The "Great October Gale" of 1823

The first warning of the
approach of this great storm was made by the huers from the hills, who
saw the hurricane spreading over the horizon and advancing towards the
shore. The sean- boats were ordered home from stem, and arrived in the
harbour only just in time before the full fury of the storm burst upon
the town.

A brig which sailed from Hayle shortly before was seen to be suddenly taken aback and founder, stern first, with all hands.

It
is said that not a particle of sand remained upon Porthminster Beach,
the whole being swept away by the force of the waves, leaving the rocks
exposed for the full length of the Cove.

October 30, 1823. — Wind S.S.W., thick with rain.


JOHN TREGERTHEN SHORT 171

Some boats on the drift, from 20,000 pilchards. At noon, wind S.E. ; at 2.30 p.m., wind S., and very moderate. Four vessels sailed from Hayle, and four from Portreath. At 4.30 p.m., the wind at an instant shifted to N.N.E., and blew a most tremendous gale. A Norwegian barque, laden with timber for Hayle, was driven from her moorings alongside the Quay, and also the schooner Fame, of Padstow, Valentine Richards master, laden with slate. Both vessels were thrown on shore under the reservoir, between the church and Pednolver Point, and became total wrecks. The four seans in the water were nearly destroyed. Four sean- boats drifted out of the pier, others sunk at their moorings, and hundreds of pounds' worth of damage done.

October 31. — The gale has in no way abated. At 11.30 a.m., the brig Alfred, of Bideford, William Maine master, for Swansea, came on shore on Pednolver Point. Crew saved, with the exception of one lad. The vessel was quickly knocked to atoms. At 1 p.m., the Betsy schooner, of Plymouth, from Bristol for Plymouth, with Bristol goods, went on shore in the Poll. Captain and one man drowned. At 4.30, still blowing a tremendous gale from N.E. The sloop Margaret, of Aberystwith, bound from Newport to North Wales with coals, came on shore at Porth- minster. Crew saved. Also the brig Samuel, of Great Yarmouth, from Swansea for London. Crew saved. Both vessels soon went to pieces. The Betsy was afterwards got off, and became the property of Captain William Couch.

November 1. — Mr. Paul Tremearne Mayor for the  ensuing year. Gale more moderate.

November 2. — Wind moderate. A boat towed in, no  name on stern ; also the stern and after-part of another

172 PRISONERS OF WAR IN FRANCE

boat, on which is marked the name Samuel Dimant, and Eleanor and Grace, Plymouth. The brig Providence, of Swansea, David Owen master, which vessel sailed from Portreath, came on shore under Zennor Cliffs, bottom up. Crew drowned. One woman found amongst the rocks dead. Near at hand another vessel, the Elizabeth, of Wexford, came on shore. The John Adams, King master, and George and Ann, Jenkyns master, from Hayle; the Radford, Parnell master; the Providence, Plover, Gordon, and Thomas Angrove, from Portreath, were all lost near the Land's End. The Ann, of Gweek, Richard Williams master, foundered at sea, between St. Ives and the Longships. Eleven ships' bowsprits have been picked up.

via

Prisoners
of war in France from 1804 to 1814, being the adventures of John
Tregerthen Short and Thomas Williams of St. Ives, Cornwall