The gale on north east coast
Wreck of Sunderland brig at South Shields
Loss of all hands
Nothing of importance occurred, however, until half-past six o'clock last evening, when a melancholy fatal disaster took place near the South Pier, South Shields. At the time stated a strong gale was blowing the south-east, and the members of the South Shields Volunteer Life Brigade, from the tower of their watch house observed the lights of a vessel making for the harbour. As she approached the South Pier it was seen that she was too far inshore. That being so she was unable to weather the pier end and came to the ground about fifty yards south of the pier. The usual signal was given from the Brigade House, and the alarm guns were fired from the Spanish Battery at Tynemouth and H.M.S. Castor, moored at the Low Lights, North Shields. There was immediately a general rush to the pier, and many thousands of persons soon assembled, including a good muster of the members of the Volunteer Life Brigade to reinforce those already on duty. In the meantime the coastguard, assisted by the brigadesmen, had got out the waggon containing the rocket apparatus, and run it down to the end the pier. Five minutes from the stranding of the vessel a rocket was thrown over her. She was, however, engulphed in the sea, which was breaking heavily over her, and both masts went by the board. A second rocket was fired two minutes after the first one, but it was of no avail, for by that time the vessel had broken to pieces, and the whole of the crew were washed away and drowned. Shortly afterwards the nameboard, the long boat, and the official log book of the vessel were washed ashore. From these it was proved that the vessel was the brig Thomas and Elizabeth, of Sunderland, Captain Joseph Luck. The log book showed that the crew signed articles, on the 4th of February, 1880, at Kennet Pans, in the Firth of Forth, but the destination of the vessel was not stated, and the names of the crew were not given. From this it is inferred that the brig was on a coasting voyage. The Thomas and Elizabeth was spoken in Sunderland Bay, yesterday afternoon, by the Tyne steam-tug Tom Perry. She was making for the Tyne. The crew of the tug asked the master if he wanted assistance, but he declined the offer, saying it was a fine wind. Among the officers of the brigade who were duty were—Mr T. G. Mabane, captain; J. Wood, Mr A. Whitelaw, Mr T. Coulson, and Mr T. Watkins, deputy captains and Dr Crease, honorary surgeon. The Thomas and Elizabeth was the property of Luke Dyer, 6 Robinson Street, Sunderland. She was a vessel of 173 tons register, and was built on the Wear in 1841.
The members of the Life Brigade, in spite of great personal risk, were most energetic in their endeavours to find the bodies of the crew. Indeed, one of the Life Brigadesmen (Mr William Purvis, of H.M. Customs) had an exceedingly narrow escape whilst searching amongst the floating wreckage, for had not another member succeeded getting hold him, he would inevitably have been swept into the sea and drowned. The South Shields lifeboats, Tom Perry and Tyne, were manned, and pulled down the harbour it but was utterly impossible, even had their services been any avail, to get them outside of the piers. Shortly after the wreck, there was lull, and the wind got round about SSW, although the sea continued roll very heavily. At midnight, when the tide was about its lowest, there was nothing of the vessel left with the exception of the keel, and by that time the wreck had been driven by the force of the waves about 30 yards above the new jetty and close into the stones of the pier. A strict watch was kept by the members of the Life Brigade, but happily no further casualty occurred. During the day numbers of vessels arrived at the Tyne seeking shelter from the storm amongst them being the Quayside, Bee, Orb, Hero, Fanny, Enterprise, &c.
Recovery of the bodies of the crew
The lull in the storm continues, but the sea is still running high. The ill-fated brig Thomas and Elizabeth has entirely disappeared and the beach is strewn with her wreckage. The vessel was coal-laden. The members of the Life Brigade kept a look-out for the bodies of the unfortunate men. The first was discovered about one o'clock this morning lying on the stones at the north side of the pier, just below the new landing stage. It was at once removed to the mortuary at the Old Workhouse. Soon afterwards the bodies other five of the crew washed ashore near the spot. They must, therefore, have been carried round the east end of the pier by the strong current which is known to run there. The whole of the bodies are now lying at the mortuary to await an inquest. The only marks on the bodies are few slight cuts their faces caused by their being washed about among the stones near the pier. It appears that the owner of the vessel, Mr Luke Dyer, Sunderland, was on board. He was about 60 years of age. The captain (Mr Jos, Luck) was young man, who was finishing his apprenticeship as a pilot. He belonged to Gravesend. The remainder of the crew were all young men belonging to the Isle of Wight. This morning several persons of Sunderland visited the mortuary at the Shields Workhouse and identified the bodies of Mr Dyer, Captain Luck, and other members of the crew.
Source: Shields Daily Gazette 17th of February 1880
The Fatal Shipwreck At South Shields
Inquest On The Bodies Of The Crew
Mr John Graham, coroner, held an inquest at the Royal Hotel (Mr Barton's), Ocean Road, South Shields, yesterday afternoon, on the bodies of the six men who composed the crew of the brig Thomas and Elizabeth, of Sunderland, which was wrecked at the South Pier on Monday night. The only bodies identified were those of Luke Dyer, owner of the vessel; Joseph Luck, master, and James Hird, seaman. Mrs Mary Elizabeth Humm, wife of Frederick Humm labourer, 81 Chandless Street, Gateshead, identified the body of James Hird, her brother. He was 24 years of age, and had been two or three years on board the Thomas and Elizabeth—at one time as mate of the vessel. The deceased was unmarried, and lodged with his cousin, Percival Gibbon, mariner, No. 3 Silver Street, Sunderland.
Robert Mushans, shipowner, No. 5 Robinson Street, Sunderland, identified one of the bodies as that of Luke Dyer, 61 years of age, owner of the Thomas and Elizabeth. He lived at No. 6 Robinson Street, Sunderland. Witness had known deceased for upwards of 20 years.
William Turner, master mariner, No. 5 Robinson Street, Sunderland, identified another of the bodies as that of Joseph Luck, the master of the Thomas and Elizabeth. He 25 years of age, and lived at No. 22 Cotton Street, Poplar, London, with his parents. He had sailed on board the Thomas and Elizabeth the past eleven months as master.
P.C. Samuel Morphew, of the River Tyne Police Force, living at 38 Berwick Street, South Shields, said he went down to the South Pier on special duty about seven o'clock on Monday night. There had been a strong gale from to south-south-east between 6 and 7 p.m. The brig Thomas and Elizabeth, of Sunderland, was ashore. The vessel was 175 tons register, and was 39 years old. The sea was very heavy and breaking a long way out. His duty was to look after the bodies. The first body was seen 12 15 a.m. on Tuesday. It was that of Luke Dyer, and had been washed up on the stones on the north side of the pier. With the assistance of P.C. Barrett and members of the Life Brigade, he had the body removed to the mortuary. He searched the pockets and found 5s 9d in silver, 7d in copper, 2 Dutch guilders, 2 cent pieces and a Shipwrecked Mariners' Society's medal of last year's date. About one o'clock two other bodies were found. These had not yet been identified. They searched the pockets, but found nothing. One of the men was about 24 years old and the other about 19.
P.C. John Barrett, of the River Tyne Police, (missing) to recovering the body of Captain Luck about 1.30 a.m. on Tuesday. The next body (missing) was that of a boy about 17 years of age. It was found near the same place about 2 a.m.
Humphrey Ashton, coastguardsman, stationed at South Shields station, said he saw the ship come ashore at 6 30 p.m. on Monday (missing) was nearly top of high water. The ship was laden, and under canvas. She was (missing) in from the east. She got behind the South Pier, and he gave the signal for the Tynemouth Castle guns, which were fired (missing). The van was run down abreast of the ship, which had grounded right opposite the landing stage, about 80 yards from the pier. She came stem on. (missing) could see nothing but her red lights. Two rockets were fired across the (missing)ht amidships. Immediately after the second rocket, the foremast went by the (missing) and then the mainmast. The vessel was (missing) and did not bump. He neither saw nor heard any of her crew. Before the ship was struck, the seas were breaking clean over her. It was his belief that the crew were washed overboard before the vessel took the ground. The wind, although a gale, was fair for her reaching the harbour if her steering gear had held (missing) as the sea was breaking heavily (missing) way out or as the sea was breaking heavily the men might have been washed overboard. The vessel broke up in a quarter-of-an-hour after she struck; nothing held together. The timbers and planking he had seen were rotten. He referred to the floors and lower part. The upper part was in better condition.
By a juryman: Witness did not think the vessel was sufficiently manned.
Several jurymen thought the vessel sufficiently manned for her tonnage.
The jury returned a verdict to the effect that the deceased had lost their lives being accidentally drowned by shipwreck.
Mr E. Jennings, the foreman of the jury, called attention to the want of accommodation at the public mortuary, and said it was little better than a coal house. When the jury viewed the bodies that afternoon it was impossible for more than two or three men to get in one time, then they rubbed up against the bodies. He thought there should be a protest from the jury sent to the Corporation, with a request that some better accommodation be provided.
The Coroner said that, at the request of the jury, he would draw the attention of the authorities to the insufficient accommodation provided, in the hope that they would take measures to remedy this state of things in future. Mr Graham expressed his admiration at the quickness with which means had been taken to rescue the lives of the unfortunate men, both by the members of the Volunteer Life Brigade and the coastguardsmen.
The proceedings then terminated.
Source: Shields Daily Gazette 19 February 1880
Old Stories Retold
Lost on the South Pier
With All Hands
About half-past six on the evening of Monday, February 16th 1880,a melancholy disaster took place near the South Pier, South Shields. At the time a strong gale was blowing from the south-east, and the members of Volunteer Life Brigade, from the tower of their watch house, observed the lights of a vessel making for the harbour. As she approached the South Pier it was seen that she was too far inshore. That being so she was unable to weather the pier end and struck about fifty yards south of the pier. The usual signal was given from the Brigade House, and the alarm guns were fired from the Spanish Battery at Tynemouth, and H.M.S. Castor, moored at the Low Lights, North Shields. There was immediately a general rush to the pier and many thousands of persons soon assembled, including a good muster of the members of the Volunteer Life Brigade to reinforce those already on duty.
In the meantime the Coastguard, assisted by the Brigadesmen, had got out the waggon containing the rocket apparatus, and ran it down to the end of the pier. Five minutes from the stranding of the vessel was a rocket was thrown over her. She was, however engulphed in the sea, which was breaking heavily over her, and both masts went by the board. A second rocket was fired two minutes after the first one, but it was of no avail for by that time the vessel had broken to pieces and the whole of the crew were washed away drowned. Shortly afterwards the nameboard, the long boat, and official log book of the vessel were washed ashore. From these it was proved that the vessel was the brig Thomas and Elizabeth, of Sunderland, Captain John Luck. The log book showed that the crew signed articles on the 4th of February 1880 at Kennet Pans, in the Firth of Forth, and was coal laden, but her destination was not stated. She had been spoken in Sunderland Bay, in the afternoon, by the Tyne steamtug Tom Perry, and was making for the Tyne. The crew of the tug asked the master if they wanted assistance, but he declined the offer, saying it was a fine wind. The Thomas and Elizabeth was the property of Mr Luke Dyer, of Sunderland. She was a vessel of 173 tons register, and was built on the Wear in 1841.
The members of the Life Brigade, in spite of great personal risk, were most energetic in their endeavours to find the bodies of the crew. Indeed, one of the Life Brigadesmen (Mr William Purvis, of H.M. Customs) had an exceedingly narrow escape whilst searching among the wreckage, for had not another member succeeded in getting hold of him, he would inevitably have been swept into the sea and drowned. When the alarm guns were fired the South Shields lifeboats, Tom Perry and Tyne, were manned and pulled down the harbour, but, it was utterly impossible, even had their services been of any avail, to get them outside the piers. Shortly after the wreck there was a lull, and the wind got round to about S.S.W., although the sea continued to roll very heavily. At midnight, when the tide was about its lowest, there was nothing of the vessel left with the exception of the keel, and by that time the wreck had been driven by the force of the waves about 30 yards above the new jetty, and close into the stones of the pier. The first body was discovered about one o'clock in the morning lying on the stones at the north side of the pier, just below the landing stage. Soon afterwards the bodies of other five of the crew were washed ashore near the same spot. They must therefore have been carried round the east end of the pier by the strong current which was known to run there. It appears that the owner of the vessel, Mr Luke Dyer, was on board. He was about 60 years of age. The captain was a young man, who was finishing his apprenticeship as a pilot. He belonged to Gravesend. The remainder of the crew were all young men belonging to the Isle of Wight. Several persons that morning visited the mortuary at the South Shields Workhouse and identified the bodies of Mr Dyer, Captain Luck, and other members of the crew. The six men composed the whole of the crew.
Source: Shields Daily Gazette 20 December 1904