The Sun.
London, England, 1851-01-20 00:00:00

DREADFUL SHIPWRECK.

GALLANT CONDUCT OF THE COAST GUARD
AND FISHERMEN NEAR THE LAND'S END.
Early oa Saturday morning, the 11th inst., the brig
New Commercial, of Whitby, 250 tons burden, Sander-
son master, bound from Liverpool to the Spanish main,
in a thick fog and strong gale from the S.S.W., struck
upon a ledge of rocks between the Great and Little Bris-
son, two high rocks rising between 60 and 70 feet above
high water mark, about one mile off the bluff headland of
Cape Cornwall, and four miles northward from the
Land's End. The sea running very high the vessel im-
mediately went to pieces, and the crew, nine men with
one woman, the wife of the master, got on the ledge.
They were discovered from the shore as soon as day
broke, but no assistance could then be possibly rendered
them.
In this perilous condition the poor creatures remained
until about nine o'clock, when they were all washed off
together by one tremendous wave and hurled into the
boiling deep. Seven out of the ten sank at once into a
watery grave.
Of the remaining three, one, a mulatto, contrived to
get on a portion of the floating wreck, and after having
been beaten about for some hours in imminent peril of
being every instant swallowed up by the breakers, he
managed with a remarkable coolness and presence of
mind, by means of a plank which he used as a paddle,
and a piece of canvass which served him for a sail, with
the assistance of the strong tides, to keep clear of the
broken waters.
Whilst this poor fellow was thus struggling for life,
with all the resources which his ingenuity could suggest
to him, amid the anxious expectations of the people who
witnessed his attempt from the shore, whose lofty cliffs
were now crowded by upwards of 2,000 spectators, five
fishermen belonging to Sennen, a small fishing cove close
to the Land's End, after much debate among themseves,
determined, with that bold and resolute spirit for which
these men are distinguished, to launch their boat (the
Grace) through the breakers, in which they happily
succeeded, and eventually, after encountering great
difficulty and risk, they rescued the poor mulatto from
his perilous situation.
The other two, the master and his wife, when they
were carried off the ledge, were washed upon the Little
Brisson Rock, which rises in a peaked head, and is the
resort of numerous sea fowl. The master first gained a
footing upon the rock, and upon looking around him saw
his wife struggling in the waves, but sufficiently near to
enable him to stretch out his hand and pull her in.
While the Sennen fishermen were occupied in rescuing
the mulatto, her Majesty's revenue cutter Sylvia, com-
manded by Mr. Forward, was see❑ gallantly working
round the Land's End, having been ordered to the spot
by Captain Davies, R.N., the late and still acting in-
specting-commander of the coast-guard of this district.
Captain Davies himself and several of his officers took
up their stations upon the lofty promontory of Cape
Cornwall, overlooking the Brissocs. On reaching the
point Mr. Forward bunched his boat, and attempted,
with a crew of four men, to get near the rock; but
the attempt was fruitless, and it was only with great
difficulty that he regained the cutter, to the great relief
of Captain Davies and the numerous spectators upon the
cliffs, who rejoiced to perceive that though success did
not attend his daring exploit, still he himself and his
gallant crew at least were safe. It was now growing late,
and nothing more could be attempted in the way of
rescue for the day, so Mr. Forward hoisted his colours
and hove-to his craft, to encourage the poor sufferers,
who were now to be left to spend the wretched night
without food or shelter, exposed to the winds and rain
upon this desolate rock, amid the wide waste of waters,
and to assure them that they had still a friend, who,
with God's blessing, would stand by and not forsake
them.

On Sunday morning the wind happily drew a little to
.he south-east, which caused the sea to abate; all hands
were immediately on the alert, and if great excitement
prevailed among the people along the coast on Saturday,
it was not at all lessened on this day. Hundreds began
to assemble as soon as it was light, and the number
greatly increased as the day wore on. Towards the
middle of the day the sun shone ont, and, by light-
ing up the magnificent scenery of the coast all
round, added greatly to the feverish interest of the
scene. At one o'clock four boats were seen approaching
from the Sennen Cove—three manned by fishermen and
one by the coast-guard; at the same time Captain
Davies arrived, having embarked in a preventive boat
at a small cove named Peedeen, about three miles N.E.
of the spot, with four preventive men and one miner,
taking rockets with bim. The cutter's boat also was
manned by Mr. Forward, so that six boats were speedily
on the spot. By this time the scene had become one of
the most exciting description, and the crowds of people
upon the cliffs could not have numbered less than 5,000
or 6,000 ; and, as each boat arrived at the spot, the
cheers of this vast multitude, awakening all the echoes
of this cavernous coast, added not a little to the ex-
citement.
The sea still ran so high that no boat could venture
within 100 yards of the rock. The rockets which
Captain Davies had taken with him in the preventive
boat had never been tried here before, even from the
shore, and we believe never elsewhere from a boat. By
the printed instructions the persons firing should be at
least fifty feet in the rear to be free from danger.
One of the men, a gunner, volunteered to fire them,
although he had never seen one used before; but Cap-
tain Davies, with a generous and disinterested consider-
ation, would not suffer any of his crew to incur a risk
which he himself did not share ; so, after making his
arrangements, and having placed his crew in one of the
Sennen boats, he remained alone, and with his own hand
discharged the rocket. He was inveloped in an instant
in a, sheet of flame from the back fire. Happily, how-
ever he sustained no injury, but unfortunately the line
which reached the r ck fell upon a sharp ledge, which
cut the rope so that the end of it slipped off into the sea.
It is impossible to describe the disappointment expe-
rienced by the people upon the cliffs and in the boats at
this unfavourable result of such a daring experiment.
After a short delay, however, another rocket was
prepared, which Captain Davies again himself dis-
charged, and this time the cord fell on the rock close
by the man, to the great joy and delight of the as-
sembled multitude, whose minds had been so long oscil-
lating between hope and fear. As the cord fell on the
rock the woman was observed to raise her clasped hands
in apparent thank fulness.
At this critical moment the sun, which had again
hidden himself behind the damp dark clouds, shone
forth once more with increased brilliancy, and whilst it
seemed to speak hope to the bosoms of the anxious
spectators, the man on the rock was seen to fasten the
line around the waist of his wife, and to encourage her
to take the fearful leap, whilst she lingered and hesi-
tated to jump into the foaming waters. After some little
time, however, his persuasions prevailed. They took an
affecting leave of each other, and, amid the breathless
expectations of all, she made the awful plunge from a
height of about twelve feet. At this moment three im-
mense waves broke in rapid succession, perilling the
safety of all. For a time, indeed, the oats were en-
tirely hidden from the view of the spectators, and the
loud cry broke forth from thousands of voices, " They
are gone!" The females in particular among the crowd
were so horror-stricken that they actually turned away
their heads from the fearful spectacle before them, and
shrieked aloud.
But soon again the boats were seen above the swelling
waves, and the lofty cliffs once more rung with aeprov-
ing cheers. The cord was drawn with great judgment,
and after about three minutes the poor woman was taken
into one of the boats; but tho blows from the waves were POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
more than her exhausted frame could bear. No atten-
tion that could be shown her was spared. The men BOW-STREET.
took off their own clothes to cover her, and used every
Charles Durden, a beershop-keeper, was brought up
effort to restore her. She breathed, but by the time the for further examination
boat reached the cove life had fled. After the master
constable Davis, F 22,
ith achar-knife,-knife, in Holborn,
had persuaded his wife to leave him he fastened the cordW with stabbing police-
boat et
on New Year's-eve.
The complainant, who has been ever since a patient in
the hospital, and seemed still to be suffering severely
around his own waist, and was drawn, greatly exhausted,
into one of the other boats. We are often doomed to
question, when he found him struggling
from the injuries received, stated that he was called to
witness fearful shipwrecks on this exposed coast; but no the assistance of a brother constable on the night in
disaster of the kind has excited such intense interest or
sympathy in the neighbourhood, as the one we have now with the pri-
soner near Middle-row. The prisoner, who was drunk,
been relating, for a lobo time. The peculiarly trying exclaimed, "lam no b—y Englishman, and if you come
situation of the surviving sufferers themselves, and the near me I'll stab you to the heart." Witness tried to
hold attempts made for their rescue have thrown an in- persuade him civilly to go home, but he continued very
terest around the Brissons which will not soon die away. violent, and made several thrusts at witness's breast
Captain Davies had been promoted to the rank of with a pocket-knife, which came in contact with the
post captain only a few days before this shipwreck took buttons of his coat. Witness seined him by the arms
place. Ile has seen a great deal of service, and magi- and called to the other constable to take the knife from
fested no ordinary zeal on several occasions during the him; but before this was done the prisoner plunged it
time he has held the appointment of inspecting com-
mander here. He has also received six medals from the into witness's thigh, and twisted the knife in the wound,
exelaiming, " There '
Royal Humane Society and Shipwrecked Mariners'
assistance arrived, and.' d—
prisoner take that." Other
was eventually
the Y
Society for services of a similar kind performed else-
cured, witness being afterwards taken to the hospital in
se-
where. The writer of this has not the pleasure of being
personally ab.
hear that so brave and able an officer has not been lost
acquainted with him, but he should rejoice to a cab.
Macbean, 332 A, the constable. who first met
the prisoner, repeated his former evidence as to ending
which ho is now withdrawing with the good wishes of
sight of by the Admiralty, in the retirement into him intoxicated, and as to the violence of his conduct
As to Mr. Forward, whose conduct is spoken of by his
all his friends. and language when spoken to.
commander as beyond all praise, something might Mr. Wontner, the solicitor who attended for the pri-
and soner, said that the occurrence was the unfortunate re-
ought to be done for him by the service, as well as fo
sult of drunkenness,. his client having no remembrance
the intrepid crew who shared the danger; and there exr-
whatever of any of the circumstances on waking and
fists a strong feeling here that the parties, more especi- finding himself in custody next morning.
ally the fishermen who risked their property as well as named George Crowe, who happened to be passing when
The evidence or the officers was confirmed by a man
their lives on this intensely interesting occasion, should the disturbance commenced.
not be allowed to go unrewarded.
employed on this occasion All who a Inspector Dodd expressed his belief that the prisoner,
those
It is impossible to speak too highly of the conduct of
although drunk, feigned to be much more so than ho
witnessed
who
agreedweitrep
in declaring that a more gallant, really was when at the police station.
humane,
a and
praiseworthy act hasseldom . L
axton, the house-surgeon .of Ring's_ College
And every person who has the slightest been recorded.
acquaintan
Hospital, described the wound which was inflicted on
~ce
with the bold character of this coast, and the terrine Davis, and said it was such a one as might have been
caused by a deliberate and violent thrust with a large
seas which prevail hero at:this stormy season, must be
pocket-knife.
well aware that such an attempt required no common
Courage, and furnished no ordinary proof that true
Mr. Hem committed the prisoner for trial, and re-
fused his solicitor's application_to admit him to bail,

EXETER COUNTY COURT
(Before Mr. JOHN TYRRELL, Judge.)
At this court, on Friday, a case of an extraordinary
nature was heard. At the Devon Spring Assizes, for
1849, the Rev. Charles Rookes, LL.D., a clergyman re-
siding in Exeter, and rector of the parish of Nymet
Roland, in the North of Devon, figured as defendant in
an action for seduction (" Brookes v. Rookes"), and was
cast in 1001. damages. He afterwards obtained a rule
for a new trial, on the ground of excessive demages, but
did not again appear in court. Subsequently proceed-
ings were instituted against him by the Bishop of Exeter,
under the Church Discipline Act. He consented to
submit to the jurisdiction of the Bishop. and his Lord-
ship ultimately deprived him of his living.
The Rev. Gentleman now brought an action against
Mr. Godfrey, the ,clerk to his solicitor in the csse of
" Brookes v. Rookes," laying the damages at
501., the highest sum of which the County
Court can take cognizance, alleging as his ground of
action that the defendant had improperly advised him,
and had also guaranteed for the sum of 51. to carry
him harmless through the affair. The plaintiff now con-
ducted his own case in a most extraordinary way; he
had subpoenaed the Bishop of Exeter, and the Commis-
sioners who had sat on the preliminary inquiry, under
the Church Discipline Act; but for what object hardly
appeared. The Rev. George Martin, Chancellor of the
diocese, was the only one of the commission who at
tended; and the only interrogatory which the plaintiff
put was the extraordinary one—" Whether he did not
think that the decision which the Commissioners had
come to was against the evidence?" which was of course
replied to by an emphatic negative. The solicitor for
the plaintiff in the seduction case was also called to state
his opinion as to whether he b•ad not got up the case against
the rev. seducer for the purpose of persecution? Other
witnesses were called, to whom equally irrelevant ques-
tions were put, despite the repeated interference of the
Learned Judge, and, after a most unseemly exhibition
on the part of the plaintiff, he at once gave judgment for
the defendant, with costs.