The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1835-11-06 00:00:00

GREAT FLOOD AND STORA AT BANFF.

On Monday week Banff was visited by a storm and a
good in the river which-exceeded iu magnitude anything
ever before witnessed: On Sunday the weather was
particularly mild, and although the tide was higher than
was ever before recollected, no apprehensions were
entertained, as the stream was taking off. About eleven
o'clock, however, it began to rain, and the Wind,' which
before was very moderate, increased, blowing from the
south and south-east. About five o'clock on Monday
morning, the wind changed to the north-east, and blew
most violently, accompanied by very heavy rain, which.
fell in sheets. This continued through the forenoon;
but although it was ascertained that the rivulets in the
neighbourhood were much swollen, no fears were enter-
tained of any serious flood in the river. About twelve
o'clock, however, the water began to shove itself in the
low parts of the town; and the inhabitants, warned by
former occurrences, thought it necessary to . commence.
p,reparations. About this time the storm was most
ithat, and it was hardly possible to face it ; but just when
it was at the-worst, an express arrived with intelligence,
that a vessel was on shore among the rocks' at Melrose, a
little to the eastward of Macduff. On being made ac-
quainted with this, the preventive service men stationed
at Banff proceeded with Manby's Apparatus to the spot,
and were followed by a number of the inhabitants, anxious
to give their aid. On arriving they found that the un-
fortunate vessel had gone to pieces, but that two of the
crew (ono having previously succeeded in getting ashore)
were seated on a rock. The mortar was immediately
discharged, and the rope was fortunately caught at first,
by the poor men, who sncceeded in making it fast to the
rock; this done, the cradle was lowered, and the poor
lien were speedily rescued from their perilous situation.
It was ascertained that the vessel was the Eliza, of Aber-
deen,. Morrison, master, loaded with herrings, from Fra-
serburgh to London. The men reported that a boy had
been washed overboard on the Thursday before, off Aber.:
dean, and that the. master and mate had unfortunately
perished with the vessel. After performing this humane
duty of rescuing these men from certain death, the pre-
ventive service men and their attendants had only
reached Macduff when they were informed that another
vessel was coming on shore at the back of the bar of
Banff They immediately went to tie spt, and found
the.: intelligence correct, for in a few minutes a vessel
struck the shore. It was not necessary in this case
to use the Apparatus; for the tide being-at the highest,
and the vessel light, she had been forced so far up on the
beach, that by joining hands it was found practicaLle to
get hold of a rope thrown from the vessel, by Means of
which the crew got on shore, and were saved. It was
then ascertained that the vessel was the Vigilantia, of
Stransund, near Persgrund, Norway, laden. with stave
wood, for sale in this country, and, that she had last sailed
from Fraserburgh to proceed to Wick. We may mention
here that the cargo has been landed, and that the ship
will be got off with very little damage. While these
transactions were going on, the scene in the town was
becoming most interesting; and, strange as it may ap-
pear,. danger was apprehended, not from the river, but
from the sea. These apprehensions were well founded,
for lung after the hour of tide the water continued to
flow from the sea, over all the bulwarks into the lower
parts of the town. The old market-place Was speedily
filled, and the houses surrounding it were.flooded in their
lower apartments; and by three o'clock p.m. the whole
area of the old market-place was covered to the depth of
several feet, and the water extended up the streets lead-
Ing. from this to a considerable 'distance. Shortly before
four o'clock, the .pressure of the water was so great as to
force down the wall of Lord Fife's garden,and vent being
thus given, the water flowed with great rapidity into his
lardship's.park. This relieved the town for a short tune,
but before five o'clock it was ascertained that the river
Dead, overtopped its bulwarks, and that the water would
soon rush through the Park, upon the lower parts of the
town- Accordingly, in a very short time the, water began
1,11, to flow, and soon reached a height beyond that of
I: 41. lAt this time the scene was terrific, and great fears
were entertained for the safety of lives and property.
Boats were, however, soon procured, and all in jeopardy
wete soon rescued.; and we have the satisfaction to say
that no lives were lost- The destruction of property
has, however, been immense; and one poor widow has
bark her house (her sole property) completely swept away.
She suffered to a less extent in 1829, and the damage
was then repaired by subscription. From the sea, the
accounts, in addition to what we have stated, are very
afflicting, and still more are expected. Two vessels are
oushore at Sandend, between Cullen and Portsov—the
crews of both luckily saved. One is the Francis William
of Cullen, not much damaged; and the other a north
country trader, about ninety tons, considerably damaged.
Four Davis' Strait men were seen off Whitehills, and
had the wind not shifted, they must have come on shore.
Luekily,, however, the wind changed about five o'clock to
..the north-west, when these vessels bore up; and there
stn be no doubt that they succeeded: in clearing all the
keadlands on their voyage sotitlawards.—Scottish Guar-
dian.