Further account of the loss of the Southport and St.Anne's lifeboats and 28 lives, December 1886.

From the "News of the World" magazine, 19th December 1886, page 2.

LIFEBOAT DISASTERS

LOSS OF TWENTY-EIGHT LIVES.

The sad disasters on the Lancashire seabord have evoked widespread sympathy. Through General Ponsonby the Queen sent her condolence with the widows and families of the deceased, and from all parts of the country messages offering help have been received at both Southport and St.Anne's. The mayors of various Lancashire towns have opened subscription lists, and there has been a prompt and generous response. -The inquest was opened at the Palace Hotel, Birkdale. The bodies of the St.Anne's boat's crew were placed together - as were those of the Southport crew - side by side. At one side of the stable where the bodies were laid were piled the lifebelts worn by the deceased. The inquest was attended by several gentlemen, including Captain Nepean, one of the Lifeboat Inspectors of the Government. - John Lathom, of Lytham, said he identified the bodies of William Johnson, aged 35, a fisherman, and James Johnson, 45, fisherman, of Lytham. The first was the coxswain of the St.Anne's boat and was single; the second, his brother, was married and had six children. -Thomas Harrison identified the bodies of his brother James Harrison, 19, fisherman; James Dobson, 22, fisherman; and Thomas Parkinson, 28, slater. The first and third were volunteers, but Dobson was a member of the crew. Two of the crew, it seems, were tired, and the number being short, Harrison and Parkinson volunteered to go out. William Yates said he recognised the bodies of Michael Parkinson, 21, fisherman, Lytham, single; Charles Tims, 43, fisherman, married, leaving widow and three children; Reuben Tims, 30, fish dealer, Lytham, leaving widow and three children; and John Wignall, 20, fisherman, Lytham, single. James Parkinson, of Lytham, recognised the body of Nicholas Parkinson, his son, a fisherman, 22, single. Joseph Cartmel, Lytham, identified the bodies of Richard Fisher, 49, fisherman, Lytham, married, leaving a widow and four little children; and Oliver Hodson, 39, fisherman, single. Martha Tims recognised her husband, Charles Tims, 43, fisherman, St.Anne's, leaving five children, the eldest being nine and the youngest fourteen months. Catherine Wright identified her father, Thomas Rigby, of Southport. She said that a cousin and the husbands of two sisters were among the drowned. Margaret Wright identified her brother, Thomas Spencer, fisherman, Southport, aged 47, who left a widow and son, aged 11. Henry Hodge identified his father, Henry Hodge, fish dealer, Southport, 43 years old, leaving widow and seven children; also recognised Charles Hodge, 60, the coxswain of the Southport boat, and who left a widow. Henry Robinson identified John Robinson, 25, and Richard Robinson, 19, of the Southport crew, his brothers, both single. Ralph Peters recognised Ralph Peters, 60, fisherman, Southport, his father, and Ben Peters, 24, fisherman, his brother. There were eight children left, the eldest 17 years of age. John Rigby identified Peter Wright, 24, of the Southport crew, his son-in-law. Peter Jackson recognised Thomas Jackson, fisherman, Southport, 27, and Timothy Rigby, who was a fisherman, 28 years of age, Southport, and the son of the first witness. Jackson left a wife and two children, and Rigby a wife and four children, the youngest being a week old. Timothy Rigby identified Harry Rigby, 27, fisherman, Southport, single. Mary Ann jackson spoke to the identity of Peter Jackson, of Southport, her husband, aged 52. Amy Ball recognised her husband, John, a Southport fisherman, aged 26, who died at the Southport Infimary on the previous night from exhaustion, and who left two children. This death made the total of fatalities 28. - The Coroner said it would be well to adjourn the inquiry for a week, when furhter evidence would be presented.

The preceding serious lifeboat disaster on the Lancashire seaboard occurred in October, 1852, when a lifeboat capsized at Lytham during practice and eight men were drowned.

Lifeboat Disaster - first account
Report of Inquiry