Sylphide

A Vessel Ashore at South Shields

About one o'clock this morning, the ketch Sylphide, Devenish, of and from Maldon for Sunderland, with a cargo of wheat, whilst entering the Tyne, ran ashore on the end of the Fish Pier, inside the harbour. As there was no sea on at the time, the crew remained on board.

Another Account

The weather on the north-east coast was very stormy during last night and the early hours of this morning. The wind was strong from the southward, and there was a heavy sea running. Several vessels made for and entered the Tyne in safety. About one o'clock this morning a billyboy sloop, named the Sylphide, of Maldon, laden with wheat, while sailing into the harbour, took the ground near the east end of Fish Pier, South Shields. As the vessel was in no imminent danger, the alarm guns were not fired, neither did the lifeboats put off to the assistance of the crew. This morning, the master made an agreement with John Wells pilot, South Shields, and four others, to get the vessel off for £80. The tugs Leading Star and Cupid were engaged by the salvors and about eleven o'clock this forenoon they succeeded in towing her off, and bringing her into the harbour, where she was moored at Salmon's Quay, South Shields. The vessel is making a good deal of water, and the pumps were kept going until the vessel dried at low tide. The Sylphide was a vessel of 52 tons register, and is commanded by Mr William Devenish. She was bound from Maldon to Sunderland, with a cargo of wheat, consigned to Messrs Richardson and Co., South Dock. The master states that he arrived off Sunderland late last night, and unable to get either a tug or a pilot. As the weather was stormy, he decided to run for the Tyne for shelter. Upon entering Shields harbour he observed the sunken steamer Dora, of West Hartlepool, but not until he was close upon her. In endeavouring to clear the wreck his vessel got upon the stones the end of the Fish Pier.

Source: Shields Daily Gazette 17 December 1881