A presentation Dolland aneroid barometer in case,

English, dated 1905,

Footnotes

CAPTAIN F DAVISON SS LYELL – SAVING THE MASTER AND CREW OF SS PORVIR
Hampshire Advertiser - Saturday 07 October 1905, p.12, col.4.

An intensely dramatic narrative of hardship, adventure, and peril has been unfolded by the captain of a shipwrecked crew just landed at Southampton. He is Captain J. R. Bishop, and was in charge of the Brazilian steamer Porvir, which left Rotterdam for Para (S. America), on Sundav, September 24th, and has since been wrecked in the Bay of Biscay. Four days after leaving Rotterdam very heavy weather was encountered in the Bay of Biscay, end the ship's carpenter shortly after reported to Captain Bishop that the Porvir had sprung a leak (the exact position of the vessel at this lime was in lal. 46.28 N. long. 17.15 W.). The gale hourly grew worse, and the vessel rolled and pitched under a leaden sky, continuously battered by monstrous waves, which crashed down upon her, threatening to crash (sic) her like an egg-shell. The crew, under the direction of Captain Bishop, worked heroically to prevent the influx of water, but to no purpose. Still subject to the merciless battering of mountainous yeas, the vessel slowly heeled over and became utterly unmanageable. When he saw that she must sink, the captain ordered the launching of the lifeboat, an operation which was attended with the greatest peril. Captain Bishop was severely injured in the body, arms, and face while rendering assistance. Eventually the lifeboat was got clear of the vessel, which was almost immediately engulfed by the terrific seas' a narrower or more perilous escape it would be impossible to imagine. This was at 7 a.m. on the morning of the 29th. After great difficulty a blanket was rigged as a sail, in order to keep the lifeboat steady, and then, for the next eight hours, the captain and his crew were tossed about on the raging waters of the Bay, hourly expecting death. At 3 p.m. that afternoon Providence manifested itself in the shape the s.s. Lyell, of North Shields, which sighted the shipwrecked crew, bore down on them, and. after great difficulty, succeeded in getting all on board. Captain Davidson, of the Lyell did everything possible for Captain Bishop and the men, who were in a terribly exhausted condition. Nourishment and stimulants were supplied, and after a time the men recovered. They were clothed, fed, and received every possible attention during the remainder of the voyage, and were ultimately landed at Southampton Docks. Captain Bishop then applied to the Brazilian Consul, who, as they were not Brazilian subjects, was unable to render them assistance. Captain Bishop then applied to Mr. B. A. Forrow, of the Board of Trade, who at once gave them every assistance in his power, and provided them with clothes, enabling them to return those they had borrowed. Mr. Forrow then purchased railway tickets and forwarded the men to homes, which are in London and Liverpool. Captain Bishop stated that he wished, on behalf of himself and his crew, to thank both Captain Davidson, of the Lyell, and Mr. B. A. Forrow, the former for his bravery, humanity, and skill, and the latter for the kindness be had shown them.

Hampshire Advertiser - Saturday 14 October 1905, p.12, col1.
The attention of the Board Trade has, I learn, been called to the recent gallant rescue by the crew of the foundered steamer the s.s. Lyell, but the Board have been unable to extend any mark of recognition to the captain of the latter vessel, by reason of the fact that the men saved were sailing under the Brazilian flag. Representations are, therefore, being made to the Brazilian Government, and it is hoped that some testimonial will be forthcoming from that quarter. In the meantime the Mariners' Society have decided to mark their approval of Captain Davidson's conduct by presenting him with an aneroid barometer.