The Storm Part 14

_SIR_,

The late dreadful Tempest in _Novemb._ 27. 1703. last, had very terrible Effects in this Town. It began here much about One of the Clock in the Morning, the violence of the Wind stript a great many Houses, turn'd up the Leads off the Church, over-threw two Windmills, and laid them flat on the ground, the Town in general (upon the approach of Day-light) looking as if it had been Bombarded. Several Vessels belonging to this Town were lost, others stranded, and driven ash.o.a.r, others forced over to _Holland_ and _Hamborough_, to the great Impoverishment of the Place. _Derick Pain_, Junior, Master of the _Elizabeth_ Ketch of this Town lost, with all his Company. _George Taylor_, Master of the Ketch call'd the _Happy Entrance_, lost, and his Company, excepting _Walter Street_, who swiming three days on a Mast between the _Downs_ and _North Yarmouth_, was at last taken up. _Richard Webb_, Master of the Ketch call'd the _Richard and Rose_ of _Brighthelmston_, lost, and all his Company near St. _h.e.l.lens_. _Edward Friend_, Master of the Ketch call'd _Thomas and Francis_, stranded near _Portsmouth_.

_Edward Glover_, Master of the Pink call'd _Richard and Benjamin_, stranded near _Chichester_, lost one of his Men, and he, and the rest of his Company, forced to hang in the Shrouds several hours.

_George Beach_, Junior, Master of the Pink call'd _Mary_, driven over to _Hamborough_ from the _Downes_, having lost his Anchor, Cables and Sails. _Robert Kichener_, Master of the _Cholmley_ Pink of _Brighton_, lost near the _Roseant_ with nine Men, five Men and a Boy saved by another Vessel. This is all out of this Town, besides the loss of several other able Seamen belonging to this Place, aboard of her Majesty's Ships, Transports and Tenders.

_From_ Lymington _and_ Lyme _we have the following Letters_:

_SIR_,

I receiv'd your Letter, and have made Enquiry concerning what Disasters happen'd during the late Storm; what I can learn at present, and that may be credited, are these. That a _Guernsey_ Privateer lost his Fore-top-mast, and cut his main Mast by the Board, had 12 Men wash'd over board, and by the toss of another immediate Sea three of them was put on board again, and did very well; this was coming within the _Needles_. That six Stacks of Chimnies were, by the violence of the Wind, blown from a great House call'd _New Park_ in the _Forrest_, some that stood directly to Windward, were blown clear off the House without injuring the Roof, or damaging the House, or any mischief to the Inhabitants, and fell some Yards from the House. Almost 4000 Trees were torn up by the roots within her Majesty's Forrest call'd _New Forrest_, some of them of very great bulk, others small, _&c._ A Ship of about 200 Tun, from _Maryland_, laden with Tobacco, call'd the _a.s.sistance_, was Cast away upon _Hurst Beach_, one of the Mates, and 4 Sailors, were lost. By the flowing of the Sea over _Hurst Beach_, two Salt-terns were almost ruin'd belonging to one Mr. _Perkins_. A new Barn, nigh this Town, was blown quite down. The Town receiv'd not much damage, only some Houses being stript of the Healing, Windows broke, and a Chimney or two blown down. Considerable damages amongst the Farmers in the adjacent Places, by over-turning Barns, Out-houses, Stacks of Corn and Hay, and also amongst poor Families, and small Houses, and likewise abundance of Trees of all sorts, especially Elms and Apple-Trees, has been destroy'd upon the several Gentlemen's, and others Estates hereabouts. These are the most remarkable Accidents that I can Collect at present; if any thing occur, it shall be sent you by

_Your humble Servant, Lymington, _Feb._ 1704. James Baker._

_A True and exact Account of the Damages done by the late great Wind in the Town of_ Lyme Regis, _and parts adjacent in the County of_ Dorset, _as followeth_,

_SIR_

_Impri_. Five Boats drove out of the Cob and one Vessel lost, broke loose all but one Cabel, and swung out of the Cob, but was got in again with little Damage; and had that Hurricane happened here at High Water, the Cob must without doubt have been destroyed, and all the Vessels in it been lost, most of the Houses had some Damage: But a great many Trees blown up by the Roots in our Neighbourhood, and four Miles to the Eastward of this Town: A _Guernsey_ Privateer of eight Guns, and 43 Men drove Ash.o.a.r, and but three Men saved of the 43; the place where the said Privateer run Ash.o.a.r, is call'd _Sea Town_, half a Mile from _Chidock_, where most of there Houses were uncovered, and one Man killed as he lay in Bed: This is the true Account here, but all Villages suffered extreamly in Houses, Trees, both Elm and Apples without Number.

_Sir, I am your humble Servant_, Stephen Bowdidge.

_From_ Margate, _and the Island of_ Thanet _in_ Kent, _the following is an honest Account_.

_SIR_,

The following Account is what I can give you, of what Damage is done in this Island in the late great Storm; in this Town hardly a House escaped without Damage, and for the most part of them the Tiles blown totally off from the Roof, and several Chimneys blown down, that broke through part of the Houses to the Ground; and several Families very narrowly escaped being kill'd in their Beds, being by Providence just got up, so that they escaped, and none was kill'd; the like Damages being done in most little Towns and Villages upon this Island, as likewise Barns, Stables and Out-housing blown down to the Ground in a great many Farm-houses and Villages within the Island, part of the Leads of our Church blown clear off, and a great deal of Damage to the Church it self; likewise a great deal of Damage to the Churches of St. _Lawrance Minster_, _Mounton_ and St.

_Nichola_: In this Road was blown out one _Latchford_ of _Sandwich_ bound home from _London_, with divers Men and Women pa.s.sengers all totally lost: And another little Pink that is not heard of blown away at the same time, but where it belonged is not known; here rid out the Storm the Princess _Anne_, Captain _Charles Gye_, and the _Swan_, both Hospital Ships, had no Damage, only Captain _Gye_ was parted from one of his Anchors, and part of a Cable which was weigh'd and carry'd after him to the River, by one of our Hookers.

All from

_Yours to Command_, P.H.

_From_ Malden _in_ Ess.e.x, _and from_ Southampton, _the following Accounts_.

_SIR_,

By the late great Storm our Damages were considerable. A Spire of a Steeple blown down: Several Vessels in this Harbour were much shatter'd, particularly one Corn Vessel laden for _London_, stranded, and the Corn lost to the Value of about 500 _l._ and the Persons narrowly escaped by a small Boat that relieved them next Day: Many Houses ript up, and some blown down: The Churches shatter'd, and the princ.i.p.al Inn of this Town thirty or forty pound Damage in Tiling: At a Gentleman's House (one Mr. _Moses Bourton_) near us, a Stack of Chimneys blown down, fell through the Roof upon a Bed, where his Children was, who were drag'd out, and they narrowly escaped; many other Chimney's blown down here, and much Mischief done.

_Southampton, February the_ 7_th_ 1703/4.

_SIR_,

Yours I have receiv'd, in which you desire me to give you an Account of what remarkable Damage the late violent Storm hath done at this place; in answer, We had most of the Ships in our River, and those that laid off from our Keys blown Ash.o.a.r, some partly torn to Wrecks, and three or four blown so far on Sh.o.a.r with the Violence of the Wind, that the Owners have been at the Charges of unlading them, and dig large Channels for the Spring Tides to float them off, and with much a do have got them off, it being on a soft Sand or Mud, had but little Damage; we had, G.o.d be prais'd no body drowned, tho'

some narrowly Escape't: As to our Town it being most part old Building, we have suffer'd much, few or no Houses have escape't: Several Stacks of Chimneys blown down, other Houses most part untiled: Several People bruis'd, but none kill'd: Abundance of Trees round about us, especially in the New Forest blown down; others with their Limbs of a great bigness torn; it being what we had most Material. I rest.

_Sir, your humble Servant_, Geo. Powell.

_We have abundance of strange Accounts from other Parts, and particularly the following Letter from the_ Downs, _and tho' every Circ.u.mstance in this Letter is not litterally True, as to the Number of Ships, or Lives lost, and the stile Coa.r.s.e, and Sailor like; yet I have inserted this Letter, because it seems to describe the Horror and Consternation the poor Sailors were in at that time. And because this is Written from one, who was as near an Eye Witness as any could possible be, and be safe,_

_SIR_,

These Lines I hope in G.o.d will find you in good Health, we are all left here in a dismal Condition, expecting every moment to be all drowned: For here is a great Storm, and is very likely to continue; we have here the Rear Admiral of the Blew in the Ship, call'd the _Mary_, a third Rate, the very next Ship to ours, sunk, with Admiral _Beaumont_, and above 500 Men drowned: The Ship call'd the _Northumberland_, a third Rate, about 500 Men all sunk and drowned: The Ship call'd the _Sterling Castle_, a third Rate, all sunk and drowned above 500 Souls: And the Ship call'd the _Restoration_, a third Rate, all sunk and drowned: These Ships were all close by us which I saw; these Ships fired their Guns all Night and Day long, poor Souls, for help, but the Storm being so fierce and raging, could have none to save them: The Ship call'd the _Shrewsberry_ that we are in, broke two Anchors, and did run mighty fierce backwards, within 60 or 80 Yards of the Sands, and as G.o.d Almighty would have it, we flung our sheet Anchor down, which is the biggest, and so stopt: Here we all pray'd to G.o.d to forgive us our Sins, and to save us, or else to receive us into his Heavenly Kingdom. If our sheet Anchor had given way, we had been all drown'd: But I humbly thank G.o.d, it was his gracious Mercy that saved us. There's one Captain _Fanel_'s Ship, three Hospital Ships, all split, some sunk, and most of the Men drown'd.

There are above 40 Merchant Ships cast away and sunk: To see Admiral _Beaumont_, that was next us, and all the rest of his Men, how they climed up the main Mast, hundreds at a time crying out for help, and thinking to save their Lives, and in the twinkling of an Eye were drown'd: I can give you no Account, but of these four Men of War aforesaid, which I saw with my own Eyes, and those Hospital Ships, at present, by reason the Storm hath drove us far distant from one another: Captain _Crow_, of our Ship, believes we have lost several more Ships of War, by reason we see so few; we lye here in great danger, and waiting for a North Easterly Wind to bring us to _Portsmouth_, and it is our Prayers to G.o.d for it; for we know not how soon this Storm may arise, and cut us all off, for it is a dismal Place to Anchor in. I have not had my Cloaths off, nor a wink of Sleep these four Nights, and have got my Death with cold almost.

_Yours to Command_, Miles Norcliffe.

I send this, having opportunity by our Botes, that went Ash.o.a.r to carry some poor Men off, that were almost dead, and were taken up Swimming.

_The following Letter is yet more Particular and Authentick, and being better exprest, may further describe the Terror of the Night in this place._

_SIR_,

I understand you are a Person concerned in making up a Collection of some remarkable accidents that happened by the Violence of the late dreadful Storm. I here present you with one of the like. I presume you never heard before, nor hope may never hear again of a Ship that was blown from her Anchors out of _Helford Haven_ to the _Isle of Wight_, in less than eight hours, _viz._ The Ship lay in _Helford Haven_ about two Leagues and a half Westward of _Falmouth_, being laden with Tin, which was taken on Board from _Guague_ Wharf, about five or six miles up _Helford_ River, the Commanders name was _Anthony Jenkins_, who lives at _Falmouth_. About eight Clock in the Evening before the Storm begun, the said Commander and Mate came on Board and ordered the Crew that he left on Board, which was but one Man and 2 Boys; that if the Wind should chance to blow hard (which he had some apprehension of) to carry out the small Bower Anchor, and moor the Ship by 2 Anchors, and gave them some other orders, and his Mate and he went ash.o.a.r, and left the Crew aforesaid on Board; about nine a Clock the Wind began to blow, then they carried out the small Bower (as directed) it continued blowing harder and harder at West North West, at last the Ship began to drive, then they were forced to let go the best Bower Anchor which brought the Ship up.

The Storm increasing more, they let go the Kedge Anchor, which was all they had to let go, so that the Ship rid with four Anchors a head: Between eleven and twelve a Clock the Wind came about West and by South in a most Terrible and Violent manner, that notwithstanding a very high Hill just to Windward of the Ship, and four Anchors ahead, she was drove from all her Anchors; and about twelve a Clock drove out of the Harbour without Anchor or Cable, nor so much as a Boat left in case they could put into any Harbour. In dreadful condition the Ship drove out clear of the Rocks to Sea, where the Man with the two Boys consulted what to do, at last resolved to keep her far enough to Sea, for fear of _Deadman's Head_, being a point of Land between _Falmouth_ and _Plimouth_, the latter of which places they designed to run her in, if possible, to save their Lives; the next morning in this frighted condition they steer'd her clear of the Land (to the best of their skill) sometimes almost under Water, and sometimes a top, with only the bonet of her Foresail out, and the Fore yard almost lower'd to the Deck; but instead of getting into _Plymouth_ next day as intended, they were far enough off that Port, for the next morning they saw Land, which proved to be _Peverel_ Point, a little to the Westward of the _Isle of Wight_; so that they were in a worse Consternation then before, for over-running their designed Port by seven a Clock, they found themselves off the _Isle of Wight_; where they consulted again what to do to save their Lives, one of the Boys was for running her into the _Downs_, but that was objected against, by reason they had no Anchors nor Boat, and the Storm blowing off sh.o.r.e in the _Downs_, they should be blown on the unfortunate _Goodwin Sands_ and lost.

Now comes the last consultation for their lives, there was one of the Boys said he had been in a certain Creek in the _Isle of Wight_, where between the Rocks he believed there was room enough to run the Ship in and save their Lives, and desired to have the Helm from the Man, and he would venture to steer the Ship into the said place, which he according did, where there was only just room between Rock and Rock for the Ship to come in, where she gave one blow or two against the Rocks, and sunk immediately, but the Man and two Boys jumpt ash.o.r.e, and all the Lading being Tin was saved, (and for their Conduct and Risk they run) they were all very well gratified, and the Merchants well satisfied.

_Your Friend and Servant_, _May_ 28. 1704. R.P.

And here I cannot omit that great Notice has been taken of the Towns-people of _Deal_ who are blam'd, and I doubt not with too much Reason for their great Barbarity in neglecting to save the Lives of abundance of poor Wretches; who having hung upon the Masts and Rigging of the Ships, or floated upon the broken Pieces of Wrecks, had gotten a Sh.o.r.e upon the _Goodwin Sands_ when the Tide was out.

It was, without doubt, a sad Spectacle to behold the poor Seamen walking too and fro upon the Sands, to view their Postures, and the Signals they made for help, which, by the a.s.sistance of Gla.s.ses was easily seen from the Sh.o.r.e.

Here they had a few Hours Reprieve, but had neither present Refreshment, nor any hopes of Life, for they were sure to be all wash'd into another World at the Reflux of the Tide. Some Boats are said to come very near them in quest of Booty, and in search of Plunder, and to carry off what they could get, but no Body concern'd themselves for the Lives of these miserable Creatures.

And yet I cannot but incert what I have receiv'd from very good Hands in behalf of one Person in that Town, whose Humanity deserves this remembrance, and I am glad of the Opportunity of doing some Justice in this Case to a Man of so much Charity in a Town of so little.

Mr. _Thomas Powell_, of _Deal_, a Slop-Seller by Trade, and at that time Mayor of the Town. The Character of his Person I need not dwell upon here, other than the ensuing Accounts will describe, for when I have said he is a Man of Charity and Courage, there is little I need to add to it, to move the Reader to value both his Person, and his Memory; and tho' I am otherwise a perfect Stranger to him, I am very well pleased to transmit to Posterity the Account of his Behaviour, as an Example to all good Christians to imitate on the like Occasions.

He found himself mov'd with Compasion at the Distresses of the poor Creatures, whom he saw as aforesaid in that miserable Condition upon the Sands, and the first Thing he did, he made Application to the Custom-House Officers for the a.s.sistance of their Boats and Men, to save the Lives of as many as they could come at, the Custom House Men rudely refus'd, either to send their Men, or to part with their Boats.

Provoked with the unnatural Carriage of the Custom House Officers, he calls the People about him; and finding some of the Common People began to be more than ordinarily affected with the Distresses of their Countrymen, and as he thought a little enclin'd to venture; he made a general Offer to all that would venture out, that he would pay them out of his own Pocket _5s. per head_ for all the Men whose Lives they could save, upon this Proposal several offered themselves to go, if he would furnish 'em with Boats.

Finding the main Point clear, and that he had brought the Men to be willing, he with their a.s.sistance took away the Custom House Boats by Force; and tho' he knew he could not justify it, and might be brought into Trouble for it, and particularly if it were lost, might be oblig'd to pay for it, yet he resolv'd to venture that, rather than hazard the loss of his Design, for the saving so many poor Men's Lives, and having Mann'd their Boat with a Crew of stout honest Fellows, he with them took away several other Boats from other Persons, who made use of them only to Plunder and Rob, not regarding the Distresses of the poor Men.

Being thus provided both with Men and Boats he sent them off, and by this means brought on Sh.o.r.e above 200 Men, whose Lives a few Minutes after, must infallibly ha' been lost.

Nor was this the End of his Care, for when the Tide came in, and 'twas too late to go off again, for that all that were left were swallow'd up with the Raging of the Sea, his Care was then to relieve the poor Creatures, who he had sav'd, and who almost dead with Hunger and Cold, were naked and starving.

And first he applied himself to the Queen's Agent _for Sick and Wounded Seamen_, but he would not relieve them with One Penny, whereupon, at his own Charge, he furnish'd them with Meat, Drink and Lodging.

The next Day several of them died, the Extremities they had suffer'd, having too much Master'd their Spirits, these he was forc'd to bury also at his own Charge, the Agent still refusing to Disburse one Penny.

After their Refreshment the poor Men a.s.sisted by the Mayor, made a fresh Application to the Agent for Conduct Money to help them up to _London_, but he answer'd he had no Order, and would Disburse nothing, whereupon the Mayor gave them all Money in their Pockets, and Pa.s.ses to _Graves-End_.

I wish I could say with the same Freedom, that he receiv'd the Thanks of the Government, and Reimburs.e.m.e.nt of his Money as he deserv'd, but in this I have been inform'd, he met with great Obstructions and Delays, tho' at last, after long Attendance, upon a right Application I am inform'd he obtain'd the repayment of his Money, and some small Allowance for his Time spent in solliciting for it.