Lyr Add: The 'Mexico'

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The 'Mexico'
From: MARINER
Date: 12 Aug 10 - 06:56 PM

Thank you guest for this other Mexico song.As a former seafaring man I don't think we can ever be grateful enough to the heroic lifeboat crews around our coasts.Bill Duggan and Jem Wickham mentioned in the Wexford "Mexico" song went across in very rough weather in the small boat to attempt to rescue the men from the rocks. Their boat got holed on the rocks and they pulled back, stuck a loaf of bread wrapped in a piece of Tarpaulin into the hole and went back and completed their task.Their descendants still crew the Rosslare R.N.L.I boat.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The 'Mexico'
From: Sailor Ron
Date: 12 Aug 10 - 05:51 AM

Re: the 'Mexico' wrecked on the Horse Bank in the Ribble estury. Several poems were written about it, the worst night in the history of the R.N.L.I. The Southport boat 'Lisa Fernley' capsized with only two survivours, and the St. Anne's boat 'Laura Janet' was lost with all her crew. One poem, which I have been unable to trace, was entitled 'Three boats out of Lancashire', and another by the Lancashire dialect poet Sam Laycock starts 'I've told t'tale of lifeboat men, and I'll do it once again'. This was sold to raise money for the widows & children of the lost crews. This tradgedy led to the start of 'lifeboat saturday'. The last payments from the disaster fund only ceased in the 1940s.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The 'Mexico'
From: GUEST,^&*
Date: 12 Aug 10 - 05:36 AM

Here's another lifeboat song about a different Mexico:
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From: terrier
Date: 11 Aug 10 - 03:12 PM


Southport Lifeboat Disaster

Listen without to the westerly wind
does it whisper and gently sigh,
or rage and roar, shaking the door,
demanding that seafarers die.

On such a night in the distant past
when the surf raged high up the beach,
the 'Mexico' barque, on a bank she was fast,
no port that night she would reach.

Three lifeboats to her aid were sent,
by fishermen manned, with good intent;
one lifeboat returned, one crew to save,
the others would drown in that terrible gale.

To this place they brought them, herein to rest.
No man can do more than give of his best.
A nation mourned but in mourning new pride,
the pride of a nation, in vain not they died.

Mark well the hour.

At twelve o'clock on the ninth of december,
pray silence and gentlemen rise.
Hark to mine host, as he gives the toast,
"to the coxwains and crews who died."

This is from memory so I can't guarantee I haven't changed some of the words from the original.
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The 'Mexico'
From: MARINER
Date: 11 Aug 10 - 01:33 PM

Thanks, I was about to tackle sending it tonight. You saved me the trouble

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The 'Mexico'
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 11 Aug 10 - 11:51 AM

Thanks for posting.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE 'MEXICO'
From: GUEST,^&*
Date: 11 Aug 10 - 05:35 AM

An account of an early 20th C. lifeboat rescue in Wexford, Ireland.
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THE MEXICO
(By John Codd, Blessington, Tagoat)

O the twentieth day of February in nineteen and fourteen
The Norwegian schooner Mexico off the Wexford coast was seen
From Lithuania to Liverpool with timber for the docks
Now the gallant vessel lies a wreck on the savage Keeragh rocks

The Captain was a Mexican, as you may understand
The crew was made of strangers from many a foreign land
Ten men in all their number and hard was their fate, I trow
To take refuge in the island and leave the Mexico

She was sighted first off Kilmore Quay and seemed in great distress
The rolling waves and swelling seas did sorely on her press.
The Captain lost his bearings; 'twas the cause of bitter grief,
While Boreas blew with vengeance and drove them on the reef.

The lofty schooner was attired in double-reefed foresail,
Likewise she flew her mizen, but 'twas of no avail;
He tried to bring the ship about and head her off to sea,
But with the onslaught of the storm he could not get her stay

The anxious crew worked hard then their precious lives to save,
Contending with the blinding sleet, and mountain-high each wave.
Two sailors in a small boat from her davits they let go;
They landed safe but failed to take us from the Mexico.

The Fethard men approached us then, in their life-boat strong and new,
To rescue us poor seamen who on the rocks were strewn.
Fourteen all told those hearts so bold, their courage was renowned;
But their boat was smashed upon the rocks and nine of them were drowned.

Thanks to our great Redeemer, the other five were saved,
And by their gallant efforts we were to the rocks conveyed.
We reached the Little Keeraghs by a halyard, as you know,
And bid adieu for ever to the ill-fated Mexico.

Our case was still appalling, as mountains rolled the seas;
Bereft of earthly succour for three long nights and days;
From the twentieth to the twenty-third, in sadness and in gloom,
We huddled on the island as in a living tomb.

The Wexford life-boat hove in sight and also the Dunmore,
But the Kilmore life-boat and her crew were driven back to shore.
Long life to Coxwain Wickham and his heroic life-boat crew;
He saved ten men from the jaws of death and the Dunmore life-boat two.

There was deed of special daring, of courage brave and bold,
Performed by two of the Wexford crew; their names I will unfold:
Bill Duggan and Jim Wickham, in a small boat they did go,
And rescued the crew while the wild waves flew around the Mexico.

Here's a health to Captain Busher and his crew o gallant men
To render their assistance with the Wexford Tug they came
Here's a health to every life-boat crew around green Erin's shore
May God them steer from all rocks clear, ow and for evermore.

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Source: "Songs of the Wexford Coast" by J. Ranson.
Publ. 1948, 1975.