Melancholy Shipwrecks of the brigs Dash and Sine Liverpool Mercury September 11 1818

This week we have the sad task to detail the particulars of two most melancholy catastrophes which have occurred off the neighbouring coast. The brig Sine, Captain DOAK, sailed from this port on Monday week for Boston; thirty-two passengers were embarked on board of her. About ten o’clock on Wednesday night whilst the two vessels were standing on opposite tacks she unfortunately ran down the brig Dash, bound from Bournemouth to London. The Dash sunk almost immediately. Her crew consisted of five persons, two of whom were saved by the exertions of Captain DOAK and his crew, and the remainder were unhappily drowned. The Sine’s bowsprit was carried away by this lamentable accident, and the vessel seriously damaged by the violence of the shock. Captain DOAK, being incapable of prosecuting the voyage with his vessel in this shattered condition, determined to return to Liverpool to repair. But new misfortunes awaited the ill-fated vessel. Between four and five o’clock, the captain, worn out by his previous exertion, and anxiety for the fatal accident which had occurred, retired to his cabin, after having left the brig in charge of his mate, and given him strict instructions t keep a sharp look out, and to call him before she got up with the Skerries. The vessel continued on her course until about half-past seven o’clock when she struck on the Platters off the Welsh coast near to the Skerries lighthouse. The water rushed in with great rapidity, and the vessel was sinking fast. At this dreadful conjecture, Captain DOAK, who had hurried on deck as soon as she struck, ordered the ship’s boats to be instantly cleared away. She had only two, the one a long-boat, and the other a very small one. The long boat was speedily filled, but only a few persons got into the small one; for, before the whole of the people on the wreck could embark, both boats were cut adrift; the persons on board them fearing, we suppose that if they allowed all to embark, they would be so crowded as to endanger the lives of the whole Captain DOA who had been actively and anxiously engaged in transhipping the passengers, the mate, a seaman, and many passengers, were thus abandoned to all the horrors of their impending fate. The brig was now nearly under water. Death stared the unfortunates on the wreck in the face. Mothers were seen clinging to their unhappy children in all the agony of maternal despair, piercing the air with their shrieks. At this awful moment, the small boat put about and returned to the vessel. This afforded the people on the wreck a gleam of hope. But it was but transient; no entreaties could prevail upon the persons in her to come alongside to rescue their companions. At length the vessel went down, in less than half an hour after she struck. Captain DOAK was saved by the boat, which also picked up the mate, who was almost lifeless, two children, two women and one man. The remainder, consisting of Mrs MOOR and her four children, Mrs CROFT and her child, Mrs LATHAM and her two children, Mr ROBINSON, and Mr TAYLOR, were swallowed by the relentless waves. The long-boat was still in sight, making towards the Welsh coast; but Captain DOAK pulled off the land, in hopes of meeting with some vessel which might rescue him and his unhappy companions. A ship was in sight when the Sine struck and clewed up her topsails, as if intending to render assistance, but made all sail away when she went down. The forlorn voyagrs after rowing some distance were taken up by a pilot-boat, which perceiving the imminence of their danger, had come with praiseworthy alacrity, to their succour They then made sail after the long boat, with which  they soon came up, and took the people on board. They shortly afterwards fell in with two brigs, bound for this port, between which the survivors were divided and safely landed here on Friday. Many of them were in a forlorn condition, some having been roused from their beds by the striking of the vessel allowing them no time or thought to dress themselves. Their immediate wants were relived by the humanity of our excellent chief magistrate. A subscription has since been opened and we shall be happy to receive the contributions of the benevolent for this humane object.. Most of the unhappy sufferers it will be perceived were mothers and their offspring. The history of the voyage of some of them is sadly affecting. The husbands of two of them, MOOR and CROFT, are now in the United STATES, and had sent for their  wives and families.

Caryl Williams www.old-liverpool.co.uk Old Liverpool 1998-2008