Contemporary newspaper reports of shipwreck - mainly from the North Wales Chronicle. Also some data from Lloyd's Register.
HOLYHEAD, Monday[2 December 1867]. Not since the 3rd December, 1863, four years ago, when 13 vessels were stranded and 43 lives lost, has Holyhead seen such distressing sights as those witnessed here yesterday and today. Such was the power of the gale and sea that the mail-boats were interrupted in their almost ever-regular course. The Munster, Captain Rogers, leaving Kingstown at 7 p.m on Sunday, did not reach Holyhead until 12:35 a.m. today. Although advertised to leave at 3 a.m. on Monday, the authorities thought it discreet not to send her out to sea at that hour, owing to the great quantity of wreckage known to be floating about, and which might have got into her paddles and caused the loss of the mail packet. She did not leave Holyhead until 8 am. The sea was at the time fearful.
Last night [1 December 1867], about 9 p.m., signals of distress were
witnessed from the shore from the Lydia Williams, a very fine iron
full-rigged vessel, 1,176 tons register, Captain Carr, the property of
Councillor Maurice Williams and Mr Farris, Liverpool [built Middlesborough
1863, trading to Bombay]. She left Liverpool on Friday, but, owing to stress of weather, was
compelled to take shelter near Salt Island [Holyhead Harbour]. This is her
third voyage, and she was in excellent repair. She had one anchor out
yesterday morning, and, when the wind increased in force, a second was put out.
In spite of this precaution, one cable parted, and such was the strain on the
other that it also gave way, and she drifted on the sands and rocks near. The
crew consisted of thirty men and four passengers. The latter were Albert
Waterfield, wife, and baby, 15 weeks old, and Mr Thomas Waterfield, brother to
Mr Albert Waterfield. When all hope of safety was gone, the cries of those on
board were loud and heartrending in the extreme, and could be distinctly heard
on shore.
The lifeboat was got out without a moment's delay, the Queen's harbour master,
Admiral Schomberg, and Captain Jones, Lloyd's agent, assembled a volunteer
force, and amid great enthusiasm Captain Rowland, who is 76 years of age, and
has been famous for his deeds in saving life for the last quarter of a
century, took the command. Amid deafening cheers, the boat put off in the
darkness, on a terrific sea.
Mr Thomas Waterfield informed our correspondent that the crew of the
ship acted with the greatest humanity and good conduct. Thirty-two of the crew
were landed on two visits. Two sailors had already gone up the rigging, and
their saving was a work of real difficulty. Captain Jones, Lloyd's agent, had
the passengers and crew comfortably lodged at once in the Marine Hotel, and Mr
Owen's, the Castle.
On board the vessel were two French
farmers in charge of a valuable collection of finely-bred sheep and other
ruminating animals, which were sent by the Emperor Napoleon as a present to
the Queen Emma of the Sandwich Islands. There was one bull on board valued at
£300, and his carcass was washed on shore during the day.
The services of Captain Rowlands and his brave crew were immediately again called into requisition. The French barque Bayadère of Rouen, Captain Leroy, which, left Liverpool on Wednesday, put into Holyhead on Saturday. She had a cargo of salt, and was bound for Keree, West coast of Africa. She was moored by her starboard cable of 30 fathoms in length and her port cable. The former snapped and the latter was dragged until the barque went against the backing of the old harbour. Signals of distress being made, the life crew again struck out bravely and brought ashore the whole crew, consisting of 14 men, making up the number to 48 persons saved. The Bayadère will become a total wreck.
A messenger then arrived stating that the schooner Scotland, of Chester, Captain Parry, was a complete wreck on the west backing of the breakwater. She also had sailed from Liverpool on Friday[29 November 1867; from Barrow to Briton Ferry with cargo of iron ore, 67 nt, built Dumbarton 1861], and, in her attempt to get into the harbour, had drifted on the backing. One boy had, either been washed overboard, or had died from cold. The four survivors went up the rigging. Two of Mr Rigby's workmen volunteered to use every exertion to go on board, and ultimately three men were safely landed by means of ropes. A fourth was so benumbed with cold that, in spite of efficient medical attendance promptly rendered by Dr Price, of Holyhead, death was inevitable.
As far as is now known this is a complete list of the catastrophes that have already occurred at Holyhead. The anchorage in the harbour has been tried to the utmost, and seems well adapted for the safety of vessels taking shelter therein. In justice to Mr William Griffith, a person who has for the last eight years posted up notice of storms, the following is a copy of his notice posted up for public view on Sunday, the 24th November, and which our correspondent copied that day - "Expected gales from N. to W., and from S. W. to W.N.W. I prognosticate that violent gales will occur between the 24th and 26th, as well as between the 27th and 30th inst."
A Silver Second Service clasp was awarded to Coxswain William Rowlands for rescuing 53 people in a northerly gale and heavy seas within a 24-hour period from 1/2 December 1867.
A PWLLHELI SCHOONER LOST IN THE CHANNEL - THE CAPTAIN DROWNED. Information
has reached us of the foundering [on 30 November 1867] of the schooner Mary
Elizabeth, about eighty tons [built 1839], Captain David Morris, bound to
Pwllheli with a cargo of coals from Runcorn. She left the Mersey on Friday
last and, before reaching the Skerries, was overtaken by a sudden gale from
S.S.W. She sprang a leak owing to the straining on her timber
when near the Skerries. The captain determined to make for Holyhead Harbour, and in doing so,
about half-past eight o'clock on Saturday morning, the vessel was suddenly
struck by a heavy gust of wind, which caused her to capsize and sink
immediately. In fact, she went down so quickly that the crew, consisting of
the captain, and two seamen named John Thomas and James Davies, had not time
to launch their small boat. They, however, succeeded in clinging to some loose
spars which kept them up. The captain who, it is said, was near 60 years of
age, soon became exhausted, and falling off from the spars was lost.
Fortunately the vessel was seen to capsize by the crew of the tug Speedwell,
Captain Joseph Evans, who had taken shelter in Holyhead Bay. Captain Evans at
once steamed to the spot, on nearing which he discovered the two men still
clinging to the spars. As the sea was running heavy, he deemed it imprudent to
go too near with the steamer lest the poor fellows might be dashed against her
and killed. Accordingly two of the Speedwell's crew volunteered to attempt the
rescue of the two men in the steamer's small boat. The tug was placed to
windward in such a position as to afford shelter to the boat, and the brave
fellows were enabled to reach the drowning men and rescue them. When taken on
board the Speedwell, the poor fellows were nearly exhausted, but they
gradually rallied under the kind treatment they received, and were ultimately
landed at Holyhead. Too much praise cannot be awarded to Captain Evans and his
crew for the manner in which they effected the rescue, which was attended with
much risk, especially to the two men who so fearlessly volunteered to man the
steamer's boat. Such conduct deserves substantial recognition.
The vessel sank about three miles south-west of Carmel Point.
Our Holyhead correspondent happened to meet
the survivors (John Thomas, of Pwllheli, and James Davies, Portmadoc), and
finding them in a very distressed state: wet to the skin, and shivering with
cold, he went to Mr John Williams, agent of the Shipwrecked Mariners Society,
who instantly supplied a railway ticket to Caernarvon, and our correspondent
collected a sum more than sufficient to defray their other expenses.
On Friday night the wind rose to a
strong breeze from S.W. by W. A large amount of shipping sought shelter in
Holyhead
harbour. Early on Saturday morning [1 December 1867], about four a.m., the steamer Telegraph,
Captain Rae, 418 tons, belonging to the London and North Western Railway
Company, sailed from Holyhead for Dublin with a crew of twenty five, and
forty passengers. When four to ten miles off (the two captains differ) the
Telegraph came into collision with the schooner Annie [78 tons, built 1864 Padstow, owned
Trevethick of Hayle], of
Penzance, bound from
Liverpool for Hayle, Cornwall, with ninety-eight tons of general cargo.
From
the depositions of Captain Jago: he saw a steamer in a southerly direction at
a distance of one mile, with red light and masthead light visible. The
schooner was, at the time, lying to on the starboard tack heading about S.E.,
reefing foresail with topsail to the mast. By the position of the steamer from
the schooner, Captain Jago concluded that she would clear his bows, as they
were lying dead to, while hauling the boom jib down. The steamer was observed
to come right to the schooner, carrying away jib-boom and bow-sprit. The
steamer rebounded several times carrying away at each successive blow the
bulwarks, staunchions, rail ropes, etc.
Captain Rae deposes that when he
observed a schooner with light ahead, he gave orders to stop the engines and
reversed full speed turning the helm from his course to N. E. by N. He reports
that the schooner struck the Telegraph's stern on the port side, stoving two
planks, carrying away bowsprit and figure head, and other damages. He turned
back and kept in company with the schooner to Holyhead to render any
assistance necessary.
The steamer was discharged, and two other steamers
left in the course of the day for Dublin with goods and passengers.
AMLWCH. SHIPWRECKS. - During the terrific gale of Sunday evening last [1 December 1867], from the N.N.E., the Brigantine George Walker, of Milford, Davies Master, from Liverpool for Santander (Spain) with a cargo of coals of 140 tons registered, built 1852, was totally wrecked at Llanlleiana, near Cemaes, Anglesey. She was driven ashore through the violence of the gale about 9:30 p.m., broadside on. In about five minutes, her fore-part was gone and foremast out; and in an hour's time she was all to atoms. Four of the crew perished, the master, mate, and one man were saved by being washed ashore on parts of the wreck. They presented a pitiful appearance, having been severely bruised against the rocks while battling with the waves for their lives.
Also the Brig Alexander Stewart, of Belfast, Watson Master, from Belfast for Troon in ballast [148 nt, built 1837], is a complete wreck at Llanrhydwys [now Llanrhwydrus - a small church, St Rhwydrus, on the coast just east of Hen Borth], near Cemlyn, Anglesey. All the crew of 6 were saved, except one man who was washed overboard and lost.
PENMON SHIPWRECK. Information from Robert Wynne Jones, Secretary of Anglesey Branch of
RNLI:
An American ship, of 1200 tons, the T. J. Southard,
Captain C. J. Bishop, laden with grain, from New York to Liverpool,
struck upon the Dinmore Bank, about half-a-mile from the shore, at 9
a.m., on the 6th December 1867, became unmanageable, and in endeavouring
to make the entrance of the Menai Straits, near the light-house, was
carried by the tremendous sea and wind, stern foremost, upon the rocks
[on the Anglesey shore].
The Peter Maxwell was following the TJ Southard towards the
Straits, and seeing her thumping on the Dinmore Bank, was able to steer
away and so escaped the fate of the Southard. Both ships were in charge
of Liverpool Pilots.
The local crew of the life-boat, four men sent down from
Beaumaris by me, and other volunteers arrived to help. Some of the
Penmon men, with ropes round their waists, had been exerting themselves
in the surf and sea for more than an hour and a half in endeavouring to
get hold of a cask (stove in with an axe and the bung out) thrown from
the ship, with a line attached, before the arrival of four men and two
boys from the Liverpool steam-tug [Captain Bibby], by which time the
tide had so far receded as to leave, nearly bare between waves, a flat
ledge of rock nearer to the wreck than where the cask was. It was along
this ledge that McCartney, one of those four men [from the steam tug]
with a rope round his waist walked, or crawled, and succeeded in getting
hold of a rope and block, which just then for the first time reached the
rock from the ship, and brought it to the shore on the very first
attempt he made, which occupied less than five minutes. McCartney then
went for dry clothes, with his comrades, leaving the rest of the rescue
to be carried out by the lifeboat men, and other volunteers. Once they
succeeded in effecting a communication with the ship, by means of a
hawser from the life-boat house, which was attached to the shrouds of
the vessel, they successfully and safely landed all who were on board,
numbering twenty-two persons. This was accomplished by sliding an
improvised chair (a boatswain's chair) up and down the hawser connecting
the ship with the rocks. At the time, the wind and the sea were
terrific, with occasional hail showers, and severely cold, so that the
service was not only one of skill, but attended with considerable risk
and labour to the brave volunteers. Although the case was one where the
services of the life-boat could not be made available, the objects of
the society were ably and promptly carried out, without risking the
boat, and chiefly by the crew immediately connected with it.
The twenty-two persons brought ashore, including the captain,
his wife and stewardess, having saved nothing but what they had upon
them, were immediately housed, and as far as practicable clothed, in the
three pilots' cottages close by, and their comforts and wants were
bountifully supplied by the gentry in the neighbourhood.
Fourteen of the crew were next day forwarded to Liverpool,
through the instrumentality of the Rev. J. Skinner Jones, as Secretary
to the Shipwrecked Fishermen and Mariner's Society.
It is singular that every living creature on board this
unfortunate ship should have been saved, except a fine Newfoundland dog,
who was drowned, notwithstanding the strenuous efforts of his fond
master, the captain, to rescue his favourite; - thus it happens,
occasionally, it is not always the best swimmers that are saved.
I am happy to state that the committee of our institution in
London has awarded £3 each, to J. McCartney, John Williams, and
Owen Roberts; and 10s each to twelve other men, who exerted themselves
on the occasion.
Postscript Advertisement:
SALE OF WRECK. PENMON, NEAR BEAUMARIS, ANGLESEY. IMPORTANT
TO SHIP OWNERS, BUILDERS, AND CHANDLERS, MARINE STORE DEALERS, FARMERS,
AND OTHERS. MESSRS W. H. SMITH and SON have been favoured with
instructions to Sell by Auction, for the benefit of whom it may concern,
at Black Point, Penmon, Anglesey, close to the Menai Lighthouse, about
ten miles from Bangor Railway Station, on Tuesday next, the 17th day of
December, 1867, at 11 o'clock in the forenoon, prompt, the hull, masts,
yards, sails (new), new hemp standing, and Manilla running, rigging,
blocks, anchors and chains, boats, buckets, oars, etc., of the American
ship "T. J. Southard," of and built at Richmond, Maine, U.S., of oak,
5 years old, 1,129 tons register, yellow metalled (Muntz) in March,
1867, and copper fastened within five streaks of the bends.
Also a large quantity of Grain Bags. The whole wll be sold
without reserve, and is very well worthy of the attention of shipowners,
builders, and chandlers, marine store dealers, farmers, and others,
being far superior to the generality of wrecks. For further particulars
apply to Captain C. J. Bishop, at the wreck, Captain D. Chisholm,
Salvage Agent, Marine Hotel, Holyhead, or to the Auctioneers, Messrs.
W. H. Smith and Son, Marine Hotel, Holyhead.