Chronological Retrospect of the History of Yarmouth and Neighbourhood Part 40

Sep. 26th. C. P. Molly, Esq., of Liverpool, contributed a Mural Drinking Fountain for the Borough. R. Steward, Esq., contributed one in Nov., which is now placed in front of the Sailors' Home.

Sept. 28th. Services of the Artillery Volunteer Corps accepted by Government, and the appointment of officers confirmed.

Sept. Water supplied by the Yarmouth Water Works Company to the inhabitants of Southtown.

Oct. 8th. Riot in King Street with four of the Donegal Militia, one of whom when in custody at the Police Station attempted to set fire to his cell, and a _melee_ took place before it could be extinguished.

Oct. 25th. Violent gale, 14 lives lost off this coast, and 80 s.h.i.+pwrecked seamen lodged at the Sailors' Home. A sloop driven through the Britannia Pier and severed it in two.

Nov. 30th. First stone of St. Andrew's Church laid. Contract for building was 1,050 10s. In March, 1864, a schoolroom was built adjoining the church, which cost 500 more.

Dec. 16th. The _Norfolk Standard_, published by Mr. J. Cooper, was discontinued. The same publisher printed the _Yarmouth Weekly News_ and the _Yarmouth Standard_ previously.

Dec. 20th. Rev. F. W. Johnson, who was appointed in Jan., 1858, minister of St. John's Church, died in London. By will he bequeathed 3,000 to endow the Beach and Harbour Mission.

Dec. 27th. Jacob Astley, Baron Hastings, and a baronet of England, died at his town residence, aged 62 years. He was born on Nov. 13th, 1797, and was the eldest son of Sir Jacob Henry Astley. The late lord married, on Mar. 22nd, 1819, Georgiana Caroline, youngest daughter of Sir Henry W.

Dashwood, Bart., and sister of the late Marchioness of Ely. (See Dec.

24th, 1875.)

Francis Wors.h.i.+p, E. P. Youell, and J. Clark, Esqs., appointed as Magistrates.

b.a.s.t.a.r.d shark caught off Yarmouth.

Thirty-two thousand seven hundred and ninety-nine barrels of herrings s.h.i.+pped at Yarmouth for foreign ports.

Vice-Admiral Lovell, K.H., who had served under Nelson at Trafalgar, died, aged 72.

New Lifeboat-house erected by the National a.s.sociation at a cost of 400.

1860.

Jan. 3rd. Three cases of wine, eight of spirits, and five of oil, and a cask of vinegar, landed here, having been picked up by the smack "Chance."

Jan. 4th. Schooner "Hero," of and for Yarmouth, went ash.o.r.e on Palling Beach and became a total wreck. Sold for 9.

Jan. 20th. The people in Southtown alarmed by the report of a "Spring-heel'd Jack" in the locality for some days previous. The supposed fiend, who a.s.saulted one of the employes on the East Suffolk railway, and left him insensible on the ground, was said to be a man clad in a white tight-skin dress, and goat's horns fixed to his head.

Jan. F. Palmer, Esq., appointed hon. surgeon to the Rifle Volunteer Corps.

Feb. 2nd. The fis.h.i.+ng lugger "Paymaster," belonging to Mr. B. Fenn, sailed from Yarmouth to Portsmouth, a distance of 240 miles, in 23 hours.

Feb. 14th. A detachment of the Donegal Militia (162) left Yarmouth for Deptford.

Feb. 16th. The premises of Messrs. Bullimore, West, and Todd, coachbuilders, carpenters, &c., destroyed by fire.

Feb. 16th and 18th. Officers of the Donegal Militia performed at the Theatre on behalf of the Hospital. _Used Up_ and the _Irish Attorney_ were represented.

Feb. 17th. The fis.h.i.+ng smack "John Bull" driven on Yarmouth beach in a gale. The crew of five were taken out of the rigging by a lifeboat crew, and all saved except one boy. George Milligan, at the risk of his own life, bravely rescued a helpless man who was lashed to the rigging. In March, he and Capt. T. Davies, R.N., inspecting commander of the Yarmouth Coastguards, received silver medals for their bravery on this occasion, and the lifeboat crew 24.

Feb. 24th. Enquiry opened in the House of Commons upon the pet.i.tion against the return of Sir E. Lacon and Sir H. Stracey, Barts., as M.P.'s for the Borough. After seven days' investigation, the Chairman of the Committee announced them as duly elected.

Feb. 28th. A tremendous hurricane, which for about half-an-hour in the afternoon raged with the greatest fury, the pressure per square foot being 30 lbs. The like not known before for many years. In 1839 it reached only 28 lbs.

Feb. A beautiful silver epergne, of Eastern design, representing a giraffe feeding under a palm tree, presented to the Rev. J. B. Bampton on his leaving Yarmouth for Dover, by the supporters and students of the Yarmouth Government School of Art and Navigation, as a token of esteem.

March 7th. At a Levee at St. James' Palace, Captains S. C. Marsh and W.

J. Foreman; Lieut. A. W. Morant and Dr. Stephenson, of the 1st Norfolk Artillery Volunteers; and Capt. J. H. Orde, Lieut. E. P. Youell, Ensign J. Tomlinson, and Hon. a.s.sistant Surgeon F. Palmer, 2nd Norfolk Rifle Volunteers, were introduced to her Majesty by the Earl of Leicester, Lord Lieutenant of the County.

March 13th. A new fis.h.i.+ng smack, "Harriett Todd" launched. Mr. Todd lost the smack "Viper," and had three others damaged in the gale of the 20th Nov., 1861.

March. The brave crew of the Gorleston Lifeboat "Ranger" awarded the sum of 233 by the owner of the brig "Martin Luther," for a.s.sisting his vessel into Harbour during the hurricanes of Feb. 28th.

March. Pet.i.tion sent to the House of Commons for total abolition of Church rates; also a pet.i.tion to suppress Bribery by a condign punishment upon all guilty of the practice. The latter was signed by 230 electors, and presented to the House on the 24th instant, by J. Mellor, Esq., M.P.

March. Loss of the Yarmouth fis.h.i.+ng smack "Emerald," and seven hands, about twenty miles east of the Leman and Owen Sands.

April 6th. Artillery and Rifle Volunteers' first demonstration on the South Denes.

April 10th. Conservative Banquet at the Theatre. The entire pit was boarded over on a level with the stage, where the tables were arranged; and a military band played in the gallery. A marquee was erected on the plain as a reception room.

April 23rd. First stone of the Gorleston Methodist New Connexion Chapel laid. Building cost 250. It was opened July 22nd.

May 17th. The barque "Caroline" launched, after being repaired at an outlay of 5,000, from Mr. Powell's yard. The band of the Donegal Militia played "Rule, Britannia" as she glided off the incline.

May 28th. Fearful gale and loss of life at sea; eight vessels-brigs, schooners, and a barge-lost on Scroby and in the c.o.c.kle Gat, with their crews; also 14 fis.h.i.+ng vessels and 156 men and boys, lost off Yarmouth.

The appeal to the town and nation on behalf of 50 widows and 160 orphans left dest.i.tute resulted in the handsome sum of 10,000. Her Majesty and Prince Consort headed the list with 100 each. In a former gale the north-east pinnacle of St. Peter's Church fell over the nave and crashed through the roof into the organ gallery, the organ narrowly escaping.

Damage estimated at 250.

June 5th. G. S. Harcourt, Esq., resigned the Secretarys.h.i.+p of the Sailors' Home owing to ill-health.

June 30th. The Channel Fleet of 13 vessels, under the command of Sir C.

Freemantle, anch.o.r.ed in the Roads, and comprised the "Royal Albert," 121 guns; "Donegal," 101; "Edgar," 91; "Aboukir," 91; "Conqueror," 101; "Trafalgar," 91; "Centurion," 91; "Algiers," 91; "Mars," 80; "Mersey,"

40; "Diadem," 32; also the "Greyhound" corvette, and "Locust."

July 9th. Procession through the town of the Foresters and Members of the Eastern Star Provident a.s.sociation to the Victoria Gardens, where a gala was given.

July 18th. Sir Samuel Morton Peto presented with a superb china dessert service, and an elaborately-worked plateau epergne candelabrum and other plate, value about 2,000, by 300 subscribers, as a token of regard and obligation to him in making the East Suffolk Railway.

July 24th. Prince of Wales' Own Donegal Militia, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Lord Claude E. Hamilton, left Yarmouth for Ireland, after staying twelve months.

Aug. 8th. The Norfolk Militia Artillery arrived at the Southtown Barracks, and were disbanded on the 20th. This regiment was embodied in April, 1859, and in May left for Sheerness, and thence for Woolwich.

Sept. 3rd. First prize compet.i.tion meeting of the Rifle Volunteers held.

Sept. W. Strike, Esq., Collector of Customs, promoted to the Collectors.h.i.+p at Waterford; he was succeeded by W. C. Maclean, Esq., Comptroller at Portsmouth.