It becomes our painful duty to record one of the most distressing shipwrecks that ever occurred within the precincts of this port; the loss of the smack Earl Moira, which sailed with passengers bound for
The Earl Moira left the Pier-head soon after six o’clock on the evening of Wednesday the 8th instant. The greater number of our informers (all survivors) agree in the estimation of numbers of 100 to 110 persons being on board, including six of the crew.
When off the Magazines, they all set sail, wind blowing fresh from W.N.W.. After passing Gut Buoy, No1, in attempting to tack, the vessel missed stays, and struck on Burbo Bank. The passengers, alarmed at the shock, flocked up from below in multitudes; and some of those from the cabin remonstrated with the captain, who was observed to be intoxicated, and consequently bewildered and undetermined. The boat was ordered out and a kedge-anchor was carried to leeward; and after considerable toil the vessel was again got into deep water, and bore away for the
The mainsail, kept on her for the purpose of running her on the bank as the tide rose, had the effect of sinking her deeper into the sand, and rendered her situation more fatal. At half past two the vessel filled with water fore and aft; the pump having previously been plied, but with no effort. Two fine horses, thst were in the hold were now hoisted up; the groom wished to ride one of them on shore but was persuaded to desist. The horses were washed or thrown overboard. Previous to this the passengers wished a signal to be made but the captain would not agree, declaring there was no danger; but after some time, a flag was carried aloft by a passenger ( a printer who wore a blue jacket) and made fast. Between four and five o’clock, the water forced away the cabin windows, and the luggage, provisions etc. were floated up, the sea breaking over them The waves increased along with the rising tide and last brought the vessel on her broadside. Soon after, the boat and deck lumber were washed overboard, and two passengers, who were snatched away, were with difficulty saved. All who were able now got upon the shrouds, and some held on by ropes fastened to the bulwarks, or to wherever they could find them to keep them out of the water, it being then breast high n deck, and nothing but the weather-gunnel and mast to be seen. In this manner men women, and children clung, until exhausted by the continuance of the waves that burst over them, they began to drop from their hold, and were overwhelmed.
One tremendous wave which struck the weather bow carried off from ten to fifteen poor souls at once Men, women and children, who seemed in the greatest agonies were now washed away, and every succeeding wave appeared to mark its victims; the survivors had scarcely time to breathe between each. One man jumped overboard, , and was for some time seen struggling towards the shore on a trunk or box.
A boat lay a short distance to windward of them all night (apparently one of the King Dock gigs) Several signals were contrived to lure her to their assistance. One of the passengers, a soldier, fired his musket three times, having three cartridges, but the boat took no notion When the water was making over the deck, a white handkerchief was waved from the rigging, when the boat came down, and went a short distance to leeward of them. On being requested to approach, they said the sea was running too high for them
The Passengers in the Earl Moira then took a cork fender and fastening a rope to it, let it drop towards the boat The boatmen refused to take hold of the rope by means of which they might have got safely alongside. About ten minutes after, several packages were washed away, when the wretches in the boat having picked up three or four portmanteaus and a trunk, immediately set sail with their plunder to
The Captain, who was still in a state of intoxication, was among the first who perished. After the most incoherent conduct he was exclaiming “We shall all be lost!” when he was struck on the breast by a wave and falling backwards sunk alongside. We shall not pain our readers by a minute detail of the heart-rending scene of deth that continued from this period until all were either saved or drowned. A female of about thirty years old was observed with her two children, one about eight months old, the other two years. For a considerable time she buffeted the waves with the infant in her arms A tremendous sea at length struck her, beneath which her exhausted children were buried for a minute or two. The wind then lulled for a moment and the swell abated; the agonized mother gazes at the children in her arms and found them both dead. She uttered a piercing shriek, lost her hold was overwhelmed by another wave and perished with her babes locked in her arms – three soldiers were on board having a deserter in charge They remained by him as long as hey could, a sea struck them as they stood together, and carried off the deserter wh sunk immediately. One of the soldiers was carried under the boom and clung to one of the stays. As the sea lifted the vessel he rose above the water several times but at length with an exclamation of mercy he yielded to his fate.
“A vast number of poor men, women and children (says a survivor who was in the rigging) the occupants of the front part of the vessel were more exposed to the waves, and there was no possibility of any relief for the sufferers. .There were about ten men hanging on to one rope, the wife of one having her husband in her arms. An irresistible wave swept away all but three. The survivors seeing their exhausted comrades dropping , one by one from their hold, remained in continual apprehension of a similar fate
The Hoylake life-boat, arrived to their assistance between seven and eight. So great was their eagerness for self-preservation, that about thirty soon dropped into the boat, and the commander, whose exertions cannot be too much praised, was at length obliged to put off to prevent the boat being swamped. They were all much exhausted, and many of them in a dying state. Another boat from
There were five ladies cabin passengers, of whom only one was saved. There were we learn, thirty-three cabin passengers in all, sixteen of whom were saved. I was impossible for us to obtain the precise number of those who perished. The number on board was not exactly known, nor the numbers saved; although the latter may be stated at about fifty, leaving about the same supposed number who have perished.
The bodies of two females, one child, and a man have been brought here, and others we understand have been landed near the Rock. The boat belonging to the Moira in a shattered condition
Many of those on board, were, we understand of most respectable families, on their way to meet His Majesty in Ireland and carried with them considerable property. If we are to credit report, some of the inhabitants of Wallasey have been engaged in stripping and plundering the bodies cast up.
However painful the duty, we are bound to state, in order to afford an impressive warning to others, that all survivors ascribe the disaster to the intoxication of the captain, the mate, and the greater part of the crew, the steward and one or two others only having done their duty.
The Newry packet which sailed in the company with the Moira, put back, all well. We are desired to state that Mr O’LERY and John CARY in the service of the Earl of Portarlington, are saved
We have little to add to the catalogue of suffering which we recorded last week. The subsequent accounts, taken as our own from gentlemen who survived, do not materially differ from that which we furnished. One gentleman says “When the life-boat came, some manly voice cried ‘Let no man get into her until the women are safe’ But alas the women were all at the bottom of the shrouds and under them, an consequently, the whole length of the vessel’s mast from the lifeboat, and exhausted as they were, unable to reach her; only one, I believe, was saved in her. While the lifeboat was in view, several passengers already weak and insensible, dropped from their hold and drifted off; among the number I perceived the unfortunate captain, who although the author of all our sufferings, I am persuaded every person forgave. Several women were washed off abot the same time; the dying shrieks of these poor creatures were truly terrific Another boat now appeared in view, and shortly after came up; these were regular traders in saving lives, and made their bargains accordingly” refusing an offer of twenty guineas to take only the women, who were then all safe.
Someone has taken the trouble to contradict our report that the captain was among the first who perished; but it, notwithstanding, appears he was lost before one of the woen. A second boat bargained in the lie manner, refusing to take any but those who paid largely.
A fourth boat behaved with becoming humanity, and saved any. The numbers lost are estimated at about fifty.
We mentioned last week “if we were to credit report, some of the inhabitants of Wallasey were engaged in stripping and plundering the dead bodies cast up”
The Rev. Augustus CAMPBELL, rector of Wallasey, has in consequence published an elaborate exculpation of his parishioners; as if we had actually asserted the circumstance as fact. Our assertion rested on he reports of several of the survivors, who went to Wallasey on the same morning to recover their baggage; and we conceived it our duty to publish the report, as such, to give the parties an opportunity of contradiction We grant, that our informers may have mistaken others for Wallasey men, whose “ good faith and disinteredness”” we are happy to learn; for we have still some recollection of the wreck of the schooner Mary and Betsey, and the humanity of the wreckers in that neighbourhood on that occasion, at Mock-beggar, when they preferred plundering the wreck and carrying off bags of potatoes to rescue the dying, and housing the dead. This happened in the neighbourhood of Wallasey to which several of the bodies were afterwards conveyed; and no one was bold enough to contradict the damning statements, when the corroborating parties were present On that occasion no humanity was shown to the drooping survivors by anyone, but by the benevolent Mrs BOODY and her servants, who to thir eternal honour recruited and cherished them. And shall we be blamed for merely publishing the above report? We have pleasure in learning the good conduct of the persons in question from this gentleman’s undisputed authority, and that no bodies were stripped; but there are points on which his “probabilities and beliefs” are not discreetly necessary for the contradiction of our report, and evince a spirit which our remarks did not call for.
We are happy to add the respectable testimony of Mr D’AGUILAR (who has published a letter on the subject) to others, that the unfortunate Captain of the Moira was a skilful commander and a favourite. His conduct on that day was confirmed, and we are somewhat astonished that the testimony of one of the crew (who were generally under a similar charge) should have been resorted to when so any intelligent gentlemen were on board, who had their eyes about them. The Captain we understand was an affectionate father and in consequence of the birth of his first son, had indulged rather freely in conviviality. The survivors we trust in the spirit of Christianity will abide by the precept “de mortuis nil nisi bonant”
No more bodies have been washed up recently. We are in hopes therefore that the probable number of sufferers, by the melancholy shipwreck of the Moira, was exaggerated at the time. But it is not impossible that some bodeies may have been covered by sand, as not to float in the usual manner. If however, there are any which have not hitherto appeared are we hope and believe very few
The total number rescued from a watery grave of which 33 were saved by the Hoylake Lifeboat …..(number indistinct) NEALE’s boat, 12 by CURRIE’s, 10 by EVANS of the Magazines, 5 by a Hoylake boat and 3 by No 11 Pilot Boat.
Several of the most intelligent survivors agreed estimating the total number of persons on board as 111, as 31 bodies have been picked up, making with this the 70 survivors, an aggregate of 102, this circumstance confirms strong corroboration of the opnions expressed that the number of sufferers was at first exaggerated
The Committee of Underwriters have distributed the thirty guineas which they voted to the boatmen who rescued the passengers. The sum is small when divided among so many claimants, but we trust that ……..(indistinct) will not neglect liberally to reward those who showed themselves by their courage and humanity on this melancholy occasion.
It would, we think, be a very fitting measure, and one which might be the means of saving many valuable lives, if a fund were raised, on the auspices of the Corporation or the Underwriters for the purpose of rewarding men who when shipwrecks unfortunately happen on this coast, exert themselves saving their fellow creatures from an untimely death.
William McLEISH Esq. Manufacturor, of
Caryl Williams www.old-liverpool.co.uk Old