The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-08-23 00:00:00

A TERRIBLE NIGHT AT SEAS

An account of the experiences of the five men who went
out to rescue some boys who were in peril at the Swansea
Regatta, and who were at first supposed to be drowned, is
published in the South Wales Daily News.

Eight brave fellows, named John Edwards, John
Cornelius, Thomas Thomas, John Banks, Alfred
Teesdale, George George, David Davies, and Thomas
Richards, a boy, on Saturday volunteered to go to the
assistance of a number of lads, who were seen in dis-
tress about two miles from land. The sea was very
rough at the time, and, as a violent wind was also
raging, the occupants of the boat had no slight task
before them. They put out above five o'clock, and
in two hours succeeded in coming up to the boys, when
three of the men—Edwards, Banks, and David Davies
—transferred themselves to the boys' boat, and, after
some hard work, were picked up by a passing barque.
The other boat, containing the four men and the
boy, disappeared from view, and nothing was heard of
it excepting a vague account to the effect that it had
been seen at nine o'clock op Saturday night, when the
men were making for the Mumbles, It now appears
that after being left by the three men named, the re-
malning five tried to keep up with the other boat, and
that by some means the two craft parted company.
Shortly after this a heavy storm came on, obscuring
the view and rendering the men almost helpless.
They say that they were near enough to the barque
which rescued their companions to hear shouting
from the ship to the boat, and that they tried in vain
to get up to her. They felt themselves washed further
and further out to sea, the boat inclining in the direction
of Nash Point, and at this time the fury of the storm
was at its height. They became exhausted, and for a
time were unable to use the oars, of which they then
had but three, when a huge wave swept over the boat
and completely capsized her, throwing the occupants
into the water. Fortunately they Gould all swim, and,
having recovered the oars, they succeeded, though with
great difficulty, in clutching the boat so as to save them.
selves. One then went to the bow and the others to the
side, by which means they managed to heave the boat
into her proper position. The men were then fortunate
enough to regain their places, and, as midnight was fast
approaching, they again applied themselves to the
oars, though in a half despairing kind of way. Anon
the poor fellows became exhausted, gave up
pulling, and resigned themselves to what they
considered their inevitable fate—a watery grave.
Again, and once again, they were thrown into the
water, but managed to readjust the boat, when at a
time which was afterwards ascertained to be four
o'clock (Sunday morning) they were dashed upon
some rocks. The bottom of the boat was stove in, and
the occupants were much knocked and bruised about
the boEly. Upon regaining their feet they hastily
climbed up the rocks until a place of comparative
safety was reached,
The place at which the men were wrecked was very
near to Nash Point, where the sands are very dhn-
gerous.
They remained upon the rocks until nine o'clock in
the morning, when they left for Bridgend, and, after
being hospitably treated in a farmhouse at that place,
they took the first train for Swansea, arriving there
about half-past eight at night.