The Sun.
London, England, 1852-10-04 00:00:00

EIGHT LIVESLOSTBYTHE UPSETTING

OF A LIFEBOAT.
PRESTON, SATURDAY.-Our town was startled this
morning by the receipt of intelligence from Lytham
of the loss of eight lives by the upsetting of the life-
boat belonging to that place. This appalling ca-
sualty, by which eight women have been rendered
widows and eight families of childen deprived of the
means of subsistence, took place yesterday afternoon.
Lytham, the scene of the unfortunate occurrence, is
well-known as a watering place, and is situated at
the estuary of the Ribble, some twelve miles from
Preston. In consequence of the numerous vessels
which have from time to time been wrecked off
Lytham, it was deemed expedient to purchase a life-
boat. For that purpose a considerable sum was raised
by subscription among the visitors and residents, and
a few months ago a fine boat was obtained from the
establishment of Messrs. Beechin and Son, of Great
Yarmouth (the successful competitors for the Duke
of Northumberland's prize of 1001.) The craft (which
was adapted either to rowing or sailing) was highly
spoken of by nautical men, and pronounced fit
to go anywhere and through any sea, her
superiority over other descriptions of lifeboats being
said to consist in, first, her power of self-bal-
lasting, with water ballast, in secure compartments ;
secondly, of relieving herself of water in case of ship-
ping a sea, which she could accomplish in about 11
seconds ; thirdly, and lastly, of instantly self-righting
in the event of her being capsized. Her draught of
water, in ballast, and with a crew of 13 persons, did
not exceed 20 inches. With these introductory par-
ticulars, we now proceed to describe the accident.
Yesterday afternoon 11 hardy seamen, all natives
of Lytham, set out to test the capabilities of the new
boat, all buoyant with the hope that their craft would
prove its superiority, and would in future enable them
to save the lives of any unfortunate souls who might
require its aid. Little did they dream that what was
to be the means of saving others would so soon be the
instrument of their own destruction. Three out of the
eleven were all who reached land again—one named
Shannon, owing his life to being transferred as pilot
on board the Thomas Clifton, a vessel bound for
Preston ; and the other two narrowly escaped the fate
of their comrade. The lifeboat left Lytham about one
o'clock. Though the weather was squally, many per-
sons were congregated on the beach to witness her de-
parture, and the little craft seemed to make way
very satisfactorily. What is called a "lug sail" was
used on the occasion. It was observed by some expe-
rienced persons as the boat proceeded on its course,
that too much sail was carried, considering th:e
weather. When she got a short distance out a sea
was shipped without any damage, the boat righting
herself immediately. Between 2 and 3 o'clock, wheal
dashing through the breakers at a distance of about
three miles, the boat leaned over alarmingly, owing
to the quantity of sail she carried. About that time
a heavy shower came on and concealed the boat fin.
a brief interval from the view of those on the look-
out. When next seen she was keel uppermost. Some
men on the hills skirting the sea rushed down to the
beach and gave an alarm, and it is needless to say
that the most intense excitement speedily prevailed..
Two boats were got ready with the least possible
delay to proceed to the scene of disaster. The
smallest of them was taken to the edge of the Rollo-
bank (a largo sand-bank in the Channel), where it
was moored. The craw then hastened across the
bank, plunged into the water, and waded to the i 11...-
fated boat, which had drifted towards the sand, un -
derneath or inside of which they discovered two
of the crew, named Richard Gillet and Jame s
Parkinson, the latter when taken up being nearl y
exhausted. It is almost miraculous tba It
those two men should have held out 2. o
long, it being about four o'clock when they wel T
rescued; but as the lifeboat has six apertures in let
bottom, which formed a sort of dome over the tie o
sufferers, and these enabled them to breathe *eel: sr.
None of the other unfortunates being visible, the bait
returned to Lytham about seven o'clock with the to 70
survivors. The scene on its arrival was painful Isla-
yond description ; to say that it was heartrending :in
the extreme were indeed to convey but a very faint
idea of the frantic excitement of the bereaved. The
following
is a list of the names of those who are loss :
—Hardman, leaving a widow and six
Cookson, widow and two children ; T. Gillet,iw_
hildrEr
de
;
C :s;
and two children ; J. Gillet, widow and five lc)_oldwireftlnawci
Swann, widow and three children ; Davis, d
three children : Whiteside, widow and childro2r.euews.
ereon The wife
Winder, widow and two childrenh
ix children are left
widows, no fewer than twenty-s
to bemoan the sad endth parents.eofc.tmilisemnireaanrdof
the lifel )oat,
of Winder, we regret to say, finemi )rit.
he acted
Swann, a pilot, had
somewhat recklc issly
and it is considered that
in not relieving her of some of her sail. When the
his men to endeavour to r Rake
boat was turning over, .Swann, with great presen, seof
mind, recommendedher, with the view of getting on; her
tkheeeilrotwo
aYtryround
to right her. This was attempted, but
unsuccessfully' The
men who are saved state 'that
did not upset very suddenly, and that at; one
of the hands were clingirsg to
timethe bo:st
many
as
five
her. One of the ;two Gillett disappeared only a. few
minutes previous to the arrival of assistance. Al-
thaugh the crew had been furnished with belts. and
other appliances for the preservation of life, yet,
strange to state, all these were left behind whe n the
boat went out. At an early hour this morning se-
veral boats were dispatched in search of the b odies,
but when our correspondent left Lytham no tidings
had been received of the deceased.

The official account of the accident is to the fol-
lowing effect :—Yesterday afternoon the Lytham
lifeboat was ordered out for practice. It was manned
by Captain William Swann and nine men. The wind
was very heavy and squally, from W. and
W.N.W. After being out a short time chew as re-
turning home, when she was upset by a suddensquall.
The painter fouled on a buoy, which prevented her
from again righting. Eight men, including the cap-
tr,.in, were drowned. The two saved owed their pre-
servation to adhering to the seats of the boat. The
accident occurred in the South Channel, off the•
Horse-bank. .

The melancholy event has cast a deep gloom over
the whole village.

ROYAL MARRIAGE.—The preliminaries for a ma-
trimonial alliance between his Royal Highness Prince Henry
of the Netherlands and her Serene Highness the Princess
Amelia of Saxe-Weimar, daughter of the late Duchess Ida
of Saxe-Weimar, and niece of the late Queen Dowager, have
been finally completed, and the auspicious event will be
celebrated early in April next. The Princess Amelia is
sister to his Serene Highness Prince Edward of Saxe-
Weimar; and it willbe remembered that her Serene High-
ness passed a considerable period in this country, some few
years ago, as the guest of her illustrious relative, the lamented
Queen Dowager.