The Wreck of the "Royal Charter": Compiled from Authentic Sources, with Some Original MatterFowler, Frank
History
The Wreck of the "Royal Charter": Compiled from Authentic Sources, with Some Original Matter
Fowler, Frank
Royal Charter (Ship); Shipwrecks -- Wales -- Anglesey
'Those of the crew and passengers who escaped were provided with
temporary accommodation in the neighbouring cottages, where they
received every mark of kindness from the inhabitants. During the day
most of them left the place, and were conveyed to Liverpool in
steam-tugs sent out by the owners of the ship.' [And were, it is
said, shamefully treated after their arrival. But of this in time.]
'Last (Friday) evening only one passenger remained, Mr. Russell,
with the boatswain's mate and the carpenter of the ship. Many
persons visited the scene of the wreck yesterday, and were making
anxious inquiries as to the fate of relatives and friends. For this
purpose every facility was afforded. Some of the scenes arising out
of these inquiries amongst those deprived of their nearest relatives
and friends were affecting in the extreme. Shortly after the wreck
several of the bodies of the unfortunate sufferers by the calamity
floated upon the beach; subsequently others were picked up, and the
number amounted at a late hour last evening to twenty-six. Of these,
five were females, and two of them young children. The bodies were
conveyed to Llanallgo church, and carefully laid out on straw, so as
to afford an opportunity for identification. Some had on their
clothing, while others were only partially dressed, as though when
the vessel struck they had been in their berths, and rushed suddenly
to the deck in a state of alarm on being made acquainted with the
perilous position of the ship. Many of the bodies bore evidence of
injuries, probably sustained from being dashed against the rocks, or
coming into violent contact with portions of the wreck. One man had
nearly all his limbs broken, and the body had, as it were, to be
gathered up. Another was without the head, and several were much
bruised on various parts of the body. Some small boats and papers
were picked up yesterday on the beach. One of the papers appeared to
be a diary kept by a passenger on board, supposed to be a clergyman
of Nottingham. The various incidents of the voyage, from the time
of leaving Melbourne until the arrival at Queenstown, were carefully
recorded by the writer.' [This is doubtless Mr. Hodge, a good man
who _would_ keep a diary.] 'The riggers previously referred to as
being on board the "Royal Charter" when she grounded have lost six
of their number, namely, James O'Neill, Richard Morris, William
Thomas, Peter Topping, Thomas Corcoran, and Henry White. Those saved
are James White, Patrick Devine, ---- Pritchard, Thomas Cunningham,
and William Burton. Some of them swam ashore, and others succeeded
in saving themselves by the aid of the hawser. So far none of the
passengers' luggage or articles of a similar kind have been washed
on shore.' [Much was afterwards found, as will be seen.] 'A few
articles of male and female attire have been collected, and these
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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