Chronological Retrospect of the History of Yarmouth and Neighbourhood Part 58

Sept. 26th. One boat brought in 1,600 mackerel caught off the coast, which sold at 2d. each.

Sept. 28th. The deliveries of herrings up to this date far below those of last year and less than in 1873.

Sept. 30th. The body of a male child discovered in a rain-water cistern, after five or six months, on the premises of D. Meadows, Esq., surgeon, King Street, which was subsequently proved to have been illegitimate, and concealed by a maid-servant.

Oct. 7th. The Rev. Samuel Hurst, of Southtown, died very suddenly at Corton, near Lowestoft, aged 80. The deceased gentleman was much esteemed for his liberality to local charities.

Oct. 9th. A dead porpoise, weighing 70lbs., found on Breydon, and sold for 1s. to a smacksman.

Oct. 9th. The foundation-stone of the Aquarium laid by Lord Suffield, the ceremony being attended by the Mayor and other members of the Corporation, and a large concourse of spectators. The band of the P.W.O.

Norfolk Militia Artillery played at intervals. A luncheon was afterwards spread at the Town Hall, to which about 100 gentlemen sat down, including the Mayor (R. D. Barber, Esq.) and Deputy-Mayor; Lord Suffield, Hon. F.

Walpole, M.P., Colonel Duff, and the officials of the Aquarium Society.

(See Sept. 5th, 1876.)

Oct. 10th. The smack "Notre Dame," of this port, lost in a gale about 10 miles S. W. of the Newark lightship. Crew saved.

Oct. 10th. The smack "Vixen" lost three hands whilst ferrying fish to a steamer.

Oct. 14th. The Baptist Tabernacle at Gorleston opened. It is of white brick, and of the Italian order. The interior measures 57 ft by 31 ft.

(See May 20th.)

Oct. 17th and 23rd. Very heavy gales. The barque "Young England," of Middlesbro', struck on the c.o.c.kle Sand and foundered (on the 20th), and 12 out of a crew of 17 were unfortunately drowned.

Oct. 21st. The trawler "Surf" launched from Messrs. Beeching's yard.

Dimensions-Length, 66 ft.; beam, 18 ft.; depth of hold, 8 ft.

Oct. 22nd. Captain William Bugg, of the schooner "Eliza Jane," and his wife, walked over the quay-head near the Gorleston Ferry, in the dark, and were drowned, and a third person had a narrow escape.

Oct. 23rd. The brigantine "Saucy Jack," belonging to Mr. G. Blake, of this port, run ash.o.r.e opposite the Coastguard Station, and became a total wreck. The vessel was built in 1841, and valued at 500. Wreckage sold for 38.

Oct. A handsome specimen of the Maigre (_Sciaena aquila_) caught off Yarmouth. The fish was 4 ft. 9 in. long, and weighed 75 lbs. It is a Mediterranean fish, and seldom caught on the English coast.

Oct. 27th. Public meeting in the Town Hall to consider the projected Railway from Yarmouth to Stalham, at a cost of 70,000, the land alone being calculated to cost 13,000. The total length of the light line to be 22 miles, and pa.s.s through and near to 37 parishes. On Nov. 9th the Council accorded their approval of the whole scheme.

Oct. 27th. Captain William Swann Stanford, five years pier-master of this port, and eight years previously harbour-master, died suddenly at Gorleston.

Oct. 29th. Sale of six smacks by auction, late the property of Mr. R.

Galleway, realised 3,105.

Oct. 29th. The Rev. E. R. Adams presented with a case of four elegant silver salt stands, by the congregation of St. Andrew's; and on Nov. 1st was presented with a pair of silver fish carvers in morocco leather case, by the Sunday School Teachers.

Oct. 29th. Charles Diver, Esq., tendered his resignation as Town Clerk of the Borough. (See Nov. 30th and Dec. 16th.)

Nov. 3rd. Gallant lifeboat services rendered by the Caister beachmen.

The brigantine "Harmston" lost on the Middle Cross Sand, but the crew of seven, who were in the rigging for several hours during a very heavy sea, were ultimately hauled through the surf to the lifeboat and saved. Up to 1874 the Caister boatmen, about 40 in number, had launched their boats on 122 occasions, and had rescued 541 lives. A public subscription was opened in Nov. through the exertions of the Misses Morton. (See Dec.

25th.)

Nov. 3rd. At a general meeting of the Shareholders of the Yarmouth Aquarium Society (Limited), held in London, Lord Suffield, K.C.B., Colonel Edward Money, and T. A. Masey, I. Strutt, and J. H. Orde, Esqs., were appointed the Executive Committee of Directors. It was stated at this meeting that the contractors, Messrs. Chas. Aldin and Sons, offered to take shares to the amount of 20,000, and that the contemplated outlay up to the date of opening would be about 35,000. In July the subscriptions amounted to 21,865.

Nov. 7th. Thirty-five large sound codfish captured in the Roadstead with hook and line by two men.

Nov. 9th. First school under the School Board opened at the Oddfellows'

Hall, Gorleston; on Nov. 26th the Yarmouth Temporary Grammar School was hired; and in Jan., 1877, the new Cobholm Island and Gorleston Schools were opened.

Nov. 11th. A conveyance made out to Her Majesty's princ.i.p.al Secretary of State for the War Department of land and hereditaments situate on the South Denes for the purpose of a Military Depot Centre, and release of certain rights. Purchase money, 1,635, was sealed by the Committee.

(See Dec., 1874.)

Nov. 11th. Heavy rainfall; no less than 120 tons per acre fell in 24 hours.

Nov. 13th. Frederic Graham Lacon, late of the 17th Regiment of Foot, of Tharston, Norfolk, only son of John Edmund Lacon, Esq., died at Madeira, aged 26 years.

Nov. 13th. Sir E. H. K. Lacon, Bart., M.P.'s, brougham overturned near the Workhouse, the horse having become frightened and bolted, and although the coachman was much hurt, the baronet escaped with only a severe shaking.

Nov. 14th. Floods and much destruction of property throughout the country. There were 18 feet of water on the bar at our harbour, _i.e._, 9 feet more than the usual flood. The schooner "Elizabeth and Susan," of this port, was lost off the Humber, and much damage done to fishing craft and shipping generally.

Nov. 17th. Mr. H. Stonex, organist of the Parish Church, presented, in the Record Room of the Town Hall, with a purse of 81, subscribed by the parishioners of the town as a token of respect.

Nov. 19th and 20th. Very heavy gale and serious loss of life and property. The schooner "Wild Wave" (95 tons), of Sunderland, laden with 600,000 bottles, run on to Caister beach (after fouling with the c.o.c.kle lightship) and two hands-master and boy-were washed off the rigging and drowned.

Not. 21st. A daring Scotchman, named Watson, again climbed through the caryatides outside the Nelson Monument of the roof, and after embracing the figure of Britannia, &c., descended by the lightning conductor wire outside, 144 feet, to the amazement of several spectators. (See 1863.)

Nov. 23rd. Mr. Edward Cattermole resigned the office of librarian at the Public Library, which he had held 15 years. (See Dec. 9th.)

Nov. 26th. The Rev. A. J. Spencer presented by the congregation of St.

James' with a silver pocket Communion service and some volumes of books, as tokens of regard.

Nov. 27th. A tar tank, containing about 50,000 gallons, on the works of Mr. Davy, Cobholm Island, burst, and the tar ran about in huge streams.

Nov. 30th. A Committee of the Town Council accepted Mr. Charles Diver's resignation as Town Clerk of the Borough, the term to expire on Jan. 3rd, 1876. (See Dec. 16th.)

Nov. 30th. The smack "Chosen" ran ash.o.r.e near the North Pier.

Nov. The Rev. R. V. Barker, M.A., presented previous to his leaving Yarmouth for a sojourn through the Holy Land, with a silver salver, silver tobacco jar, gold pencil case, and a box of mathematical instruments, by the congregation, Bible Cla.s.s, and teachers and scholars of St. John's Church.

Nov. The original ma.n.u.script of "Manship's History of Yarmouth" found by the Rev. A. Peaton, at an old book shop in Bury St. Edmunds.

Nov. The "Perl.u.s.tration of Great Yarmouth," in three vols., by Charles John Palmer, Esq., F.S.A., printed and published by Mr. George Nall. It is an ill.u.s.trated work of 1,282 quarto pages.

Nov. Mr. W. Saville Kent, F.L.S., F.Z.S., appointed Naturalist and Manager of the Aquarium.

Dec. 2nd. The schooner "Tantivy" of this port went ash.o.r.e on Kessingland beach during a dense snowstorm.

Dec. 2nd. The Royal National Lifeboat Inst.i.tution voted a silver medal and its thanks on vellum to Philip George, c.o.xswain of the Caister Lifeboats; and to S. Bishop, chief boatman of H.M. Coastguard, at Caister, for their bravery in saving three of the crew of the "Wild Wave." The Inst.i.tution voted 10 for the others who rendered a.s.sistance.

(See Dec. 25th.)

Dec. 4th. Another tug, named "Reliance," struck the sunken wreck of the steamer "Gladstone," off Hasbro', and was run on to Eccles beach, where she became a wreck. Valued at 3,500; but insured for only 2,000. Crew saved. The hull was subsequently sold for 140. (See Nov. 14th, 1871.)

Dec. 4th. The schooner "X. L.," of Goole, lost on Winterton beach; also two hands.