[List-Cumbria] Carlisle Patriot, 06 Jan 1816 - Floods (2)

[Petra Mitchinson]

Saturday 06 Jan 1816   (p. 2, col. 3-5)

 

EXTRAORDINARY & DESTRUCTIVE FLOODS. 

 

[continued] 

 

But the damage has not been confined to our neighbourhood:-On Saturday last, one of the most serious floods took place in the river
Tyne, that has happened since the year 1771, when the old bridge from Newcastle to Gateshead, with a number of houses on that
erection, were carried away. During Friday and Friday night, the wind blew a perfect hurricane from the west and south west; this
had the effect of suddenly thawing the immense accumulation of snow and ice all along the banks of the Tyne to the westward; the
consequence was, that early on Saturday morning the river came rushing down an irresistable torrent, overflowing the bank in its
passage, and sweeping away every thing that opposed its course, or came within its vortex. Timber, boats, keels, casks, hay, &c.
were brought down in rapid succession; and a cottage house that stood contiguous to the river, together with some byers for cattle,
&c. we hear, were swept from their situations. The accumulation of articles was so great at Newcastle bridge, that serious
apprehensions were formed at one time for that noble structure; and had it not possessed more than usual strength, there is little
doubt that part of it would have been destroyed. Three of the arches next to the south end were almost totally choaked with keels
and rafts of timber for the whole of Saturday, and it was with the utmost difficulty that they were removed. Another arch was also
completely closed at the north end, where a keel was laid across, with her head and stern resting on two of the jetties. A man and a
boy, who went with others to endeavour to get her off, were drowned. All the low rooms and cellars in Newcastle, contiguous to the
river, were completely inundated; many of the publicans in the Close and on the Quay have suffered severely: the cellars of the
Custom-house were also filled with the watery element, as well as those of several potatoe-dealers; and the engines were employed
till late Saturday night in emptying the places were [sic] the water had flowed into. The Carlisle trader broke from her moorings at
the Quay, and in her course ran foul of another vessel, which also went adrift, but both vessels were soon secured. A number of
keels, however, were carried to sea, on board some of which were one, two, and three hands. Three of these men, belonging to
Pipewellgate, were taken out of their keel off Whitby, by a vessel, and carried into that port, whence they arrived home on Sunday
night. An industrious man named CARR, of Dent's Hole, has lost his keel, and he and his family are thereby reduced to the greatest
distress. In short, the calamity has been so general, that it would occupy more room than we can possibly allot to that purpose, to
detail the extensive injury that has been done. 

 

The effects of the gale and thaw have been equally disastrous at Shields. Our correspondent says, 

 

"On Friday evening, about six o'clock, several vessels at the head of Shields harbour were set adrift by the pressure of ice, and it
beginning to blow violently about eleven, a great number parted from their anchors, and were driven upon the Herd Sand; but all of
them have since been got off. Two ships were driven out to sea, and several keels, six of which were seen off Flambro' Head on
Saturday. Fourteen ships have lost their bowsprits, and were otherwise damaged. Among the number was the Kingston, of Newcastle,
which lost her bowsprit, 2 anchors and cables, and had all her bulwarks staved. On Saturday, a new vessel, (I believe from Berwick)
broke from her moorings, and sunk in sight of the harbour. The good effects of chain cables were in this case particularly
experienced, those moored with them remaining safe. A boat upset in which were five men, four of whom are supposed to be drowned;
the one saved caught a rope belonging a vessel near, and was with utmost difficulty got on board. Two came on shore from a ship
belonging to Blyth, but in returning, the boat upset, when they were both drowned: one of the bodies was found on Sunday near the
Low Lights." 

 

Considerable mischief has also been done by a hurricane on Thursday evening, in and near the city of Durham. Many houses have been
much damaged; and several stacks of both com and hay have been blown down. 

 

Great damage has also been done by this storm, on the banks of the Wear and Tees. 

 

During the storm of wind and rain which prevailed on the evening of Friday se'nnight, the Mail coach from Glasgow was placed in a
very perilous situation on the road hither, in consequence of the river Line having overflowed the road at Westlinton Bridge,
between Carlisle and Longtown. The coach stuck in a hole, and one inside passenger (a gentleman of Carlisle), the Coachman, Guard,
and horses were in great danger of being drowned. They remained in this dreadful state for several hours, the Guard every now and
then sounding his horn as a signal of distress to the people of the turnpike house, not far distant, but the wind being strong, and
in a contrary direction, the sound was not heard. During this interval, the coach of Thomas IRWIN, Esq. of Justice Town, returning
from Netherby, with the two Misses IRWIN in it, got into a similar predicament. It upset against the hedge, and the young ladies, to
save themselves, were obliged to get into the water, which was breast high. In this terrible plight, they went back to the Turnpike
house, where they were accommodated for the night, with a bed and dry clothes.-There were two gentlemen on the dickey, one of whom
was a young Naval hero, who could see no danger in fresh water, and he persisted in going on, perhaps with more gallantry than
prudence in such a moment. In the coach were post horses, which were left by the post-boy, who swam out of the water, telling the
gentlemen he would go no farther, as his life was in danger. We are happy to hear that no ill effects are likely to flow from this
romantic but serious adventure. The persons with the mail contrived to extricate themselves, with the horses on this side, and came
to Carlisle with the bags, leaving the coach in the water. 

 

 

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