TheLife-Boat,at Shields.—Its singular Utility evinced by repeated Trials.—
This noted boat, by which, within the course of a few years, many lives and much property have been saved, was built by Mr. Greathead, an able ship-builder, and generously presented to the inhabitants of South Shields by his Grace the Duke of Northumberland, by whose beneficence North Shields has also since been supplied with a boat of a similar construction.
Mr. Fairless, who furnished some useful hints respecting the original plan, describes the vessel “as measuring 30 feet by 10; resembling, inform, a common Greenland boat, only flatter in the bottom. The weight of cork employed in the construction is about 7cwt, with which the boat is lined, inside and outside of the gunnales, two feet in breadth; the seats being also filled with the same: rowed by ten men, double-banked, and steered by one at each end with oars, being alike at both ends, and with a contrivance to prevent sinking in the sand.
“She draws very little water, and can carry twenty persons, even when full of water. Being water-proof, and rendered buoyant by cork, she keeps afloat, preserving her equilibrium without danger of oversetting, and is able to contend against the most tremendous sea, having never in any one instance yet failed of conveying a distressed ship’s crew into safety.
“In going off with her, in the highest seas and broken water, the men testify no dread; and, though cork jackets were provided for them, yet such is their confidence in the boat, that they now refuse to use them.
“Indeed, she has surprised every intelligent seaman that has seen her contend with the boisterous waves. Any farther description I can give,” adds Mr. Fairless, “will not be equal to a view of the model kept at Northumberland House, in London, which, I make no doubt, you may see. Such a vessel ought to be provided with highwheels, to convey it to the place where it is immediately wanted.
“The boat complete, and copper-nailed, cost about 150l.” But, in the moment of distress, what shipwrecked mariner would not think this a cheap purchase, and pronounce the value of such a boat as truly inestimable!