2-982-602 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Lisbon Bar during a Gale of Wind, 1858. '...an incident is depicted which shows the effective means possessed by our Royal Mail packets for saving life at sea, and the promptitude with which their officers and crew devote themselves when duty calls. Our Sketch represents the Peninsular and Oriental Company's Lisbon mail-packet Alhambra, herself locked within the bar and debarred from all possible egress on account of the breakers caused by continued westerly gales. Off the Point, however, she observed "a friend" in distress - a merchant-ship hard and fast, French colours flying, her canvas still standing, and the sea making clean breaches over her. It was decided to send to her assistance the ship's life-boat, under the experienced hands of Mr. Robert E. Penkey, chief officer, with Mr. William Hume, third, and a dozen seamen volunteers. Daring every danger, on they sped, gallantly breasting winds and waves, till, approaching the wreck, they discovered that the crew had already taken to their own boats. Nothing, therefore, justifying further risk, Mr. Penkey made again for his ship, where, though fruitless as it happened in his mission of good, the safe return of the boat's crew was hailed with no less hearty acclamations by all on board'. From "Illustrated London News", 1858.