Enjoy,
Tony.

"Some of those who so nobly risked their lives in saving others during the recent floods in Bray on the night of August 25th 1905."

1905 Bray Flood.

The Coastguards and the floods at Little Bray, Co. Wicklow. On the night of Thursday 24th.August 1905, a downpour of rain which began at nine heralded a chain of events that would forever be remembered by the people of Little Bray. This rain which lasted almost uninterruptedly until an early hour on Sunday morning was to swell the Dargle river to bursting point and the whole of Little Bray was to be engulfed by a raging torrent that swept through the area at approximately 9.00 p.m. on the night of Friday, Aug.25th. The people first noticed the water seeping in under the doors and tried to stem the flow with mats and sacks thinking it was caused by the rain running off the pavement. Then they noticed the water coming in at the back, and the alarm was raised. At first there was only six inches of water but within minutes this had ridden to two feet.

In many places owing to being confined in the narrow laneways and stopped by walls the water mounted to a depth of ten feet. The river had burst its banks and then came down by the road swamping the whole of the village right up to the railway. Between 1,200 and 2,000 people were affected by the flood. Cabs and carts were floating like boats, and carried down streets to the danger of men who were endeavouring to rescue people from their flooded houses. No light could be seen, the rain poured ceaselessly, and the shrieks of women with crying children, the shouts of men and the noise of the raging waters were terrible.

Hundreds of old men, women and children were rescued only under the greatest difficulty. Great work was done by the members of the Coastguard and the Fire Brigade., nine people being taken from the Schoolhouse by means of ladders and fire escapes. They broke windows and doors in a number of houses, where the water was rising to the garrets and upper floors, where the inhabitants fled for safety, and were crying out in terror. Only on Saturday morning was it possible to measure the extent of the damage and loss of life, the streets and houses were still two or three feet deep in water.

One of the men who had played a big part in rescuing victims became one himself when he endeavoured to cross the flood with the intention of going to see after his own family when he was knocked down by the current and drowned. (1)

Fatal Accident

Bray. December 22nd.

I have to record a most melancholy and fatal accident off this shore. A boat belonging to a Mrs. Cuthbert of Bray, manned by two brothers of the name of Archer, Green, John Whelan and Lynch, returning from Kingstown where they had been seen fishing for herrings, was upset about one mile from the shore, opposite No.2 Tower. It is supposed she was under a press of sail. William Callaghan, Boatman of the Coastguard was on the look-out at the Tower, and, immediately on seeing the catastrophe, with most praiseworthy alacrity ran down to the shore, and in conjunction with Archer, a brother of the unfortunate man on the vessel, succeeded in launching a shore boat, in which at the imminent risk of their lives, they pushed off and succeeded in rescuing Green. The other four poor fellows were consigned to a watery grave. (4)

Velinheli

On the 20th.March 1906 the 'Velinheli' of Carnaervon, weighing 70 tons and under the command Of Captain Hollingsworth, went aground in bad weather a few yards off the south pier at Bray harbour. The ship was carrying coal for John Plunkett of Quinsboro Road. The Greystones Coastal Life Saving crew took the ship's crew ashore aided by a breeches buoy. Mr. Willis, Chief Officer of the Coastguards, with Mr. Spraggs, Bray Harbour Master, supervised the refloating of the ship sometime later. (5)