236 KINGSBRIDGE 



such as have distinguished themselves by their bravery in 

 shipwrecks, or on other occasions, on the recommendation 

 of the President of the Board of Trade." 



Mr. Samuel Popplestone, of Start Farm, was the first 

 person to whom this medal was presented; it being given 

 in the presence of the Queen herself, as a mark of appre- 

 ciation of his gallant conduct in saving, at the imminent 

 risk of his own life, the mate and one of the crew of the 

 Spirit of the Ocean, which was wrecked at the Start Point, 

 on the 23rd of March, 1866, when the rest of the crew 

 perished. 



On the day above mentioned, the Spirit of the Ocean 

 was caught in a strong gale from the south-west, and Mr. 

 Popplestone, seeing the danger of the vessel, dispatched 

 messengers to Torcross, and to the Coast-guard for as- 

 sistance ; and then taking a small coil of rope, proceeded 

 along the rocks, and a dangerous sea washed him off whilst 

 endeavouring to obtain communication with the vessel. He, 

 however, by the aid of a returning wave, regained his 

 footing, and from that perilous position succeeded in saving 

 the lives of two persons. For this act, Mr. Popplestone 

 received the decoration of the Albert medal. Shortly after 

 this, subscriptions were collected in the neighbourhood, and 

 a tea service, consisting of a silver teapot, sugar basin, and 

 cream ewer, were procured. The teapot bore the following 

 inscription : — " Presented to S. Popplestone, for heroic 

 conduct, in saving life from the Spirit of the Ocean, 

 wrecked off the Start, March 23, 1866." The presentation 

 took place at the Grammar School, Kingsbridge. 



About a couple of miles from the spot that witnessed 

 the loss of the Spirit of the Ocean, but nearer Prawle 

 Point, the Gossamer, a China tea clipper ship, of 735 tons 



