This young man, who is at present second engineer of the steam-ship, 'Dido,' belonging to Wilson and Sons, Hull, shall describe his own deliverance. He thus writes:—'About thirty years ago, and when I was about ten years of age, I was on board of a vessel whilst being launched from a ship-yard on the Humber bank. By some means or other a check rope belonging to the vessel broke, and dragged me into the water. There was no means of my being saved but by the noble "Hero," who immediately jumped into the water, with all his clothes on, and brought me to the shore, which was done at a great risk of his own life. I remember, also, that there was immense shouting and cheering, and that a band of musicians who had been playing at the 'launch,' when they saw Mr. Ellerthorpe bearing me ashore, began playing, "See the Conquering Hero comes."—Robert Tether, July 24th, 1867.'
Twenty-first and Twenty-second.—GEORGE EMERSON* AND ANN WISE* (1836.)
Emerson, a porter, was conducting Miss Wise, from the 'Magna Charter,' over a plank, when the plank slipped, and both were precipitated into the water. The wind was blowing very strong, and the river was extremely rough at the time. I had just gone into the cabin to change my clothes, when, hearing such a screaming as I had never before heard, I sprang upon the paddle-box, and saw Emerson, but knew nothing of the woman who had also fallen into the water, and whose mother was uttering the most heart-rending shrieks. I leaped from the paddle-box to save the man, when, to my surprise, I found I had thrown my legs right across the woman's shoulders! Of course my first object now, was to save her. I hastily dragged her to the side of the packet, and having put her hand round a piece of iron, I said to her, 'Now hold fast there, for you are safe.' I then went to a distance in search of Emerson, and having made a rope fast round him, I was able to hold him up with ease. But the shouting was as great as ever, and I thought,—surely there is some one else overboard! The fact was, the people could not see the woman holding by the iron, and in my efforts to save the man, they thought I had forgotten her; hence their wild shouts. The engineer came to the vessel's side and shouted, 'There is the woman yet,' when I replied, 'She's all right, come down to the paddle and take hold of her.' He came and took her out, when she had a basket on her arm and a pair of pattens in her hand, just as when she dropped into the water. She suddenly disappeared from the crowd, and I heard no more of her for seven years. Mr. G. Lee, editor of the 'Rockingham, advertised the case in his paper for several weeks, asking the woman, from sheer gratitude, to let him know her name; but there was no response. When I was master of the 'Ann Scarborough,' sailing between Barton and Hessle, I had to fetch (one Sunday afternoon) a gentleman's carriage from Barton to Hessle. We had scarcely started, when a young woman, who was a passenger, said to me, 'You don't know me, Sir, but I know you.' 'And for what do you know me, something good or bad?' 'O good, Sir; don't you remember jumping overboard and saving my life, at Hull? I shall never forget you, and I have come here on purpose to thank you.' I then told her how we had advertised for her name, but could never hear a word of her, when she said, 'My mother and I were strangers in Hull, and as soon as I had got some dry clothes on, we had to start by coach, for Bridlington.' This woman's brother was gardener for Mr. Graborn, solicitor, Barton, and we afterwards became very intimate friends. I have not heard from Ann Wise for many years, but if she is yet living in any part of England, it would gladden my heart to have one more acknowledgment from her. In relating this case at Temperance meetings, I have sometimes created a little mirth, by remarking, 'I went in search of a man, and lo! and behold, I found a woman.' Witness—Robert Todd.
Twenty-third.—JOHN BAILEY.* (1836.)
He was fourteen years of age, and while playing at the Hull ferry-boat dock, he fell overboard and had a very narrow escape from being drowned. When I first heard the cry, 'A boy overboard,' I was near the Minerva Hotel, and I at once ran to the scene of the disaster. He had been down twice, when I got there, but in a few moments I had hold of him, and brought him ashore, amid the cheers and shouts of hundreds of spectators. I narrowly escaped being drowned. Bailey is now a labouring man in Hull, and I believe the father of a large family. I often meet him, and he always seems glad to see me.
I may here ask, Was it not strange that amongst the hundreds of people who saw this drowning youth, not one was found to render him the least assistance? I do not write boastingly when I say this:—If I could run from the Minerva Hotel to the pier, and save this youth, after he had sank in the water twice, surely those who were near him at the moment when he fell in, might have rendered him some assistance? Indeed some present said, 'We could have swam to him if we had tried.' Then I would ask, 'Why didn't they make a venture?' The conduct of these spectators I regard as being monstrous and unmanly. Englishmen are generally thought to have a fair share of personal courage, but it is nevertheless a fact, that scores of them watched the struggles of this drowning youth, but took care to watch them only from the shore. Can we wonder that hundreds are drowned every year along our coasts, if people act as these spectators did. Witnesses—Joseph Crabtree, John Young.
Twenty-fourth.—RICHARD LISON.* (1836.)
He was a boy, seven years of age, and fell into the Junction dock, Hull. When the alarm was given, I was at the other side of the present ... dock, a great distance from where the boy was, but I ran with all speed over the bridge, and when I got to the drowning child, I found he had sunk the third time, and I thought, O, what shall I do? I went in search of him; I dived here, and I dived there, and at length I found him. A cry of joy was raised by the spectators when they saw me fetch him from a great depth, and then carry him towards the shore, on reaching which, some of them received him, and took him to his mother. I heard no more of him until he had grown to manhood; since then he has manifested the warmest gratitude, and treated me with the utmost kindness and respect. For years he was in the employ of the Hull dock company; I had many opportunities of watching his conduct, and always found him a faithful and trusty servant, doing his duty as well in his master's absence as in his presence. This made me think much of him, and I always felt a deep interest in his welfare. He is now in the employ of Martin, Samuelson and Co., Hull. Witness—John Lundie.
Twenty-fifth.—GEORGE RICKERBY.* (1836.)
He was a youth, and while playing on the east pier, Hull, he fell overboard. I ran a great distance, and in an almost breathless state leaped from a height of fourteen feet, into seven feet depth of water. I had scarcely touched the water, when he clutched me firmly, and dragged me down, again and again, but I was eager to rescue him, and, thank God, I succeeded. He had fallen upon one of the buoys, and cut his head, which bled profusely, and before I got him ashore I thought he was dead. He continued to bleed for some time, and a doctor was sent for. There was great cheering by the spectators as they saw me bearing through the waters, this bleeding, but still living youth, and some ladies and gentlemen, who had been watching me from the Minerva Hotel, threw out of the window, several shillings and half-crown pieces. If my memory serves me rightly, I got £1 10s. I thought myself handsomely rewarded; but what pleased me more was the gratitude of the boy's mother; for I have always considered gratitude the richest reward I could receive: more than grateful thanks for what I had done, this poor woman would have found it difficult to have given me, but most grateful she was, and I felt both satisfied and delighted. But let me explain: On going to see the boy, next morning, I found him very ill in bed, and his mother, thinking I had gone for something for saving her child's life, said, 'I have no money to give you, Sir, but my husband's half-pay will be due in a few days, and I'm sure you shall have half of it.' I replied, 'I'm sure I have not come for anything you have, my good woman, for I never take money from those I save, or from their relatives.' She seemed overwhelmed with grateful feelings, and I had some difficulty in persuading her that I did not want money, and that I would not take it if offered me, and I believe, to this day, that if I had said to her, 'You must give me your eight-days' clock and your chest of drawers,' she would willingly have given them to me there and then. Witness.—Richard Curtis.