The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-08-27 00:00:00

DISASTERS AT BEA.

Advices from Lloyd's agents at Ease London (South Africa)
under date of July 28, report the foll.owing disasters as the
results of the fierce gale which raged there for two or three
days previously :

The Brighton, a fine barqv.e, of Shoreham, of 407
tons, Captain Evans, with a general cargo, sleepers
and material for the Government harbour works; the
Clymping, a barque, of Littlehampton, of 341 tons,
with coals for the Goverament, both vessels having
discharged a portion of tiveir cargo; and Die Fleimath,
a German barque, which had only just arrived from
Cardiff, with coals, also for the Government; all went
ashore on Monday morning, the 25th of July, and
almost every soul on board, to the number of 30 men,
perished. The tug Agnes put to sea.
The only other vessels in the roadsteqd were the
Donald Curie line steamer Florence and the barque
Norway, from Cardiff, with coal. Both got away
safely.

The gale did not come without warning, doubtful
weather for a day or two having culminated on
Sunday in a strong wind, which settled into a
south-westerly gale on Sunday night. The velocity
and persistence of the wind were 'remarkable. At
about eight o'clock the Clymping was observed to be
dragging, and soon after was hurled a.shore about
three miles to the eastward of the Buffalo. The
rocket apparatus was brought into play, but after
firing three rockets, which missed, it appeared that
more had to be sent for. Whether or not an attach-
ment might have been made with those that came
afterwards nobody. will ever know. The little ship
was fast going to wee& The helpless spectators saw
the vessel heel over, some of the crew taking to pieces
of spars, others vainly trying to hold on to the ship's
bottom. Only one man, the mate, managed to reach
the shore.

Meanwhile another ship met her doom on the rocks
at Bat's Cove, a little farther off than the Clymping.
This was Die Heintath, a ship which sailed from
Cardiff on January 16, put into Gibraltar for repairs,
and left there on March 1. After parting her cables
she was driven on the rocks and Emashed to pieces.
In this case there was no shadow of a chance for the
saving of life, and the crew, about ten in number,
perished in the raging sea. The captain was on shore,
as were those ef each of the other two vessels lost on
this fatal morning.

The third vessel, the barque Bright" was some-
what longer on the road to her ruin. After parting
she drifted eastward towards the Nahoon mouth.
The crew wisely cut away two masts, soon after
which she was beached. There were about ten men
on board, of whom half were Oath-es. The rocket
apparatus was got round, but only two rockets had
been brought; the first fell short, the other was sent
right over the ship. The crew secured the line, but
the line had not been made fast on shore. Messengers
having returned with more rockets a line was success-
fully cast over the ship, but the crew either could not
or would not wait for the breeches-buoy to reach them.
They got into the boat and commenced hauling.
There was a fearful sea, and by this rash act all were
speedily drowned except two of the Caffres. Thus
only three men were saved of all aboard the three
vessels. The loss of life is estimated at 30.
The steamers Agnes and Florence have returned to
the roadstead.

BRITISH WOOLLEN MANUFACTURES.

The Morning Post has been asked to say that the
Association for the Encouragement of British Woollen
Manufacturers not only seeks to promote the wearing
of British lustre fabrics, but is equally anxious to
bring into more extensive use all the textures made of
British short wool, such as serges, homespuns, tweeds,
&c. The good effects of this society's labours are said
to be already felt at Bradford.