The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-01-25 00:00:00

Ilf ELIINCHO Ll' SHIPWRECK.

The following facts respecting the fatal wreck of the
schooner William, of Workington, and the afflicting death
of Capt. William Elliott, are collected from a gentleman
just arrived in town from Workington, and who witnessed
the recovery of the Captain's corpse :
During those severe gales which dosed the last eventful year, the
above named brig, or schconcr, was totally wrecked on the Palmallet
shore, between Garliestoven anti the Isle of Whithorn. She had
sailed from Balbriggan, near Belfast, on the fifth of the preceding
month, and was homeward bound, having been to Ireland with a
cargo of coals. Arrived off the paint of Ayr, the wind blowing a
severe gale from W.S.W. and carrying a press of canvass to
gain the Cumberland coot, the ballast shifted, and the
vessel lay down upon het beam-ends. The master and crew,
seeing their situation, at once cut away the mainmast, which had
the effect of righting the vessel; but the wind veering to the east-
ward, and increasing to a perfect hurricane, they were compelled
to take in all canvass, and the brig became quite unmanageable;
she drifted along the coast and ran ashore to the southward of
Cruggleton Castle, in the Bay of Wigtown. at seven o'clock in the
morning of the 20th ult. Where the vessel struck is a rugged wild
coast; the precipice is about ninety feet high, and there is also a
cave curiously formed by nature, into which the bow of the vessel
took a direct course. Bete the stern of the vessel, with about half
of the entire ship, from the terrible shock and awful force of the
waves dashing against the precipice, was literally severed ikon the
bow; and the Captain himself, an industrious and valuable man. was
carried along with part of the vessel to rise no more ! Happily
three of the crew (which consisted of four men, betides the toaster),
by clinging to the cliffs of the rocks, and ascending a kind of rug-
ged pi:thway, soon escaped from destruction. The fourth man was
supposed by his shipmates to have experienced the Captain's fate ;
but the pour fellow was at length descried by one John Nichol, a
servant of Mr. Broadloot, at Palmallet, while falling from a pro-
jecting rock, about twelve feet high, into the water, and the drown.
ing man was washed back upon the shelving rock he had recently
been furled from. Owing to the humane exertions of the servants
of Mr. Broadfoor, and Mr. Hannay, of Cruggleton, he was reached
most miraculously from his perilous post, and taken to the farm.
house at Palmallet, where by medical aid, promptly rendered, he
was recovered.

The vessel had on board about 100/. in silver, of which 431. were
picked up (such was the honesty of even the children on this coast).
scattered up and down the shore, near the place where the verse!
struck. The hospitable Earl of Galloway, the moment he was
apprised of this fatal wreck, gave orders for his work-people and
horses to render their assistance in saving the wreck ; but little has
been picked up. except the silver, as every piece.of wood remaining
was almost broken up.
Captain 31'Kerrie, R.N. and Joseph flayton, master of the brig
Donegal, of Workington, who happens to have been an old ship-
mate of poor Elliott's, were most attentive in giving all the aid lii
their power; and 11r. Broadfoot's humanity and kind attention to
the shipwrecked sufferers were beyond all eulogium.
It was not until the 9th instant that the body of Captain Elliott
was found, about three miles from the harbour of Garliestown, on
the rock, where the tide was leaving hiso to float. Only one half
crown piece was found, secured in the waistband of his trousers,
but indented by the socks, and the right thigh was absolutely ton
away from the body., The latter was altogether so mutilated,
that it appeared not to contain one entire bone. Gentlemen, far
and near, attended this unfbrtunate captain's funeral, which took
place on the following day.. It was as affecting scene, sad drew
undissembled tears from 'rely eye.
Captain IVillitsm Elliott has left a widow and four children to
lament their irreparable bereavement.