The Sun.
London, England, 1853-09-28 00:00:00

THE EQUINOCTIAL GALES.-LOSS OF LIFE.

As was anticipated, yesterday's post brought tidings
of many additional losses and disasters during the fearful
equinoctial gales which raged along the coast on Sunday
and Monday. Some of the misfortunes were attended
by a sacrifice of life. Whole fleets of vessels were driven
away from their moorings, with loss of anchors and
cables, and the boatmen and neighbouring, porta had
some difficulty in meeting the sudden demand for
chains, &c.
We have before noticed the formidable character of
weather which was experienced between the two Fore-
lands. From the Cinque Ports alone, Ramsgate, Deal,
and adjacent places, more than 20 ships were supplied
with anchors and cables. Amongst them were the
Hooghley, Mr. Dusrant, commander, which has just
arrived in the Channel, from Sydney for London, with a
quatity of gold on board ; the Crystal Palace, bound to
Australia from London ; and the Camilla, from London
for Launceston. The pilots describe it to have been one
of the most trying nights that had been felt in the dis-
trict for some time. The General Steam Navigation
Company's steamer, Albion, which left London-bridge
on Sunday morning- for Boulogne, with the large num-
her of 136 passengers on board, was compelled to run
into Ramsgate-harbour for shelter. On making her way
across the Channel she encountered the full force of the
gales, and perhaps it is fortunate she was enabled to
make her way back to port in the way she did. Many
of the pas engers were on an excursion to witness
the arrival of the Emperor and Empress at Boulogne.
Near the Reculvers a Norwegian vessel, named the
Mar tha Andrea, M. Berg, master, bound to Tonsberg
from London, was driven from her anchors, and went
ashore on the main. The crew succeeded in preserving
themselves. In addition to the above, there were a
number of vessels which had sails blown away, and sus-
tained other damage. Lower down Channel, the wind
seems to have been equally as severe, driving back a
large fleet of outward-bounders.

The French squadron, which has had such a severe
trial while riding in the Downs, got under weigh yester-
day (Tuesday) morning, the weather having considerably
moderated. They made for the westward, and, as the
Emperor and Empress of the French had to leave Calais
for Boulogne that day, it is understood that the fleet in-
tended to make for the latter port.
The havoc occasioned amongst the shipping on the
east coast, by the violent south and north-westerly
winds, seems to have been most extensive. It is de-
scribed to have blown with the force of a terrific gale.
A large fleet brought up in Yarmouth and Lowestoft
Roads, in the hope of riding out the storm. So thirty
or forty were driven away from their anchors and chains,
which were lost, several narrowly escaping destruction
in being cast upon the adjacent sands. A number of
small craft belonging to French and Dutch fishermen,
which were blown over, suffered amongst the rest from
the ravages of the storm, involving much distress to the
crews. Most of the disabled vessels were got into Lowes-
toft, the fine harbour of which presented quite an ani-
mated appearance from the large fleet which was moored
in it.

A little higher up this range of coast towards the
Wash, several fatal casualties are reported to have taken
place. A vessel, said to be the Endeavour, of Goole,
laden with wheat, in attempting to make Blakenly
Harbour, between Cromer and Wells, during the heights,
of the gale, for shelter, in some unfortunate way missed
her point and went ashore. A fearful sea was runnirg
at the time, and as nothing can be learned of the crew,
it is conjectured that they all perished. Another wreck
occurred near the same harbour, The Mary Ann, a
schooner, Mr. Laraman, master, from Hartlepool, having
had her canvas nearly all blown away by the gale, was
carried ashore to the eastward of the port. The vessel
soon filled, but the crew providentially managed to leave
in the boat, and safely landed themselves. During
the night of Sunday a fatal loss is believed to have
happened on the Longsand. The master of the Eliza-
beth collier, which has arrived at Lynn from Seaham,
reports having observed, early on Monday morning, a two
masted vessel lying on her broadside on the sand, nearly
abreast of the Lynn light-ship. A tremendous sea was
breaking over the wreck, which prevented her descrip-
tion being ascertained. The worst forebodings for the
fate of jthe crew. In the neighbourhood of the Spurn,
the wind blew a heavy gale from the N.N.W. The
Newcastle steamer for Newcastle from London, had to
put into the Humber for a fresh supply of fuel, her stock
having been exhausted in endeavouring to make her
way through the storm. The French war steamer Peli-
can, Captain Franclous, after being overtaken by the
gale and exposed to much peril, succeeded in getting
into Hartlepool.
The north-west coast appears to have experienced like
boisterous weather. There the gale commenced early
on Sunday, and did considerable damage. In the vici-
nity of Morecombe Bay, a ship called the Chieftain,
which had just arrived from Quebec, was driven from
her moorings, and carried ashore, the crew, after much
risk and difficulty, preserving themselves in the long-
boat.

The accounts from the Welsh ports speak of the storm
having been very severe. 'Along the Cardiganshire
coast, the gale is reported to have lasted forty-eight
hours, with heavy falls of rain and hail. The Continen-
tal mail of to-day is expected to furnish a sad addition
of casualties.