'Have you not succeeded yet?
Try, try again.'
and we did try again; and after trying many ways but in vain, we put the tow-rope on board, and running our packet at full speed, off the vessel came. All this time there was no person on board except the captain's wife and her children. So I put them ashore, and went on board the vessel myself, and let go the anchor. Now, I did not know who the woman was until she offered me a sum of money, for what I had done. I told her I did not want aught, and that she was heartily welcome to the timely service I had rendered her. She then said—and I shall never forget it—'Mr. Ellerthorpe, you don't seem to know who I am?' I said, 'No, I don't;' when, to my surprise, she answered, 'I am that little girl, Jane Gough, whom you saved from drowning in Hessle harbour.' My feelings were indescribably pleasant and joyous. Witnesses—Jane Shaw, John Gough.
Thirtieth.—WILLIAM TURNER. (1844.)
This deliverance took place one dark night, when we were rounding Flambro Head, and while a strong wind was blowing and a heavy sea rolling. Turner, while doing something at the main sheet, fell over the vessel's side. I caught him, and got him on board, with a quickness that has always surprised me. Mr. Turner, who is at present foreman of the Humber Dock Company, Wharfage department, thus writes:—'I am one of the persons whom Mr. Ellerthorpe has saved from a watery grave. In the year 1844, and during a voyage from Scarborough to Hull, in the yacht, "Gossamer," I fell overboard while crossing Burlington Bay. He sprang to my assistance and saved me, otherwise I should have been drowned. I remember also, when coming over the Humber Dock Bridge, one night, about nine o'clock, I saw an old lady fall from a height of about twenty feet, into the lock-pit. Soon after I heard a tremendous splash, and to my surprise, I found it was "Our Hero," who had plunged his carcase into the lock to rescue the old lady from her perilous position, which he did manfully. I also saw him rescue John Eaby. In the great and terrible struggle which took place in the water, Mr. Ellerthorpe bore up with the greatest coolness imaginable, although at a great risk of losing his life.—William Turner.'
Thirty-first.—JOHN ELLERTHORPE. (1846.)
He was my son, and first-born child. Mr. G. Lee, the gentleman who first gave me employment in connection with the Hull Dock Company, had engaged me to teach his son the art of swimming. We went to the Stone Ferry Baths, for that purpose, and wishful that my own sons should learn this invaluable art, I took John with us. When we got to the baths, I found the water was too warm to bathe in, so Mr. Lee and myself went into one of the adjoining rooms and had a long conversation about swimming, while the two boys were left behind. At length I went to test the temperature of the water, it was remarkably clear, and, to my horror, I saw my son prostrate at the bottom of the bath! My feelings can be better imagined than described. Instantly, and without either throwing off a single garment or putting my watch from my pocket, I plunged into the bath and brought him up. He was full of water, and frothed at the mouth, and was very ill for a long time after. Witness—Mr. G. B. Lee, Jun.
Thirty-second.—THOMAS ROBINSON.* (1846.)
He belonged to a schooner, lying in the Junction Dock, Hull. I was walking near the dock, when I saw a great many people running from every direction, and was soon told that a man had fallen overboard. I ran to the spot, and for some time I could not ascertain the nature of the case. At length the captain of the schooner, said, 'He went down close to the vessel, and has been seen twice.' Instantly I dived to the bottom of the dock, but could not see him. I swam to and fro for some time, and at last saw him under the vessel; he seemed quite dead, but I seized him and brought him up. They were busy with the grappling irons, but as he was under the vessel, the probability is he would never have been got out of the water alive. I went home and got some dry clothes on, and when I returned and inquired how he was, I was told he rapidly recovered. I have never seen this young man, or heard a word of him from that day to the present. He was a sailor, and may have been in Hull since then, but if he has, he never made himself known to me. Witnesses—John Moody, John Kidd.
Thirty-third.—WATSON.* (1846.)
While going on the Humber bank, to Hessle, I passed some youths who were bathing, but took little or no notice of them until I had got about 300 yards past them, when I saw some men running from a field close by, and heard a youth call out, 'A boy is drowning.' I ran back, and swam to the lad, and soon brought him out and laid him on the bank. I drank a glass of grog and smoked a pipe, and then returned to Hull, for a change of raiment. I caught a severe cold on this occasion, for I had got half way to Hessle when I saved this boy, and had on my wet clothes for nearly three hours. I have never, that I am aware of, seen that boy since. Nor am I quite certain about his name; some one said they called him Watson; but a man who saw me save him told me he would let me know the boy's right name, but he never did. Somebody disputed my saving the lad, so I got a paper signed by a man who witnessed the whole affair, and whose name was Johnson. Witness—Mr. Johnson.