The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-03-01 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD, TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 1853.

FEARFUL HURRICANE.
TWELVE LIVES LOST IN THE MERSEY.

Seldom has Liverpool and its neighbourhood been

visited with a hurricane more violent or disastrous than
that of Saturday. For some hours previous to its break-

ing out indications of an impending storm were apparea.
The barometer fell in the most rapid manner, the decline
having been upwards of ll inches in less than twelve hours.
During Friday night, and at the dawn of Saturday morning,
it blew a moderato gale from the N.W. At half-past ten
o'clock, it increased to a complete hurricane, and for three
hours continued without intermission. So furious was
the gale that its effects were severely feit both on land
and water ; and there is every reason to believe that it
has been attended with the most disastrous results, not
only in the Mersey, but likewise on the Welsh coast, and
in the rock-bound Frith of Clyde.

The rough state of the weather in the Mersey com-
pelled all the ferry steamers, with the exception of tho
Woodside boats, which continued to ply at intervals, to
cease running. Much inconvenience ensued in conse-
quence, hundreds of people who crossed early, to attend
the Liverpool markets, and others who crossed to their
business, being unable to return to their homes. The
Woodside boats were, on several occasions, upwards of
an hour in crossing, the average time, on ordinary occa-
sions, being seven minutes.

The Royal Mail steamship Africa, which should have
sailed for New York about noon, got under weigh, as
usual, shortly before that time, and stood off and on,
waiting the arrival of the mails, but was compelled to
come to an anchor again, it being utterly impossible to
embark the mails on board the tender at the pierhead,
much less to convey them to the Africa. She was, in
consequence, detained until Sunday.

The first serious accident on the river occurred to the
smack John, of Chester, bound from Rhyl to this port,
with a cargo of soda ash. The smack drifted from op-
posite the Waterloo pierhead, and, in her progress up the
river, ran foul of the steamer Prince of Wales, lying at
the south end of the Prince's pierhead, and lost mast,
part of bulwarks, &c., besides sustaining other damage.
After getting clear of the steamer, she drifted athwart the
moorings of the landing-stage, and for some short time
stuck fast on the chains. The men on board, at this
juncture, endeavoured to save their lives, but one was
unfortunately drowned within a few yards of hundreds of
people, who, however, could not render any assistance.
The Prince of Wales sustained considerable damage, not
only from being run foul of by the smack, but from
beating alongside the pierhead for some time. She was
hauled into the G, orge's Basin, and afterwards- docked in
the Prince's Dock.

Most of the vessels at anchor in the river dragged their
anchors, and many were in collision. The damage sus-
tained from this cause is, we fear, considerable. The
following were among the vessels that drifted Anna
Rich, for Roston, parted her cables, and got ashore on the
Devil's Bank, near the Dingle, where she remained. She
sustained such serious injury that it was considered pru-
dent on Sunday to commence discharging her cargo. On
Sunday night, it was said, that she had broken in two. The
screw-steamer City of Glasgow, which arrived early in the
morning from Philadelphia, drove from her anchors about
the change of tide, and, in endeavouring to make fast to a
buoy in the Sloyne, got ashore to the south of Rock
Ferry. She was, however, got off on the following morn-
ing's tide, without apparent damage, and docked. The
American ship Atlas, for New Orleans, lost both anchors
and cables, and was run aground at the mouth of George's
Dock Basin. She was safely docked at high water, with
only trifling damage. The American ships Cheshire and
Rosetta, both for Roston, parted their cables, and ran
ashore at Knott's Hole, where they remain. They will
probably be got off after lightening. The packet-ship
Constitution, from. New York, was in contact with the
Cheshire, and sustained considerable damage. The barque
Maggie, for Singapore, was also in contact in the river, and
sustained a good deal of damage. She has since been
docked.

The fury of the storm showed an inclination to abate as
the tide began to ebb, but not to a sufficient extent to
permit the ferry steamers to commence running. The
scene on the Landing-stage and i❑ the Woodside steamers
at this time, and for several hours previous, was really
fearful. The stage, crowded with hundreds of people
anxious to reach Birkenhead, swayed to and fro in a most
unwonted way ; and, in endeavouring to land passengers
from the Cheshire side, the gangway on more occasions
than one fell into the river, to the alarm of the terrified
Passengers. Many luckless wights were thoroughly
drenched, and hats and other insecure articles of wearing
apparel were wafted from the heads and shoulders of
bewildered individuals, and generally deposited in the
river,—these incidents communicating a ludicrous aspect
to what was in reality a most serious visitation.
The outer gates of the Sandon Dock were broken, about
noon, by the violence of the waves.

Fears are entertained for the safety of the vessels
which left this port during the last few days, as the
storm appears to have been general all along the
Welsh coast. Five. smal vessels are reported ashore
at Hoylake. A ship was also reported at anchor
about seven miles to the, westward of Holyhoad, with all
her masts gone, and a signal of distress flying from a flag
staff. One of the Holyhead Railway Company's boats
proceeded to her assistance at seven o'clock on Sunday
morning, and succeeded. in carrying her into Holyhead
harbour. Her named is believed to be the Gipsy, of and
for this port from Charleston, with a cargo of cotton.
The American ships Manhattan and Bengal, which left
this port on Friday, both rode out the gale in the Channel
in safety, and wero reported off Holyhead, at 10 a.m.,
yesterday, all well. The Cornelia, which also sailed on
Friday, was not so fortunate, and was compelled to return
back, in doing which she got ashore in the Rock Channel,
but did not sustain much damage. She has, however,
been docked for examination.

The most fearful disaster during the storm occurred
about midnight, to the barque Irene, Captain .111`Donald,
whilst in tow of a steamer for the purpose of being docked.
She had lost her anchors and cables in the gale, and,
whilst in tow, as above stated, caught on the edge of the
bank of the Coburg Dock with her stern ; the tide swung
her head round, and threw her on her broadside, and she
shortly afterwards sank. The steam-tug Powerful was
proceeding to the Ltnna Rich about the time the Irene
sank, and screams were heard. Although the vesse•
could not be seen, Captain Edwards immediately ordered
the steam-tug to be steered in the direction whence
the cries proceeeed, and the vessel was shorty
afterwards descried. Tne boat was then go'e out, and a
boatman, named Joseph Hayes, two seamen belongilg
to the Anna Rich, and Louis Crossman, ono of the hands
belonging to the Powerful, immediately jumped into ler,
and were towed close to the wreck, when they succeeded
in picking up nine persons, one of whom was Messrs.
Ironside's overlooker. He was in a state of insensilility
when picked up. The crew is said to have consisted of
sixteen ; in addition to which there were two passengers,
the pilot, and the overlooker, on board ; so that the
number unaccounted for is eleven, among whom is the
captain, chief mate, pilot, and both passengers. Ilayes'
statement of• the disaster is as follows :—" I vas on
board the steamer Powerful, going to the Anna Rich ; it
was about half-past twelve o'clock. We saw nailing of
the vessel, only heard violent screaming. Capt. Edwards
ordered the beat to be got out, and I and three otl era got
into her. Mang line was made fast to the boat and attached
to the Powerful, and we were towed close to the wreck.
We picked up the men, nine in number, off the wreck ; they
unable to stand. saw three man drop off the wreck
were all in, a very exhausted state ;. the overlooker was
exhausted whilst we were picking the people off and thep
were drowned. I saw a steamer, which 1 toot for the
Uncle Sam, lying about a quarter-of-a-mile from the
Irene. She was the steamer that had the Irene in tow
previous to her striking. We took all those saved to the
Southern Hospital." The bodies of one of the passengers
and a seaman were picked up op, Sunday morning. The
name of the passenger is Richard Whitburn. He had
upwards of £l6 on his person when picked up. We have
nit heard the other passenger'a name, nor the names of
any of the crew. The vessel lies on her broadside on, the
bank, fills with the tide, and is, apparently, a complete
vAreck. She is rapidly becoming sanded. She belongs to
Messrs. Charles Ironside and Co., of this port, and was
bound to Valparaiso, with &valuable cargo on board. We
understand that Crossman, the hand belonging to the
Powerful, was eight years ago instrumental in picking up
a crew of fifteen, who we-..,e wrecked in the Morsey.
Shortly after the Irene struck the gale moderated ; and
at three, p.m., on Sunday, the wind was blowing a gentle
breeze from the N.N.W.

Devond the blowing down of a few signboards, inse-
curely fastened, and the toppling of decayed or ill-fixed
chimney-pots and slates, we have heard of but little
damage taking place an shore.
_ _ _

-The inquest on the bodies of the unfortunate men who
have fallen victims to the storm will be held to-day.
The Anna Rich?, which was driven ca the Devil's bank
during the height of the gale, was yesterday afternoon
reported to be a complete wreck, Laing broken in two
about midships.

11W Owing to an accident which occurred when
we were going to press, some of the papers for the
early post were not ready in time. We solicit the
forbearance of those of our distant subscribers who
were disappointed in consequence, and trust that a
similar casualty will not again take place.