Carlisle Patriot, 31 Dec 1825 - Local News (3)

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Saturday 31 Dec 1825   (p. 2, col. 5-6 and p. 3, col. 1, 5 + 6)     [continued]

 

The brig William of Workington, William ELLIOT, master, sailed from Balbriggan, nr. Belfast, on Sunday the 18th inst., homeward bound. When off the point of Ayr, the wind blowing a severe gale from W. S. W. and carrying a press of canvas to gain the Cumberland coast, the ballast shifted, and the vessel lay down on her beam ends. The master and crew in this perilous situation at once cut away her main-mast, which had the effect of righting the vessel; but the wind veering about to eastward, and increasing to a perfect hurricane, they were obliged to take in all canvas, and the brig became unmanageable, she drifted along the coast, and run ashore a little to southward of Cruggleton Castle, in the bay of Wigtown, at 7 o'clock on Tuesday morning the 20th. The place where the vessel struck is a rugged wild coast: the precipice may be about ninety feet high; and a cave is curiously formed by nature into which the bow of the vessel took its direct course. The stern, with about half of the ship, from the shock and the awful force of the waves dashing against the precipice, was literally severed from the bow, and the Captain, an industrious deserving man, was carried along with this part of the vessel, and sunk to rise no more. He has left a widow and four children to lament his loss. The crew consisted of four men, besides the master, three of whom, by clinging to the clifts of the rocks, and ascending a kind of rugged pathway, soon escaped from their deplorable situation. The fourth man was supposed by his shipmates to have meet [sic] the lamentable fate of their Captain. This poor fellow was, however, observed by John NICHOL, servant to Mr. BROADFOOT, at Palmallet, falling from a projecting rock, about twelve feet high into the water; fortunately more assistance came to the spot at the moment, and the drowning man was washed back to the shelving rock he had been so recently hurled from. Through the humane exertions of Mr. BROADFOOT, his servants, and those of Mr. HANNAY, of Cruggleton, he was rescued from his perilous situation, and carried to the farm house of Palmallet. Medical aid was promptly procured, and the poor fellow is now almost recovered. In this man's case, there was truly a miraculous escape. The vessel had on board one hundred pounds in silver, forty-five of which have been picked up and secured. The Earl of Galloway, as soon as he heard of the wreck, gave orders for his work people and horses to lend every assistance in saving the wreck; but all that has been picked up will amount to little, except the cash, as every piece of wood is almost broken up. Captain M'KERLIE, R. N., and Joseph HAYTON, master of the brig Donegall, of Workington (an old ship-mate of ELLIOT's), discharging timber at Garlieston harbour, were most attentive in giving all the aid in their power; and to the credit of the population at large, they acted a most becoming and feeling part. Mr. BROADFOOT's hospitality and kind attention to the poor sufferers deserve particularly to be noticed.

 

The storm on the night of the 19th instant, was felt with great severity on the coast of Cork, Wexford, and Waterford. The Flora, of Brixham, JARMAN, was lost in Tramore bay, and all hands perished. Another vessel was wrecked in the night three miles west of the bay, and all on board also perished. "From some of the fragments that were driven on shore (says an Irish paper), this vessel appears to have been the brig Bolton of Maryport."

 

LORD LONSDALE'S BIRTH-DAY.

 

The birth-day of the Right Hon. the Earl of Lonsdale, on Thursday last, was celebrated in Carlisle by a public dinner at the Bush Inn. About five o'clock, nearly forty Gentlemen sat down to table, which was served by Mr. and Mrs. HOLMES in a style no less creditable to themselves than pleasing to the company. Richard FERGUSON, Esq. of Harker Lodge presided; Mr. WALDIE filled the vice-chair. We were sorry to observe that several of his Lordship's old and staunch friends were prevented from attending by indisposition—among them Dr. BLAMIRE. The principal toasts from the Chair were—The King; The Duke of York and the Army; The Duke of Clarence and the Navy; the Earl of Lonsdale; Lord LOWTHER; the Countess of Lonsdale and Family; The City Members; The Members for the County; the Lord Bishop of the Diocese; The Memory of William PITT; the Mayor and Corporation of Carlisle; Success to the projected Railroad from Newcastle to Carlisle; The Trade and Manufactures of Carlisle; The Agriculture and Commerce of the County; The Bonny Lasses of Cumberland; Mr. HODGSON (of Penton) and the Lads of the Border, &c. &c. In proposing Lord Lonsdale's health, the Chairman said it was a toast which required no introduction; it spoke for itself; he was sure that the mere mention of it would call forth a bumper, a real bumper, and the approbation of which the public and private character of so excellent a nobleman was worthy.—The toast was most heartily cheered. The Vice-chairman proposed, "Dr. BLAMIRE, and better health to him." The Mayor gave "the Earl of Carlisle." He also took an opportunity of communicating to the company a fact which, he justly observed, would be deemed of considerable importance to the City. It was not generally known that the Earl of Lonsdale, at the request of the Corporation, had lately interested himself for the removal of that obstruction, the Guard-house, in the Market-place. His Lordship had applied to the Duke of Wellington as Master-General of the Board of Ordnance; and his Grace, promptly attending to the request, had sent down Major THOMPSON, to inspect the old building, and to report to the Board whether it could be removed without material detriment to the public service, for Government and the Noble Duke wished to do every thing in their power to promote the interest or convenience of the inhabitants of Carlisle. He (the Mayor) had met Major THOMPSON on Wednesday and that day (Thursday) on the subject. After inspecting the Guard-house, the Major was of opinion that it was of no public service but as a depot for stores; and he thought its removal might take place, provided the Corporation would agree to erect a store-house within the walls of the Castle, where there was ample room. This proposition, the Mayor said, the Corporation were ready to comply with. But there were other and more important points of the question. The property at the south end of the Guard-house belonged to the Corporation; and that they would consent to sacrifice, though their revenues would be thereby decreased nearly a hundred pounds per annum. The fish-monger's shop at the North end was private property, and would have to be purchased. Now, Major THOMPSON intended to report to the Board of Ordnance to the effect stated; the Corporation were willing, for the public good, to build the required store-house and to sacrifice their property, provided the inhabitants came forward to assist them; for they could not be expected to do all this, and purchase the fishmonger's shop also. Thus the question stood; the matter was in fair train; and if the inhabitants wished to get rid of one of the chief disfigurements of the town, they had only to meet the Corporation in the spirit by which that Body were actuated, and a great public good might be immediately effected. (Applause.)—The party passed the evening in the most pleasant manner; and retired between nine and ten. This being the first public celebration of the Noble Earl's birth-day in Carlisle, the company was not so numerous as in some other places where the 29th of December is observed as a festival; but we may venture to predict that next year's meeting in Carlisle will equal, if not surpass, that of any other town in the two counties; for if there is one Nobleman more than another deserving of general esteem and attachment throughout the district with which he is more immediately connected, that Nobleman is the Earl of Lonsdale.

 

At Whitehaven, Hensingham, and Appleby, the day was celebrated with great glee. At the former place, all the principal gentlemen dined at the Black Lion Inn, and the hilarity of the company was promoted by an excellent band of music, and the vocal talent of several amateurs. At Hensingham, the large room at the Inn was not sufficient to accommodate the whole of the company (about 90) at dinner; so the tables were laid in a commodious neighbouring building; and after the repast, they repaired to the Inn, where the afternoon was spent in much harmony. The band of the Cumberland Militia attended; and Mr. SPENCE sung an excellent song, written for the occasion by Mr. W. LITT.