Chronological Retrospect of the History of Yarmouth and Neighbourhood Part 49

July 13th. Boat accident in the Roadstead, by which a man and two boys, out of a crew of five, were drowned, the youths being members of a Norwich Church Choir.

July 15th. The 1st Suffolk and (on the 18th) 1st Norfolk Rifle Volunteers encamped for a week on the North Denes. The former mustered in all about 600 men.

July 26th. H.M.S. "Repulse," 12 guns, 3,749 tons burthen, 800 h.p., commanded by Capt. Rollins, came into the Roads to embark 50 coastguardsmen.

July 30th. A terrific thunder peal, the like not having been heard for many years. The electric fluid did a considerable amount of damage to the residence of Mr. Hinchman Hammond.

Aug. 1st. The new smack "Zephyr," on Aug. 3rd the fishing boat "Henry and Edmund," and on Aug. 7th the dandy smack "Coral" launched. Since August last year 30 smacks and fishing boats had been launched at the various shipyards in Yarmouth and Gorleston.

Aug. 7th. Miss E. Pearson, accompanied by Miss L. E. MacLaughlin, paid a visit to the Sailors' Home, having just returned from the Franco-German War. In October these two ladies had conferred upon them the bronze cross and diploma of the Society de Secours aux Blesses of France, in recognition of their services on the battle fields of Metz, Sedan, and Orleans. (See Sept., 1870, Aug., 1872, and Aug. 8th, 1876.)

Aug. 11th. Fatal accident to Mr. Henry Worlledge, third son of the County Court Judge, while bathing at Folkestone.

Aug. 14th. E. P. Youell, Esq., who had for 11 years previous been Captain of the 2nd Company Rifle Volunteers, was presented by the members of his company at the Drill Hall with a handsome silver salver, value 13, as a mark of esteem.

Aug. 15th. Mrs. Levina Onslow died at Yarmouth, aged 75 years. This lady was the widow of the late Capt. John James Onslow, R.N., post-captain in H.M.'s Royal Navy, and last commanding H.M.S. "Daphne,"

as senior officer in New Zealand in 1845; and mother of the late Rev. W.

Lake Onslow, M.A., R.N., formerly chaplain on board the "St. George" with the Duke of Edinburgh, and subsequently domestic chaplain to the Prince and Princess of Wales at Sandringham. (See June 1st, 1862.) The Rev.

Onslow was educated as a boy at the old Grammar School, under the Rev. T.

C. Clowes, M.A., of Queen's College, Cambridge, and his grandfather, as Admiral, commanded the squadron in the Roads after the Camperdown action.

Aug. 15th. A congratulatory address voted by the Town Council to Sir James Paget, on her Majesty conferring upon him a baronetcy. Sir James is the son of the late Samuel Paget, Esq., a long resident in this town.

The same honour was conferred by George IV. in 1821 on Astley Cooper, Esq., son of Dr. Cooper, minister of St. Nicholas' Church. (See June 15th, 1858.)

Aug. 15th. Brigantine "Edward," belonging to Mr. W. J. Foreman, launched, after extensive repairs, from Mr. Rust's yard. The same morning, a new lugger, belonging to Mr. G. Palmer, was launched from the same shipbuilder's yard.

Aug. 17th. Tenders opened for laying a common sewer through Gorleston and Southtown, viz., 350 feet run of from 2 to 3 feet brick sewer, and about 5,500 feet run of pipe sewer, from 9 to 15 inches in diameter. A tender of 1,725 was accepted by the Gorleston Board of Health. (See June 25th, 1872.)

Aug. 23rd. The sale of Mr. J. Tomlinson's business premises, Howard Street, realised 11,390.

Aug. 25th. Fire at Mr. C. Garwood's fish-house in Charlotte Street; very little damage done.

Aug. 28th. H.M.'s paddle-frigate "Terrible," 1,850 tons burthen, 800 horse power, 19 guns, commanded by Capt. Travenen, pa.s.sed through the Roadstead.

Aug. 31st. The Yarmouth Horticultural Society's first show, held in St.

George's Park, which was entirely enclosed with boarding, was a grand horticultural and floral fete, and patronised by most of the elite of the town. The East Norfolk Militia and Artillery Militia bands played at intervals during the day.

Aug. H.R.H. the Prince of Wales accepted the hon. colonelcy of the Norfolk Artillery Militia, rendered vacant by the death of Lord Hastings.

Sept. Mons. A. A. Desfougerais, Vice-Consul to the French Government, after 11 years' residence in Yarmouth, obtained an appointment in the Foreign Office in Paris. On Sept. 22nd this gentleman was presented with a claret jug and cup, value 40, as testimony of respect.

Sept. 11th. The dandy smack "Fern," 54 feet long, 7 ft. 2 in. deep, and 32 4-100ths tonnage, launched from Mr. R. Rust's yard.

Sept. 17th. Organ at St. George's Chapel re-opened after being restored.

Sept. 17th. The Rev. C. Voysey, B.A., late Vicar of Heaulaugh, preached at the Unitarian Chapel.

Sept. 22nd. The smack "Maria and Isabella," belonging to Mr. Seago, of this port, ran into by the barque "Rock City," near the Dogger Bank, where she foundered, and four of her crew were drowned.

Sept. 25th. The captain of the pa.s.senger steamer "Albion," plying between Yarmouth and London, fined 6 11s. for having on board 448 pa.s.sengers, or 111 more than the vessel was chartered to carry.

Sept. 29th. The new General Post Office, Regent Street, opened.

Sept. 29th and 30th. The brig "New Fair Trader," and the fishing lugger "Black-eye'd Susan," of this port, received much damage.

Oct. Number of persons by excursion trains during the summer was-Vauxhall Station, 47,176; Southtown, 35,383; total, 82,559. Last season, V., 32,103: S., 26,009; total, 58,112.

Oct. 4th. The schooner "John Watson," belonging to Messrs. Watling, of this port, collided with the barque "Thomas Knox," in the Roadstead, and the former sunk. Crew saved.

Oct. 5th. Mr. William Mallam Vores admitted a licentiate of the Society of Apothecaries.

Oct. 16th. The screw steamer "Annie Bronghton," 120 h.p., 782 tons register, 230 feet long, 32 ft. beam, drawing 19 ft. of water, and valued at 22,000, while on a voyage from Newcastle to Alexandria with 1,650 tons of coal, got on Hasbro' Sands, but was a.s.sisted off after four days'

hard exertions. The salvage claims amounted to 1,300.

Oct. 16th. Fire at Mr. A. Tabraham's jewellery shop on St. Peter's Road.

Considerable damage done.

Oct. 16th. A royal sturgeon caught off Yarmouth. It was 7 ft. 10 in.

long, and weighed 28 stone.

Oct. 18th. The new Corn Hall, Howard Street, opened by a public dinner, to which nearly 200 gentlemen sat down, including Viscount Mahon, M.P., Sir E. H. K. Lacon, Bart., M.P., the Hon. F. Walpole, M.P., C. S. Read, Esq., M.P., E. Corrance, Esq., M.P., and the Mayor (E. H. L. Preston, Esq.) H. S. Grimmer, Esq., occupied the chair.

Oct. 24th. George S. Harcourt, Esq., of Ankerwych, formerly M.P. for Bucks, died at St. George's Square, Belgravia, aged 64 years. This gentleman established the Yarmouth Sailors' Home.

Oct. 26th. A silver tea-kettle, value 25, presented as a testimonial to the Rev. R. J. Dundas, prior to his leaving the town for Albury, near Guildford.

Oct. 30th. The Rev. W. Boycott, rector and patron of Burgh St. Peter, died at Ormesby, aged 73 years.

Nov. Mr. Ziba Rayson pa.s.sed his third and final examination at the Law Society's Hall, London.

Nov. 3rd. Fire at the drapery shop of Mr. E. Bostock, King Street, and damage done to the amount of 350. (See 1884.)

Nov. The smack "Evangeline," built for Mr. Olley of this town, launched from Mr. Fellows' shipyard.

Nov. 14th. The iron screw steamer "Benjamin Whitworth," 639 tons register, 99 h.p. (Capt. John Smith), got upon the Cross Sands and encountered a terrifically heavy sea; but after great perseverance she was floated off on the following day. The steam tug "Reliance," value 2,500, belonging to the Standard Company, while a.s.sisting the "Whitworth," struck against a piece of sunken wreck, and so rendered leaky. She was run on to Caister beach, where she became a total wreck.

(See Dec. 4th, 1875.)

Nov. 14th. A fleet of some 1,200 sailing vessels pa.s.sed through the Roadstead.

Nov. 25th. The fishing lugger "Sailor's Friend," value, with nets, &c., about 850, the property of Mr. C. Rumbold, was run into by the French screw steamer "Union Bayonnaise," which caused the lugger to founder.

Crew all saved.

Nov. 30th to Dec. 2nd. Heavy gale. Lifeboat crews performed several daring acts of bravery, and although about 25 hands were unfortunately lost near Yarmouth, no less than 23 shipwrecked men were rescued and taken to the Sailors' Home.

Dec. 4th. Smack "George and Elizabeth" ran ash.o.r.e north of the North Pier, where she went to pieces, her crew being rescued by the rocket apparatus.

Dec. 4th. Rev. A. T. Sh.e.l.ley, Congregational minister at Aylesbury, and formerly of this town, died at Aylesbury, Bucks, aged 45.