Rescue of The John Martin
At 8:00 on November 9, 1859, the Hungarian spotted a vessel in distress in a strong northerly gale and high seas off the edge of the Newfoundland Banks. A crew of 7 men (including the Chief Officer Hardie and 3rd Officer Porter) were lowered into a lifeboat, and headed to the vessel. Upon arriving within shouting range, they were told the ship was the British schooner John Martin, which also carried the rescued crew of another schooner wrecked off Labrador. The sinking John Martin was abandoned by its 43 passengers, including 23 women and children. Chief Officer Hardie was knocked overboard while helping passengers into the Hungarian. He could not swim, but hauled himself aboard via rope, and survived the ordeal.
Hungarian headed for St. John's and arrived on the morning of the November 10. Each member of the Hungarian's crew that had helped in the lifeboat was given a party by the passengers of the trip, and also received a silver cup for their heroic act.
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Famous quotes containing the word rescue:
“To rescue our children we will have to let them save us from the power we embody: we will have to trust the very difference that they forever personify. And we will have to allow them the choice, without fear of death: that they may come and do likewise or that they may come and that we will follow them, that a little child will lead us back to the child we will always be, vulnerable and wanting and hurting for love and for beauty.”
—June Jordan (b. 1939)