The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-09-26 00:00:00

THE COLLISION IN THE DOWNS.

A Dover correspondent, who made-further inquiries
respecting the disaster to the Dolphin, wrote on
Monday that the vessel now lies in about six fathoms
of water, not quite a mile from shore, and exactly
midway between Kingsdown and Weimer Castle.
Both her masts are about 18ft. out of the water, and
a portion of her funnel is also to be seen at high
water. The seventeen missing persons have perished.
Up to Monday only one body had been recovered,
that of John Churchill, the crane man, an old sea-
man of middle-age, belonging to Bermondsey. The
body was found about six hours after the collision
not far from the disabled vessel. The survivors had
a narrow escape for their lives as they were left
clinging to the mast and gaff three hours after the
collision. After the two boats which got away from
the vessel had been fallen in with by boats from the
shore a surfboat was put off by some Kingsdown
boatmen. Soon after starting the boatmen met a
galle3-punt pulling from the vessel, and they were in-
formed that if they went as far as the wreck they
would probably be sunk, inasmuch as there upwards
of 20 people clinging to the rigging, and these would
all endeavour to scramble into the boat. The would-
be rescuers accordingly returned to shore, and with
all expedition launched the lifeboat, an operation in
which plenty of willing hands lent assistance. Before
reaching the vessel, however, further delay occurred.
The wind and tide were adverse, and it was found
necessary to pull in under the land as far as Walmer
Castle beforo sail could be hoisted. It is only fair to
the Kingdown boatmen to say that they used every
effort to rescue the men as speedily as possible. A
circumstance much commented upon in the district
is the fact that although the distance from the Weimer
lifeboat and the coastguard station to the wreck is
about equal to that between the wreck and King-
down, the disaster does not seem to have been noticed
on the Walmer beach, from which point the lifeboat
could bave borne down with very great ease, and in a
very short time, as both tide and wind would have
favoured her. When the Kingsdown boatmen reached
the wreck the survivors were taken off in a very
exhausted state. The captain, mate, seaman, and
fireman, who were all more or less exhausted, were
clinging to the mast. One passenger, a Frenchman,
was found lying over the mouth of the funnel,
and another passenger named Whiley, who was
also rescued, seems to have had a miraculous
escape. When the vessel was sinking he lashed him-
self to the rail of the bridgo by means of a scarf or
handkerchief with which he tied his leg to the rail.
When the vessel sask the sudden pressure of water
upon the bridge wrenched it from the ship, and in a
certain measure it answered the purpose of a raft. In
this position the man was found by the Kingsdown
boatmen. When he was rescued it was at first
thought be was dead. He was unconscious and reel-
ing about in the water, the waves frequently washing
over the bridge. On reaching the shore medical aid
was summoned, and he has since recovered. All those
who were rescued in this way have suffered more or
less from exposure. Although the Dolphin carried
five boats only two were launched. Four of the boats,
all large ones, were carried at the stern, two on either
side. A smaller boat was carried at the bow. The
boats were in board, but there appears to have been
no neglect in having everything in readiness for
swinging the boats out when required, but as is often
the case in accidents of this kind, they were of no
avail. The Brenda struck the Dolphin a fearful
blow on the starboard quarter, ripping out the
side almost completely, making a breach, to
use the expression of one who saw it, such
as a carriage and pair might drive through.
One of the boats was smashed in the collision, and of
the other three remaining in this part of the ship
only one could be lowered before the stern of the
vessel settled down, carrying everything with her.
The boat in the fore part of the ship was got out,
but unfortunately was not so large as those which
had been lost; one holding 11 and the other 16
persons. The larger boat got away first in charge of
the second mate, and as far as could be ascertained
the whole of the women on board wore put into the
boats. The second boat was in charge of the second
engineer. The attention of the boatmen who were
rowing out to the vessel in response to the signals of
distress was attracted in another direction to the
boats which had left the ship by the shrieks of those
on board and by lights being occasionally shown. It
afterwards transpired that the poor creatures struck
matches and burnt anything they could to make a
flame. When reached one of the boats was found
half full of water, which she had shipped in leaving
the ship. They had nothing to bale her out with,
and they were without oars. The Brenda offered no
assistance after the collision. They say that after
striking the Dolphin she steamed right away and was
soon out of sight, notwithstanding that the whole of the
people on board were shrieking for help. The cries for
help could be distinctly heard all over the village.
When the Dolphin was struck she was about two
miles from land. According to the statement of the
second officer, Seldon, who was in charge of the vessel
at the time of the collision, he first sighted the
steamer about half-past one. The first thing he saw
was the masthead light; the vessels were then about
a mile apart. and approaching each other. Very
shortly afterwards be noticed the Brenda's starboard
light, and then, thinking to allow the vessels a wider
berth, he opened out his own starboard light. Just
after this the Brenda suddenly ported. The vessels
were now very close together, and, before anything
could be done to avert a collision, the Brenda ran
down on to the Dolphin, striking her as described. As
soon as it was seen what had happened the officer in
command, Seldon, shouted to the captain, who imme-
diately came on deck, and also gave orders for the
boat to be lowered. The head of the steamer was
turned inshore immediately after the collision with
the hope of being able to beach her, but the breach
in the vessel's side was of such enormous extent that
the water rushed in volumes into the saloon, and
within four minutes after the collision happened the
fires had been put Out, and the vessel settled down on
her stern, leaving her bows standing out of the water
at an acute angle. The vessel did not sink altogether
until nearly half an hour after the collision.