The Hero of the Humber

NOURED

was the happiest day of his life. As no living individual, perhaps, has saved so many lives, on so many separate and distinct occasions, and under equally perilous circumstances, as our friend, so we may infer that his personal joy was proportionately great. He always did his best to save human life, having made that one of the chief objects of his existence, and he reaped a rich recompense. He says, 'I always thought it as much my duty to try and save the drowning, as it was their duty to try and save themselves; and I always felt myself amply recompensed, and highly satisfied, when I got them out of the water and saw they were all right. Physically, I often felt much exhausted by the e

ERSON

much depends upon the manner of doing a kindness, as upon the act itself. Indeed, in some instances, even a frank and positive refusal will give less pain than an ungracious and grudgingly bestowed favour. Now, we hesitate not to say that, what Mr. Ellerthorpe did, was kindly and generously done. And he always felt that

e gratitu

er left me

OF THOSE WHO

n any way communicated with me, as was the case with some whom I have saved,-for instance, Mr. Leeson and Miss Hill-I was not satisfied. My pleasure at the remembrance of what I did for them is mixed with pain. It may be a weakness of mine, but an ungratefu

t he should thus writ

ratitude mo

inness, babbli

f vice whose s

our fra

surging wave, with upwards of two hundred souls on board. The captain, who was as noble a man as ever steered a vessel, sank with the rest of the passengers and crew. Fortunately, however, he came up again, and seizing a plank, he clung to it until rescued by a vessel that happened to be passing

RECOGNISED

; for he is ever willing at any moment, and at the first call, to risk his life. I question whether there is such another man in the world. He has a good and kind heart, and in his general conduct displays kind feelings towards all and everybody. I hope he will remain long with us, and that at last we shall meet him in heaven, never to part again.' Robert Tether, speaking of his deliverance, says, 'Some one said to me on the occasion, "My boy, you ought ever to remember that man," and I do remember

IEW WITH L

. Persons of high distinction, and of great authority in the social world, spoke to him words of greeting, commendation, and encouragement. Lord Wenlock, having had recounted to

th Mr. Ellerthorpe. In company with Captain Hurst, he went to the Humber Dock Gates to see him. They shook each others hand for some time; at length, Captain Wilson said, 'I'm glad to see you. I have often heard of your bravery in saving your fellow men from drowning, and I have sometimes wished I could see you; you are what I call a brave, clever fellow. They say I have done a c

1835 the following statement a

of humanity, and sending the particular cases to the Royal Humane Society. We shall be ready to receive any subscriptions for the pu

iety was sent, and Mr. Ellerthorpe

ty's

y 21st

eral court of the Institution, held on the 18th inst., the Honorary Medallion of the Society was unanimou

Eller

Barton-on-Hum

OF THE ROYAL H

n bears this

SOCIETY'S THA

, inscribed on vellum, ac

umane S

TUTED

PERSONS APPARENTLY

ing. Patrone

sid

Duke of Northu

y's House, Chatham-place, Blackfriars,

resident, in the chair, i

ourage and human

ELLER

heroism which Ellerthorpe has on former occasions manifested for the preservation of human life, wholly regardless of the risk he himself incurred, and by which he saved eight persons fr

erland,

Weshopp,

itherow,

EHALF OF MR.

re for our friend the highest rewards the Royal Humane Society could

umane S

3, Trafal

uly,

s Society are limited to London and its environs. But honorary rewards are given for cases which may occur at an

erit an Honorary Testimonial from the Society, I shall be most happy in submitting the partic

in, de

Esq., J.P. Yours

ear Hull. J.

e Royal Humane Society, in 1852, wh

umane S

3, Trafal

ptember

e are all out of date for any reward from this Society. Perhaps you are not aware that he has already received the Silver Medal of this

u the statements, and remain

HARL

Esq., Hesslew

TULATORY MEE

man, who had rescued from their own docks and around the pier, not fewer than twenty-three persons. A committee was formed, under the presidentship of Mr. John

Sept 13

ueen

amongst whom were two warm-hearted working men, named Steadman and Turner. The following day they called upon me, with a written list of twenty-nine lives saved by Mr. Ellerthorpe. The account savoured of romance, but then it was signed by living witnesses, who corroborated the truth of the statements made. The men asked me to assist them in getting up some public demonstration in favour of Mr. Ellerthorpe. I told them I would lend my humble aid, but they must obtain some man of mark for their chairman, to take the initiative. They applied to several gentlemen, but in vain, all refused. They pleaded hard that I would act as chairman, and sooner than allow the thing to die away, I consented, although, at the time, entirely unused to address large public audiences. The mayor, W. Hodge, Esq., gran

ON'S ACCOUNT O

r from Dale Brown,

e, Hull, Au

Friday evening before I knew of you

ing, he would have been considered a 'hero,' and rewarded accordingly. Surely it is more blessed to save than to destroy. Should the object of

Symons. D

horpe for what he had done, which called forth the most exciting cheering. Then the late Rev. Charles Rawlings (Wesleyan) rose from amongst the people, and, in a sententious speech delivered with a stentorian voice, asked, 'How much does the meeting feel towards a testimonial,' and offered the first donation as a proof of his feeling for Mr. Ellerthorpe. Our fears were then scattered to the wind; the vessel I saw was well launched. Another gentleman, Mr. Henry Taylor, came forward and said, in anticipation of a subscription being made towards a testimonial to Mr. Ellerthorpe, he had already collected a nucleus of ￡35. A commit

efforts. It has been well said, 'they build up a loftier population making man more manly.' It is evidently our duty to lend a helping hand in the hour of need, either by our wisdom, power, or benevolence. This thought should act as an incentive, more or less powerful

Sir, yours

odcock. J

NG MAN'

s given as a specimen of the feeling with which

ug. 9th

at aside of the steps of what is commonly called, Sand South End, in the old harbour, when I over-reached myself and fell in. A boy was with me at the time who ran up the steps and shouted out, 'A boy overboard.' A gentleman, who then lived in Humber Street, was sitting in his front room, he immediately ran out, leaped into the water, took hold of me just as I was going down for the third time, and saved my life from a watery grave. I have always reverenced that gentleman ever since. His name is M

Sir, your ob

AL

E OF RESPECT

t numbers lent their influence to this effort to acknowledge the unequalled bravery of their fellow townsman, whom we must, hencefor

hanges ever

roe, by acci

venerate the m

ons with an

e along life's

r others' good

ls ye with pr

ore a brothe

nt deeds in nob

an warrior's

ir own reward

blessing in p

of whom this

onour and whose

does his duty

e-and yet he

nsion, who by

beyond his n

-yet one of N

cknowledged in

se well won for

fe along our

any hearths whe

im in blessi

hy!-for in his

oble usefuln

, which bards of

ke him, have mad

lines be found

his fair and

d to him the m

avery and his

thee, Ellertho

ls thee to thy

d thee and its

upward and t

FROM THE ROYAL

upwards of sixty of the leading ministers, merchants, and g

the Court of the R

tion of your honourable court, the services of John Ellerthorpe, now a foreman in the service of the Dock Company of this borough, who, during the course of the last forty years has, by the providence

rpe a medallion and certificate on a representation being made to the society of his havi

erthorpe's further claims before your notice, believing that you will think with us that his further successful exer

a

court's most o

ty awarded to our 'Hero' an especial

peal was made to

otterdam Steam

on-upo

ugust,

of an inhabitant, a working man, of this borough, in rescuing persons from drowning. He has succeeded,

in reply to the enclosed petition, awarded him their 'Thanks on Vellum,' a committee

e, the committee has ventured to lay his case before you, in the

to be, on the part

Lords

and obedie

RD H

llerthorpe T

0 FROM THE

al bounty the handsome donation of ￡20. The f

sury, Whit

Septembe

int you that, upon the recommendation of Viscount Palmerston, the Paymaster Gener

your obedie

W. HA

rthorpe, King

e was next appeal

th Augu

as Milner Gibson, President

John Ellerthorpe, foreman of the Humber Dock gates at this place, who saved the li

rly twenty feet from the top. John Ellerthorpe, hearing his cries for assistance, spontaneously leaped into th

is is the twenty-ninth person's life the said John Ellerthorp

en of this town is in formation to present him with a memorial, and if your honourable Board consider him worthy of any remuneratio

ost humble and

S RAW

gton-stre

A SILVE

e, through Sir Emmerson Tennant, struck a s

nour, it remained for the inhabitants of Hull to show their appreciation of the humane and gallant deeds of their fellow townsman. Such deeds as our 'Hero'

ION MEETI

of four hundred persons sat down to tea, and the local papers state that greater enthusiasm was, perhaps, never witnessed than during this

THORPE, THE HERO

g began. Mr. John Symons occupied the chair, and he was surrounded on the platform

AN'S A

dvertising, and other incidental expenses were incurred, and cannot be dispensed with in order to succeed in similar objects. The Royal Humane Society had awarded to Ellerthorpe an especial vote of thanks; the Board of Trade, through Sir Emmerson Tennant, had struck a silver medal in his honour; and last, but not least, the popular Premier of England had forwarded from the royal bounty the handsome donation of ￡20. Thus the movement so humbly began, resembled the 'little spring in the mountain rock,' which became a brook, a torrent, a wide rolling ri

earthly gives

sunshine and the

adden'd play' on the errand of saving life, to be as great heroes as those who 'seek for bubble reputation at the cannon's mouth.' He would rather be a bearer of thirty blessings than the hero of one hundred fights. No true history of Hull could be written which did not contain the record of Ellerthorpe's name, and the glorious deeds he had perfo

ife-saving labours of Mr. Ellerthorpe, which was listened to with a rapt a

h and guard, and a beautiful purse containing one hundr

ENTE

ELLER

Subscriptions)

ning One Hun

ine Persons from Drownin

RSE OF ONE HU

EARS THIS I

S P

TAI

ndred

SO

ATCH &

ESENT

ELLER

the Humber

ARY SUBSC

VING

ERSONS FROM B

vember 6

NE SOCIETY

iate words, then presented to Mr. Ellerthorpe the following vot

umane S

TUTED

Voluntary C

tr

esty th

Pat

e of Cambridge,

sid

he Duke of

ne Society, holden at their Office, 4, Trafalga

q., Treasurer, in the chair.

ourage and human

ELLER

y fallen therein, and whose life he saved, has called forth the admiration of this Committee, and justly entitles him to its sincere thanks, insc

, Pres

H. Young,

. Baker,

THE BOARD

ted on a spar, waving a handkerchief, as a signal to a small boat seen in the distance; another is supporting a sailor who appears in a drowning state. There is also a female holding a child i

of Trade for Gallantry

he edge are the

cknowledgment of his repeated Acts

cco case, the lid of which has in

lantry in Saving Life at Sea,

handsome testimonia

ly call a national testimonial, as it was from a branch of our national institutions-the Board of Trade. He had very great pleasure in presenting it to him, and he

RO'S A

d for what I have done, and I have before now refused many offers of rewards that have been made to me by the friends of many whom I have been the means, in the hands of God, of rescuing from a watery grave. I do, however, feel proud at receiving these testimonials, and I trust they will be preserved by my children, and by my children's children, as mementos of my country's acknowledgments of the service I have rendered m

urer and Secretary, Mr. Taylor and Mr. Haller

ike Ellerthorpe to have saved so many as thirty persons from drowning before any public recognition of his services had taken place. As it was, a

ed thanks on behal

rman, shaking him warmly by the hand, and congratulati

ressions of which he hoped would endure in his mind through life. Seeing that we live surrounded with water, and that casualties are occurring almost weekly, he thought i

who steals o

l its plea

of the past

its joys

ating meeting, by cheers for the 'Hero of the Humber and England's Champion Life Buoy

f vocalists, enlivened the proceedings, which were very liberally inters

SUBSCR

he 'Ellerthorpe Testimonial Fund' amounted to ￡197 10s., and tha

t., presented to Mr. Ellert

the previous night on account of the storm, and on Saturday he said to a friend 'I shall have a sound sleep to-night.' Alas! before he closed his eyes i