The Sun.
London, England, 1861-09-02 00:00:00

TEM SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 2, 1861.

£5O, given by Mr. R, Wharton, fruiterer, Oxford,
excited a good deal of interest, and induced no less
than 56 competitors to come forward. The shoot-
ing was at 200, 500, and 600 yards' range, and
several ties having been shot off Private Bultitude,
of the Oxford corps, was declared the victor. The
All Corners' prize, for which there were 30 compe-
titors, was won by Captain Fane, who made 11
points at 200 yards, the second prize being obtained
by Private G. T. Prior. A silver cup, value £2O,
given by Colonel North, M.P. (the colonel com-
manding), ranges 500 and 600 yards, was won by
Private C. Underhill, who made 12 points. The
following prizes were also shot for :—Two silver
cups from the profits of the issue of stores, won by
Ensign Bickerton and Private Spackman ; a silver
cup, value £lO, given by the Sheriff of Oxford (Mr.
W. Thompson), was gained by Captain Mallam ; a
challenge rifle, given by Mr. James Morrell, of
Headington-hill-house, was won byPrivateVenables,
aftes an active competition : officers' cup, value £2O,
was won by Private Hawkins against upwards of 40
competitors ; and a silver cup, given by Quarter-
master Grant, was won by Private Senkin, who
made 17 points, at 200, 500, and 600 yards'
range. The shooting, on the whole, was ex-
tremely good, the several prizes being well
contested. The ' prize given by Colonel North,
M.P., consisted of a very elegant and tasteful gob-
let, designed by Messrs. Hunt and Roskill, of Lon-
don.

The 4th Wilts (Chippenham and Calne corps) and
15th Wilts (Wootton Basset) competed on Monday
and Tuesday last on the Chippenham range, for a
challenge cup, presented by Mr. T. H. A. Poynder,
the winner having to gain it twice against all
members of the two corps. Ensign Wilmot, of the
Chippenham corps, was the successful competitor.
To the names of the corps mentioned as present
in our report of the review of the Volunteers by
Lord Palmerston at Dover on the 28th ult., we
should have added that of the 2d (Sandwich)
Cinque Ports Artillery Volunteer corps, under Cap-
tain R. Thomson, who have displayed no lack of
spirit in aiding the Volunteer movement.
The 2d Hants Light Horse Volunteers were in-
spected on Thursday at Stoneham-park, the seat of
their gallant commander, Captain J. B. W. Fleming,
by Colonel Grimston, of the Second Hants Rifle
Volunteers, to whose battalion the troop is attached.
At the conclusion of the manoeuvres the corps dined
in a large marquee at the Fleming Arms (Corporal
Ridgley's), under the presidency and at the invita-
tion of Captain Fleming. In the course of the
evening Sergeant Andrews was presented with a
gold hunting watch, value 20 guineas, a gold
Albert chain, and a purse of sovereigns, in appre-
ciation of his services as drill instructor to the
corps.

The Bth Hants (Bottley and Bitterne) Rifle Vo-
lunteers had a field day at Lieut. W. B. Gater's,
Bursledon, on Thursday, and afterwards they were
hospitably entertained.
On Wednesday the Christchurch (Hants) Volun-
teers contested for an Enfield rifle, given by Lieu-
tenant Mills, and a second prize presented by the
Earl of Malmesbury. Mr. A, Pike won the one.
Mr. G. Ferrey the other.
On Friday evening the prizes won in the annual
competition in the Ist Hants Rifles were presented
at the Corn Exchange, Winchester. The contest
took place on Monday and Thursday.
A challenge cup offered to the Colchester corps
by the ladies of that town and district has been won
by Colonel Pertwee, who made one point more than
private Wright, one of the crack shots of Essex.
Private Wright afterwards won a sweepstakes. On
Friday another match took place among 19 mem-
bers of the corps for a rifle, presented by Mr. T. J.
Miller, M.P. Private Taylor made the highest
number of points (13), but Private Wright, who
scored 12, entered a protest, en the ground that his
opponent had used a rifle not introduced in the regu-
lar course of firing. A final award of the prize was
accordingly not made. The target practice of the
corps during the past season has exhibited a marked
improvement on 1860, 14 having attained the posi-
tion of marksmen, as compared with four in 1860.
During the past week some excellent matches
have been contested by at least two of the Volunteer
corps in the county of Essex. On Wednesday at
Harwich the Artillery Volunteers fired for a silver
cup given by Mr. E. W. Garland, Hier Steward of
the borough, which was won by Gunner Baker, who
scored 21 points at ranges of 100, 200, and 300 yards.
A subscription cup was won by Gunner Newton, 19
points ; and other prizes were won by Sergeant-Major
Barnes, 18 points, and Gunner R. Hardy, 13 hits.
The third company of the Norwich battalion has
had a competition for several prizes during the past
week. A silver cup given by Capt. Croker (shot for
at 400, 500, and 600 yards), was won by Private St.
John ; a cup given by Lieut. C. Gurney (shot for at
200, 250, and 300 yards), was won by private W.

Saxton ; and a third cup presented by Ensign Hansel
(shot for at 200 and 300 yards), was gained by private
Burrows. Several other money prizes ofsmall amount
were also competed for. A cup shot for by ten
members of the Yarmouth battalion at ranges of
200, 400, and 500 yards, five shots each, was won by
Sergeant Drane, who made the high score of 22
points.

Several interesting movements may be noticed in
connexion with the Suffolk corps. There has been
a presentation of prizes to the best shots of the
Stourmarket company ; the first a cup for the
greatest number of points in the first class being
awarded to Sergeant Felgate. Various other prizes
were, at the request of the winners, given in
various articles of equivalent value. The Lowestoft
Artillery corps has been entertained by its com-
manding officer (Captain Fowler) at his seat at
Gunton-hall. The Eye corps has been reviewed in
Thornham-park, the seat of Lord Henniker, M.P.
A silver cup, previously shot for at 200, 400, and
500 yards, was presented on the occasion to Private
Gill. Captain Commandant Mitchell acted as in-
specting officer.
In Cambridgeshire the Ist County corps has had
a competition for prizes, the first, for the greatest
number of hits, being won by Lance-corporal Red-
farn ; and the second, for the highest number of
points, by Private Hitzman.
The Grantham corps had a competition last week
between 12 of its married and 12 of its single mem-
bers, each man firing five rounds at ranges of 200,
300, 560, and 600 yards. The married side made
194 points to their opponents' 168.

The two Worcestershire battalions assembled on
the;racecourse at Worcester on Monday evening for
review by Colonel M'Murdo, the inspecting officer
of Volunteers of the district. The weather was
remarkably fine, and there was a very large con-
course of spectators. Nineteen different corps
assembled from all parts of the county, having
arrived by train and by road in the course of the
morning, and there were nearly, if not quite, 1000
men under arms. The two battalions were com-
manded respectively by Lieut.-Colonel F. Knight,
M.P., and Lieut.-Colonel Seobell. Lord Lyttelton,
Lord-Lieutenant of Worcestershire, accom-
panied the inspecting officer. The battalions
having formed in line, and received the inspecting.
officer with opened ranks and saluted, a number of
evolutions were gone through most creditably, in-
cluding firing by companies and in volleys, which
was done with wonderful precision. The volunteers

were complimented at the close of the review by
the inspecting officer. The Queen's own Worces-
tershire Cavalry kept the ground.
On Friday afternoon a meeting of officers of
volunteers corps in Worcestershire, convened by
the Lord-Lieutenant of the county (Lord Lyttelton),

was held at the Shirehall at Worcester, his lord-
ship's object in convening the meeting being to
obtain information, first, as to the practicability of
establishing a County Volunteer Rifle Association ;
and, secondly to consider the propriety of obtaining
uniformity of clothing among the corps. On both
subjects decided opinions were expressed in favour
of the chairman's views.

On Saturday afternoon Colonel M'Murdo made
the annual inspection of the Birmingham corps in
Calthorp-park. About 800 men mustered in Bing-
ley-hall, whence they marched to the inspection

ground, where they were put through eighteen
evolutions in a very able manner by their colonel.
They were afterwards formed in battalion square,
and addressed by Colonel M'Murdo in highly corn-

plimentary terms, special reference being made to

the soldierlike manner in which Colonel Mason
commands the battalion, to the bayonet drill of the
sergeants, and the sword drill of the officers. The
inspecting officer also enjoined the necessity of the
strictest discipline being observed ; and in reference
to this point alluded to the recent review at War-
wick, some irregular firing having taken place on
that occasion. From the efficiency and steadiness
which the corps now displayed he had hopes that
no such irregularity would again occur. The ground
was kept by a battalion of the Staffordshire Volun-
teers.

The contest for the prizes offered for competition
to the volunteers of the Leicestershire Regiment
commenced on Monday at Melton, and terminated
at Leicester on Friday. The first prize was a chal-
lenge cup, presented by Mr. W. Turner, open to four
members from each company, five rounds at 300, 500
and 600 yards ; the points gained on the target
practice to be added to those obtained in six an•
swers at judging distance up to 600 yards. The
prize consists of a silver cup, value 25 guineas,
which is to be kept by the winner but for one year,
unless he wins it three years in succession, when it
becomes his property. Sixteen competitors entered.
Captain Halford scored 17, Captain Bankart 16.
Captain Bankart gained 9 points at judging dis-
tance in six answers, and was accordingly adjudged
to be the winner. This is the second year Captain
Blankart has held the cup. He also on Monday
won Colonel Turner's prize of £lO for excellency
in judging distance. On Tuesday the competition
was continued at Ashby-de-la-Zouch. The first
prize contended for was one of £2O, at 700 and 900
yards. Ensign Paul, 9th Leicester, scored 8, win-
ning the first prize. A prize of £l5, five shots, at
300 and 500 yards, was won by Corporal White-
house, of Melton, scoring 15 points. On Friday
the All-Comers' prize of £l5, five rounds at 300
and 500 yards, was contested for, when Ensign
Gardiner, Ist Leicester, proved the victor, scoring 14.
The distribution of the prizes offered at the recent
rifle competition at Bristol took place on Saturday
afternoon on the grounds of the Clifton Zoological
Society. The gardens were gaily decorated with
flags and banners, and a large company were pre-
sent on the occasion. The rifle corps was drawn
up before the platform, the Engineers being on the
right and the Artillery on the left. The successful
candidates having been called to the front the open
regimental prizes were presented by the Mayor—
a Henry rifle, given by Mr. W. H. Gore Langton,
M.P., and a silver medal, to Sergeant Geary; a
Whitworth rifle, given by Mr. H. A. Palmer,
to Private Cleft ; £5 to Armourer Sergeant
Gibbs; and £5 to Private Portin. The prizes offered
by the Clifton Zoological Society, with two prizes
added from the regimental fund, were distributed by
Mr. A. J. Knapp. Mrs. Lyon Campbell presented
the ladies prize. Various prizes were then presented
with appropriate remarks, by Colonel Bush ; the
second-class regimental prizes.-Ist prize, a silver
goblet, presented by Mr. G. W. Franklyn, M.P., to
Private Champion, and the All Comers' prizes-Ist
prize, £lOO, to Lieut. Thomson, Oxford Rifles (the
band playing, " See the Conquering Hero Comes").
The Volunteer prizes, competed for with any wea-
pon, were distributed by Mr. J. Saunders, high
sheriff. The first at 300 yards, consisting of £lO and
a silver medal, was won by Ensign Pinney; the
first at 500 yards, £lO and silver medal, by Captain
Simons, 2d Middlesex ; at 200 yards, the Ist prize,
£lO and silver medal, was gained by Sergeant Rowe
Ist Devon. Colonel Whitmore delivered the follow.
ing prizes :—At 300 yards, a Ist prize of £lO and a
silver medal to Sergeant Mackey, 13th Glocester ;
at 500 yards, Ist prize, £lO and silver medal to
Captain Holme, Bath. Of the extra prizes open to
all corners, the Ist prize of £2O, at 500 and 600
yards, was gained by Private Chamberlain, Bristol ;
at 700 yards, the Ist prize of £lO, was won by
Lieut. Brock, of the 82d Regiment. The prizes
offered for competition by the Staff sergeant-major
and sergeants of the corps were next distributed.
The regimental challenge cup, to be held for one
year by the member making the highest score, the
successful competitor retaining a gold medal, and
the next highest score receiving a silver medal were
handed by Colonel Bush to Sergeant Compton and
Private Hamilton. The regimental challenge bugle
which having been won two years in succession by
the same company, becomes the property of that
company, was then delivered to Captain Wright, of
No. 3 company, by Col. Bush, who in the course of
his remarks said that the file firing of the 10 men of
No. 3 company for this prize was 13.90, the volley
firing 11,30, and the skirmishing 9.20, making a
total of 34.40, a result which he might say, espe-
cially as regarded the skirmishing, was almost un-
precedented.
The County of Lancaster Rifle meeting, which
commenced on Monday last at Altcar, late High-
town, Lancashire, terminated on Saturday by the
distribution of prizes, amounting in the aggregate
value to nearly £l,OOO. The meeting passed off to
the satisfaction of all concerned. The " All Comers' "
prize attracted the presence of most of the leading
shots in the county. The Liverpool Corn-exchange
purse of £25 and a Turner rifle, for all comers, dis-
tance 200 and 300 yards, five shots at each range,
10 entries, was won by Captain Heaton, 40th Lan-

cashire Rifle Volunteers, 21 points The Association
Cup of 30 guineas, distances 200 and 300 yards,
five shots at each range, for which there were 66
entries, was also won by Captain Heaton-200
yards, 13 ; 300 yards, 10 ; total, 23. A purse of
£5O, presented by Mr. Robt. Barnes, of Manchester,
open to the effective volunteers of the county of
Lancaster, distances 200, 400, and 500 yards, 255
entries, resulted in Mr. Shaw winning the prize by
making a bull's-eye. The Leigh Challenge Cup,
value 80 guineas, distances 300, 500, and 600 Ards,
five shots at each distance, was won by J. Halsali,
of Wigan, with 20 points. The Ellesmere Chal-
lenge Cup, with £25 added by the Association,
competed for by three delegates from Volunteer
companies of the county, distances 300, 503, and
600 yards, five shots at each, resulted in Lieut.
Wood, Sergeant Dougan, and Corporal Usher, all
of the 26th Lancashire Rifle Volunteers, making 43
points. The Mayor of Liverpool's Prize of £25, for
Liverpool Volunteers, distances 300 yards and 500
yards, for which there were 73 entries, was gained
bySergeant Sillem, sth Lancashire Rifle Volunteers.
The Liverpool Stock Exchange Prize of £25, dis-
tance 500 and 600 yards, was won by Joseph Wood,
Bth Lancashire Rifle Volunteers. The Lord-Lieu-
tenant's Cup, valued at £5O, distance 500 and 800
yards, five shots at each range, was won by S. R.
Richardson,l9th Lancashire Rifle Volunteers, with
points. The Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Com-
panies Prize for all corners, distance 800 and 900 yards
first prize £35, was won by Sergeant H. Rowe,
Exeter and South Devon, who made 13 points.
The Liverpool Cotton-brokers' Prize of £5O, open
to all corners, with any description of rifle, in any
position, 10 rounds at 1,000 and 10 rounds at 1,100
yards, attracted most of the celebrated shots. Mr.
Collins stood at the head of the list, making 16
points. On Saturday a large number of the pub-
lic, including many ladies, visited the range. The
proceedings commenced with the contest for the
County of Lancaster Rifle Association's Grand
Challenge Cup, value £lOO, to be competed for only
by effective Volunteers of the county, being winners
of any of the aforesaid prizes for individual firing
during the meeting—distances, 700, 800, and 900
yards, five shots at each range—the prize to be won
three years consecutively by the same person,
which was won by Lieut. Handsley, 17th Lanca-
shire
R Volunteers, with a score of 12. The
concludingifi e
eentestwas
for "
a purse of £5O, pre-
sented by Mr. J. Pemberton Heywood, for the best
company volley firing, open to the effective Volun-
teers of the county of Lancaster, 10 from each com-

pany ; five rounds at 400 yards." The tie was shot
off, and the 47th won by a point. At the termina-
tion of the firing the directors adjourned to a gaily
decorated platform, from which, after brief but ap-
propriate addresses from Colonel Bownie and Major
Walker, the prizes were distributed.
On Tuesday afternoon the Hon. Col. W. E. Dun-
eombe, M.P., reviewed the 2d Battalion of North
Riding Volunteers, before 1,-)rd Faversham's man-

sion, at Duncombe-park, near Helmsley, Yorkshire.
The Market Weighton Rifla corps (9th East
Yorkshire) assembled in Everingham Park on
Tuesday last, under the command of Lieut. Lang-
dale, and went through a series of military exer-
cises, after which a silver bugle was presented to

the corps by Lady Herries, on behalf of the ladies
of Market Weighton.

The second annual prize shooting in connection
with the Leeds Volunteer Rifle Corps was concluded
on Thursday last. The competition was on the
shooting grounds of the corps at Farneley and
Pontefract, the short ranges, 150, 200, and 300
yards, being shot at the former place,!and the long
ranges, 500, 600, and 800 yards, at the latter place,
except in the case of one prize, which was com-
peted for at the short ranges at Pontefract. The
company prizes were shot for at 200 and 300 yards,
five rounds at each distance. For the Battalion
Challenge Cup, value £25, together with a double
field glass (the latter to be reLained), presented by
Mr. W. J. Armitage, the Competition was confined
to the 20 best competitors for the company prizes,
and the prize was Trion by Sergeant Holroyd, 2d
company, who scored 10 points. The Borough Mem-
bers' Prize (a silver cup, value £10) was shot for at
150 and 200 yards, five rounds at each. There
were nearly 100 competitors, and the prize was won
by Sergeant Harding, who made 20 points, The
prizes were distributed to the successful competitors
on Saturday afternoon, in the Victoria-hall, by Mrs.
Markham, wife of Lieut.• Col. Markham, the com-
manding officer of the Leeds Rifle Corps.
The 3d Durham (Sunderland) Rifle Corps held
their first competition for prizes, on the beach be-
tween Hendon and Ryhope, on Friday afternoon.
There was a good muster. The first competition
was for two prizes given by the officers of the corps
—first, a piece of plate worth ten sovereigns ;
second, a Hay rifle. The first was carried off by Mr.
Clark, shoemaker, Walworth-street, Sunderland,
who made 22 points.

The Carlisle Artillery Volunteers had their first
prize shooting with the rifled carbine which has
been supplied them on Tuesday last, at their
practice range on the banks of the Eden. The
competition was for a Whitworth rifle, given by
Mr. Richard Carruthers, of Eden Grove ; a short
Enfield, given by Miss Lambert ; and a field glass
for third best shot. The ranges were 100, 200, and
300 yards, which is the limit of calculated range of
the rifled carbine. There were 41 competitors,
each of whom had five shots at each range. The
first prize was won by Gunner Gibson, who made
27 points.

On Thursday last part of the Morpeth Rifle Volun-
teers visited Naworth Castle, the seat of the Earl of
Carlisle. The " Belted Will" (Brampton) Volunteers
had been invited to the Castle to meet them, and
the two corps were put through various movements
in the grounds. The volunteers were afterwards
entertained in the hall, when several complimentary
and patriotic toasts were drunk.

The Countess of Kintore, in presenting a hand-
some silver bugle on Wednesday to the 10th Aber-
deen shire (or Inverury Rifle Volunteers) suggested
that the Scottish volunteers should present a testi-
monial to Lord Elcho, whom she described as the
father of the volunteer movement in Great Britain.
The force in Scotland now numbers nearly 47,000
men, so that if each volunteer were to subscribe 3d.
they would raise within a very small amount of
£6OO. The proposition was received with applause,
and measures were taken to begin the subscription.

DESTRUCTIVE STORM AT WKS.

LOSS OF LIVES, BOATS, AND NETS.
(From the Northern Whig.)
The loose and changeable weather which charac-
terised last week was brought to a climax on Fri-
day night and Saturday, when one of the most
severe autumnal gales that has ever visited our
coast came upon us with devastating fury, sweep-
ing along the shores with a violence that was appal-
ling to witness, and that more than once threatened
to carry all before it.
During the early part of Friday a strong gale of
wind blew from the west ; but as it fell towards
night, and as the barometer had been rising during
the day, and the sky had become somewhat settled
nearly the entire fleet of boats on the Caithness
coast went to sea. Shortly before sunset the sky
suddenly changed, assuming in the east a wild and
lurid appearance, and to the westward rapidly al-
ternating between a bright crimson and a dark
grey, and giving portentous indications of a coming
gale. At 8 o'clock the wind blew pretty sharply
from the S.W., and in the offing there seemed to be
a heavy sea running. Soon after the gale increased,
and by half-past 8 the boats had begun to fly back
in considerable numbers, increasing till about 10
o'clock, when, amid the howling of the wind, the
pattering of the rain, and the dashing of the waves,
the crash of boats coming into collision at the har-
bour entrance, and the cries of men and women,
hundreds of whom had assembled on the quays and
neighbouring heights, were heard. About 10 o'clock,
as a large crowd of boats were'escaping to the har-
bour, two of them came into collision, and the result
was that one belonging to Donald Morrison, Assynt,
fishing to Mr. Neil Jamieson of Rothesay, was en-
tirely destroyed. The crew of the other, whose num-
ber could not be ascertained owing to the darkness
and excitement, in the most cowardly and cold-
blooded manner bore away immediately to escape
detection, and left the other crew to sink or swim
as they best could. They were soon after picked
up by the crew. of the Princess Royal cutter, and
both boat and nets speedily went down. Much
about the same time the boat Brothers, of Clyth,
James Adamson, No. 277, and that of John Mackay,
Pulteney-town, No. 69, were run into, and severely
injured, but their crews managed to get them into
the harbour with great difficulty. Soon after eleven
the wind veered round to N.W., after which it
greatly increased in violence, but being off the land
no additional surf was occasioned. Hour by hour,
as the night advanced, the boats continued to
arrive, and every exertion was made by the harbour
officials, under the directions of Capt. Tudor, R.N.,
to get them as closely packed as possible into the
old harbour, until every available inch was filled.
They, however, succeeded in maintaining a clear
passage at the outer entrance untii low water pre-
vented any more boats from getting in.
We shall never forget the scene which the har-
bour and bay presented at early dawn. As its first
streaks scattered dim rays of light, the bay pre-
sented a mass of foam, over which the dark figures
of a couple of hundred boats were observed pitch-
ing. About a hundred had succeeded in getting
fair anchorage ground ; a large number were tossed
about at the mercy of the tempest ; some were hang-
ing on by their nets, many were disabled by loss of
sails, masts, rudders, &c. some were running under
almost bare poles for shelter under the high rocks
at South Head ; and some had flags of distress
hoisted. Many of the boats at sea could have
reached the bay, but the crews were apprehensive
that too great a crowd had already entered it, and
that destruction to their boats and the loss of their
own lives would be the result. As the dawn in-
creased the offing appeared covered with boats in
distress, under a terrific gale and heavy sea; and
altogether the sight was one of the most alarming
character. On a moderate estimate there were at
daybreak 2,000 men within sight of the South Head
in imperilled circumstances, and liable, should the
wind chop round a couple of points, to be devoured by
the raging deep. The most intense excitement pre-
vailed as the morning's light awakened those on
shore to the extent of the danger. Hundreds of
affrighted wives, mothers, and sisters anxiously
crowded the quays, afraid to look seaward, while on
strong men's faces deep anxiety was depicted.
Time passed until nine o'clock, when the gale
somewhat abated, but still continuing alarmingly
violent. The tide now began to make and admit of
boats entering, of which numbers availed themselves
so far as the storm would admit. But hundreds,
many of then inside the bay, were unable to reach
it until assistance was obtained. A large number
of young men manned various boats, and, proceed-
ing to the relief of the exhausted crews, brought
many of them to the harbour in safety, not, how-
ever, without much damage to property. Not a few
boats had to leave their entire drifts of nets; others
five, ten, fifteen, or twenty; some had their masts
or rudders carried away, and not a few had come
into collision when making for the harbour, and
suffered serious damage. About the hour named
above the Fishery Board cutter Princess Royal,
which had lain in the bay the whole morning,
weighed anchor, and set off to assist the many crews
still in the offing, and she succeeded in taking five
in tow and bringing them to the bay during the day.
The services of a steamer on this occasion would
have been invaluable. Eleven, twelve, one, two
o'clock passed, and stillthe boats continued arriving
in considerable numbers, the gale having greatly
moderated as the day advanced. But many were
still missing, so much so that the harbour officials
calculated that at 3 o'clock about 200 boats, manned
by about 1,200 men, were yet unaccounted for. Far
away in the distant offing they were to be seen,
hanging on their nets, some carrying indications of
distress, and all evidently in circumstances of peril.
About 4 o'clock the sky greatly brightened and the
storm moderated, but public interest continued un-
abated—the quays and braes were crowded, and the
anxious relatives of the men at sea waited each
successive arrival with an intensity of eagerness
that manifested the feelings within. Afternoon
passed, and still many crews were arriving or
observed at considerable distances at sea. A

good few additional boats, fully manned and
supplied with refreshments, were despatched,
and rendered very great assistance to many;
Into one boat fifteen young, brave fishermen en-
tered, taking with them six sails, a barrel of bis-
cuits, and other means of relief. They were of great
service to several boats, particularly in platting
fresh hands on board. As the shades of night came
on, with a great number of crews still unaccounted
for, the anxiety of relatives and others interested
became inexpressibly intense, and was heightened
as boats dropped in by units, and left the great bulk
of anxious spectators still unsatisfied. To many a
poor woman Saturday night was a long and dreary
one, and rendered doubly so as occasional fitful gusts
of wind and frequent heavy showers threatened a
repetition of the hurricane of the previous night.
About eight o'clock a boat, No. 1, David Bruce,
Pulteneytown, arrived with two crews on board,
crew of No. 1 having picked up that of Murdo
Macleod, No. 1,109, fishing to Mr. Wm. Corner,
here, who had abandoned their boat and nets, being
apprehensive of their safety, and were taken on
board the other. They had hung on by their nets,
which were full of herrings, till threatened with
being swamped. Next morning the nets were
found, full of dogs. At the hour referred to (eight
p.m.) several boats arrived with good shots of her-
rings. As the evening passed on, followed by the
long hours which preceded daylight, the arrivals of
the missing boats were by driblets. Women and
men watched during the night, and crowded round
each crew as they successively arrived. Some of
the former refused to leave the quays till their mis-
sing ones appeared, and many of them neither ate
nor drank till their fears were dissipated. As the
intelligence of the safety of well known local crews
was conveyed to the inhabitants, the news spread
happiness over the community, and iwhen Sabbath
morning dawned, many who had not been able to
leave their places of business till a late hour of the
previous night were found on the quays, making
eager inquiries after the missing crews of the by-
gone evening. Even from distant parts of the
country messengers were despatched at an early
hour to obtain information, and along the whole
road from Tain to Thurso there were knots of indi-
viduals—in some instances crowds anxiously
waiting to learn the intelligence. During Saturday
night and Sabbath morning the missing boats
dropped in one by one, till 9 o'clock, when intelli-
gence of all had been received, excepting three,
those of Augus Henderson, Wick ; Alexander Gray,
Pulteneytown ; and a Lochbroom crew, fishing to
the Messrs. Baikie here. Soon after, the first of these
made her appearance in safety, to the great joy of
many. She was overtaken by the storm at a consi-
derable offing to the north-eastward, and had bore
away for the opposite coast, being pretty near Cro-
marty when the gale abated, on which she was put
about, reaching Wick at the time mentioned. The
day passed on. At any early hour a number of
crews went off in search of both lost nets and the
missing boats, and were successful in saving a great
many of the former. One of the crews reported
having seen a boat tossed about without a crew on
board, and the same having been reported to Capt.
Macdonald, of the Princess Royal, he set off in
search, and returned in the afternoon with her. She
proved to be the derelict boat, fishing to Mr. Corner.
The clay was one of anxious suspense to many, as
two crews were still unaccounted for, and many in-
dividuals gathered on the heights, eagerly scanning
the sea, while the relatives were cheered and com-
forted by assurances that boats were still seen in
the offing. About 7 o'clock a brig hove in sight,
with a boat in tow, and it was speedily ascertained
to be that of Alex. Gray. On the previous morn-
ing, about 36 miles off Noss Head, the crew of the
brig, observing their sails spent, and other tokens
of distress, bore down upon them, took them on
board, treated them with every kindness, stuck to
the boat, and, after a lapse of about 40 hours,
brought boat and crew to Wick bay. The name of
the brig is the Martha, of Liverpool, bound to Gal-
way with coals, Capt. Hastings, whose services on
this occasion, as well as those of his crew, merit the
most honourable mention.

Only one boat now remained unaccounted for.
Alas, we fear her hapless crew will never be heard
of till the day when " the sea shall give up the dead
which are in it." The boat is named the Vine, of
Wick, No. 1,103, Alex. M'Lean, master. She was
first observed by a Banffshire crew, in search of
their'nets, floating at sea on Sabbath afternoon,
with part of the nets round her, and was taken in
tow by the cutter soon after, and brought to Acker-
gill on Monday morning. She had suffered no
damage; but it is the opinion of those who saw
her that she had swamped during the gale, while
the crew were endeavouring to put up the fore-
mast, and that the crew had perished. Their names
are—

Alexander M'Lean, aged 33.
Donald M'Lean, brother of above, aged 40.
Murdoch M'Lean, ditto, aged 26.
Murdoch M'Lean, cousin of ditto, aged 28.
John M'Lean, ditto, aged 30.
Alexander M'Lean, hired, aged 20.
Of course for some days hope will still prevail
against hope that the poor fellows may have been
picked up by some vessel and carried away ; but
there is now little ground for such an opinion, and
few doubt that the unfortunate crew were drowned.
They were strong, active men, and had caught
about 100 trans of herrings, and both boat and
materials were excellent.

On Monday morning, after. the worst had been
known, the excitement that had prevailed in the
town and neighbourhood during the two previous
days had considerably calmed down, and great re-
lief was felt that the calamities of Saturday morn-
ing had turned out so comparatively few in this
locality. It is impossible to arrive at anything
like a correct estimate of the amount of loss, but the
following are the chief items :
Crew of six men drowned.
One boat run down and sunk, with all her mate.
rials.

Two boats stove, from collisions, and since re-
paired.

- Numerous boats injured by collisions.
Masts, &c., broken.
Several thousand nets lost, or rendered totally
useless.