The Sun.
London, England, 1841-09-14 00:00:00

CALAMITOUS OCCURRENCE AT

TIIE HERRING FISHING.
(From the Berwick Warder.)
We regret to leave to record this week an accident of a
peculiarly distressing nature which has taken place on
' this part of the coast, in addition to others, involving
the loss of property to a greater or less extent, caused
by the state of the weather, and tending at once to
cripple the exertions of those engaged in that important
branch of industry, the herring fishing, and to cast
around them the gloom of affliction arising from the
loss of relatives and friends. On Friday evening last,
although the sky was overcast, the weather was yet so
tine that it was scarcely possible to anticipate the slight-
est danger to the boats engaged in the fishing, and all
of them at the various stations on this part of the
coast put out to sea as usual, while some, as in the dis-
tressing case more immediately under notice, were en-
couraged by the apparently settled calmness of the night
to risk their floats nearer to the rocks than is their prac-
tice. The aspect of the weather continued unchanged
till about 12 o'clock, when a tremendous gale sprung up
from the north-east, placing the lives of the boats' crews
in the greatest jeopardy. Most of them hauled their nets,
many of which being full of herrings, were lost in the
hurry and confusion consequent upon the exertions of the
fishermen to escape the danger. One of them, however,
the Jebus, of Eyemouth, having unfortunately taken up
a perilous position near the shore at Marshall Mea-
dows, from which the crew were unable to extricate
themselves, the consequence was that the whole
on board, ive in number, perished. The details of
the accident have not, of course, been ascertained ;
but it is supposed that while the crew were in the
act of hauling their nets, and before they could sail, the
boat had been caught by the gale, and driven amongst
the rocks, after which it hail capsized. The crew con-
sisted of Thomas Dougal, the skipper, aged 52 ; John
Dougal, his sun, aged 15 ; George Dougal, sen., and
George Dougal, jun., his nephews, both aged 38 ; and
John Grieve, a labouring man, aged 24. The body of
the buy and one of the Dougals, who, it is thought, had
attempted to swim ashore, were found on the beach on
the following morning, and conveyed to Marshal Mea-
dows barn. The body of the other George Dougal was
recovered during the day, and the other two were found
entangled amongst the nets in the water. On Monday
morning an inquest was held by the Coroner on the
bodies •at Marshall Meadows House. The evidence
related entirely to the finding of the bodies by the
servants at Marshall Meadows. There being no
evidence as to the cause of death, the Jury, in com-
pliance with the technical requirements of the law, gave
verdicts of "Found drowned" and "Found dead," ac-
cording as they were taken out of the water or picked
up on the beach. On the same day the bodies were put
into coffins and removed by their sorrowing relatives,
and on Tuesday the remains of John Grieve were in-
terred in Ayton churchyard, and those of the other four
were deposited in Eyemouth burying-ground. By this
lamentable occurrence three widows and seventeen chil-
dren have been left in destitute circumstances. Thomas
Dougal has left three sons and two daughters, the
youngest about five years old ; George Dougal has left a
widow and five children, the youngest four months ; the
other George Dougal has left a widow, at present preg-
nant, and seven children, the youngest eighteen months
old ; and John Grieve has left a widow without chil-
dren. We. are happy to learn that a subscription has
been opened for the relief of these destitute families.

PETITION THE QUEEN.--A correspondent
says:—Pray urge on your readers the importance of
petitioning the Queen as well as the Houses of Parlia-
ment on the distress of the nation, and repeal of the
Corn-laws. The Queen may otherwise be deceived by
the Tories as to the feelings of the country.
Up to yesterday, the Liberals have a gross
majority of 339 over the Coniervatives on the predekt
registry.--Limerick I?eporier of Tuesday.