The Storm
The disasters at the mouth of the Tyne
South Shields
A brigantine ashore and loss of two lives
Last night, about eight o'clock, the alarm guns again announced a vessel in distress at the south side of Shields harbour. At once there was a rush of thousands persons to the South Pier. The Life Brigadesmen were on duty, and saw the vessel approaching the harbour. She was first sighted off the end of the South Pier those keeping look out in the Watch Tower of the Brigade House, and it was seen that she could not weather the end the South Pier. After labouring for some time, she came ashore a short distance to the southward of the stranded schooner Isis. Two rockets were fired across the vessel, but neither of them were used by those on board. The brigadesmen, thinking the men were foreigners and did not understand the use of the apparatus, called lustily to them to make the rope fast, but this advice was neither not heard on account of the raging storm or the men did not choose to take advantage this means of escape. The brigadesmen burnt lime lights for the purpose of facilitating their operations, and every now and then the masts and hull of the vessel could be distinctly discerned against the background of darkness. The vessel was lying broadside on to the beach, and her decks sloping towards the shore. Her sails were torn to ribbons, and dangling in confusion amongst the rigging. After struggling for about an hour the men managed to get their ship's boat over the lee side, into a place where the water was somewhat smoother, and in this they reached the shore, bringing their clothes in bags with them. In a dripping and exhausted condition they were received by the volunteers and others on the beach, and taken immediately the Brigade House. Here they were supplied with dry clothing and hot coffee, and then each was placed in a comfortable berth. It was then ascertained that the vessel was the brigantine Harry Clem, registered at Faversham, but owned by George Herbert Gann, of Whitstable. She was bound from Whitstable for Seaham in ballast, and had a crew of six hands, two of whom were washed overboard and drowned before the vessel came ashore. From a statement made by the mate it appears that the captain had decided, owing to the storm, to run to the Tyne for shelter. When near the end of the South Pier a tremendous sea broke over the vessel, and carried the captain overboard, and he was never afterwards seen. At the same time the wheel was carried away, and the ship then became unmanageable. The mate (Richard Hutchins) and an able seaman (William Bennard) were at the wheel, and were washed forward with it in their hands. The former managed to retain his hold of the wheel, but the latter was washed overboard and drowned. The vessel soon afterwards drove upon the beach, The Harry Clem was a vessel of 160 tons register, and was built at Cape Cause, N.S., in 1854. The following is list of the crew:—
SAVED:
Richard Hutchins, Mate.
Abraham Lyons, Able Seaman.
William Parnerr, Ordinary Seaman.
William Harper, Apprentice
DROWNED :
William Wellard, Captain, Whitstable
William Bennard, Able Seaman
Source Shields Daily Gazette 29th of October 1880
Another Body Found At South Shields
Between seven and eight o'clock this morning the body of a man was picked up on the north side of the South Pier, South Shields. It was at first believed to be that of William Patton, master of the late steam-trawler Wonga, but that was afterwards found be incorrect. The body has since been identified that of William Wellard, aged 39 years, late master of the brigantine Harry Clem, of Faversham. The body was conveyed to the Old Workhouse, Ocean Road, to await the inquest to be held this afternoon at the Marine Hotel.
Source: Shields Daily Gazette 30 October 1880
SALE OF STORES and MATERIAL belonging to the Brigantine Harry Clem of Faversham at the Brigade House, South Shields.
T. GLOVER & SON, instructed by the Underwriters, will SELL the above on Monday, the 1st day of November, 1880. The Sale to begin at Two o'Clock p.m. prompt.
Source: Shields Daily Gazette 30 October 1880
Another body was identified as that William Venner, an able seaman, who was washed overboard from the brigantine Harry Clem, of Faversham, prior to that vessel stranding at South Shields, last Thursday night.
Source: Shields Daily Gazette 1 November 1880
Inquest Upon The Master Of The Harry Clem
At the same time and place Graham held an inquest upon the body of William Wellard late master of the schooner Harry Clem, which came ashore on Thursday night. The body having been viewed by the jury evidence was called.
Richard Hutchins said: I was mate of the schooner Harry Clem, of Faversham. I identify the body picked up this morning as that of William Wellard, late master of the Harry Clem. He resided at Whitstable, and was 29 years of age. About eight o'clock on Thursday night he was washed overboard from the after part of the deck of the ship when between the North and South Piers. The vessel was swung round by a heavy sea, which carried a second man overboard, and she afterwards came ashore behind the South Pier. At the same time the captain was drowned I missed William Venner, an able seaman, who was, I think, 25 years old, and belonged to Folkestone, he must have been washed overboard and drowned by the same wave. The rest of the crew got ashore. We left Whitstable last Monday a.m. in ballast, bound to Seaham. We were about off Whitby on Wednesday when the bad weather caught us. That would be about two o'clock in the afternoon. The bad weather continued without intermission until the time I got ashore. There was too much sea to go to Seaham, so we ran for the Tyne. We got off the Tyne the same day (Wednesday) about seven p.m. We hove to, and on it came bad weather, that could not see the lights put out to sea. On Thursday night, about dusk, as soon as we saw the lights, we made for Shields Harbour. When between the piers the ship became unmanageable. Venner and I were at the wheel. We were washed away from by sea, and the wheel was washed away altogether. A second sea came over aft in the same way that the former one had done, washed the master and Venner overboard. The vessel shortly afterwards came ashore and we landed in our own boat. We should have come safely in I think if the wheel had not come away. As the vessel was coming up from the pier to the sands two rockets were fired over us, but at that time the other men were in the boat, and I was the only man on board. The ship is insured. Venner is of a dark complexion, with hair light, a tuft of hair on his chin, a very small moustache. He had a blue jumper on, I think, and oilskins.
Thomas Manual, fisherman, living at No. 1 Thames Street, said he was on the beach, north of the South Pier—in the harbour— about six o'clock this morning, when he saw body lying about 20 yards from the water's edge, and ten yards from the stones at the foot of the pier. The body had but one sea boot on. He gave information to the police, and helped to remove the body to the Old Workhouse.
The jury returned a verdict of “Accidental death."
At the same time and place Graham held an inquest upon the body of William Wellard late master of the schooner Harry Clem, which came ashore on Thursday night. The body having been viewed by the jury evidence was called.
Richard Hutchins said: I was mate of the schooner Harry Clem, of Faversham. I identify the body picked up this morning as that of William Wellard, late master of the Harry Clem. He resided at Whitstable, and was 29 years of age. About eight o'clock on Thursday night he was washed overboard from the after part of the deck of the ship when between the North and South Piers. The vessel was swung round by a heavy sea, which carried a second man overboard, and she afterwards came ashore behind the South Pier. At the same time the captain was drowned I missed William Venner, an able seaman, who was, I think, 25 years old, and belonged to Folkestone, he must have been washed overboard and drowned by the same wave. The rest of the crew got ashore. We left Whitstable last Monday a.m. in ballast, bound to Seaham. We were about off Whitby on Wednesday when the bad weather caught us. That would be about two o'clock in the afternoon. The bad weather continued without intermission until the time I got ashore. There was too much sea to go to Seaham, so we ran for the Tyne. We got off the Tyne the same day (Wednesday) about seven p.m. We hove to, and on it came bad weather, that could not see the lights put out to sea. On Thursday night, about dusk, as soon as we saw the lights, we made for Shields Harbour. When between the piers the ship became unmanageable. Venner and I were at the wheel. We were washed away from by sea, and the wheel was washed away altogether. A second sea came over aft in the same way that the former one had done, washed the master and Venner overboard. The vessel shortly afterwards came ashore and we landed in our own boat. We should have come safely in I think if the wheel had not come away. As the vessel was coming up from the pier to the sands two rockets were fired over us, but at that time the other men were in the boat, and I was the only man on board. The ship is insured. Venner is of a dark complexion, with hair light, a tuft of hair on his chin, a very small moustache. He had a blue jumper on, I think, and oilskins.
Thomas Manual, fisherman, living at No. 1 Thames Street, said he was on the beach, north of the South Pier—in the harbour— about six o'clock this morning, when he saw body lying about 20 yards from the water's edge, and ten yards from the stones at the foot of the pier. The body had but one sea boot on. He gave information to the police, and helped to remove the body to the Old Workhouse.
The jury returned a verdict of “Accidental death."
Source: Shields Daily Gazette 1 November 1880