March 21st 1860
The wreck of the Royal Charter
The daring bravery shown on the occasion of the wreck of the Royal Charter by George SUAICAR, the boatswain’s mate, was publicly recognised and rewarded yesterday, in the presence of the whole of the boarders in the Sailor’s Home. A letter containing a silver medal, had been forwarded to Capt AINLEY, with a request that he would present the medal to SUAICAR.
The boarders assembled in the dining room and Capt AINLEY, addressing SUAICAR [who is now in the service of the Dock Board], said that although the acknowledgement of his bravery came late, it yet showed that such deeds are not suffered to pass altogether unnoticed. The Captain read the letter in which the medal was enclosed, which was as :-
Dear Sir,
A number of gentlemen in this part of the country have received the facts relating to the Royal Charter, and on doing so, one instance of daring bravery appears to have been entirely overlooked, in the case of George SUAICAR, Boatswain’s mate, who had nearly sacrificed his life in the name of humanity. In consequence a subscription was made to purchase a medal for presentation to him for his disinterested services, and let him see that he has unknown friends who acknowledge his services that day, and to prompt him in the future to perform similar actions should such occur again. I will thank you to present the medal to him on your earliest convenience, in the presence of all the boarders of the establishment, and give it that publicity that such acts merit, and you will much oblige, Dear Sir [on behalf of the subscribers].
Yours faithfully, William HARKINSON,
Stanhope, Darlington, March 19th, 1860
In acknowledging the presentation SUAICAR said he had only done that which he would do again if similar circumstances occurred.
The medal bore the inscription :-
“Presented to George Suaicar, for his daring conduct in saving six lives from the wreck of the Royal Charter, on the 26th October 1859”
SUAICAR it will be recollected, was the first man who jumped overboard in the hope of establishing communication with the shore.
Copyright 2002 / To date