The Liverpool Lifeboat
Disaster of
1892
'A labour of love that deserves to be told...a story
of astonishing courage...brilliantly researched'
ALAN BLEASDALE
One man's search
for a missing piece of history
by Jim Sullivan
The little known story of the Liverpool Lifeboat
Disaster of 1892 is one of those true stories that has simply been waiting
around in history be told. Now at last the waiting is over. Jim Sullivan has painstakingly researched these real life
events, which, because of his own family’s connection, becomes even more
compelling.
From recalling tales that his mother had told him as
a child Jim has spent many long hard hours and days uncovering the almost
lost story of the Merseyside men, including his own Great Grandfather, who
were lost during an attempted rescue at sea while serving as Liverpool
Lifeboat men at the end of the 19th century.
It is also in some ways like a detective story, as
the author searches for clues about his ancestors and the history of
Liverpool Lifeboats… sometime going down blind alleys, (at first he
didn’t even have the right year for the disaster)…. and sometimes
coming up trumps… the patience of his research is much to be
admired…and he got there in the end.
Jim tells of the events of the night of July 19th
1892 with amazing clarity. The full- rigged Sailing ship Maxwell
was in trouble in the Mersey Estuary, and, as they have continued to do so
till this day, it was the lifeboat men who went to her aid. On board the Liverpool No 2 boat that night were, to name but
a few, the Coxswain Nicholas Hinchley, boatmen Emmanuel Rodriguez, William
Ruffler, Daniel Morgan and, incredible as it may seem today, the one
legged John (Leggy) Gannon.
This then is a true story of courage at sea in life
threatening, and indeed life taking conditions. It is also a story of one
mans search for the truth. It is told with passion and accuracy by a man
who himself has earned his living on the sea for most of his life.
Jim Sullivan was perhaps meant to write the story of
the Liverpool Lifeboat Disaster… we should all be thankful that he did.
'A most
readable and detailed account... unravels a forgotten part of Liverpool's
maritime history.'
- Jeff Morris -
Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society
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