The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1869-09-18 00:00:00

THE LATE GALES.

The severe weather which was experienced in the metro- •
pods and generally throughout the country on Sunday con-
tinued, though in a more modified form, on Sunday night
and early on Monday morning, after which there was a slight
lull. Soon after da)break, however, the wind again Corn-
ineneed to blow hard, its force amcunting to that of a gale,
and about noon, and for several hours afterwards, its strength
was frequently that of a baritone. There was very Nib:lrian
up to one o'clock, but subsequently it descended in torrents
for neatly two hours, and with the wind caused vast destruc-
tion of property. Traffic in the streets of London was
carried on with extreme difficulty, and was attended with
actn sl danger, as with every strong gust of wind broken
materials 11l from houses in showers. From this cause
alone many persons have received serious injuries. About
halt-past two the wind blew in terrific gusts. causinz much
excitement, and in some parts of the City at it the Strand, a
temporary suspension of the traffic. Horses became un-
manageable, umbrellas were turned inside ont, and bats were
. blowing about from all ,marlers. II a;pily this state of things
was if shirt duration. Much damage was 41oue to property
in all parts of the metropilis and Bilbillbs. The reports
received by the Meteorological Depai trnent of the board of
Trade showed that the gale was general, though the pre.sure
of the wind was greater at tlie Channel stations than at other
p.rts. The river was full it shipping, waiting for moderwe
weather before proceeding totes ; and so also were the grin-
ciprit ing places and ports round the southern, eastern,
and western coasts. Sevmal barges and a largo number of
boats were swamped In the rivet and mink, but, fortunately,
only one fatality is recorded—that of a boy, who felt from a
steamtug during the height of the gale, and was drowned..
RAMSGATE, Monday.
The severe gale which swept the ..11tlbeastern coast on
Sondes morning continued all day yesterday. It has been
I rut ful ot these! er to the shipping in the neighbourhood,
and a•tended by at It ast One total casualty in the vicinity. A
vessel, the Edith Maui'', of Hull (Schofield master b hod
for Brussels, with elity, sought shelter in the Royal Harbour
this morning, with the loss of two anchors and chains, her
sails split, and one man killed. Ile was named Wellburn, a
native of Hull, and it appears that he-was employed in I url-
ing the sails from a pant arm near the North Foreland on
Sunday morning, when he was blown oft by the force of the
gale on to the deck, lie use picked up dead, his neck, it is
supposed, having been broken. The body wan brought Its
this morning, and an inquest held upon it this afternoon.
Besides the wreck of the Neapolitan brig Sir.rt, alrealy re-
ported, a titimber of other casualties have occurred, though
not of so serious a character, one vessel having been just
• towed in with the loss of the whole of her mainmast and
r rigging.
WEYMOUTH, Monday.

About eleven o'clock on Sunday night the steamship
Aquila, Captain Brach°, left Weymouth harbour for the pur-
pose of going to the Channel Islands with mails and pas-
sengers. On getting outside Portsmouth the sea was tre-
menilous, and after having gone about twenty miles a sea
struck her, carrying away a portion of her stanchions,
gangway, and sidehonse. For the safety if the vessel and
passengers Cap sin Brach° deemed it expedient to return to ;
W eyno uth, where, after considerable difficulty, sloe arrived I
about seven this morning. The passengers speak In the
highest manner of the coolness and able seamanship which
he displayed on this trying aceasion. The wind is still blow.
ing great guns, and there are no signs of its abating.
Monday Afternoon.
The Esplanade and pile pier have been the resort of nearly 1
2 000 persons this morning, who have been anxiously watch-
ing the fate of a brigantine, which was fast drifting to the
rocks of Lulworth eref Whitenose. The vessel, which turns
out to be the Hannah, bound from Stockholm for Nantes,
tried to make for the breakwater, but faLed. and with almost
bare poles rapidly drifted to the leeward. Finding it Minos-
Wile to carry any canvas, a pilot hiss signalled for, and Pilot
George Brown, of Portland. with a crew of for men, put
oil to her assistance. These also tried. sub the 010 01 some
Can.., to hear up against tine wind, nut the rails were
rent to pieces. The vetsel was now at the mercy of wind and
waves, and was rapidly drifting .q 1 to a .Isrigerons lee shore
tiny a few miles distant. Upon this signals of distress were
hoisted, and the Colnomdore steamed out of harbour to
her aid. When the In ignitine was drifting the sea was
running almost mountains ILO', and the unfortunate
vessel was swept from stem to stern. The rush of water
was so great that the scuppeoholes failed to relieve the ship
fast enough, and several large holes had to he knocked in
her bulwarks in order to free her of water. Ohs pinched and
tamed in an awful manner, and it was with the utmost diht•