The Hero of the Humber Part 7

Lowther, surgeon, accompanied by policeman Green. He soon escaped, without clothes, and, followed along the street by a crowd of people, ran into No. 11, Fish Street, and got into one of Mr. Alc.o.c.k's beds. He was thirty-seven years of age, and had been subject to fits for years, which were often very violent. _Witnesses_--William Turner, William Steadman.

This rescue--the last of a large number that Mr. Ellerthorpe was the honoured instrument of achieving--was witnessed by hundreds of spectators, who were filled with admiration and wonder. These were seen in their countenances and heard in their shouts of applause, as he struggled with this poor unfortunate man. Not only so, but it led the public to raise a subscription for Mr. Ellerthorpe. Two working men, Mr.

William Turner, and Mr. William Steadman, who witnessed the humane and heroic conduct of their fellow townsman, took the initiative, and how hard they worked, and how n.o.bly they accomplished their object, will be seen from our next chapter.

The above list of thirty-nine persons saved by our friend, contains _three little girls_, _fifteen youths_, _six women_, and _fourteen men_, in the strength and vigour of their days; and _one old man_ burdened by the weight of seventy-five years.

They were saved at the following places: (America,) Quebec, _two_; Toronto, _one_; Barton, _one_; Castleford, _one_; Humber Bank, _one_; Burlington Bay, _one_; London, _two_; New Holland, _three_; Hessle, _five_; Hull, _twenty-two_.

These deliverances took place in the following years: 1820, _two_; 1822, _one_; 1824, _one_; 1825, _two_; 1826, _one_; 1828, _two_; 1830, _one_; 1833, _three_; 1834, _three_; 1835, _three_; 1836, _seven_; 1837, _two_; 1843, _one_; 1844, _one_; 1846, _three_; 1849-50, _two_; 1852, _one_; 1854, _one_; 1860, _one_; 1861, _one_.

But though Eaby was the last person our friend actually rescued, his readiness to imperil his own life, that he might save the lives of others, did not expire on that ever memorable occasion. A clergyman called to see him, and amongst other things, said, 'Now Ellerthorpe, your work is done; G.o.d has honoured you above most men, be satisfied; remember the old adage, "the pitcher goes often to the well, but gets broken at last."' Our friend shook his head and said, 'Do you think, Sir, I could see a man overboard and not plunge in after him? No, Sir.'

And though upwards of sixty-one years of age, and suffering acutely at times from his oft exposures in the water and cold, he yet thought as deeply and felt as strongly as ever for his drowning fellow creatures; and on two or three occasions his old zeal rose to furnace heat. In proof of this we give the following extracts from the Hull papers:

[Sidenote: A SAILOR DROWNED.]

A Sailor Drowned.--On Monday last, an inquest was held at the Parliament-street Police-station by Mr. P. F. Thorney, the borough coroner, on view of the body of Thomas Bates, who had been a seaman on board the screw steamer 'Irwell.' On Sat.u.r.day evening, about eight o'clock, the deceased fell from the forecastle deck of the above-named vessel into the Humber Dock lock pit. Mr. John Ellerthorpe, the foreman at the gates, immediately jumped in after him, and though both were taken out within five minutes, by the dock gateman, Bates was p.r.o.nounced to be dead by Mr. Lowther, surgeon, who was summoned to the spot. A verdict of accidental death was returned.--_Hull News, Feb. 14th, 1863._

Respecting this case our friend says, 'Mr. Bates spoke to me in the water, and said, "I shall soon be all right," and I thought he would too. The water was piercingly cold, and I went and changed my clothes, and when I returned to see how the poor man was, Dr. Lowther had p.r.o.nounced him dead. I never felt such a sense of distress as I did at that moment; I did my very best to save him; indeed, Mr. Lowther says, "The man died in an apoplectic fit." It was deeply distressing to see the poor widow, when her husband was p.r.o.nounced dead; she was overcome by the suddenness of the stroke, and Mr. Dale Brown kindly sent her home in a cab. This man, and Ashly Taylor (aged 75 years), are the only instances out of upwards of forty I have rescued, of death taking place in consequence of their being in the water.'

A Man in the Humber Dock.--Yesterday a man, named George Taylor, who is frequently employed in connection with the landing of fish, &c., and who resides in the 'Trippett,' while in a fit fell into the Humber Dock, at the South-west corner, near to where the 'Alster' steam vessel was lying. His fall was seen by some men who were standing near at the time and they at once got some boat-hooks to draw him out. Mr. Ellerthorpe, the foreman of the Humber Dock Bridge, whose humanity and gallantry in saving people from drowning, has won for him the t.i.tle of the 'Hero of the Humber,'

was ready to plunge in after the poor fellow, had he not been readily recovered by the hooks. On being got on sh.o.r.e, he was brought into the Bridge watch-house and properly attended to.

Before recovering he had several fits. He was eventually sent home wrapped in blankets.--_Eastern Morning News_, December 13th, 1866.

Man Overboard.--About two o'clock on Sat.u.r.day, whilst Mr. John Ellerthorpe was busy at the Mytongate Bridge pa.s.sing a vessel through, he heard something splashing in the water, which he thought was a dog. He called out to a lighterman, named George Woola.s.s and another man who were on board of the vessel, to bring a boat and get the animal out. A boat was obtained, and the splashing was found to be caused by a man who had fallen overboard. On getting him out it was found he belonged to one of the fly-boats, and had he remained many seconds more in the water he must have been drowned.--_Hull Advertiser_, March 2nd, 1867.

[Sidenote: HIS EFFORTS IN THE WATCH-HOUSE.]

We have seen in several instances, that our friend, after having rescued the drowning, remained with them until all fears of immediate death were totally dissipated. Indeed his kindly ministrations in the watch-house of the Humber Dock Company, have been scarcely less remarkable than his exploits in saving the drowning from the water. In that room is the 'Royal Humane Society's apparatus for the recovery of persons apparently drowned or dead, accompanied with directions for the proper treatment of such cases.' And there our friend stood for hours together, in his wet clothes, during the piercing cold of winter and the oppressive heat of summer, endeavouring to restore suspended animation. He says, 'I always felt very anxious about those I had rescued, and in dangerous cases generally remained with them until they came round. By remaining in my wet clothes on these occasions I have often seriously damaged my health; but I felt so anxious about them that I often forgot altogether my own wet state. Dr. Henry Gibson says I have seriously injured my const.i.tution by these long exposures in wet clothing, and I am afraid he is right, and that it will shorten my days.'

[Sidenote: A REMARKABLE INSTANCE.]

We give one instance of his ministrations in this watch-house:--

About three o'clock on the morning of July the 23rd, 1865, he suddenly awoke out of a profound sleep, and thought he heard a boy call out, 'There is a man overboard.' He sprang from his bed, threw up the window, but not a person could he see, not a sound could he hear, not a ripple on the water could he discern, to indicate danger. He concluded he had been dreaming, but when about to leave the window he saw one of his fellow workmen running with the grappling iron. The old Spanish proverb says, 'that when a man's house is on fire he does not stay to consider if the shoe pinches,' and so absorbed was our friend by the fear that some one was drowning that, without shoes on his feet, and with nothing but his night shirt to cover him, he ran down stairs, leaped over two chains, thrown across the bridge, and in a few moments he was beside the man with the 'grapplings,' who had also heard the cry but could not tell whence or from whom it had come. The surrounding waters lay calm and undisturbed by a single ripple, and there was nothing to indicate that anyone had sunk. At our friend's request, his companion sprang into a boat, and let down the grappling iron, and, strange to say, brought up Mr. Thomas Hogg, of Ulceby, Lincolnshire. They at first p.r.o.nounced him dead, but after cleansing his mouth and nostrils he was thought to breathe; he was at once taken to the watch-house, where our friend, with fresh anxiety and awakened hope, applied the Royal Humane Society's apparatus, and with complete success. The process was continued till six o'clock, when scores of persons were gathered round the watch-house. The man then said to Mr. Ellerthorpe, 'Come master, it is time you were in your own house; you're not fit to be here amongst all these folks.' It was not till the man thus spoke that our friend was aware of his half-naked state. All did well on this occasion, but Mr. Ellerthorpe's conduct was exceptionally n.o.ble.

[Sidenote: HIS EFFORTS ON BEHALF OF THE BRAVE.]

The last to claim recognition and reward for his own humane and gallant deeds, Mr. Ellerthorpe has ever proved himself the first and foremost in securing them on behalf of others. The following letter, received in answer to an urgent appeal which he made on behalf of an aged and dest.i.tute couple, will ill.u.s.trate what I mean:--

Office of Committee of Privy Council for Trade, Marine Department, _Whitehall, 16th January, 1863_.

Sir,--I am directed by the Lords of the Committee of Privy Council for Trade, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 30th ult., calling attention to the fact that the late Charles Anderson, who lost his life in endeavouring to save the lives of others from shipwreck, has left a father and mother unprovided for, and to inform you that my Lords have this day forwarded to the Receiver of Wreck, at Hull, an order for the amount of five pounds (5) to be paid to the parents of the deceased.

I am, Sir, John Ellerthorpe, Esq., Your obedient servant, Humber Dock Gates, Hull. JAMES BOOTH.

[Sidenote: HIS APPEAL TO THE BOARD OF TRADE.]

In December, of the same year, he made a similar appeal to the Board of Trade, on behalf of some Hull seamen, and received the following answer:--

Board of Trade, Whitehall, _4th February, 1864_.

Sir,--I am instructed by the Lords of the Committee of the Privy Council for Trade to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 16th December last, calling their Lordships' attention to the services rendered on the 4th December, by some fishermen of Hull, to the crew of the schooner 'John Thomas,' of Carnarvon, and I am to inform you in reply, that my Lords have presented the sum of five pounds (5) to be divided amongst the crew of the 'Washer,' as a mark of their appreciation of their gallant conduct, and ten pounds (10) to the owners of the smack as compensation for loss of time, &c.

The Receiver of Wreck has received instructions to pay the above-mentioned sums to the parties in question.

I am, Sir, John Ellerthorpe, Esq., Your obedient Servant, Humber Dock Gates, J. H. FARRER.

Kingston-upon-Hull.

The following letter explains itself:--

Humber Lock Gate, Hull.

_February 17th, 1863._

_To the Secretary of the Royal Humane Society._

Sir,--I take the liberty of addressing you in consequence of an accident having occurred, last week, in the Lock Pit of the Humber Dock Gates, of this town. A man fell from a steamer going out of the Dock, whom I followed into the water in the hope of being able to save his life; but although he was not more than a minute and a half in the water, and he spoke to me when I had hold of him, the surgeon p.r.o.nounced him to be dead when taken to the men's watch-house close by. A similar instance took place about three years ago. I wish to know if, in a case of this kind, a surgeon is justified in p.r.o.nouncing life to be extinct without having previously used the means for restoring suspended animation. We have the Royal Humane Society's apparatus always close at hand, but rarely used. Having the honour to hold the Society's silver medal, as well as its testimonial on vellum, and also a silver medal from the Board of Trade for saving life from drowning on many occasions, I feel much interest in this subject; and I shall feel much obliged if you will give me instructions how to proceed in the event of a similar case taking place. I believe the Royal Humane Society issue printed instructions how to treat cases of suspended animation. If you will send me some of them I shall feel greatly obliged to you.

I am, Sir, with respect, Your obedient servant, JOHN ELLERTHORPE.

Our friend received the following answer:--

Royal Humane Society, Office, No. 4, Trafalgar-square, W.C.

_February 18th, 1863._

Sir,--In reply to your note of the 17th, I beg to say that in the course of ten days or so, I will send some of the instructions issued by this Society for the treatment of those who are apparently dead from drowning, and you can place them in your room.

Of course I am unable to give an opinion as to whether the medical man called in, in the case you refer to, was or was not right, as I am not cognizant of the whole state of the case; but I will suggest that, in all future cases which you may have to treat, you will persevere in your attempts at recovery for at _least_ half-an-hour before you give up the patient as dead.

Yours faithfully, LAMBTON J. H. YOUNG, Mr. J. Ellerthorpe. Secretary.

CHAPTER VIII.

THE HONOURED HERO.

[Sidenote: THE HONOURED HERO.]

No labour is ever lost that seeks to promote the welfare of men. At the outset there may be difficulties and opposition, but patience and perseverance will in the end bring their reward. And if the warrior rejoices in the number of his victories, the patriot in the extension of his country's liberties, the statesman in the success of his peculiar polity, and the philanthropist in the mitigation of human woes, how much purer and stronger must be the joy of the man who has been the means of saving the lives of his fellow-creatures? Alexander, Emperor of Russia, whose armies had won many a victory on the field of battle, once rescued a man from drowning, and he ever afterwards said that _that_ was the happiest day of his life. As no living individual, perhaps, has saved so many lives, on so many separate and distinct occasions, and under equally perilous circ.u.mstances, as our friend, so we may infer that his personal joy was proportionately great. He always did his best to save human life, having made that one of the chief objects of his existence, and he reaped a rich recompense. He says, 'I always thought it as much my duty to try and save the drowning, as it was their duty to try and save themselves; and I always felt myself amply recompensed, and highly satisfied, when I got them out of the water and saw they were all right.

Physically, I often felt much exhausted by the efforts I had made, and could eat no food, nor could I take rest, for hours after rescuing the drowning. But I was filled with a pleasure I could not describe; sometimes my feelings found vent in tears, and at other times in loud and hearty laughter; and when questioned as to my feelings, I could only say, "I can't tell you how I feel." I had this thought and feeling running through me, throbbing within me, "I have saved a fellow creature from drowning." And that imparted to me a happiness which no amount of money, and no decorations of honour, could have given me; a happiness which no man can conceive, far less describe, unless he has himself s.n.a.t.c.hed a fellow creature from a watery grave.'

[Sidenote: HIS PERSONAL JOY.]

[Sidenote: THE GRAt.i.tUDE OF THOSE WHOM HE RESCUED.]

Our friend also reaped a rich reward in the grat.i.tude of many whom he had the pleasure of saving. And we have seen that he could receive no higher gratification than this. King Charles, the First, had such an unhappy manner that, even in granting a favour, he often grieved those whom he obliged. And we know that almost as much depends upon the manner of doing a kindness, as upon the act itself. Indeed, in some instances, even a frank and positive refusal will give less pain than an ungracious and grudgingly bestowed favour. Now, we hesitate not to say that, what Mr. Ellerthorpe did, was kindly and generously done. And he always felt that the cheers of the mult.i.tude as he bore the rescued to the sh.o.r.e, and the spontaneous thanks of those whom he had saved, surpa.s.sed in value any tribute of money which could have been placed in his hands.

Wordsworth, referring to the overflowing grat.i.tude which had gone beyond the worth of the trivial favours bestowed, says: