in, and beautifully steered by Harley, she ran her bowsprint into the quarter of Aunt Mary, giving her a sliding blow. Her crew jumped, whilst both vessels were down in a trough of the sea, and three of the men got aboard the Excel all right, and one clung to Exoel'a bowsprit, and fouled the jib sheets or some gear, from which lie was hauled by one of lixcel's crow at great risk to both of them, Excel now getting clear, worked out of the seething cauldron to leeward of her, around about the Rcny's, and, obtaining an offing, rail for JennyolilF, inside the breakwater, and the tide ebbing and the wind moderating about ten o'clock, the rescued crew were put ashore in tho lixcel's boat. Is not this a deed worthy of record? Does it not stir one's blood? No words of mine, or anyone's, can add honour to these brave Brixhunites. It was truly a fine bit of seamanship, pluck, and dogged perseverance. It was dark, a llsme of wind, no sea room, and on a dead lee-shore, four hours of peril and strenuous endeavour, rewarded by success Justin the nick o'time. I am treasurer for 50s now subscribed at this club to reward these men, and there are three or four other funds started in the town. Therefore we hope to give Harley and his brave crew something to remind them of their gallant conduct on Guy tawkes' Day, 1895. Tho Aunt Mary beoamc " matchwood" during the night on the Reny's, but we hear she was insured fortunately in the Trawlers' Club Fund. , ,