Egremont Steamer: Narrow escape. Liverpool Mercury September 11 1837

On Friday evening last, as one of the Egremont steamers with a boat in tow, heavily laden with timber, was proceeding towards Liverpool, another steamer passing near produced such a swell as to fill the boat, and precipitated a man and a boy into the water. The man laid hold of some of the floating timber and sustained himself until he was picked up by the boatmen of the Floating Bath; who, on perceiving the accident, rowed to the assistance of the two persons with great promptitude. But for their timely assistance the boy must have drowned. He had sunk several times when the oatmen extricated him with a boat-hook from his perilous situation. The boy was a little injured in the eye by the boat-hook, but his life was saved; and he was taken in a much exhausted state on board of the Floating Bath, where every attention was paid to him, and in a little time he recovered – The boatmen of the Bath have on so many occasions rescued persons in great peril, and o this occasion we think the ought to be rewarded from the fund which Mr LATHOM mentioned some months ago to the council

Caryl Williams  www.old-liverpool.co.uk Old Liverpool 1998-2008