Back to Shipping in our Family History
The following report is a transcription of an article in a New Orleans newspaper from ca. 1906, though unfortunately both the name of the newspaper and the exact date are lost. It is the report of John George Brew jnr. rescuing a drowning man at Cardiff, in Wales, while serving as Chief Officer of the steamship SS Rathlin Head.
"CHIEF OFFICER BREW RISKED HIS LIFE TO SAVE STRANGER."
"Reached Port on the Steamship Rathlin Head After His Thrilling Rescue of a Man at Cardiff."
"According to the news received at the office of Messrs. Ross & Heyn, local managers for the Head Line, yesterday, Mr. J. G. Brew, chief officer of the big steamship Rathlin Head, has again proven himself a hero, and risked his life in a rough sea to save a man who was a stranger to him."
"The Rathlin Head was leaving Barry Docks, Cardiff, Wales, for this city at 9 o’clock on the evening of Saturday, Oct. 19, when a man named Murphy , who came to the ship to bid a friend good-by, missed his footing in the darkness and fell into the sea. The wind was high at the time, and the waves were rolling and tossing, and the people on the quay, who had seen Mr. Murphy fall, were horrified and chorused "Man overboard!" Mr. Brew was on the forward deck, and, hearing the cry, ran down ‘midships and, leaning over the taffrail, peered into the angry, restless waters. A white face appeared on the crest of a wave, and Mr. Brew, hastily divesting himself of his coat and waistcoat, plunged from the towering side of the vessel into the roaring sea."
"While the people leaned over quay and breathlessly scanned the black waste of waters, Mr. Brew was struggling in the torrent and straining his eyes to catch a glimpse of the drowning man. After some minutes had elapsed Mr. Brew’s foot encountered some soft object , and quickly diving beneath the swell the gentleman clutched the drowning Murphy by his coat collar. Mr. Brew, who is an excellent swimmer and a man of great strength, managed to draw Murphy’s head over the water and then supporting the unfortunate with one arm, breasted the sweeping flood with the other and by an herculean effort managed to reach shore. Murphy was unconscious when rescued, but was quickly resuscitated. Mr. Brew, who was himself badly spent when he stood dripping on the docks, was surronnded [sic] by a cheering crowd, who surged around to offer congratulations. The Rathlin Head had meantime stopped, and Mr. Brew, once more aboard, the vessel proceeded on her way acros [sic] the Atlantic to New Orleans. Among the passengers on the Rathlin Head were Mr. John M. Heyn, one of the local agents of the Head Line, and Mrs. Heyn, who are returning to the city after a trip to their home in Belfast, Ireland."
"Mr. Brew has been running to New Orleans for a number of years in the Head ships, and has many friends in this city."
The article continues a little further, but is irrelevant to this story.
The below article from a Cardiff newspaper, probably the Western Mail, describes the same incident as above.
"CHIEF OFFICER’S GALLANTRY
EXCITING RESCUE AT BARRY DOCK."
"On Saturday night as the steamship Rathlin Head, 6,500 tons (owned by Messrs. G. Heyn & Sons) was putting out from Lady Windsor Deep Water Lock at Barry Dock a man named Murphy, who was seeing some sailors off, fell from the quay into the lock, which is about one hundred feet deep. Mr. J. G. Brew, chief officer of the Rathlin Head, who witnessed the accident, leaped into the water from the steamer’s side, and after swimming about for some time in the darkness, succeeded in getting hold of Mr. Murphy, who was in an exhausted state, and conveyed him to shore. A large crowd which had gathered on the quay expressed the warmest admiration of the manner in which the rescue was accomplished. Mr. Brew, who is a son-in-law of Mr. Wm. M. Clow, J.P., of Portadown, left in the Rathlin Head on Saturday night for New Orleans, where the vessel will load for Belfast. He has been for many years connected with the Head Line steamers."
This article was obtained with kind thanks to Mr. Michael Maclaran, Managing Director of G. Heyn and Son, in April 1998. See also the footnote to the above story "A Gallantry Award from the German Kaiser, 1902."