The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1865-11-28 00:00:00

TOTAL WRECK OF A SCHOONER.

During the past week, the weather in the Channel
has been very variable and unsettled, with a high
barometer, ranging from 30431 n. to 29 80i0., and with
auctuations of temperature and moisture, the range of
temperature being in the minimum 40 deg., and the
maximum 56 deg. The winds have also varied very
much in direction and force, making • sweep from
E.S.E. to N.W. by W., and back again. On Saturday
the wind blew a stiff gale, bringing with it copious falls
of rain, which continued throughout Sunday. Storm
signals have been hoisted at various parts along the
remit by order of the Board of Trade. There has been •
very heavy sea in the Channel, and vessels of the mer-
cantile marine have been greatly endangered.
Unhappily, this rough weather has resulted in the
destruction and loss of a valuable schooner off our own
harbour. Notwithstanding the dangerous nature of the
coast, but few wrecks have occurred of late year!.
' On Monday afternoon two vessels were in the bay,
waiting for the tide to enable them to enter the
harbour. Oue of them, the "T 7 Again," had been off
since Saturday, anxiously looking for the expected tide.
She, however, had a pilot on board, and got safely into
port on Monday evening. The "Black Diamond,"
a small schooner from Cork, laden with oats, arrived
off the port from the westward about 4p.m. on Monday,
but the sea was so rough that • pilot could not get out
to her. Unhappily, the captain was imperfectly ac-
quainted with the coast, and got too near land, and was
all but wrecked off Burton. He tried to get out to sea,
but the wind blew inland and he tound it impossible. In
this strait, be determined to do what was really the only
thing possible—run for the harbour. But it was now
pitch dark, thick nun was falling, and the sea was
hourly becoming more boisterous. The vessel was seen
to be in great danger, and the shore was studded with
coastguardsmen and sailors anxiously watching the
event, and making every preparation for rendering
the help that was possible. Mr. Bolsi', the chief
officer of the coastguard, got the mortar apparatus
in readiness, while sir. White, the harbour master,
exerted himself right manfully, with many others,
whose names we don't know. The schooner missed the
harbour and drifted to the westward, and went ashore
opposite the oomrsencent of the West Cliff. Quickly
Mr. Boxell succeeded in throwing a line across the
forebrace of the ship. He then boldly went into the
sea towards the vessel, and after great exertions, during
which he was time after thus dashed to the
bottrmi by the waves and inPred to some extent
and greatly exhausted, he reached the ship and
caught hold of s rope hanging over its side, that, how-
-1 ever, was not fast, and he fell into the trough of the
sea under the vessel. He was then hauled back to
shore by the men, but he renewed his efforts, and
eventually succeeded in reaching the vessel, and in getting
the crew safely ashore. Mr. Marten, the collector of
of H.M.'s Customs rendered efficient assistance.
The vessel drifted broadside on to the beach, but the
wind and tbe waves afterwards turned her stern
towards the shore. The next morning one side of her
. . . . . .

was completely dashed to pieces, the mute fell over
board, and the cargo, consisting of 1218 barrels of oats,
was washed oat. It was expected that the following
night, when high water came, she would get
broken up entirely, but she still held together.
a proof that she must have been strongly built and in
good condition. The sea was tremendously rough, the
waves at high tide dashing against her and over her.
There was nearly 11 owt. of beef, about 1 cwt. of
pork, and 1 cwt of bread, besides some tes, ooffee, and
sugar on board when the vessel went on shore, very
little of which wee saved. There were no spirits on
board, but Ogre were • few bottles of porter,
whioh were all smashed when she struck. The
captain and crew lost most of their clothing. The
captain saved his sextant and a few other things.
Be estimates his loss at about £6. The vessel
wise well formed in her rigging, &a, and fully manned.
None of the crew, which consisted of a mate, two
men, and • boy, besides the captain, were 'Herded with
liquor. In the confusion the mate got his leg jammed
between the boat and the meat, and it was feared his
, leg was broken, but it happily turned out not to be the
ease. The boy was lashed to the rigging.
r, The cargo, we understand, belongs to
1 Bull Hotel, and is insured ; it is aotnoa
vessel is insured or not.
The disaster has Incited quite a.
tewn, and crowds of people went
ffisest dowses_
Wednesday M see the wreak. The ea lesgii, aut .
with timbers and various articles frews' vessel.
The following is the substance of the deponition of the
Captain of the wrecked vessel, taken before L Mt.
Murton, Keg., Collector of 11.1L'aCuatome, the reoefrior'
of wrecks at this port, on Tuesday:—
Gerard Lawrence Walsh said he was (he master of this
vessel, "Black Diamond," of Cork, of 88 tons register,
the official No. of which was 14,118, Messrs. Sutton and
Donovan, ("Cork being the owners. The vessel was
built atSwiftest in 1841, wag rigged as a schooner,
was sob taws by him as classed at Lloyd's. The
sainmed pe lye, including himself. He '
4poopetoney numbered 29,189.
sailediswel Newpast sift in September for
ihts eat
fttloinewnifise left Cork with a cargo
- JON{ O'llea and Sons, c
the weather heir
he nort'
She

IIICI i

Knighl
Dttute ill

in the

~ead
OfeW

bad a
The \
Cork,
fof
t 00.
g fine lb
and the
was bound
board. On I "
p.m. on Monday,
*was the schooner
tide off the'

a male 1

—Time— i
and

Cork,
800 at

harbour,