DISASTER AT THE SHETLAND ISLES.

Kumara Times, Issue 1565, 3 October 1881, Page 2

DISASTER AT THE SHETLAND ISLES.

On Wednesday, July 20th last, a sudden and severe gale swept over the north-east coast of Scotland, causing great destruction of life and property among the Shetland fleet of fishing vessels, which were then engaged in their avocation. At least sixty-tluve lives were lost. There were, from one district alone—that of Gloap, North Yell—thirty-six men who perished, leaving twenty-four widows and fiftysix children of fourteen years and under. The losses from other localities were correspondingly large. On the day of the catastrophe the fleet put to sea, and al'out 11 p.m. the wind began to rise, and soon increased to a furious gale with a tremendous sea. The boats made foi shore, but out of more than thirty in number eleven were lost, together with nearly all the nets and lines belonging to the fleet, which had to be abandoned. The particulars, as

published in the Scotch newspapers, are harrowing in the extreme, the calamity being unequalled since the great gale of 1832, when 100 nieh perished. The greater number of men who were lost—either us sons or hits'*bands—were the sole support of thb families to which they belonged) Id that part of the country, where rated rise as high as Ss in £, blit little cad be done for the destitution thus caused) and an appeal is now being made throughout the colonies, as well as at Home, on the behalf or those so svlddenly deprived of their means of subsistence;