The events depicted in this tale are based on the wreck of the brig 'Visitor', which ran aground in the middle of the night in Robin Hood's Bay during a severe winter storm on 19 January 1881. Due to the prevailing weather and unsuitability of the Robin Hood's Bay lifeboat, the Whitby lifeboat was pulled overland six miles in two hours to effect the rescue, through snow drifts seven feet deep and across fields, through hedges and stone walls, then lowered down a cliff to reach the shore - a feat never repeated and famous in the history of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.
The Robert Whitworth's coxwain, Henry Freeman, is the man in the picture on the cover. Credit for the photo goes to Mr F. M. Sutcliffe.
Other characters are, with the exception of the harbour master, Gibson, the invention of the author.
This work is written in a style as that of a narrator, taking Dylan Thomas' Under Milk Wood as inspiration, this month being the 60th anniversary of that famous and evocative work.
This work is part of a series based on the Shipping Forecast areas around Britain. 'Biscay' and 'Irish Sea' can be found on my profile. Other works (including this one) can be found on my profile in 'The Shipping Forecast'. Further works will be added there over time.
YOU ARE READING
Tyne
Short StoryA midwinter's storm, sailors deathly plight and the efforts of fellow man to save life in the face of adversity. Based on true events. Tyne forms part of the Shipping Forecast collection of short stories, of which another two, 'Biscay' and 'Irish Se...
