The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1875-01-26 00:00:00

TWO SHIPS IN DANGER IN
THE WEST BAY.
LSCAPE cot? ONIL
FRENt'll BARQUE LoST WITH F01:11 LIVES.

on Sunday Lest • violent st ern of wind with occasional
'bowels of rain raged aleng this toast, and about mishlay
the wind wasfrom that fatal point fur the West flay
POU semewest The goal folks who came out of their
(-beeches and chapels very baffled and blown about IT the
violent gusto ineglit well in the intervals of their annoy.
nesse have lifted up their hearts in • prayer for tho." at
see, for of all the points the wind can Nee thi"'"n'' the
one to send homeward or outward bounds t awards the
grinding Ilhesil Beal, and ir they approech hi.. near the
sentinel pima of Pertlanal, stanaing snit so far to the
southward, it forbids all ;meting ; end, after Leek and wear
and ail that go er od senanahip eh, died. except tlie vessel
lea wellsfound and prevailed, and her master has a good
staut heart awl a clear heel, she drives nearer and nearer
till she goes on that long line of pebbles on which she
beats out her life. Then woe for the paw sailors who
may be on lenrsl, for thotieh they may try to wattle, some
on boards and some on broken paean of the ship, it will
never lie true of thetti that "they all escaped sae to
land." The terrible undertow of the Chesil is sure to suck
them ureter, and not to rooters them till the life has been
daelied from the bruised form. So let every one when the
wind is southwest or sou'ewe'swest eyeteeth pray
for the paneing ships and crews. On Snielay- afternoon
Lut the tensible wind taster too long although it changed
later, for it blew near the Chesil two veese6„ a schooner
and at teepee &124 soon after one they were descried
leatling with the storm. They were still in the offing,
but practise' eyes were at the telescopes,, and old hands
pronounced then. in danger. Across the broad West Bay
they came for Pertland Bill, and somewhere about half'
taut two the aline was sent into Weymouth that two
vesewls were ii, 'lmager in the Bay. The eustani authoris
ties were on the alert; the c uetenara had long before
been ready; Capt. Cleyt.n, Mr. Watty, Mr. Merrifield,
awl the Poetized detachreente were all on the move with
ropes anti rocket *tapered:* • and Mr. Hamilton Price,
recover of wreck ; Mr. Gaff rep, and others from the
esietates were elf to the berele Meantime Capt. Scott, of
the It Tel Alfrol, with a party of his men, and, seaubt.
I lees, sale r "divers, whose names we have not yet heard,
' heal prepared themselves and proceeded to the beach at
Portland. Ruttier before helf-past two the schooner are
preechea tee 101 l with her sails bellying out fully before
the wind, By this tante it had got a few point" more if
west in it, and was somewhere between S.W. and W.S.W.,
when, with dying canvass and at racing speed, the taut
little schooner flew before the breeze ; and while to those
eat shore it looked as if elle hasl not a yard to spare she
slashes' past the bill, eat with hallaaning sails swept round
I the Breakwater end into her quiet haven.
, Tlae peer barque &Herniael the hune feat, but ehe was
, not 'such provisled as the schooner, in a fearful eased'
' which then came on. Most of her sads were lalown away,
and as she came on to the hill either the captain had not
enough sail on her or he was afraid of the broken water
in the race, and instead' of escaping he wore the ship
n I and headeel her back. Whether he could have got
, clear before this manceuvre last not those on shore pre-
, tend to idle,. Team journeying out POW dense clouds
I driven by the wind, and • fearful anyill of lightning Waa
I follow.' by push of thunder and heavy rain. Another
tremendous flash anal peal and the rain drove down.
drenehine, all who were unprotected and utterly obscuring
the view. The storm increased to fearful violence, and in
exieseed places ssn the Wyke and 'Bidwell roads it
was difficult to stand. It was in this s, uiati
that the harpist's rails were blown away. This
was now just after half-peat two, and when people in
Weymouth anxiously enquired the chgnces of hope for the
two vessels, they were Ignorant of the great alteration
that had taken place in their fortunes. In half-an-hour
or three quarters the schooner, whieh looked really a thing
of life. ruehing frightened from the slanger, was seen ne
the Naha, awl the report sprawl that one vessel had
e.caped, and the other was about to be safe. At a quarter
past three anxiety grew in the townsfolk, and a visa to
, Lovell's farm revealed the barque with startling distinct-
' nees, her heel towards Alabotsbury, and her stern to Port- I
land, and evidently ley-eaught. Opinions now varied, as
to whether oho would escape or not, her situation was
Impel.us had the wind been at its worst, but about that
thee there was • tantalising shift ahnost to westward, and
many were in hopes it would north • little more, and give
her a chance. But the poor barque could not do much for
herself, her jib and fore-course were set, but almost all
the other tails were blown from the bolt ropes, or split to
ribbons. Watching her • short tinie from the hill, the
parties then streamed down last old castle, on to the
railway, and PO to the Beach. On arriving there, parties
were grouped about under the lee of the shingly creet,
striving to shelter themselves from the wind, whiles long
line many deep MOTO on the top, gazing to sea On the hes,
the wind' was out vielent that at weak eway the sound of
your vuitoes, while driving in great sheets eanie the salt
spray. Over the crest, and nearer the growling roaring
waves were ( 'apt. 'Layton, Mr. Watty, and the eastguard,
rehly with the lines., ansl the rocket apparatus was handy
in a cart halal. The torque Wai still heading to the
nertle out evidently making leeway rontinually and
appease-hint; the slewe. About live or ten minutes past
four, the ship Becket her foreyard, and menial to he
standing in etrait for the shore. The coastguard were
exactly opposite her. exactly above the place where the
Royal Ailelaide struckausl,was lost. All was quiet steady
preparation to succosir the melt when she Is:ached, and in
the ',Mose quiet of expectation, there was time to notice
that a piece yet remaining from the Royal Adelaide, stuck
sup black front the Isrown pebbles. In tans animates, the
shie's heel was ennel. and it was seen that she was again
to be wore. "least eaystain's a leave mane' toss the
exclamation, "Bee goine to try once niers., for a
deft of crinst.":lTbere KY a shift bar a short time. the
winst went to West aal lay Nth. "Ott! if he haul more
sails ! If he only hiel his naisen, heel get her head round,
and go out flying." AIDA the flapping cant ao adenst the
mast, plainly seen front the shore, was the °lily reply.
there WM nothing aft the misen but the lag of distress
whieli Bettered heti...mak high, the jib and fore-course
alone kept her under any kind sat steerage way ; but the
great square sail seesaws' mean tin fly up, as if it hasl blown
aoey from this rope., awl with the els alone her head wee
kept witlou the bay. The the le how lute Lee ebleng
am' helps,' to keep her if Float ; I.ut it now began to
f.el her, the Iwitel went back to westwaral and a little
mere, and the enastereard saw that hope was gone. "We
hail Bitter Ise mooring, shove, sir.' for they saw the
'teepee must eosin he elven up. It wee about & smarter
paet four, tuoi 01l tii mimes 01 1019.10 bO/10.1. the 'Nara%
front the site of the (boll Adelarde'S wreck towarde
Portland. I muscle and slip, ansl slide. we went ever
peleslea dotted here and there by the blue sine or
the brown aim still left from Om Royal Adelaideer
The concrete path at the rifle cause helped somewhat, eut
when there we emus' not see the ship, the bagelh intervens
inc. Soon it Wall at an end, and then we het to tnunga it
again. Soine ran to the read, for easier walking, and the
apparatus and cart travelled that way ; hut the place to
use the Ship was 00 the crest Arcenlingly there we
repaired aietin in face of the wind, which cause' mme of
so to stagger like strianken 111011, While the spray would
laave drenched to the skin any one not in • macintosh.
Thin coats were blewn like the poor Itariue's rails, to
ribbons ; but et hat we gainel the cent There was the
brusque, awfully neer the chit, halfway between Chesil
nun 1 the Ballerina it thrilled all with fear lest she shoulil
strike in that distant pled'. She hail gained on us fast,
and by the time we were half It ay to the Chesil Cove, ehe
wore again. Not this time to tempt the mace Bays, the
trAWVI was headed round, and relining etraight for the
shore. At twenty or e quarter to tire (allowing for the
deference of watches) she straw': leaw en almost opposite
Mr. Way's Cove House, Clasen Cove. The sea imme-
diately on the vessel; tyay being stopped, rushed in great
velumuss over her, and in a minute two poor sadism, one of
thens the mate, or helmsman, were washed Bore the ship,
ansrengulfed in the boiling white foanein sight of between
time and IMOD people, who weld give no help. Brave
Pertlarelere, one especially named Wicket, rushed into
the water, ant threw shine on letersL and in seven minutes
after the teasel struck, a biasing rocket rushed over be-
tween the main and misen mute, and tar to sea; hut the
line Was carried away, and the shot was useless. The
vessel had gradually driftesl broadaide on, her bow to.
wares Wyke, and in three minutes; another rocket blazed
away, and the line &tappet on the fore-rigging, a hen •
brave sailor went forward on the bowsprit end, and
brought it in. This need daring act would have net the
sailor his life had there not been, most providentially •
short cessation of the heavy seas that were sweeping the
ship, although she never ceased to rise and fall, hreeltide
on, to the heaving of the waves. Now she would be
on that her mane were perpendicular, and her deck
I level, and then she would fall over towards the sea, till
her sides and her deck had equal slopes, like the roof of it
house. This rocking went on almost regularly ea try three
seconds, the broken water riling to Iter topseil yards, mud
the spray Cyin m
g over Ler like snooks, when she was lifted
upright and then this water streamed in tons from her
bulwarks. It was id the midst of all this turbulence that
the brave sailor went out on the netting leiwsprit, and
fetched the rope. We afterwards found that the nuen's
name was GuilLeurne Marshand : he is a Breton, and was
the boatawain of the ship. Anether Portland line was
hove on bawd, and now there was much confusion. The
captain had unfortunately been injured IT the boat being
slashed against his arm, breaking it, and either lie lashed
himself to the maul, as was reported on shore, or was not
equal to the exertion of going forward and taking dens
men,ee The result was that the sailors slid not know what
to do with the roetei lind and instead of hauling the telly
on lscord and securing the rope properly, they' seemed to
genie: the three ropes in a bunch, and fastened Owen
in the bows, haw the heel of the bowsprit, where they
were gathered in • group. One or two thee, ...king the
rope,, got over the bulwarks, and were IOUn streggling
with the waves, trying to get on sbore hand over hand an
the ro . Now canto • most anxious scene, e men were
swept hither and thither, dragged beneeth by the under-
tow, and churned up in the foam. Souse of the bravest
Pertlanders, with lines round their waists, dashed into
pe th
the water to reach the drowning men, and were them-
selves struck off their legs and tossed about like drifts
wood, They persevered most bravely. and a young min
named White topecially was observed 16 be weighed Isom
the rope; adieu he hail seized a loan, and Bab were carried
under and disappeared. Several others slashed to the
spot, and White was (newt clinging hob' of the man he
he' seized: both were brought in amid loud cheers. 'This
rough-sad-tumble work went on for swine time, the excite-
ment being something awful, women shrieked to the
strange eailors to keep back, men waved their hands to
theism to stay, everybody gave orders, and noteely knew
what to slo except to make the best ef it, and media the
men as best they could. It was awfully dangerous work,
many times Portlandene coastguardsmen, sue' sailors were
thought to Ile lost, and at one time it seemed appidlingly
certain that the Isee would be very great. However,
thanks to the mercy of God, sat seven sailors who thus
threw themselves into imminent danger, six were navel,
the exceptien being the bey, who was swept under the
bow and swallowed up in the waver,. nil the brave
:assistants wete Wes rescued, theueh there were a good lot
of bruises an.l hurts of serious ' kinds. The number 011
bean' was now reduced to four at the bow Ana the captain.
By the' time the shout, and gesture. had impreseel the
men left, who had also seen the death of the boy, and
they managed to rig the rocket rope clear of the others.
Asa mann as it was elver, the crowd, with one insand pule
sent the breeches; buoy on hoard, awl they were intineli.
ately delighted to see a sailor get in. Ile was hauled
down in smart style, but when clear of the site went full
into the sea, eir the breeches had not Wert rigetel either
on a haser or on the whip itself, consequently the amebae
had to be heeled through the water like 11 hale of reugh
w
geode. As ease as he reached the lees deep water, men
rashes' in awl brought him out., send the Illiees'hee wa,..001
on leant again. Another followed, menden...thee. and then
the laat of the haloes at the how, and all Wet could I
reached were safe. The working of the breeches buoy
sea., very simple, etncielit, and quick, and it is to be
The lending by grasping the ropes was a fearsome,
egrsstted that so many sailors do not Weal to understand
k
se:rambling, aad Wost dangerous affair, occupying a lung
time, while by the breeched buoy, the aavine of life sieeintel
dune with certainty. quiet, and ease. However, as euly
one life ICU 1001 by the mansion, we can only praises
I the Portlanders fr the great promptitsi,le and
courage they ehoweL The readied men were each, WI
seen Ski they were landea pats.' along between the crowd
to Mr. Way'. Cove House Inn, where they were
all cared for. The men who earate in hand over hand were
much exhausted and sena bruised, thaw saved by the
breeched were comparatively fresh. and here it must be
noted that if the directions of the Board et Trasle in the I
use of the apparatus were fully carried out, anal there ,
were not that breathleo., kind of haste which defeats its '
own object, a crew could be landed with great certainty I
and comparatively little exhaustion. Wu feel bound to
gay this beeruse mote Portlansleni have spoken sties
paraeingly of the breeches Mew. There were on the
beach. (Sept. (Awe, inow.;!, vanniouelet of moues
eeard, Mr. Watty„ MA his craw 17( ese.teuardemen, Mr.
ellereilield aunt his erew, and tine Italians! men, Mr.
Celwell and his crew, the last I.y no means the leant, as
they were on the spot Then there were also Capt. Scott.,
of the Itoyal Alfred with a party of men, the paymaster of
the Beessawen, ;leo Mr. Hamilton Prue, Reviver oe
Wreck, Mr. Godfrey, IL M. Customs, and • party of men
from the Custom House ; Seen- Florence and the Port-
land deteehment of police. The Portland and Weymouth
people besides numbered over ROM and among them