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. PERSONAL MEMORIES OF THE…

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PERSONAL MEMORIES OF THE OLD I COXSWAIN. One who Knew Him" write.s :-What will Port Eynon be without Billy? It :s hard to realise, but it is a cruel fact. Billy has gone-in company of two of hi-s brave crw-whi1 trying to succour distressed human beings; gÜJle, I believe, in the "ay he would liavo chosen to go. I am one of those who could claim Billy Gibbs as a close fÚend-of whom he had a large number. Tn fact, I have yet to meet the man. woman, or child who krow Billy and did not claim him zs a mend. BillyV friendships seemed to be so to speak, in circles, inner and outer. His inner or cloijer friends were those whom he admitted to a great extent to his confidences and to his comfortable and bachelor ifreside. I was one of those, and his memory shall always be cherished by me. I cannot sav whon I first, knew Billy. My acquaintanceship with him com- menced almost as soon as I began to brave the sea. and that is many years ago. In my juvenile mind he was the man who knew how to do things, and did them. Though crippled in limb, his activity and smartness on tho water and in the water was marvellous. He had the spirit and heart of a lion. His character was such as to instinc- tiveiy command respect. No one ever heard of Bill doing a mean or shady thing, but on the contrary he seemed ever on the look out to advise and assist any- body whf1 required his services. My ideal I of a holiday was to go in. my boat to Porteynon, spending some days and nights there I was perfectly aware that there was considerable risk in the undertaking, but the comforting thought was: "Billy is there, and he'll see me right." Photo byj [Chapman. I *<Snty"G!bb5. | Ha frequently warned me of the danger to the boat in leaving her ??t anchor just off the harbour, and would often insist upon taking her into the little berth, making her even more secure than he did I his own craft. It. was after some years tliat his warn- ing to me came true. Caught in a heavy easterly gale, my boat parted her chain and went ashoro on the rocks at low- water just under the lifeooat house. Billy, at considerable risk to himself, and with the assistance of the visitors got everything ashore that was liable to da.mage from the SM. while the boat was pounding on the rocks, and then, to save her being thrown in over the rocks scuffced her to keep her quiet. When the tide receded/ Billy was there, and with some help got her patched up and floated into harbour next tide. With- out Billy, I'd have had some cartloads of firewood. I asked Billy how much I owed him. That, was the only occasion upon "h1011 I saw Billy in a bad temper. He was one of the most modest and un- assuming men I've ever met. I recall a time some yesrs ago "when, with his previous sailing- boat he saved a number of people from grave danger. Billy did it, but. in the published reports he was scarcely mentioned, while the credit was placed to another's account. I, with a local gentlen'.an who also knew the facts, .? o 1,-rew the fac, -rq, pressed Billy to allow ns to publish the true account "No," said he, "it might do he\some good, and it don't hurt me." Yes, Billy h,'li! a noble character. He was always brave in the face of danger, and kept his nerve. Here's an instance. He left Porteynon early one morning in his boat to go to tho Worm's Head fer a da.y's fishing. A-fter clearing the point, he went into his little forecastle for the purpose of light- ing the stove t,, boil water for tea. The onlv entrance through a small hatch on deck, the cover being hinged on the fore and aft line. When open the cover leaned back against the mast, nearly up- right. He had just got his kettle on the etove. when the boat gave a bit of a lurch, and the cover fell, throwing the asp down over tho staole, and Billy was effectively trapped. To giTe the story in his own words. My firt thoubt was which way is the bo;it casting—off towards the Helwicks or ashore on the rocks? for there was a nasiv sea running. Then how to zet out. I got on my back under the hatch, and tried to kick it un. T could'do nothing. Then I remembered there was a1)re anchor forward; I tried that, but there was no room to get a good blow. By this time the sweat was running off me like rain. and the smoke from the old lamp was chokinsr me. I nearly gave up, and said: My time is come, and I'm to be drowned like a rat in a trap.' Just then the stock- fen awav from the anchor, snd this being shorter, I had another go, and after a bit j got a hole through, which enabled me to lift the asi). When I came out I found the boat was laying her course beautifully between the shore and the sands, but I was too shaken to keep on. I went back home, and when 1 looked in the glass I I was fair scared, for I was black as a nigger, what with sweat and lamp smoke. I shifted them hinges." Sitting with him one day not very long ago in the watch-house overlooking Port- eynon Bay, we were talking of tho past. a Well," said Billy, perbil-w, the time is coming when I ought to be giving up the boat. I am getting too old for the job, but they won't hear of my giving up. I expect the 5Nl will have me in the end; and I don't know that I would like to go any other way."

FLYIHC SIGNALS OF DISTRESS.I

FRENCH SCHOSKER WRECKED.I

MUMBLES LIFEBOAT OUT AGAIN.I

PREVIOUS DISASTERS.

-I IWAS THERE DELAY? II

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INQUEST OH THE CAPTAIN.

= PORTEYNON LIFEBOAT DISASTER.I

IThe Porteynon Crew. 1

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