1872 – A Newfoundland Dog Saving Life

A life saved from drowning by that noble animal and friend of the sailor, the Newfoundland Dog. The American mail steamer that arrived at Plymouth on 12th March brought a thrilling account of the wreck of the barque ‘Lilly Parker,’ of Swansea, Captain Fletcher, of Liverpool, commanding, who left for Halifax on 3rd January. The watchmen on duty at Sable Island were attracted by the whining of a dog, and on attaching a lantern to his neck were able to follow him, and were brought to the beach, where they found a woman and her child, a little girl two years old, lying almost drowned. They removed her to the Sailors’ Hospital, about half a mile distant, where she lay insensible for a day or two. The child died the following morning from the exposure. When the mother became conscious, she asked where she was. Her appearance was refined and handsome. On being told that she had been saved from some wreck, and was then in the hands of those who would take care of her, she earnestly expressed her gratitude. Memory returning, she suddenly asked, “Where is Robert? Where is Captain Fletcher?” Nobody could tell. The surgeon could only respond that as nothing had yet been learned of the wreck, Captain Fletcher might be safe. The poor lady wept bitterly, and asked for her child. Her story is substantially as follows:- The ‘Lilly Parker’ was bound to Halifax with merchandise and salt. After being out five days, the fore-top-mast and fore-top-gallant-mast were carried away in a severe gale which lasted over forty-eight hours. Jury masts were supplied, and the ‘Lilly Parker’ proceeded on her voyage for ten days, after which she again experienced foul weather, in which the fore-top-gallant-mast was lost. After being thirty days at sea she encountered a violent hurricane, and lost nearly all of her foremast, and the mizenmast was literally split in two by a tremendous sea, which also made a large breach in the bulwarks, and forced the ship on her beam ends. Thus disabled, the barque continued until the 12th February, when it was found that she had drifted over 500 miles out of her course, and lay in the latitude of Sable Island; a strong north-east wind sprung up, and the sea rose to a fearful height. The wind increased and the ship lost her rudder. The ship was tossed about like a log, until she drifted on a lee shore, striking heavily upon a submarine ledge. The barque filled rapidly, as her bows had been stove in. The storm still raged so wildly, it was useless to suggest any plan of rescue. Further than this, Mrs Fletcher’s bewildered memory could not lead her. The barque suddenly broke in two, and those on board were either thrown into the sea, or had time to seize some portion of the wreck before the vessel fell asunder. All was confusion and dismay. Some shrieked for ropes, some for boats, and the Captain cried out wildly for his wife. Mrs Fletcher remembers little after the parting of the ship, until she was conscious of being dragged ashore by somebody, as she thought. She held her babe firmly clasped to her during the awful ordeal. It was her faithful Newfoundland dog that saved them, and the noble animal was worn out, when his whining attracted the attention of the watchman.