WRECK OF THE "DELIGHT"

Hi Have just finished reading about the Loss of the Delight, 1829 I think you will be interested in this true story.
From the Preston Chronicle & Lancashire Advertiser, Saturday, 12th December, 1829.
LOSS OF THE "DELIGHT" OF PRESTON:)
On Saturday morning last, the Schooner Delight, of this Port, Richardson master, Mr Thomas Mayor of Freckleton, owner; met with an accident at sea, by which both vessel & cargo were entirely lost. The Delight sailed from Dundalk with a cargo of grain for Mr.Newsham, Mr.Rushton, and Mr.Winder, of this town, and being off the Skerries near Holyhead about four o`clock on Saturday morning, the captain and crew being all on deck, observed as well as the darkness would permit, a vessel bearing towards them, upon which they did their best to escape the approaching danger, but without effect, for the stranger vessel, which proved to be the Maria of Plymouth, struck the Delight on the side and cut into the main hatch. During the momentary concussion, Capt.Richardson was thrown overboard, but had the good fortune to seize a rope belonging to the Maria, to which he clung, as he supposes, for about a quarter of an hour, before he could attract by his cries, the notice of the crew of the Maria. Being at length taken on board he stated the perilous and uncertain situation in which he had left his companions, and induced the captain of the Maria, after some entreaty, to turn his vessel round in order to look after them.

Immediately after the Maria had struck the Delight, the four men belonging to the latter vessel, without knowing what had become of their captain, launched the boat and thus preserved themselves until taken on board the Maria. The Delight was so completely disabled that she turned keel upwards, and went down in a very short space of time. Neither of the vessels had lights except at the helm. The loss will fall entirely upon the owners as neither ship nor cargo were insured.

The Preston Chronicle and Lancashire Advertiser: Saturday, 19th December, 1829.

WRECK OF THE "DELIGHT"

It appears from a letter addressed to Lloyds Coffee House by the agent at Douglas (T.Brine) that the Delight of Preston, which it was supposed had gone down immediately after she was struck by the Maria, off the Welsh coast, on Saturday morning the 5th instant, was merely disabled, as the wreck of the vessel drifted to the Isle of Man, and came on shore near Douglas Head on Wednesday, the 9th. The agent states that "the light bill, two prayer books, some spars, and a few packs of meal, have been picked up, but the remainder of the wreck is wholly lost":handclap:.

SOURCES :

Preston Chronicle & Lancashire Advertiser, Saturday, 12th and 19th December, 1829 (research by Carole Ashworth, from newspaper microfilms at the Harris Reference Library, Preston, Lancashire).
Reg.

'Loss' being the operative word , in that anything of salable value would have been retrieved & securely hidden ashore in someones backyard ! :rolleyes: Ron

Nice one Reg.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bangorreg

Hi Have just finished reading about the Loss of the Delight, 1829 I think you will be interested in this true story.
From the Preston Chronicle & Lancashire Advertiser, Saturday, 12th December, 1829.
LOSS OF THE "DELIGHT" OF PRESTON:)
On Saturday morning last, the Schooner Delight, of this Port, Richardson master, Mr Thomas Mayor of Freckleton, owner; met with an accident at sea, by which both vessel & cargo were entirely lost. The Delight sailed from Dundalk with a cargo of grain for Mr.Newsham, Mr.Rushton, and Mr.Winder, of this town, and being off the Skerries near Holyhead about four o`clock on Saturday morning, the captain and crew being all on deck, observed as well as the darkness would permit, a vessel bearing towards them, upon which they did their best to escape the approaching danger, but without effect, for the stranger vessel, which proved to be the Maria of Plymouth, struck the Delight on the side and cut into the main hatch. During the momentary concussion, Capt.Richardson was thrown overboard, but had the good fortune to seize a rope belonging to the Maria, to which he clung, as he supposes, for about a quarter of an hour, before he could attract by his cries, the notice of the crew of the Maria. Being at length taken on board he stated the perilous and uncertain situation in which he had left his companions, and induced the captain of the Maria, after some entreaty, to turn his vessel round in order to look after them.

Immediately after the Maria had struck the Delight, the four men belonging to the latter vessel, without knowing what had become of their captain, launched the boat and thus preserved themselves until taken on board the Maria. The Delight was so completely disabled that she turned keel upwards, and went down in a very short space of time. Neither of the vessels had lights except at the helm. The loss will fall entirely upon the owners as neither ship nor cargo were insured.


Reg.

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Thank you, thank you, thank you bangorreg.

I find the English usage superb, concise and detailed. The whole story, people centred, from start to finish in so few words.
Might someone know who the journalist was? Genius, it seems to me.
Thanks again. :)

Hi Oudeis
I agree with you,wonderful writing, came across this article while looking for another sailor on another ship lost at sea on or about the same date but the "Delight "was the wrong ship.
I do not know who the Journalist was, I only know that the information and research for this article was by-- by Carole Ashworth, from newspaper microfilms at the Harris Reference Library, Preston, Lancashire .:)
Reg.

Hi Reg, a splendid bit of journalism in its plain and straight forwardness,however,how come the Marias lookout never saw the Delight or felt the impact of the collision?. was there ever an inquiry? It seems there is a tale tbe told there. or was that the end of the matter? Questions,questions,always with the questions,ah well ,it is Sunday and the papers have'nt arrived yet,
Briand

Yes Brian and they both had lights at the pointy end too. Yet all hands were on deck so something may have been occurring.