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HIGH COURAGE

IRISH LIFEBOATMEN i RESCUE IN FIERCE STORM EIGHT MEN SAVED .FROM SEA. •Seven Irish lifeboatmen recently received medals and a money award for their heroism in what is described as one of the most gallant rescues in lhe history of the service. The Royal Nalionai Lifeboat institution awarded its gold nredal —the Victoria Cross of the lifeboat service—io Coxswain Patrick tSlmey, of .Ballycotton, County Cork, its silver medal to the second coxswain, John Walsh, and lhe motoi-mechanic, Thomas JSiiney, and its bronze medal io each of l*ie oilier lour members of Ihe crew. Ou February 11 these seven men set out in tue Bailycottou lifeboat lo the help of the Haunt's Kock lightship, which had broken away from its moorings with eight men. on board. When the moior-hloboat put out, so tremendous were the seas breaking over the pier that their spray was flying right over the lighthouse lantern, 196 leet h'gh. Tremendous Seas, It took her four hours to reach the lightship. ISiie was repeatedly filled with water, and after each, sea had passed Coxswain Sliney counted his men. One sea knocked down every man on board. The lifeboat found the lightship in a dangerous position, a quarter of a mile from Daunt Kock, and naif a mile from shore. H.ALS. lenedos was standing by. For nine hours lhe lifeboat stood by attempting lo help H.A1.8. leuedos to get tue lightship in tow. 'J hen sye made lor Queenstown for more ropes. At 4.50 next morning sue put °ut again. • H.AI.S. Tenedos then left, and for 25 hours the lifeboat stood by until compelled to put into Queenstown agnin for petrol. She returned to find the Jighlrhip not more than .170 feet from Daunt Kock. She was plunging and veerino- tremendously on her cable, and rolling 0 from 30 to 40 degrees. Hazardous Manoeuvre. The coxswain got wiihin hailing dis* iance, and told the men board to bt ready to jump. Then, alter pumping out oil to calm the waves, he drove lhe lifeboat at full speed alongside. Again and again the lifeboat earned out this hazardous manoeuvre, but there were still two m-en on board the iightsbip. For the sixth time the liteboat raced alongside and the two men were seized and dragged into the lifeboat, injured, but alive. The lifeboat made for Queenstown at 11 p.m. on Feruuary 13, after bai'ing been on the service for 63 hours, .she had been at sea for 49 hours, in bitterly cold weather, with a furious s*ea, lain and sleet. All her crew returned suffering from colds and salt waler burns, and toe coxswain with a poisoned arm. All were utterly exhausted. In 63 hours they had only three hours' sleep.

Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WC19360513.2.78

Bibliographic details

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 112, 13 May 1936, Page 8

Word Count
453

HIGH COURAGE Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 112, 13 May 1936, Page 8

HIGH COURAGE Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 112, 13 May 1936, Page 8

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