Violent Storm
Schooner Driven Ashore at South Shields
Much destruction was caused at South Shields early yesterday morning, principally to pleasure boats and yachts, by a severe north-east gale, which swept the coast. The visitors at the seaside were roused by the booming of guns, indicating that a vessel was distress. This turned out to be the Danish schooner William.
While endeavouring to enter the Tyne, she had been driven ashore on the beach at the south side of the harbour. The crew, consisting of four men, landed safely in their own boat, and were cared for at the Volunteer Life Brigade House till the storm subsided, when they returned to their vessel. Should the weather continue to improve the William will, no doubt, be floated. She was bound for the Tyne from Varborg, with mining timber.
During the day the stranded vessel, (which lay high and dry low tide, and seemed to be undamaged), attracted many thousand visitors to the seaside, despite the inclemency of the weather. It is many years since so violent a storm has raged off the Tyne at this time of the year.
Source: Nottingham Evening Post 4 July 1919