The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-12-02
GALE In ENGLAND.
A Fearful Storm Sweeps Along
the British Coast.
Many Vessels Wrecked and Scores
of Lives Lost.

One o. the most terrific gales experienced
for years passed over the east and southeas,
coasts of England, causing considerable loss
OF life by shipwrcck. TIE storm visited
London in the afternoon, and hurled down
chimney pots, ripped off states, tore up trees
and caused many accidents, but no loss of
life.
A cableSram from London says. During
the fearful storm which has RACED around
the British Isles at least twenty vessels have
been wrecked and fifty men drowned
No Drawer struggle Tor life has been wit
messed on the Southern coast than that
which resulted in the rescue of the remain
ing members OF the BIZ tish ship Bienvenue,
OF Glasgow.
All day, since the terrible situation Of the
crew became known, the Hythe and Sand
gate lifeboats had been struggling to reach
the doomed vessel through the dangerous
breakers which beat with a fury that
seemed to make the existence even OF
q lifeboat i'm oossible. While the crew
chung to the masts. the people on shore tried
to make their encouraging cheers heard
above the roar of the storm.
About 4:30 in the afternoon the Bienvenue
began to break up, but the masts, with the
unfortunates clinging In the rigging, still
held together.
9 AboSt this time the multitude on shore
were thrilled by the spectacle of a seaman's
daring and desperate stroke for salvation
of himself and his fellow-survivors. The
sailor, a brave, sturdy fellow, looking every
inch a British seaman, fastened a line
around his waist, and leaped into the waters
that beat with fearful force about the
wreck. Cheer upon cheer went up from the
watching thousands.
The sailor struck out boldly for tine shore
He was evidently q splendid and
for q few moments it seemed that the power
full sweep of his limbs would carry him
through the enormous waves. But sud-
denly a pursuing breaker burst upon
him, and he was buried from sight.
Breathless with anxiety, the crowd on
shore and the remnant on the wreck awaited
the mans temperance. Even the storm
seemed to hush. Then came an agonizing
cry from hundreds of threats as the sailor
appeared again, limp and ifeless, tossed on
tie crest and in the hollow Of the waves.
he was dead. and his fate seemed to fore
ions. Not long afterward the corpse
and that of another bold N
from the wreck were carried ashore.
me storm abated somewhat as darkness
grew and another attempt was made 20
launch the Saudgate lifeboat. Scores of
volunteers assisted in the launching. and
amid shouts from thousands, the hfeboat
started. 1t seemed doubtful a while whether
the task could be accomplished, but at
length, after a tremendous struggle, tne
brave l~ife-savers brought their boat up to
the rigging of the Bienvenue and rescued
every one that remained.
The Door fellows were almost unable to
help themselves. They had chung mechan-
icaily for hours in their perilous positions
and they were utterly exhausted.
The bark T.. B. Fluger, from San Fran
cisco for Bremen, was wrecked at Hastings.
Her crew of seventeen and NV passengers
remained in the rigging five hours, while the
ife-savers sent rocket after rocket, with
line attached, TO the rescue. Several rockets
fell short, but at length a line reached the
vessel. Thousands were assembled Oh
shore, their sympathies more aroused by
seeing q woman's form among the ship
wrecked. A tremendous cheer went up when
it was seen that the line was fastened. T.
crew behaved nobly, and the woman waSthe
first to be seen on the perilous journey. to
safety. Nearly half dead she was hauled
ashore. Then followed two boys. and afte-
them the men, the CAPTAIN coming last. hs
was given an ovation.
Two of the members of the Hythe life-sav-
ing crew were drowned in the accident to
that boat while attempting to reach the
Bienvenue early in the evening, others being
rescued by the spectators. 1t appears that
artillery was also used in the attempt to
throw = line to That vessel.
Chain shot was discharged from cannon
at q safe height, a cord being attached to the
shot. with the hope that the cord would be
carried over, and fall upon the wreck.
Every cord broke. The Dover hfeboat,
which arrived Immediately after the rescue
by the Sandgate crew, had been tSought
around by a tug from Dover.
The number rescued from the Bisnveuus
is twenty-seven. The lost ara Captain Mod
dill, of Liverpool, two apprentices, two
stewards and a seaman. The sea swept as
high as the mizzen.vop, so the struggle to
hold on may be imagined. Tie Bienvenus
was bound from London to Sydney.
At Dungeness a French vessel bound for
London went ashore. The crew were saved
but the vessel is q total wreck. A brigantine
ran ashore near milestone and was lost. A
fishing boat sank right in front of the town
and eight were lest.
Another schooner, the Paramount, was
wrecked. The lifeboat rescued two Of the
crew; the remaining ten were drowned
Two vessels were wrecked at Great Var.
mouth, and at Ventnor five bodies were
washed ashore from the wreck of ST. Cath
crimes.
The lifeboat that left Lythe was capsizet
and two of the crew drowned. At Seabroob
q hfeboat was capsized and several Of the
crew drowned.
the French schooner Edirimi has found
eredoff Hyther, Kent, and the vessels cap
tain, his wife and ION were drowned, in spite
of the efforts Of the life-savers, who were
enabled to take of the rest Of the crew The
captain refused to leave the vessel and hi.
wife and son refused to be separated from
him, preferring drowning with the gallant
sailor to being saved without him.
Beside these there have been almost mum
ber.ess wrecks all along the coast, many
boats having sunk in full view of the shore
The wind blew a heavy gale at Paris
France, al day. Many persons have beer
injured. Hundreds Of chimneyS have beer
demolished and an enormous amount o.
other damage has been done throughout
France by the furious storm.
A great storm prevailed o. the coast Of
Portugal. The wind blew with hurricane
like fury.
HUMAN IN R