226 THE SEA. 



{Southampton has great natural advantages for communication with the sea. The town 

 is situated on a swelling point of land, bounded by the confluences of the rivers Test and 

 Itchen, and communicating- with the Solent and English Channel by the fine arm of the sea 

 known as Southampton Water, surrounded by charming- scenery, and navigable for the largest 

 steamers. At its mouth is Calshot Castle, a coastguard station at the water's edge, while 

 half-way between that point and the town are the picturesque ruins of Netley Abbey. It 

 has a tidal dock covering- sixteen acres, and several graving and other docks. Consequently, 

 it is the point of departure for the fine vessels of the Peninsular and Oriental line, the 

 Royal Mail (West Indies and Central America), the North German Lloyds', Hamburgh, and 

 Havre steamships for New York, and the Union Line for African ports, besides an infinity 

 of smaller steamships and steamboats for Havre, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Wight. 

 Its inhabitants consider it the Liverpool of the South; and even if this is rather an 

 exaggerated view of the case, it has undoubtedly grown to be one of the principal ports of 

 the kingdom. It ranks fifth in the list.* 



And now for the story of a steamboat which attempted to run away from Southampton on 

 her own account. This strange circumstance occurred some few years ago, and might well have 

 been attended with disastrous results. The steam-tug Belmont was towing out to sea the 

 Walton Hood, a passenger vessel bound for Australia, and after taking her down to the Channel, 

 the sails were set on the ship, and the Belmont proceeded to cast her off, previous to returning to 

 Southampton. In doing so, by some unexplained cause the ship collided with the tug-, striking 

 her with a violent crash, which knocked over her mast and funnel, and threw her upon her 

 side. The shock also had the effect of increasing the activity of the crew, who, one and all, 

 leaped ou board the Walton Hood, leaving their steamer in charge of a dog and two cats. 

 The steam of the Belmont was up, and after a succession of plunges and croakings she righted, 

 and cleared the ship. Tearing away her bulwarks, she took a sweep round and made a bolt for 

 the land. Her fate now appeared inevitable, whilst her strange manoeuvres made her look 

 like an insane vessel, rushing wildly from some pursuer. Her mast and funnel hung over the 

 side, her bulwarks were smashed, and the long tiller was dashing wildly to and fro ; the dog 

 on board was barking, howling, and yelling fiercely, rendering the scene both ludicrous and 

 serious. Something evidently had to be done to save her. The captain and crew, having re- 

 covered their composure, obtained a boat from the ship and started in pursuit. " Pull away, 

 my boys ; give it her ! " was the quick command. "Aye, aye, sir ! " was the ready response, 



* The writer acknowledges his indebtedness to a series of papers entitled " Visits to the Sea Coasts," pub- 

 lished in the Journal of the Shipwrecked Mariners' Society. That noble institution relieved in 1878-9 no less than 

 3,452 shipwrecked persons, by clothing them, and forwarding them to their homes, and in the case of fishermen, 

 helping them to repair damage done in gales, Sec., to their boats and fishing-gear. Seven thousand four hundred and 

 ninety widows of mariners were relieved during that period, while 2,400 receive small annual allowances. A Seamen's 

 Provident Fund is also managed by the Society, to which 50,000 mariners contributed. During the period mentioned 

 above ten gold and silver medals, a handsome sextant, and 25 in money, were awarded for saving fifty-one lives 

 on the high seas or abroad. The society also organised the " Eoyal Alfred Aged Merchant Seamen's Institu- 

 tion," the home of which, at Belvedere, Kent, shelters about 100 poor mariners, and relieves by an out-pension 

 a still larger number. Headers of this work who have been moved by the many tales of peril and heroism under- 

 gone and displayed by seamen and fishermen, will dp well to remember, and remember practically, this worthy 

 and most economically-managed society. 



