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
'Some additional articles of wearing apparel, with spars, etc., have
been cast upon the beach. One or two canvas huts have been erected
on the remnants of masts, and in front of one of these such articles
as have names on them, or would otherwise serve for purposes of
identification, are spread out in melancholy array. Amongst them are
seven photographs, two of men, two of ladies, two of children, and
one landscape. None of these have as yet been identified as
portraits of individuals whose friends have arrived at the scene of
the wreck. There is a stocking with the name "Jane Murray," and
another with the name "F. Davis" upon it. There is a portion of a
shirt, with the name "J. E. Smith," and another with the name "R.
Thornhill," followed by the date "1846." A large, coarse wrapper has
the inscription "C. R. Ross, passenger, 'Royal Charter,'" painted in
black letters upon it. On a piece of a shirt, "E. Fenwick;" on
another, "John Lees, 1855." On a piece of a stocking, "T. W.;" and
on a small piece of linen, "T. G." There are a number of visiting
cards spread on a piece of wood: one has the inscription, "Mr.
Eddowes, 146 Cambridge-street, Pimlico;" another, "Mr. Sam. Moxley
Wade, Low, and Cill, Liverpool." On a piece of linen is "James
Davis, Woodside, 1859." The whole scene of the wreck is an extremely
melancholy one; but a peculiarly affecting incident took place
to-day. A poor young woman was searching along the beach to
endeavour to find some trace of her husband, about whose fate she
was uncertain. She discovered a waistcoat which had just been washed
in, and which had been hung up in front of the tent by one of the
coast-guard. Almost frantically, she pulled it down. It proved to be
that of her husband, a man named Barrett, who had been painter
aboard the "Royal Charter." The grief of the poor widow was
heartrending to witness. Some of the standers-by, in an attempt to
comfort her, suggested that she might be mistaken. "Oh, no," said
she, "here is my own work upon it. My husband, my husband! God, look
down upon me!" Amongst those who anxiously inspected this relic was
the Rev. Mr. Lewis, a Wesleyan minister. Two of his brothers were
aboard the ship--one as purser. Their arrival at Queenstown had been
telegraphed to their aged mother, who wrote to the rev. gentleman to
meet them at Liverpool. He now, poor fellow, paces the shore at
Molfra Bay to watch for the dead bodies. Five bodies were washed
ashore at Molfra, and seven at Penmaenmaur yesterday. None of these
have as yet been identified. No bodies have been washed up to-day.
Several of the dead persons have already been interred in Molfra and
Llanallgo churchyards. The wreck remains in precisely the state as
she was on Wednesday last when the coast-guard from Amlwch were put
in charge. At low water a good piece of her hull is visible. At high
water there are only portions of two of the masts.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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