The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1876-12-19 00:00:00

DIS &STROUS COLLISION IN
THE WEST BAY

TWO VESSELS AND FDTEEN LIVES LOST.

The company of the barque Robert Kelly, of Boston,
Maes.,ll.Bl. A., and two men of the barilue f(uildersfiel
of Liverpool, were yesterday afternissi brought to the
Weymouth Sailors' It the two vessels having been
in collision, awl both sunk, with fifteen (including the
caotain) of the HudderslichL The Robert Kelly is
823 tons register, bound from Havre, France, for
Tyliee island, i.e ballast, for orders, and she had on
board the captain, captain's wife, one passsenger, two
officers, a cook, a steward. awl 10 seamen. When in
the West Bay, the Start light bearing abed N. and by
\V. about 18 or 19 miles, and at six o'elock on Tuesil
morning, those on beard Saw a bright light nearly
ahead, and suppiscil it was a steamboat running t the
westward. The Robert Kelly was then steering
E.N.K. running hack for Portland Roads, the weather
beingthick. Shortly after, they saw a red light and
the white light still showed, and they put the helm
liwalmaeirt, expecting to clear the othis ve+seL But,
instead if doing wo, they struck her between the main
and mizsm masts, and the other vessel almost im-
mediately went dawn, only two of the crew saving
themselves by climbing over the bows of the Robert
Kelly. The latter baripie hail a lot of her spars and
rigging carried away, incleiling the About], every-
thing above the foremast head, next went everything
above the mainmast hewl, awl also the mizen topmast.
They at eau* got out a email etarloard boat, to try and
pick up some of the iitlwr crew ; but a epar floating
along side almost directly knocked a bole in her Iselin'',
and as the mate eteppeil into the boat, he lint his rout
into the hole, and had to haul himself out by a rope,
there being plenty at once thrown over the Robert
Kellyis aides, and they had also thrown out lifebuoys to
the men of the other vessel. The small boat was warn
swamped awl abandoned. Then it was found that
the Robert Kelly wad beginning fast to settle down
in the water. The mate cut away the main and
maizen masts, and was about to cut away the foremast,
but saw it was of no use. Several smacks were seen,
apparently working up to the distressed banme ; but
the weather becoming thick, they were lost sight of;
The barque continuing to settle fast, they got out a
large yawl, and into her were put the captain's wife,
passenger, and four men. Perfect order was main-
tamed; the officers gave their orders clearly, and
were promptly obeyed. While the yawl was towed
astern by a long line, the captain and the rest of the
company remained on board, waiting for the fishing
smacks. Finding the smacks did not come up thisie
on board the barque, including the two from the
Huddersfield, j asl over one by one, the captain
and mate lust, and were hauled on board the boat, till
all were safe. The I, iat was, as may be supposed,
deeply laden with 19 on board ; the wind was about
mouth, with a nasty crow sea. lint they steered N. E.
for Land, ;miming several vessels, which did not appear
to see them, at any rate they passed them without
giving any help. At last the ailliioll4 soula in the
boat spiel a banmetine, which came towards them.
A rope having been thrown out and secured, the boat
CAIIIO some little distance from the stern, and was
made fast, as it was dangerous to appmaeh the
banmetine within leas than a cable's length, there
being a heavy sea on. The occupants of the boat
were then tied by a nye from the barquetine around
them, awl haulmd on board the succouring vessel, even
the captain's wife lutving thus to be pulled through
the sea. The vessel was the AVOCA, Captain Maxted,
from Newcastle? for Lisbon. Her captain, officers,
and crew very loudly treated the rescued people, who
desire to express their very warm gratitude for the
assistance and welcome they received in. board. They
hail been in the boat about two hours, and only
escaped with the toes of all except 'what they stood
upright in." The Avoca brought them into Porthuid
about halfaiast two, awl were aterwards Sent on
ti WernOnth Item,., where they were kindly
received ofid eared tor by Mr. and Mrs. Crossby.
The two men of the Huddersfield were Jan.
Mansfield and George Seliwurai they report there wi.,1%
15 others on board, wha are sulTik seal to have perished.
The Huddersfield, Captain i.e.,',,, was bound from
Isnadon to Kurrachee with inin (bridge stock). She
hail previously been in collision, and it is supposed
this was with a Norwegian which cone into Wry-
lllll uth previously. This may ace.' t fir ti,- appwent
confusion ols,ervial by the 11. hurt Kelly as ti the
Huddersfield's lights. Tho f those saved
froni the Robert Kelly were : -Captain Kingman and
Sarah, his wife: Mr. Readon, first mate: Llr. llenry
Kling, WC mil mate; Mr. .1. B. Kerschner, passenger;
Forest F. AI ore, steward ; George Haynes, cook ;
and the fidlowing seamen : —Charles H. Clark, James
Deuuiey, John Smith, Ben Wilson. Richard Dahl,
Olaf Nilson, Charles Hanson, John Windham. dames
Phillips, and James Lower. All these, with the
Huddersfield men, were kindly entertained at the
Sailors' Home, a most valuable institution, which
ought not to be, an we hear it is, in want of funds.
The Shipwrecked Mariners' Society would send them
next day to their homes. The Robert Kelly went
down just as the last man left her; in fact he had
hardly time to get clear of her before she Rank, and the
boat had to be hastily backed, in order to get clear of
the swivil, or she too would have been carried down by
the suction of the ship. It was a very narrow escape
for all hand&

THE VOCAL AND ORCHESTRAL CONCERT.
The very classical concert given en Thursday evening
last, hy the two Weymouth musical societies.. the V0..ul
Association and the Orchestral Society, wu well attended-
the largo assembly reined the Royal Howl being so full ! • _—
that some who arrived after the concert had commenced SEWAGE DISPOSAL.
a ere nuahle to get any but a back seat. The gathering of I
To the Editor.
Mogen, on the platform is always one of the great
attracdons of them concerts, and we were happy to see am! Sir,—Allow me to call your attention Li a vlens,• in
increase of numbers, though there is rumn for still more ; the report of the Committee recently appoint, I by the
good singcra to join the associating. The Orchestral Local Ilovermrient lioari to imoire into the Racier", under their admirable loader, Mr. J. P. Collett,
lent the otter moamiati,m boon raiiiabio aid. forming a mus.kei
ration,‘ for theilispoeal of sewage. Afterreviewi_ lig the
more complete holy than eveu a more minters's muster of rarla.. lat which hal l'cela "kLi fur siren
vocalists only would have mail, The Veal Aasoeiation few years past. the report this conellides : -
Itself 1111111Allett the soloGts, Moe Squire taking the ; " Lastly, towns situate .ist the sea roast, or on tidal
soprano, Mrs. Stedman the contralto, and Mr. Dehenhain estuaries, may he allowed to turn sewiwe into the sea
the tenor parts. As before Mr. T. Avant was conductor, or eatuary. below the line of low water, provided no
end Mr. O. Thome accompaniit. It nii4ht pieriti strange nuisance to caused, and much mode id getting ri.l of
that the engagement of really high-chus professionals
should not be as profitable to the
sewage '°
,Y"aY be alkwed and justified on the score of
Amociatlon as in some
town, ; but our amateurs must certainly feel flattered that economy.
they we able to draw even larger how,. then profeisionjus This will, I believe, practically set at rest the quo&
themselves. The goodness of our singers asul isudrumentat. Lion of a further outlay of £lO,OOO for the disposal of

our sewage, together with an additional charge of
1:1,000 per annum to defray the expenses of a pump.
lug station, etc., whilst it will also enable the rate-
payers to bear with equanisnity their present heavy
local burdens.

I am, Sir, faithfulty youra,
IfF:Nur m.ro.
Medical Officer of Health for Weymouth.
9, Frederick-place, 12th December, 1876.