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William Bowen - a general history

Sailing with the Randell Family-Genealogy website:

“On 7 January 1878 in 47.33 N/10.15 W; John Randell, master of the William Bowen sighted a ship which indicated by signals that she was sinking. He bore down on the New York ship, Hudson. There was a strong gale & a heavy sea & the master of the Hudson requested him to lie by as he was intending to abandon his vessel. The distressed ship was at that time settling down fast by the head having been seriously damaged. Randell endeavoured to use the long boat but it was stove in. He took 5 men from the pinnace of the Hudson, 15 others from the lifeboat & subsequently the reminder of the crew, 33 men in all were rescued, much peril was encountered in consequence of the heavy sea. Having rescued the whole crew, Randell proceeded on his voyage & landed the distressed men at Madeira a fortnight afterwards. He was highly commended & presented with a gold chronometer watch & chain with anchor pendant by the President Garfield of the United States of America.”

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