Oct 02 1787 Equinoctial Gale - Cumberland and Westmorland Newspaper Transcriptions

Oct 02 1787 Equinoctial Gale

The Times, Tuesday, Oct 02, 1787; pg. 3; Issue 863; col D

Whitehaven, Sept. 25. A very heavy equinoctial gale came on here last Thursday
night, and continued for several hours. Its course was variable, but chiefly
from the S. S. E. and it was particularly violent from about two to four on
Friday morning, accompanied with rain. At twelve o'clock, on Friday, a
phaenomenon, not seen by the oldest person living, presented itself in this
harbour. It was then the time of low water, and the vessels, which in the
ordinary cause of the ebb, should have been left dry, were surrounded with
water, and many, towards the lower part of the harbour, were yet afloat. On
enquiry, it was found that the tide had not fallen more than three feet out of
twelve; the most flood that is known in the present neap state of the tides. -
[At spring tides, it rises to eighteen feet.] At the same time the water mark,
at the extremity of the Old Quay, was covered at eight feet and a half.

We have similar accounts from Harrington, Workington, and Maryport; and we are
also informed, that the tide, on that day, did not leave the river Esk, at
Ravenglass.

We are sorry to add, that this storm has occasioned a great and melancholy loss
in the Isle of Mann, the particulars of which are variously related: but the
following account, we have reason to believe, is nearest the truth -

The great take of herrings on Wednesday night, (upwards of 7,000 maze being
brought into Douglas, on Thursday morning) induced the people concerned in the
fishery, to send out all the boats that evening; some reports say three hundred,
which is not improbable, as Douglas is the general rendezvous of all belonging
to the island. The gale from S. S. E. came on about ten o'clock, and increasing
with uncommon violence, the whole fleet, which had got to the fishing station,
and had made some considerable draughts, hauled in their nets, and stood for
Douglas. Some of them got safe in; but one of them unfortunately striking
against the perch from whence the light was suspended, (the quay and light-house
being at present in ruins) it fell down, and the rest of the fleet, which was by
far the principal part of it, being deprived of the light, in their attempt to
enter the harbour, ran foul of each other. Four were lost by this means; some
were put ashore on St. Mary's Rock, and some foundered. The extent of the loss
of lives and property could not be ascertained when the packet left Douglas, on
Sunday night. It was only known, that three boats foundered on the Herring-bank,
and the crews perished. Twenty-five boats were lost at Douglas; three were put
ashore in the creeks between that port and Laxey, and all hands lost; and
twenty-eight are on shore near Ramsey, but only one man perished. - The boats
carry in general seven men each; and some few of a larger kind, eight or nine.
Twenty-six dead bodies had been cast up at Douglas, and it was feared the number
of people who perished would amount to sixty of seventy. It is, however, hoped,
this calculation may exceed the truth, it being probable that some boats, yet
missing, may have run for ports on the coast of Scotland; from whence, admitting
their safety, no intelligence could then have been received. - The darkness of
the night, the fury of the tempest, and the shrieks of the unfortunate men, made
the scene truly shocking and lamentable; and the event, besides bringing a
severe loss on the community at large of that place, will involve numbers of
poor people in the utmost distress.

Petra