STORMS AND SHIPWRECKS ON THE ENGLISH COAST.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1023, 14 January 1882, Page 4

STORMS AND SHIPWRECKS ON THE ENGLISH COAST.

Ax estimate can now be formed of the loss of life and property during the recent gales, among shipping in the Tyne and Wear. It is very considerable. The Tyne has suffered least, the Wear the most. The Tyne has lost a steam-tug with all her hands, and a small coasting steamer, the Bertha, with all her crew. It is to be feared that the steamer Alexandra, of Malmo, must be reckoned among the lost. She had a crew of twenty hands, all told, with five or six adult passengers, and four children. The circumstances in connection with the loss of the Berwick fishermen have specially painful surroundings. They were an extremely industrious, frugal, and sober body of men. Within recent years a great trade in herring fishing has sprung up in connection with the Tyne. About 120 sail of Scotch fishing vessels pursue this calling, from May till the end of December, from that river. The Eyemouth and Berwickshire men generally have been very successful, and have put their accumulated savings into large keel boats, and fitted them up with first-class gear. Not only are the lives of these poor men lost, but all the fruits of their prudence and industry have also been swept away by the destruction of their boats and gear.

Particulars received with respect to theloss of the Austrian barqueldonico, at Rocky Bay, show that eight members of the crew, with the captain’s wife, perished, and that only two were saved, the captain (Mariglio), and the boatswain. The Idonico was from Liverpool, bound for Baltimore with a cargo of salt. When coming down the Irish Channel it came on to blow a strong gale, which continued to increase. The sea broke over the vessel, and she continued to ship heavy seas until the three boats were stove in, and the hatches were burst. The pumps became choked, and would not work. The rudder also got out of order. In this disabled condition the captain endeavored to make for Queenstown, but failed owing to the violence of the gale, and the vessel went ashore at Roeky Bay. Here the seas made a clean breach of the vessel and swept off the crew. The captain, placing a life-belt on his body, made a noble effort to save his young wife, who was on board. After a long struggle a heavy sea separated the two. She was drowned, and her husband was washed towards a cave in the rocks, where he was rescued by a Coastguard officer and a resident. The vessel became a total wreck, and the next day six bodies were washed ashore, including that of the captain’s wife.