The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1839-01-08 00:00:00

AWFUL STORM.

Our town and coast have been visited during Sunday
night with one of the most awful hurricanes we ever
remember At eleven o'clock, the wind, which had
been a slight breeze from the S.E., suddenly changed
to S.W., and afterwards to W., and began blowing a
perfect hurricane, which continued through the whole
of the night and the greater part of yesterday. At
this moment, while endeavouring to give somewhat
of a detail of the facts which have come to our know-
ledge of the destruction and melancholy effec:s of the
storm, we feel almost at a loss where to begin. The
second and third editions of the Albion contain the
following particulars :

SECOND EDITION.)

AWFUL AND DESTRUCTIVE HURRICANE.

ALBION-OFFICE, MONDAY, NINE, A. 51

Last night, about eleven o'clock, the wind, which had
been blowing strong all day, from the S.E., N hich induced a
number of vessels that had been windbound to put to sea,
suddenly veered round to the S.W. About one o'clock the
wind blew a complete hurricane, having, in the meantime,
veered round to due W. The effects of this dreadful storm,
have, as might have been expected, from its extreme vio-
lence, been truly awful in the destruction both of life and
property. Innumerable buildings, in the town and the vici-
nity, have been seriously damaged, while, at the moment we
write, not less than six persons have been ascertained to have
lost their lives by the fall of ruins.
The house, corner of Great George-square. in Nelson-
street, fell with a tremendous crash soon after four o'clock.
Two females and two gentlemen were buried in the ruins.
Fortunately, through the exertions of the Police, these were
extricated, after an hour's labour, very little hurt.
While the Police were at work in Great Nelson-street,
word was passed, that the house of Mrs. Lawrence, the
mother of Mr. J. Lawrence, in Cornwallis-street, had fallen
in, burying in the ruins fire persons, amongst the others the
old lady herself. Mr. Jas. Lawrence was soon on the spot,
and his men and the Police were, after two hours' exertions,
successful in extricating all alive but Mrs. Lawrence: she
merely breathed and expired.
While she was being carried to the house of a friend, the
house of Mrs. Marsh, nearly opposite Dr. Ilaffies's Chapel,
fell in. Two young gentlemen and a servant maid were, in
the fall, crushed to death, being taken out of the ruins life-
less.

In the earlier part of the night, the roof of a house in
Clayton-square fell in, injurint, a gentleman asleep in an
upper story most seriously. About the same time, a house
in Shannon-street, fell in, killing a man in the fall. A house
in Rodney-street, fell in, and seriously injured a gentleman.
A house in the Park, also, we have heard, fell in, killing a
female. Mr. Quolter, of Sydney-street, was killed.
The disasters in the river, the ducks, and the adjacent
coast have, we lament to say, been numerous and awful. At
daylight not less than fifteen vessels, several of theta large
ships and brigs, were on shore, in Bootle Bay, within the
short space of a mile. At eight o'clock most of them were
high and dry, but, at the time we write, we have not been able
to ascertain their names or the extent of the loss of life,
which, we fear, must have been serious. Several vessels,
which were at achor iu the bay, rode out the gale till about
eight o'clock, when one or two of them dragged their anchors,
and could with difficulty be kept from running on a lee
shore. We greatly fear, that the list of disasters by this
terrible storm will be increased by the intelligence which
will be received in the course of the day.

At Darlington's Public-house, top of Leander-street, a
chimney has blown down, and a lodger, who was in bed in

the room underneath, killed.
The large Cotton-will, on the Canal-bank, is one-half un-
roofed. The cotton, which was in the upper rooms, has
whitened all the space betwixt the Canal and Everton, as if
there had been a heavy fall of snow: even the trees are
covered with ii.

Part of the spire of St. John the Baptist's Chnrch, Toxteth-
park, has been blown down. The wall of St James's Church
has been completely levelled, and the trees uprooted so as to
expose the coffins. _

ONE O'CLOCK, P.M.
The accounts received during the forenoon describe the
most wide-spread destruction caused by the sweep of the
hurricane. The majority of the buildings in the town and
the vicinity have sustained more or less damage: hundreds
of them are, so far as the roofs and chimneys are concerned,
mere wrecks.

The Coroner is said to have received notices to bold in-
quests on not less than fifteen bodies of persons killed and
drowned during the storm.
The greatest anxiety prevails to ascertain the fate of the
vessels which sailed yesterday. Up to this hour, no tidings
have been received respecting them. The Northwest Light-
ship has been driven from her moorings, and her absence
from her station will expose the inward-bound to imminent
peril.
The storm, though a little abated, still rages with great
fury.

(THIRD EDITION.)

HALF-PAST THRZE, P.M.
We learn, by a gentleman from Staffordshire, that the
storm was severely felt in that county, buildings and trees
having been destroyed to a great extent.
A boat proceedtug to a ship in the river has just been
upset, and six men have, it is feared, been drowned.

In addition to these particulars, we may state that in the
upper parts of the town the effects of the storm were most
disastrous.

In West Derby-street, the chimney over Mr. Pickup's
house, the car-keeper, was observed, by an opposite neigh-
bour, about five o'clock in the morning, to be in a most dan-
gerous state, and he sent his servant over to warn the in-
mates. Mrs. Pickup, who had lain-in only three days before,
was got out of bed, and had scarcely left the room before the
stack of chimneys fell through the roof, with a tremendous
crash, into the room sbe had just lett.
Down the whole of Islington, Pembroke-place, London-
road, and in all the adjacent streets, every third or fourth
house has either the chimney blown down, or the roof un-
stated. Early in the morning the wind was blowing a per-
fect hurricane, and bricks, chimney-pots, and slates were
flying in all directions. An enormous quantity of glass has
been broken, nearly every house having suffered more or
less.

In Lord Nelsen-street the chimney of a house, inhabited
by a gentleman named Chapman, fell through the roof du-
r►ng the night, and killed two women servants.
Edging the river the damage has been most serious. The
windows and window frames of one side of the New Custom-
house have been completely smashed in.
In every dock the damage has been enormous, from the
vessels pitching violently against one another; staving in. their
bows and sterns.

At George's Pierhead, at two o'clock, the sight was most
melancholy. At least twenty masts and yards apparently be-
longing to flats with torn sails affixed to them were floating
close to the Pier, whilst hundreds of passive and awe struck
spectators thronged every part. The Runcorn packet was
sunk off the Pierhead, with her chimney and mast sticking
out of the water. Near her was a sloop sunk, her mast also
sticking out of the water. . _

The 'Camera Obscura at the Pierhead was blown com-
pletely away, leaving not a wreck behind, and parts of it
were seen floating about in the Cattle-slip Basin.
The George's Pier Cattle slip Basin, which has always
afforded moorings for about 30 or 40 boats, presented a most
melancholy spectacle. The violence with which the boats
had been jolted against each other by the wind and the
waves, had broken every one up into mere planks, which
comp.etely covered the surface of the water.
The same melancholy spectacle was presented in the
George's Basin. Four flats, in different parts of it, were
sunk, their masts only above water. Four small brigs,
'floored on the south side, had been jolted with such violence
against the wall of the dock basin, as to chip off the edge
large pieces of stone a foot. thick, and damaging the whole
length of the south edge of the basin. The stern of one
brig moored there was completely knocked to pieces against
the bow of her neighbouring vessel, exposing the whole of
her after-cabin.

The landing bridge, usually moored off the George's Pier,
is sunk at the mouth of the basin.

At the Egremont Slip, in the basin, two sloops are sunk
and several small craft almost knocked to pieces.
At the Princes Pier, some vessel has been driven stem on
the wall, and shattered several yards of it. About half way
down, thirty yards from the pier, a schooner has sunk with
part of her sails set, and just appearing above water. The
crew on board this must inevitably have perished, as they
could have no chance of saving themselves at night, with a
hurricane blowing them against a perpendicular wall, half.a-
mile in extent. A little lower down the masts of another
vessel are just peeping above water.
The whole of the line down to Bootle Bay presents evi-
dence of the disastrous effects of the hurricane in unroofed
houses, prostrate chimneys, and broken windows.
The north wing of the cotton mill on the North Shore, has
had the two upper stories completely blown into ruins, and
the roof has fallen in over them.
On the shore there are stranded her Majesty's steamer
the Redwing, the Packet-ship Oxford, three brigs, seven
schooners, and four sloops. Some are so high on the beach
as to be safe from any further damage from the storm;
others can just float, and are thutnpino dreadfully with the
swell. The Packet-ship Oxford, with a valuable inward
cargo, has been scuttled, in order if possible to prevent her
thumping herself to pieces when the tide returns. When
we saw her at near high water, the sea was making a com-
plete breach over her. •
The bodies of two men and a boy were washed ashore at
Bootle during the early part of the day.
We were informed by Lieut. Reed, of the Redwing, that
so overpowering was the hurricane, that with three anchors
out and his full power of steam on one of his cables snapped,
and his vessel dragged before the wind, till at last he was
obliged to let them slip to avoid running foul of the Oxford.
The wind then drove his vessel on her beam ends, and
being unable to get her head to windward, with all the power
he could put on, she was driven sideways on shore.
About four o'clock in the morning, upwards of one
hundred yards of the wall of Kirkdale Gaol was blown
down level with the ground. The wall fell against the
weaving shops of the prison, knocking many of them down,
breaking the looms, and leaving the pieces to blow about.
The slating and lead work of the tread mill blew off. The
chimneys of the gatekeeper's room shortly afterwards fell in,
breaking through the roof; but fortunately the keepers had
removed into a room looking into the gaol yard, or in all pro-
bability they would have perished. The chimneys in the
governor's house also fell, but did not go through the roof,
merely stripping the slates and leads. 'I he chimneys of the
workshop fell, going through the roof. About five o'clock,
a stack of chimneys on the West side of the Sessions House
fell, and went through the roof into the Magistrates' Com-
mittee-room, carrying the flooring through into the Grand
Jury room. Oue of the Court-House windows, lookina into
the gaol yard, was completely. blown into the Court !ouse.
The wind, at four o'clock was terrific, and the falling of the
Western wall shook the different houses around as though
there was an earthquake. A great quantity of glass was
broken in the Governor's House, and also in the Court

House, and other parts of the gaol. The governor, Mr.
Amos, early acquainted the Chairman of the Quarter Ses-
sion, Rev. J. Brooks, of the accidents, who prou►Qtly attend-
ed; and also Mr. 'John Formby. magistrate. Mr. Any is
also sent to Mr. Whitty, who immediately sent a detachment
of police to guard the breach, and by their presence prevent
accident by persons approaching parts of the wall still liable
to fall. We hear from all quarters that the promptitude and
conduct of Mr. Whitty is beyond al praise. Mr. Autos al-o
immediately sent for the different tradesmen whose assistance
would be required. The different workmen were on the
ground by ten o'clock, and were immediately set to work
clearing the foundations. Owing to the vigilance of the
governor and keepers, the prisoners were kept quite seeure.,
Between three and four o'clock, the. ppliee were relieved by

a guard of the 98th regiment, which arrived from Ireland the
previous night:
We have received the following particulars of the storm at
the North Shore Mills, on the banks of the Canal:—One of
the keepers was awoke at a quarter before twelve o'clock by
the noise of the hurricane. At that time the wind was blow-
ing a very heavy gale, which shook every room in the mill.
At one o'clock the storm began to increase, mixed with rain.
At twenty minutes before three he went through the factory
to examine it. The wind was blowing very heavily. The
first room he entered was No. 3. The west windows of the
north wing were breaking rapidly with the force of the wind.
Proceeded to No. 4. The wind entered this room with such
force, and the glass flew with such violence, that they were

obliged to retreat. Dared not take the lights into NC). 5, in
consequence of the great quantity of cotton contained in the
room. Heard the windows smashing. Proceeded to No. 7,
experienced a tremendous rush of wind, as though the roof
was blowing off. Proceeded to No. 6, a few panes of glass
broken. At ten minutes past five, heard an awful report,
appearing like something falling into the building, which
proved to be portion of the roof. The machinery in that and
room No. 6 is greatly damaged. The falling of the roof
burst the Hue of the large chimney. No 4is materially da-
maged in the windows, but not in the machinery. Other
portions of the roof are damaged.
The chimney of Mr. Brough's house, at the corner of St'
Anne-street and Springfield-street, fell in, early in the morn-
ing, carrying with it the roof into the top room. Mrs.
Brough had about five minutes previous got out of bed, and
gone down stairs, thus escaping serious injury, if not destruc-
tion.

A considerable portion of the stone front of the Methodist
Chapel erecting in Great Homer-street, was thrown down.
Many houses in Kirkdale have been partially or wholly
unroofed, and garden walls, gates, &c., thrown down.
A portion of the sheds of Mr. Scott, skinner, near Kirk-
dale House of Correction, fell about five o'clock, burying be-
neath the ruins a quantity of wool. The loss is estimated at
about £7O. Great fears were entertained fur the safety of
the large chimney on the premises of Mr. Scott, situated a
little nearer the gaol, owing to the manner in which it rocked
with the wind.

To recount; however, the almost innumerable accidents of
chimneys tumbling in and houses roofless would be an end-
less task; every part of the town exhibits such disasters.
Yesterday afternoon the packet-ship Cambridge, anchored
off George's Pier, began to trail her anchors, and drive to-
wards the Pier-head. When within a few yards of it, the
captain put up a chalked board, offering EMU to any steamer
that would tow him out of his dangerous position ; but none
would venture.

A most melancholy accident, which resulted in the loss of
five valuable lives, shortly after ensued. A small boat, with
eight sailors and riggers on board, left the Pier-head to en-
deavour to get on board the ship, and after failing once,
made a second attempt, when, melancholy to relate, the boat
was capsized, and five out of the eight perished, in the sight
of hundreds of persons, who could render no assistance,
within a few yards of the pier.
The Telegraph is almost knocked to pieces, and the com-
municating telegraph on Bidstone-bill is blown down. 'Lieut.
Watson is afraid that the telegraphs on the whole of the
line to Holyhead are more or less rendered unfit for service.
We have however to be thankful to Providence, that the
gale about nine o'clock last night had considerably abated,
and with the exception of occasional heavy gusts of wind, it
was, comparatively speaking, calm.