During the whole of Sunday, notwithstanding that a large fleet of vessels made for the Tyne, all entered safety, but at half-past three o’clock on Monday morning, the boom of the alarm guns was again sent through the air, and many persons turned out and betook themselves to the beach to ascertain the nature of the casualty. This time it was found that the brig Marys, Captain Johnson, of Whitby, in chalk ballast, from Dieppe, was ashore upon the Herd sand, near the Fish Pier, South Shields. members of the South Shields Life Brigade, with great promptitude, hurried along to the place with lines, but upon arriving at the Fish Pier they saw the Northumberland Lifeboat from North Shields going down the Narrows. They directed the lift boatmen, who could not discern the lights, to the vessel, and they succeeded in taking off the crew of six men, and landing them at North Shields. The following are the names of the crew, namely, Captain Johnson; mate, William Huttay; cook, W. Flood; able seamen, Michael Liske, Thomas Marshall, and Walter Anthony. The whole of the men belong South Shields. The master reports that on entering the harbour the vessel was caught by the fresh from the river on the starboard bow, and carried out of her course, and before she could bed wore round she struck the sand. Though not unattended with personal injury, it satisfactory to note that both these casualties took place without loss of life.
Source: Shields Gazette 26 December 1876
Between three and four o'clock on Monday morning, the guns signalled a ship in distress. From what was after wards learned, it seems that the brig Marys (Capt. Johnson), belonging to Newcastle, from Dieppe for the Tyne in ballast, entered the harbour about the hour named, she sailed over the rough sea at the month of the river in perfect safety, but on coming opposite to the Fish Quay (South Shields), she encountered a heavy fresh (which is very strong in the river at present), which caught her on the starboard bow, disabled her rudder, and thus caused her to drift ashore on the Herd Sand. The South Shields Brigade went with assistance, but meanwhile the crew were taken off by the lifeboat Northumberland from the Low Lights. At sea the Mary experienced very bad weather. She is the property of Messrs Elliott, Lowrey, and Dunford. There will be little difficulty in taking off the brig.
Source: Daily Gazette for Middlesbrough 30 December 1876
Floating of Two Stranded Vessels at South Shields.
Two of the stranded vessels at South Shields, namely, the screw-steamer Fenella, of London, and brig Marys, of Whitby, were successfully floated and taken, into Shields harbour, at an early hour, this morning. An attempt was also made to get the steamship Herman Sauber off, but this proved futile. The weather yesterday had so far moderated that the sea was quite smooth and the westerly breeze had swelled the neap tides very considerably, both circumstances favourable to the floating of the vessels. A tug steamer got hold of the brig, which lay on the Herd Sand, near the Fish Pier, and about ten minutes after midnight she floated off. This vessel went ashore at half-past three o’clock on Christmas morning, and was the last that came to grief in entering the Tyne during the prevalence of the storm. Before twelve o’clock three powerful tugs got towlines away from the stern of the Fenella, which lay on the south side of the South Pier, near the Claremont and Herman Sauber, and the windlass was attached to a chain fastened to an anchor east of the steamer. In addition to these appliances the steamer's propeller was put in motion to drive the vessel astern, and by means of the combined power, she commenced about half-past twelve to move slightly seaward. Every now and again she was shifted in this direction, until quarter past one o'clock, when she was finally afloat, amid the hearty cheers of the large number of men employed in the operation. The attempt to float the Herman Sauber will be renewed this afternoon, and it is stated that the same will be done with the Claremont. This morning, a number of salvors were at work picking up the anchors, chains, &tc., left by the Fenella. The sea is still placid, and a large fleet of sailing vessels left the Tyne this forenoon.
Source: Shields Gazette 29 December 1876