November 2006
Vol. 4 - No. 11. | | 
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"The Sea"
Claude Monet
An Afflicting Death. A remarkable fine child, between four and five years old, belonging to a most respectable man in the Preventive Service stationed in Glenarm, was amusing itself on Sunday last, with her sisters in the kitchen; there was on the fire at the time a saucepan containing soup in preparation for dinner, when the poor child tripped, fell against the handle, and brought the whole contents of the saucepan upon its breast, neck and body. At first danger was not apprehended, but in a short time the poor little suffere began to sink, and expired on Monday evening .It is impossible to conceive a more conflicting stroke than the death of a dear child under such circumstances. The instant before the fatal accident it was all health, playfulness and promise and in a moment after it was laid on the bed of suffering and in a few hours lay dead.(Ulster Times) (6)
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Coming in December Edition Christmas Selection.
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| | Dear Friend, Welcome to the November edition of "The Coastguard Cutter".
| THE COASTGUARD STATION THAT HAD ITS HEART TORN ASUNDER .
I have mentioned many an upset of a Coastguard boat with subsequent loss of life. The incident of 17th March 1835 was one which I had known of for some time but only recently did I come across the Headstone Inscriptions which underlined further the horror of the tragedy of that day. In this one station, four families lost beloved children, three wives lost their husbands, Elizabeth Harmer was yet to give birth a month later. No single station was ever devastated in this manner within a single day. Where did these broken up families live afterwards? Did they get a pension ?. Enjoy,
Tony.
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A simple picture of four headstones in a row tells the horrendous story of the event that occurred on the 17th. March 1835. (5)
Melancholy Loss of Life. 1835.
Tuesday evening about half past three o'clock a boat belonging to the Preventive Water Guard service, stationed at Rosslare Fort left our quay for its destination; the boat we understand, contained eleven persons, including children, whose names we forbear in this number, owing to the forlorn hope that the report we have received may be found to be incorrect. At a quarter to four o’clock, it came on to blow a perfect hurricane, and the boat upset, and it is with deep feelings of regret we have to announce that all on board perished. We have ascertained that the upset was first perceived by the pilots from the Fort, who immediately rowed off to the assistance of the unfortunate people, but without success. A boat from the yacht of G.G.G. Morgan Esq. also immediately put off to their assistance, but alas no trace of the unfortunate sufferers was to be seen. Two pigs which were being brought to the Fort in the ill-fated boat, were seen alive on the flats by the pilots.
We deeply mourn that since the above was written Mr. Morgan's boat has arrived, bringing the melancholy intelligence that all on board perished; when the pilot gig arrived there was no sign of the boat or the men to be discovered. It is a matter of painful recollection that the men who came to an untimely end have all large and helpless families, unprotected and unprovided upon the world. We sincerely hope that some provision shall be made for them. (Wexford Freeman) (1)
N.B. This Newspaper report does not convey the happiness of the children after their day out to Rosslare, their return journey home to the comfort of home and their mothers arms, the sudden storm, the upset of the boat. The horror and then the SILENCE. I leave our readers to visualise these happenings and know that this sad tale will long be remembered.
Kilscoran. Church of Ireland .Co. Wexford A group of four related headstones. (all Coastguard families)
GREEN. Eliza daughter of Robert and Sarah Green drowned returning from Wexford to Rosslare Fort 17th. March 1835 4 years.
HARMER. James Harmer drowned with three of his children returning from Wexford to Fort March 17th 1835 aged 46
JUPP. James Jupp drowned with one son returning from Wexford to Fort. 17th March 1835. aged 33 years.
HOOPER. To the Memory of / Thomas Hooper of Burnstable in the County of Devon / Commissioned Boatman in H.M. Coastguards at Rosslare Fort who / was drowned with two sons / coming from Wexford / to the Fort March 17th 1835 / 39 years, / Benjamin / aged 15. John aged 11 years also Richard who died / May 20th.1834 aged 2 years. (2) |
Some Family Baptismal Records.
GREEN.
Mary Anne of Robert and Sarah Green. 5th.November 1832. Waterguard. Rosslare Fort.
Sarah Anne of Robert and Sarah Green. 25th November 1834. Preventive Service. Rosslare Fort.
HARMER.
Herbert James of James and Elizabeth. 18th April 1835. Coastguard Rosslare Fort.
JUPP.
Richard Thomas of James and Leah. 25th November 1834.Preventive Service Rosslare Fort.
HOOPER.
Daniel Hooper of Thomas and Elizabeth. 13th December 1829. Waterguard Rosslare Fort.
Richard Hooper of Thomas and Elizabeth.8th. April 1832. Waterguard Rosslare Fort.
Sarah Shaport? of Thomas and Elizabeth. 10th. August 1834 Waterguard Rosslare Fort.
ROSSLARE FORT.
The Fort dwellers were ranked under three categories - Revenue / Custom Officers; Pilots and Lifeboat men. The Head Revenue Officer was ranked as the Commander of the Fort. He alone had the authority to decide when the ‘Big Guns’ should be fired. The womenfolk were renowned because of the unusual shapely ‘Prawskeens' (aprons) they wore in their homes. They were rectangular in shape and made of strong jute fibre.
By a strange quirk of fate the Wexford sea, that had played a leading role in the formation of the Fort Peninsula during the earlier centuries was mainly responsible for its ultimate demise.
The laying down of Wexford’s system changed the flow of the currents that eroded, ultimately, the storied peninsula.
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The final blow came during the winter of 1924-25, when gale force winds drove a tidal wave across the peninsula, severely breaching it in two vulnerable places. By January 12th 1925, it had been reduced to a wind-swept ridge. The Lifeboatmen could no longer withstand the onslaught and were forced to seek the safety of the Wexford mainland for their wives and children.
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Wreck on the Coast of Galway. 1843.
The George of Belfast, Pattin, master, laden with cotton from New Orleans, and bound for Liverpool was struck by a heavy sea on Sunday night last the 29th.ult, between the hours of 11 and 12 o'clock and driven by a strong southerly gale on Life Island, about 2 miles eastward of Lettermullin, on the western coast of Galway, where she has become a total wreck. The master and crew are saved, with the exception of a little boy, who in endeavoring to escape was washed away and seen no more. Ten or twelve bales of the cotton are at present deposited in the Custom House here, and we are told the entire bay is dotted with it. Her Majesty's Revenue Cruiser, the Dolphin, Commander Lt. Gosling, proceeded this morning the 31st.ult at 3 o'clock having on board one or two Custom House officers, to the place of the wreck, but was obliged to return in consequence of high winds. The master from whom we have obtained the above particulars, has also informed us, that the inhabitants of and about Life Island , committed on the vessel the greatest plunder, and that even a knife was presented to the throat of the second mate, whilst striving to resist being deprived of his clothing. (Galway Vindicator) (3)
Gallant Capture of a French Smuggler. 1854.
On Saturday last Her Majesty's Revenue cutter, Racer, Mr.W.Daish, Commander, chased and captured in the Channel the French smuggling cutter La Flore, with a crew of 7 Frenchmen and one Englishman and towed her into Kingstown Harbour. During the chase the smugglers threw her cargo overboard; but from all circumstances connected with the vessel there can be no doubt of her condemnation. (4)
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References : - The Evening Freeman 19 March 1835.
- Memorials of the Dead by James Cantwell.
- Friday 3rd.February 1843. Dublin Mercantile Advertiser.
- Daily Express 23rd.May 1854.
- Memorials of the Dead, Volume 5.Wexford. compiled by Brian H.Cantwell.
- Saturday; Saunders News-Letter 30th.January 1841.
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Posted by Tony
on June 17 2007
Henry Bray, Chief Officer, Gr...[6245]
