Royal Humane Society, large silver medal (I. L. Shirreff restored Iohn Gossage, Feb. 25. 1783) fitted with ornate loop suspension, good very fine £280-320

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Life Saving Awards formed by The Late W.H. Fevyer.

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Collection

Ex Edrington Collection 1980.

‘..... On the 25th of February last, a boy about thirteen years of age (an apprentice to Mr Bowers, Lighterman and Coal-merchant in this village) in company with two young men, in an open boat, on their way from Gravesend to Deptford, were overtaken (soon after they set out) with a violent storm of wind from the N.E. accompanied with a great fall of snow. Some way below Erith, the boy complained of the cold, and that his hands were so benumbed that he could not manage his oar; he was urged to exert himself as the most likely method to keep warm. The storm continuing, and the cold increasing with the approach of the afternoon, his complaints became more urgent. Opposite to Erith, a biscuit was given to him, and whilst putting it to his mouth, he dropt from off the bench, rigid and insensible. His companions covered him with a great coat, and he remained in that situation till the boat arrived at Deptford in the evening. When he was brought into his master’s house, the bystanders looked upon him as irrecoverably lost. He was placed before a large fire, but that room being incumbered with wet linen, he was removed to another. I was sent for immediately, but a quarter of an hour elapsed before I could attend, when I was informed of the above particulars. The boy was laid upon a bed, with three or four people rubbing him with warm flannels, and pursuing those methods generally recommended for the recovery of drowned people. .... I attempted his recovery by removing every thing warm from the body, whilst I ordered two of the attendants to bring me a large quantity of snow; but in order to gain time, I collected some from off the house, and commenced rubbing him with it till a greater quantity could be procured. The frictions were chiefly confined to the extremities, and a large quantity of snow were applied to the abdomen and sternum. A few minutes only elapsed before the boy uttered a groan, more like, however, to a loud expiration; some seconds passed before it was repeated. When the appearances of life became more distinct, I attempted to extend one of the contracted arms; strong convulsions immediately seized every member of the body, and the arm which I heldextended in my hand, regaining its former situation with a violent spring. When the snow had been used about half an hour, respiration became more regular; there was a tremulous motion in the eyes, the under jaw with some violence could be separated from the upper; the heart was felt, the ribs contracting and distending slowly, the artery at the wrist vibrated, and the limbs could be placed in their natural situations, but not without occasioning violent screams and strong marks of pain. The boy was still insensible. At this period I attempted to pour some liquid into his mouth, but on trying to swallow, it was forced out with considerable violence. Imagining the difficulty of deglutition was owing to those muscles, which are subservient to swallowing, being in a rigid state, I applied snow round the neck. In the space of an hour, life seemed to be perfectly restored; I must except, however, the intellectual faculties. ... I continued the frictions upon the extremities some time longer; they were continued, indeed, till the features regained their sensibility, till an universal redness covered the body, and till the muscles swelled beneath my hands. I afterwards intrusted him to proper attendants, who in the morning presented him to me, enjoying the perfect use of his limbs; and his senses were likewise restored. Yet there was a cloud, a stupidity which continued for some time: he is now an active boy. .....’ (Ref. Royal Humane Society records, Case CCCCXI No. 9, Copy of a letter from Mr Shirreff to Dr Hawes, Great Eastcheap, dated Deptford, June 25, 1783).

An article containing the full transcript of Mr Shirreff’s letter, compiled by the late Bill Fevyer, entitled Never go on the Thames in February!, appeared in the L.S.A.R.S.J. No. 63, p.15-17.