Cumberland wrecks, 1886

 From the "News of the World",  10th January 1886, page 8.

WRECKS - LOSS OF MANY LIVES

On Thursday night a violent gale raged on the Cumberland coast, and casualties are reported from various points. In response to signals, the Whitehaven lifeboat put off to assist a foreign barque in distress near Workington, but capsized before reaching her. One man, James Henney, who leaves a widow and three children, was drowned. Another of the crew was injured. The barque was the Cygnus, Captain Neilson, from Galveston, bound for Maryport, with oil cake, &c. The schooner, John, of Runcorn, was driven ashore near St.Bees, but the crew were saved.

On Thursday night, the schooner Swallow, belonging to Messrs. Carr and Co., biscuit manufacturers, of Carlisle, was wrecked upon the Pilling Sands during a storm. All her crew were drowned. One man was found lashed to the rigging, and another body was picked up on the sands. - The Pearl, of Liverpool, was also wrecked on the Pilling Sands, her sails having been all blown away. The crew stuck to their craft, and when the tide receded they were able to get ashore.

On Friday morning, the French barque Rene, bound from Cardiff to Seville, went ashore on the Gower coast, about ten miles west of Swansea. A fierce gale from the north-west was prevailing at the time. The captain, two men, and a boy were drowned, but the remaining five members of the crew managed to get ashore, though much injured by being thrown on the rocks.

A terrific gale blew along the Cumberland coast on Monday, and three wrecks occurred within a short distance of each other. The schooner Caradoc, from Dublin, in attempting to make Maryport Harbour, struck upon the new pier and was driven ashore, where she is likely to become a total wreck. The schooner General Havelock, bound from Ballywater to Whitehaven, was driven ashore in a dangerous position about three miles south of Maryport. After many unsuccessful attempts, the Workington lifeboat rescued her crew of four men. A little further south, and at the same time, the steamer Calder, in making Workington Harbour, was driven on the North Bank. She struck heavily, and immediately filled. The Workington Rocket Brigade attempted to render assistance; but the waves ran too high. Seven of the crew were got off when the tide receded; but they suffered severely during their five hours' exposure.