ANOTHER FEARFUL STORM

Wellington Independent, Volume XVI, Issue 1702, 21 February 1862, Page 5

ANOTHER FEARFUL STORM

From the Leed's Mercury, November b.

ONE HUNDRED AND SEVEN VESSELS

ON SHORE.

Briddliugton Quay, Monday. — Tbe violent storm which swept over the north east coast with such fearful results, on Saturday week, hns been followed by another, within eight days, no less violent, and scarcely less disastrous in its effects. Along the line of coast, running from the Humber to Flambro' Head, it has fallen with a severity unprecedented for many years, and the beach, within several miles of this place, is literally covered with stranded vessels and wreck. The coast here forms a fine bay, bounded on the north by the chalk cliffs and sunken rocks of Flamhro' Head, and on the east end south by a low line of clay cliffs and a sandy shoal, exposed to the full force of storms from the north-east, south and south-east, which swept over it with irresistible violence. Stretching from the Humber to within a few miles of Flambro' Head is a sunken shoal, called the Smethwick-sands, over which the sea breaks when the wind is off the land in huge billows, which crest the horizon with a belt of foam, and, within; along the southern edge of the bay, are several knolls or shadows, which are easily distinguished in heavy storms by the surf which covers them. The bay, though affording the safest shelter ou the coast with a north wind, thus becomes almost one mass of broken water on the wind chopping round to the east, and as this is a case of frequent occurrence, vessels shelteriug there, or steering a course within a few miles of land find it almost impossible to work off to sea, and are driven on the beach covered with foam, and shattered by the waves as they break over them from the shore. Yesterday (Sunday) the bay was a surgiog mass of brokeu water, and as the wind swept onward in its mad career, rendered more fearful by showers of pelting rain, the inhabitants became alarmed for the safety of a fleet of small coasting vessels, lying off the roadstead. During Saturday night there were wild gusts of wind from the south-east, which on Sunday rose to a hurricane, and soon lashed the sea into huge swelling billows, which, as they rolled forward in rapid succession, broke midway to the beach. Several of the vessels attempted to take the harbour, almost inaccessible from the weight of the sea breaking across the bar, whilst others, less fortunate, in vain tried ta sail out of the bay, and were driven upon tbe beach at various poiuts, until, wilhin view of tbe town, no fewer than thirteen wrecks could be counted left stranded upon the strands.

The followiug are the names of vessels driven on shore during the storm : — The Catherine Frazer, Venus, aud Dove of Lym; the Goodwill, Waterwitch, and Sylpb,of Whitby; the Undine, John and Jane, and Petrel, of Yarmouth; the Ipswich ; the William and Jane, of Inverness ; the Hoop, of Holland ; and tbe Favourite, of Suuderland.

(From another correspondent.) — Ou Sunday last a very severe storm visited Bridlingt.on and neighbourhood, and considerable damage was done to the shipping in the bay. It is not yet known exactly what number of lives have been lost ; but we fear that at least fifteen persons have found a watery grave, as three vessels have sunk with all hands. The storm began to rage at half-past six o'clock in the morning, and did not abate until three o'clock in the afternoon. At eight o'clock a vessel went on shore on the north side of the pier and was much damaged. Two other vessels shortly afterwards attempted to enter the harbour, and in doing so, one of them, a schooner, was dashed against the pier, aud sustained considerable damage to her bulwarks. The Self, from Lyon, got into the harbour all safe. At half-past nine, a schooner and abrig were observed to be ashore north of the pier, both of them being much injured, but all hands were saved by the rocket apparatus of the coast guard. The attention of the spectators was thus called to the south, shore, where two other vessels were observed to be in distress. One of them was dashed against the jetty several times, and became a complete wreck. To the credit of the coast guard all the hands were, in this case,,uilso saved by their rocket apparatus. The other, after being thrown agaiust tbe jetty, got into harbour much damaged. A French vessel was observed on tbe shore, but it was not much injured. Wilsthorpe-cliff, about one mile and a half from Bridlington, was a scene of much excitement, six -vessels being ashore, and all the crews were saved by the rocket apparatus belonging to tbe coast-guard. Shortly after ten o'clock a small schooner entered the harbour laden with salt, and grounded near tbe entrance. It was followed by a large vessel, which pitched into the schooner and did considerable damage. The confusion in the harbour was now at the highest pitch, the vessels being tossed about like feathers, and severely damaging one another. Whilst matters were iv this state two large vessels entered the harbour, and dashed against a building belonging to Mr. Bycroft, Britannia hotel, and knocked down part of the brick work and two windows. Mr. Brambles, Lloyd's agent, then ordered all the vesseKs in the harbour to be unrigged, tbe storm being unabated, and tbe vessels doing considerable damage to one another. A vessel was seen in distress about one mile and a,half from the pier, from ten o'clock till three, but the hurricane was so great that the boatmen dared

not venture out to render assistance. At three o'clock she came ashore, aud a boat saved ihe crew. A vessel laden with lime, which suffered severely in the last storm, went down abreast of Flambro' head, with all hands. Two other vessels are reported to have sunk, with the crews, on tbe north of Flambro*. It is said that no fewer than 107 vessels are ashore on the north of Flambro'. The greatest praise is due to the coast guard, and also to the visitors and inhabitants, for the assistance rendered in saving the crews of the vessels. »

Shields, Monday forenoon — A most fierce gale of wind came on to blow from the S.E. about daybreak yesterday, and at tide time it was a perfect hurricane; the sea also rising fearfully, and the rain coming down in torrents. The scene was quite appalling. Several vessels made their way through the tremendous sea, and reached the Tyne in safety. The Ivanhoe, screw steamer from Leith to Dunkirk, which sought i shelter, was quite disabled when she reached the harbour ; and several vessels had most narrow escapes, A fleet of light vessels were expected from London, and great anxiety was expressed lest they should arrive off the coast after dark, aud attempt to take the harbour at the night tide, but that did not occur. The fleet was caught off" Flamboro' head by the gale, and at one time it was so intense that the captains thought that all their vessels must be driven ashore. But, fortunately as the forenoon advanced and the gale bad lashed itself into a hurricane, instead of getting round more to the eastward as they feared, it began to blow more from the southward, and the vessels got a good offing and so escaped. The gale suddenly ceased blowing between five and 3ix last night. To-day the wind is from the south, and the sea falling. About fifty light vessels have arrived in the Tyne this morning.

The storm which raged with so much violence on the north-east of England did not confine its fury to those shores. It seems to have been general all over the North Sea and the Baltic, and to have caused an equal loss of life and property on the Continent as there. The columns of the dailies bear record of a sad catalogue of shipwreck,Danisb, Russian, and Swedish, as well as English. Among the latter is the Hull steamer "Lion, 1 ' which, obliged to leave Cronstadt on occount of the rapid setting iv of tbe ice, was caught in the gale and became a total wreck on the isle of Gothland. Happily, the crews were saved, but the crews of several of the foreign vessels perished. Discoveries at Stjuz. — The excavations which are being made for the oanal fortbelsthmusofSuez.haveled to the discovery at Gizeh of a religious edifice as vast as the Louvre, and which was constructed more than 5000 years ago. At Karnck also, a temple, the circuit of which is stated to be four kilometres (two miles and ahalf), has been discovered, and another at Edfou, containing twenty saloons. The walls of these latter edifices are decorated with sculptures, hieroglyphics) and paintings, still fresh.