of their number performed in the most daring manner; the fourth seaman (since dead) being hors de combat from his wounds, and the lieutenant himself fainting at the instant from loss of blood. The intrepidity of the three British tars rendered them more than a match for their armed antagonists, whom they speedily overpowered; one of the prisoners leaping overboard and perishing in the waves. Believing their officer to be killed, the seamen, in the excitement of the moment, were about to hurl the surviving prisoners over the gangway, when Lieut. Mansfield, partially reviving, ordered them to be imprisoned, that their wounds should be washed, and that they should be reserved to be dealt with by the authorities at Sierra Leone. 6 On the 1st of September, the Romeo Primero,' the scene of this bloody encounter, entered the port. Lieut. Mansfield, who, since the day of the conflict, had scarcely been able to stir hand or foot, was promptly conveyed to sick-quarters, and for many days his life was entirely despaired of by his medical attendants. The gallant little crew, all wounded, were also looked after in the best manner which skill and sympathy could suggest, but two were soon beyond the reach of human succour; one dying of the direct consequences of his wounds, and the second, of fever, induced by them. After a fortnight of extreme danger on shore, Lieut. Mansfield showed symptoms of recovery, and in the same year received the rank of commander. GALLANT DEEDS. HUMANITY OF LIEUT. BREEN, R.N., H.M.S. GANGES,' Mediterranean, 1850. THAT the seamen of the British Navy are as humane as they are brave, we have numberless examples to prove. The following is one of numerous instances in which they have risked and often sacrificed their lives for the good of others, and should on no account be passed over. As one of the boats of H.M.S. 'Ganges,' forming part of the British fleet in the Piræus, with Lieut. Breen, Mr. Chatfield, midshipman, and 16 men, was returning from the shore, laden with water, she was swamped and turned over just half way between the 'Queen' and the east point of the island of Lypso. Mr. Breen, Mr. Chatfield, and most of the men, immediately struck out for the island, and reached it. The gale increased, and the cold became so intense that their clothes were frozen stiff upon them. In the morning they could see the fleet, but were unable to catch attention by signals. One of the men suffered so much from the cold, that Lieut. Breen generously stripped off his coat and put it on him. As the day closed, most of the men retired into a cave; but Mr. Breen separated himself from the others and was no more On board the Ganges' it was thought that they had not put off from shore; but next night it seen. was known that they had set out, and a boat was sent to search. As it was passing by Lypso at dawn on the third day, the wrecked boat was accidentally descried on the beach. Mr. Chatfield and half-a-dozen men were found in the cave in a torpid state; Mr. Breen was found dead, crouched under a bush, and 10 seamen were missing. There is little doubt that poor Mr. Breen lost his life from his generous act in favour of the suffering seaman. The survivors found in the cave all recovered. GALLANTRY EXHIBITED IN PRESERVING LIFE.- 1860. We have already had to describe the bravery and humanity exhibited by Capt. Wasey on more than one occasion before he attained his present rank; and were it not from his own modesty, we should have mentioned other gallant deeds of his. That gallant officer is now Inspecting Commander of the Coast Guard, at Fleetwood, Lancashire. On the 22nd January, 1860, the schooner Ann Mitchell' went ashore near Fleetwood. A new lifeboat, not long before placed there by the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, was immediately launched, when Capt. Wasey, to encourage the men, went off in her. A strong tide was running in, and a hard gale blowing from the W.N.W. It was night. Stronger and stronger blew the gale, the sea breaking terrifically on the shore and over the hapless vessel. A small steamer was got ready, and took the life-boat in tow. Even thus, but slow way was made in the teeth of the gale, the tide, and the raging sea. Still the steamer persevered. Slowly she gained ground, and at length, having got to windward of the wreck, the tow-rope was cast off, and the boat proceeded alone on her work of mercy. She got within a few yards of the wreck, when a tremendous sea rushing in, struck her and filled her, breaking some of her oars. At that moment it seemed as if the life-boat herself was doomed to destruction. She was but small, pulling but six oars, and scarcely fitted for the arduous work in which she was engaged. Captain Wasey now anchored, and attempted to veer her down to the wreck, but the strong tide running defeated the intention. The anchor being then weighed, another attempt was made to board the vessel to leeward, but a heavy sea striking her, she was thrown over altogether, her masts falling within a few feet of the life-boat, whose brave crew thus narrowly escaped destruction. Again, therefore, Capt. Wasey determined to anchor to windward, and once more to veer down. This time success attended the efforts of the life-boat's crew; lines being thrown on board the wreck, and secured. One of the people from the schooner then threw himself into the sea, and was hauled into the boat; but unhappily the others appeared to be either fearful or unable to follow his example; and from the pitchy darkness, and the noise of the sea and wind, it was impossible to communicate intelligibly with them. Captain Wasey learned from the man saved, that three persons remained; one-the master-had his back hurt; and another-a boy-his leg broken. While endeavouring to carry out their humane purpose, a heavy sea broke over both vessel and boat, carrying away the lines, and sweeping the boat some 300 yards to leeward. Many seamen might have despaired of regaining the wreck, but the men of the life-boat, encouraged by their gallant leader, pulled up once more, in the hopes of saving the poor fellows on the wreck. Great was their disappointment, however, on again getting alongside, to discover that the last heavy sea had washed them all off. Capt. Wasey and his gallant followers having done all that men could do, had at length to return to the shore with one only out of the four people who had formed the crew of the 'Anne Mitchell.' They had been thus occupied for nearly nine hours of a dark winter's night, with untiring exertion and exposure. The life-boat had been launched at 6 P.M., on the 22nd, and did not return to the shore till 2.40 A.M., on the 23rd. Their labours in the cause of humanity were, however, not over for that day. Soon after daylight broke, it was reported to Capt. Wasey that another vessel had apparently sunk on the shoals which surround and extend to a long distance from the port of Fleetwood. Rising without a moment's hesitation, he summoned John Fox, chief boatman of coast-guard, and coxswain of the life-boat, with some other men, and two of his former crew-James Turner and John Aspingal, fishermen. The life-boat was once more afloat, and towel for two hours against a strong tide and heavy sea by the steam-tug, she at length reached the wreck. She proved to be the schooner 'Jane Roper,' of Ulverstone. Her crew, consisting of six men, were in the rigging, crying out for aid. Capt. Wasey and his men happily succeeded in getting them all on board, and in landing them safely at Fleetwood. |