The Sun.
London, England, 1853-03-05 00:00:00

UPWARDS OF ONE HUNDRED COASTERS

DRIVEN ASHORE.
The whole range of the Lincolnshire and Yorkshire
coast, from far above Flamborough Head to below the
Wash, was, on Wednesday night and Thursday morn-
ing, visited by the most destructive snow storm that has
been experienced off that part of the kingdom for some
years. The consequences to the shipping engaged in the
collier and coasting trade was most diastrous, as many
as 100 vessels having been driven ashore. Owing to the
continuance of the north-easterly wind a large fleet of
colliers have been detained in Yarmouth Roads and
other ports southward ; most of them were light in
ballast awaiting a change of wind to take them to the
northward. It is computed that as many as a thousand
were in this dilemma. Tuesday brought about the
desired change, when the immense fleet got under
weigh for their several harbours. Ere 20 hours had
elapsed, however, the wind chopped round to the old
quarter-, E.N.E., and there being every indication of
more stormy and snowy weather, there was a general run
back amongst the fleet to take shelter in the roadsteads
and other places. Those to the southward of Cromer suc-
ceeded in making Yarmouth in safety, but the large
number which had reached far away over the Boston
Deeps, towards Flamborough, were thrown into inde-
scribable confusion. Wednesday night set in with heavy
squalls of snow, and so thick was the fall, coupled with
the darkness which prevailed, that it was almost impos-
sible to see much beyond the length of the ship. The
,mischief that followed by the vessels coming in contact
with each other, was immense, and an inevitable result
of their going, as they do, in shoals, following close in
each other's wake. The run for the Spurn, at the mouth
of the Humber, is described to have been a most extra-
ordinary scene. There was a fleet of at least 600 sail,
all standing in at one time, each endeavouring to out-
strip the other in reaching the desired refuge. To enu-
merate the casualties at this point, by collision and-
other mishaps, would involve much space. Such
destruction was probably never known to take place in
that locality at one period before. Upwards of 20 sail
were reported to have been blown ashore to the north-
ward of the Spurn Point. There were four cast on the
beach within three-quarters of a mile of the lights. They
were the Placevia, Mr. Richardson, master ; Morgenia,
Mr. Pearson, master ;_ Jane and Ann, Mr. Smith,
master ; and Aurora, Mr. Nelson, master. Owing to
the heavy sea that prevailed, it was impossible to render
any assistance to the crews by means of the life-boats.
Those on shore availed themselves of Carter's rockets to
obtain a communication with `the stranded vessels,
and succeeded in throwing a line over each; the
seamen were brought safely on shore, where every com-
fort was provided for them at the Life Boat Hotel. A
fatal catastrophe was witnessed by the crew of the brig
Sophia, of Portsmouth, bound to Sunderland. About 7
o'clock on Thursday morning, a schooner was seen to
founder, with signals of distress flying, about eight miles
north-west of Bridlington. The fate of her unhappy
crew is almost certain. On the morning following the
fall, the Humber was crowded by several hundred col-
liers, and the demand for ship'rrights at Grimsby, and
other places adjacent, created almost a panic.
Between the Spurn and Bridlington the havoo was
equally as severe ; vessels came in collision and after-
wards were stranded in all directions. In Bridlington
bay a melancholy sight presented itself. While the gale
was at its height, the William, Mr. Scott, master of
Sunderland, and the Nathaniel, Mr. Renton, master, of
Newcastle, came in fearful contact and sustained
much damage. They became unmanageable, and
eventually were both carried ashore in the course of the
night, to the southward of the harbour. Another fine
vessel, a three-masted ship, the Margaret, Mr. Potts,
captain, of Whitstable, shared a similar fate. She
came in collision with the Marmora, Mr. Richardson,
of Shields, and the crew, fearing she would founder,
got on board the latter vessel. At daybreak, the Mar-
garet was discovered to have been driven ashore some
eight miles to the southward of the port in a most
disabled condition. The Marmora, also greatly da-
maged, came into the bay in the course of the morning
with the shipwrecked crew. A fourth vessel was lost
by being run down off the coast. The James Saville,
brigantine, of Stockton, was struck by a brig, supposed
to be the Eliza and Jane, of Whitby, and but for the
fortunate coming up of the Glance, of Shields, and
taking the unfortunate crew off at the time she did, the
poor fellows must have perished, the brigantine having
foundered in deep water, within a few minutes after
they had been rescued.

Of the many vessels which are reported to have been
carried ashore, there is great probability of most of
them being got off; but it is feared that the full extent
of the mischief has yet to be learned.