SAVED AT LAST. 223 



the three of which the strong- rope is composed is severed, when a fearful gust of wind sweeps 

 by, the boat heels over almost on her side a crash is heard, and the mast and sail are blown 

 clean out of the boat ! she is carried straight for the wreck ; the cable is slack, they haul it in 

 as fast as they can, but on they are carried swiftly, as it would seem to certain destruction. 

 " Let them hit the wreck full, and the next wave must throw the boat bodily upon it, and all 

 her crew will be swept at once into the sea ; let them but touch the wreck, and the risk is 

 fearful ; on they are carried, the stem of the boat just grazes the bow of the vessel, they must, 

 be capsized by the bowsprit and entang-led in the wreckage ; some of the crew are ready for a 

 spring into the bowsprit to prolong- their lives a few minutes, the others are all steadily, 

 eagerly, quietly, hauling in upon the cable might and main, as the only chance of safety to the 

 boat and crew ; one moment more and all are gone, one more haul upon the cable, a fathom or 

 so comes in by the run, and at that moment mercifully taughtens and holds, all may yet be 

 safe ! another yard or two and the boat would have been dashed to pieces." This danger over, 

 they have to think of the mast and sail dragging over the side of the boat ; it is with great 

 difficulty that they get them on board, and rig them up once more. At last they sail away 

 from the Sands, the breakers and the wreck. 



And now for the steamer, which at length they reach, passing on the way the lugger 

 Eclipse and the Whitstable smack, to the crews of which they were able to impart the good 

 tidings. When they reached the steamer the sea was raging, and the gale blowing as 

 much as ever, and it was no easy task to get the poor shipwrecked fellows on board, 

 as they were too exhausted to spring up her sides as the opportunity occurred ; and one 

 poor fellow was literally hauled on board with a rope. The return voyage was little less 

 dangerous than the voyage out, but at last the Ramsgate pier-head light shone out with 

 its bright welcome, and cheers broke out from the anxious crowd, as it was known that 

 nineteen men had been saved from a terrible and certain death. The Spanish sailors 

 were well cared for, and their captain, in speaking of the rescue, was almost overcome by 

 his feelings of gratitude and wonder, for he had made up his mind for death. He had a 

 picture made of the rescue to take home with him to show the Spanish authorities. 

 It is gratifying to know that so much bravery did not go unrewarded. The English 

 Board of Control presented each of the men with 2 and a medal, while the Spanish 

 Government gratefully acknowledged the heroic exertions put forth, by granting each a 

 medal and 3. And all the above is but one example of the work of our " Storm 

 Warriors/" whose glorious mission is to save. 



One stormy night some years ago the Aid and the life-boat started from Ramsgate 

 in answer to rockets fired from one of the Goodwin light-vessels. They knew well what 

 it meant, but on reaching the edge of the Sands could not, after cruising about some 

 distance, find any traces of a vessel in distress. They waited till daylight, and then 

 were just able to distinguish the lower mast of a steamer standing out of the water. 

 They made towards it, but found no trace of life, no signs of any floating wreck to 

 which a human being could cling. They were forced to the conclusion that almost 

 immediately upon striking, the vessel must have broken up and sunk in the quicksand. 

 Poor crew ! poor passengers, maybe ! a sharp, sudden death ! Would that the vessel could 

 have held together a little longer ! 



