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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