Lot 3786

Description

Royal Humane Society of Australasia - bronze medal. Stewart Watters 11.6.14. Engraved. Good very fine.

With top brooch bar and in named embossed case of issue. Cases 2933-36: George Gibson, labourer, aged 20; William Gibson, labourer, aged 28; Stewart Watters, ship's captain, aged 52; Lewis Pierce McArthur, agent, aged 37. All of Port Victoria, South Australia. The above risked their lives by going to the rescue of the crew of the schooner 'Albatross' at Port Victoria on 12 March 1913. The schooner had struck the Eclipse Reef at Port Victoria during a fierce gale. The crew burned distress signals, and the four rescuers went out in the teeth of the gale in a 25 foot motor launch with 7« h.p. engines. The heavy sea broke the rudder wires, and after some trouble they got the launch head-on to the sea. On nearing the schooner the crew threw a line, which those on the launch secured at the fourth try, and, after great difficulty, they transhipped four men from the schooner and returned them safely to the jetty.