Notes by the Way in A Sailors Life | Page 7

four hundred and fifty soldiers and sailors,
invalids from Hongkong, and twenty-four saloon passengers, mostly
naval and military officers. The "Hebe" was laden with grain from
Alexandria, and was in a sinking condition.
The following testimonial, signed by several of the military and naval
officers on board the "Northfleet," who witnessed the rescue, and by
the captain and mate of the "Hebe," speaks for itself:
Ship "Northfleet" (at sea),
November 18th, 1858.
We take much pleasure in awarding to Mr. Knights, 2nd officer of this
ship, this unsolicited testimonial, expressive of our high sense of the
coolness, judgment and courage he displayed on the morning of
November the 13th, 1858, when, under circumstances of great
difficulty and imminent danger, when in charge of the cutter, with five

men, in a gale of wind and high tumultuous sea running, he was, by the
interposition of Divine Providence, mercifully allowed to be the means
of rescuing the master, mate, and crew (9 in all) of the brig "Hebe," of
Southampton, reported to be in a sinking state.
J. R. Fittock, Master, R. N. W. J. Stuart, Lieutenant, R. N. H. J. Tribe,
Captain, R. N. R. Picken, M. D., R. N. H. Ward, Captain, R. N. James
Driver, Engineer, R. N. Geo. A. F. Day, 2nd Master, R. N. Wm.
Donnelly, F. W., R. N. A. W. Stratton (late Master and Owner of brig
"Hebe"). Chas. Clarke, Mate.
The first signature to the testimonial is that of Mr. J. B. Fittock, Master,
R. N., father of Mr. Consul Fittock, well known in China. The
following letter on the subject was also written to the London Times by
the master of the "Hebe": -
Heroism at Sea.
To the Editor of "The Times."
Sir: I wish to acknowledge, through the medium of your journal, my
sincere thanks to Captain B. Freeman, of the ship "Northfleet," of
London, for having rescued myself and eight men, the crew of the brig
"Hebe," of Southampton, when in a sinking state, and at the same time
blowing a gale of wind, with a high sea, in latitude 48° 80' N. and
longitude 12° 20' W. At the same time, I cannot pass by the courage
displayed by Mr. Knights, second mate, and five of the crew of the
"Northfleet," in the management of the boat which took us off. Yours
respectfully,
A. W. Stratton, Master.
12 Wood Street, Ryde, Isle of Wight, Nov. 30.
The Board of Trade recognized Captain Knights's gallantry by
presenting him with a telescope (by Troughton & Sons, London) and
recording the fact on his certificate in the following terms: -
"Certified that a telescope was presented by the British Government to
Arthur E. Knights for gallantry in saving life at sea."
Recently, Captain Knights received from his old chief, Captain
Freeman, who was master of the "Northfleet" when the rescue of the
crew of the "Hebe" took place, a large oil-painting descriptive of the
scene, accompanied by a letter, from which we take the following
extract:
South Hackney, Feb. 25th, 1887.

I have sent you (by favour of Mr. W. Howell, the chief officer of the
"Glenroy") the painting that Captain Stratton gave me of the
"Northfleet" rescuing the crew of the brig "Hebe," of Southampton, and
I beg your acceptance of it. I am sure you will like to have it, as you
were the principal actor in the scene - and I have a copy of it done by
the same artist. I well remember (as if it was only yesterday) how
anxious I was during the time you were away on the job, and how my
heart was frequently in my mouth (as the saying goes) when the old
ship gave an extra heavy lurch, and you and the dear old cutter were out
of sight for a few seconds in the trough of the sea; and I often think
now what a wonderful and merciful thing it was that we got that boat
up without accident, - but you see we had so many willing hands on
board that they ran away with her as soon as she was hooked on.
The painting represents the "Northfleet" in a storm under close-reefed
topsails, fore staysail, and main trysail, and the "Hebe" under
close-reefed topsails, with heavy seas breaking over her, her boats and
house washed away, her stern-post (struck by a heavy sea) started, and
the brig in a sinking condition. The cutter, manned by a crew of five,
with Captain Knights in charge, and with the rescued crew of the
"Hebe" in her, appears under the stern of the "Northfleet," one man of
the "Hebe's" crew being hoisted on board by a bowline running from
the spanker-boom. The whole of the "Hebe's" crew were got on board
the "Northfleet" in