The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1880-11-30 00:00:00

NARROW ESCAPE FROM SHIP-
WRECA.

GALLANT CONDUCT OF THE BEACH-
MEN.

Wednesday morning broke cloudy, e:th °cessions'
showers of roin, and a stroog wind from the south-
west. which gsalually inoraieel in strenrth. The
West Bay donned its winter appearance, and the
white crested waves foretold treacherous weather. On
such days as these there are many watchful eyes
directed seawards, and on the eventful morning of
Wednesday the sharp eyes of the beach men at the
Cove, detected a little vessel in the West Bay, beading
for thee-ea le I Chesil Beach. Wondering at the strange
course she was keeping, they kept a good watch on
her only to are that she still kept her way towsi de the
ridge f pebbles, on which many a strong built ship has
gone to pieces, and many of our brave tare have found
a watery 6 are. The stranger was drawing rapidly
onwards, ar.il it was evident that she had missed her
course and knew nothing of her whereabouts, the
split and mainsail told of the fearful
weather she hal experienoed through the night
and the hearts of our brave beach men best
with nnwo, led rapidity to hasten to the assistance of
their fellow-cdiatures in the ketch, for which there
seemed to be litle hopes. A lerret was quickly hauled
to the waterside. and woven brave men at oboe
volunteered to man it, There must be no hesitation.
What had to be dens, had to be done at once, for
precious lives were on board the vessel, and they bad
to be saved. All honour be to the gallaat crew, Georgia
Byatt, John Byath Willie n Johns, James Pearce,
Thomas Pearce, William Mann, and Henry White.
Huge waves were breaking on the shore, but in spite
I of this the trusty lerret, owned by John Russell, and
Its brave crew were safely launched through the surf.
The hitch, which turned out to be the "Result" of
Littlehampton, was now only about 200 yards from the
shore, and seemed ignorant of their danger; the fishers
men, as they rose in their boat on the tops of the
billows, 'hooted and signalled to the crew to
"down sail" and anchor; at last it was under-
stood, and she brought up about 100 yards from
the beach. The torn cairn hung ever her sides
and she rolled about in a most dejected state. A
part of the boat's crew climbed on b mud when oppor-
tunity offered, and their movements were watched
from the shore by the thousands of spectators who
had gathered there; the excitement was peat; the
coastgaardsmen from the various stations in the
vicinity had gathered eith their rocket apparatus,
under Chief-Officer Colwell, but fortuttably their
services were not required. The crew of tha lerret
are now all on board the ketch, and it is seen that
they are bending the rails afresh, several reefs having
to be taken in them on account of their then gate, the
anchors were taken up, and with the fishing boat in
tow they reached dond the bay, experiencing fearful
weather, but with the tide in their favour for three
hours, and the beachmen thoroughly acquainted with
the coast, it was hoped they would reach the open Sell.
WEDS/WAY F

The ketch having been anooessfully worked out of
the Wert Bay, when roundieg the Bill, the fisher-
men.' lerret which mat totting astern was unfor-
tunately swamped, filled and sank, which will be a loss
of about R9O to the men. 'I he Result was brought
Int the Boa& at 4 p.m. She had about 100 tons of
barley on board, and bound for Cardiff. The captain
and crew were very much exhausted after their
perilous ni zht and their sails being split, the captain
ran the ship in with the intention of graining shelter.
Daring the voyage round from the West Bay Va the
roadstead, offers were made by three tugs to tow her
so; they were the Hotspur of Liverpool. the Admiral
of Cower, and the Commodore of Weymouth, but
their an /ice. were declined, as the crew of baachoten
on board were quite capable of bringing her into the
harbour. The Result was in the Roe& a few weeks
ago, and had a new bowspi it ; from Portland she west
to St. Mato, thence to Caen. where she took in her
cargo of barley for Cardiff, and was on the voyage for
that pnt when this mllhap occurred.