Mary Emma1
Haggate Baptist Chapel near Burnley, Lancashire, William Brierley
William lost his life in the boating disaster at Morecambe on September 3rd. 1894
An account of the disaster appeared in The Times and reads as follows:
The Times
Tuesday September 4th 1894
Serious Boat Accident in Morecambe Bay
Many Lives Lost
Yesterday morning a terrible accident occurred in Morecambe Bay, not far from the watering place of Grange-over-Sands. It appears that a sailing boat left Morecambe about half-past 10 for Grange, having 25 or 26 persons on board. The boat was in charge of man named Houghton. The distance is about 8 miles. When he had gone about 5 miles Houghton was about to shift the sail for the purpose of counting the passengers, when a strong puff of wind struck the boat and caused it to heel over. The passengers rushed to one side, and the boat immediately capsized. The accident was witnessed from the shore at Grange, three miles away, and from Silverdale, about two miles off. It naturally caused the greatest consternation. Two other boats that happened to be near went at once to the assistance of the unfortunate people who were struggling in the water, and managed to save six of seven of them. All the rest, so far as can be ascertained, lost their lives. There were several children among the party.
The place where the boat capsized is regarded as very dangerous by boatmen, the channel having shifted considerably this summer.
Twelve bodies have been recovered and taken to Morecambe. Most of the excursionists were Burnley people who were spending their holidays at Morecambe. Several of the survivors were very much exhausted when they were landed at Morecambe between 1 and 2 o'clock in the afternoon, and vigorous means were at once taken to revive them. The boatman Houghton, who is said to be one of the most careful sailors in the town, was amongst those picked up.
The disaster has created a feeling of consternation amongst the thousands of visitors at present stopping in the town. Between two and three hundred boats are licensed by the local authorities to ply for hire on the coast; but visitors have for a long time enjoyed complete immunity from serious accidents. the delightful weather which prevailed in the morning, and which was in striking contrast to that which has been experienced of late, tempted a far greater number of people than usual to to embark upon the calm sea. There was only a light breeze, and boating appeared to be perfectly safe. Houghton's boat was one of the largest on the beach.
According to a statement made by a survivor, when the boat had reached a point two miles from Silverdale (which it should be mentioned, is a small watering place on the opposite side of the bay), the tide was on the flow, but as there was insufficient water to allow the boat to cross the sandbanks, it was allowed to drive steadily up the channel. When it was near to the estuary of the river Wear, which enters the bay the water was noticed to be rather choppy, owing to the rapidly running tidal current meeting the fresh water from the river. It was just then that suddenly and without the slightest warning the boat heeled completely over and went down. The man in charge of the boat that was able to render most assistance would not at first take any of the rescued persons into his boat, his instructions being simply that as many as possible should be supported on the gunwale until all chance of effecting further rescues was hopeless. By this means several lives were saved. After cruising about the spot until it was certain that no further aid could be rendered, the two boats that had been on the scene of the disaster returned in company to Morecambe at 1:30 and took with them the first news of the disaster. The earliest intimation to those on shore of anything being wrong was the landing of the body of a woman that had been recovered, and of the semi-conscious forms of a boy and girl. Prompt measures were taken to resuscitate those who showed any signs of life, and in two cases these efforts proved successful. The bodies of the victims were conveyed to the Kings Arms Hotel and deposited in the dressing room of the local football club. The work of collecting particulars of the disaster was a difficult matter, as the rescued were too dazed to give a coherent account either of themselves or their fellow passengers. A complete list of the passengers has thus yet to be obtained.
Mr. John Lilley, chairman of the Morecambe Local Board, on hearing of the disaster, despatched a small steamer with several boats in tow to assist in the recovery of the bodies. The inquest will be opened this morning.
The boatman Houghton stated last night that at the time of the disaster - about 12 o'clock - he was going to "slack the main sheet and let her go easily up the channel" while he collected the fares. He had not slackened the sail but was on the point of doing so when a "bluff" of wind heeled the boat right over without the slightest warning.
James Boothman, a mule spinner, of Burnley, one of the survivors, declares, on the contrary, that it was just when Houghton had got the sail loose that a gust of wind caught it and capsized the boat. He does not, however, attribute any blame to Houghton.
William Milner, of Skipton, in describing the occurrence, said they had enjoyed as pleasant as anyone could desire. No thought of danger was in their minds, and at the moment of the catastrophe the occupants of the forepart of the boat were singing a hymn. Milner says that when the boat heeled over the passengers with great presence of mind threw their weight on to the opposite side. In spite of this, amid exclamations of "We're going," the boat turned over.
Haggate Baptist Chapel near Burnley, Lancashire, William Brierley
William lost his life in the boating disaster at Morecambe on September 3rd. 1894
An account of the disaster appeared in The Times and reads as follows:
The Times
Tuesday September 4th 1894
Serious Boat Accident in Morecambe Bay
Many Lives Lost
Yesterday morning a terrible accident occurred in Morecambe Bay, not far from the watering place of Grange-over-Sands. It appears that a sailing boat left Morecambe about half-past 10 for Grange, having 25 or 26 persons on board. The boat was in charge of man named Houghton. The distance is about 8 miles. When he had gone about 5 miles Houghton was about to shift the sail for the purpose of counting the passengers, when a strong puff of wind struck the boat and caused it to heel over. The passengers rushed to one side, and the boat immediately capsized. The accident was witnessed from the shore at Grange, three miles away, and from Silverdale, about two miles off. It naturally caused the greatest consternation. Two other boats that happened to be near went at once to the assistance of the unfortunate people who were struggling in the water, and managed to save six of seven of them. All the rest, so far as can be ascertained, lost their lives. There were several children among the party.
The place where the boat capsized is regarded as very dangerous by boatmen, the channel having shifted considerably this summer.
Twelve bodies have been recovered and taken to Morecambe. Most of the excursionists were Burnley people who were spending their holidays at Morecambe. Several of the survivors were very much exhausted when they were landed at Morecambe between 1 and 2 o'clock in the afternoon, and vigorous means were at once taken to revive them. The boatman Houghton, who is said to be one of the most careful sailors in the town, was amongst those picked up.
The disaster has created a feeling of consternation amongst the thousands of visitors at present stopping in the town. Between two and three hundred boats are licensed by the local authorities to ply for hire on the coast; but visitors have for a long time enjoyed complete immunity from serious accidents. the delightful weather which prevailed in the morning, and which was in striking contrast to that which has been experienced of late, tempted a far greater number of people than usual to to embark upon the calm sea. There was only a light breeze, and boating appeared to be perfectly safe. Houghton's boat was one of the largest on the beach.
According to a statement made by a survivor, when the boat had reached a point two miles from Silverdale (which it should be mentioned, is a small watering place on the opposite side of the bay), the tide was on the flow, but as there was insufficient water to allow the boat to cross the sandbanks, it was allowed to drive steadily up the channel. When it was near to the estuary of the river Wear, which enters the bay the water was noticed to be rather choppy, owing to the rapidly running tidal current meeting the fresh water from the river. It was just then that suddenly and without the slightest warning the boat heeled completely over and went down. The man in charge of the boat that was able to render most assistance would not at first take any of the rescued persons into his boat, his instructions being simply that as many as possible should be supported on the gunwale until all chance of effecting further rescues was hopeless. By this means several lives were saved. After cruising about the spot until it was certain that no further aid could be rendered, the two boats that had been on the scene of the disaster returned in company to Morecambe at 1:30 and took with them the first news of the disaster. The earliest intimation to those on shore of anything being wrong was the landing of the body of a woman that had been recovered, and of the semi-conscious forms of a boy and girl. Prompt measures were taken to resuscitate those who showed any signs of life, and in two cases these efforts proved successful. The bodies of the victims were conveyed to the Kings Arms Hotel and deposited in the dressing room of the local football club. The work of collecting particulars of the disaster was a difficult matter, as the rescued were too dazed to give a coherent account either of themselves or their fellow passengers. A complete list of the passengers has thus yet to be obtained.
Mr. John Lilley, chairman of the Morecambe Local Board, on hearing of the disaster, despatched a small steamer with several boats in tow to assist in the recovery of the bodies. The inquest will be opened this morning.
The boatman Houghton stated last night that at the time of the disaster - about 12 o'clock - he was going to "slack the main sheet and let her go easily up the channel" while he collected the fares. He had not slackened the sail but was on the point of doing so when a "bluff" of wind heeled the boat right over without the slightest warning.
James Boothman, a mule spinner, of Burnley, one of the survivors, declares, on the contrary, that it was just when Houghton had got the sail loose that a gust of wind caught it and capsized the boat. He does not, however, attribute any blame to Houghton.
William Milner, of Skipton, in describing the occurrence, said they had enjoyed as pleasant as anyone could desire. No thought of danger was in their minds, and at the moment of the catastrophe the occupants of the forepart of the boat were singing a hymn. Milner says that when the boat heeled over the passengers with great presence of mind threw their weight on to the opposite side. In spite of this, amid exclamations of "We're going," the boat turned over.