[list-cumbria] Cumberland Pacquet - 18

[Nev Ramsden]

Whitehaven  - February 16 - 1775.



Anthony Benn of Hensingham, [now part of Whitehaven] is appointed by his Majesty, High Sheriff of Cumberland.



The Content, Capt. Joseph Heslop, of Workington, sailed from that port, loaden with coals, on the 20th of January; on the Thursday following in a violent gale of wind, she struck a rock called Sawney, nigh on the Mull of Cantire. The Captain with the rest of his people got on shore, except two boys, who were unfortunately drowned; and one of the men was so much fatigued and weakened, that he expired almost immediately after he reached the land. The Captain, after the gale had a little abated, thinking that the vessel might be secured, attempted to board her; the particulars of which we have not yet learned, except that he unfortunately lost his life in the attempt.



We hear from Long-town, that on Wednesday the 8th instant, the River Esk rose to an unusual height, through the heavy rains and flux of the tide; it broke into the adjacent pastures and swept off twenty-two fat sheep, which were feeding there, and did other considerable damage. The same day a part of the bridge at Annan was broken down by the violence of the flood; but is not so much injured as to prevent loaden waggons and carts from passing over it, without danger.



 – that same day, the Whale, ASHBURN, from Rowcliff to Liverpool, was put ashore upon a marsh nigh where the sheep were lost. It is supposed she will be got off again, though with great difficulty.



A few days ago, one Richard McGee of Liverpool was committed to Lancaster Gaol, on suspicion of murdering his servant girl, Ellen Brown. 



We hear from Kendal, that last week an idle young fellow of a very bad character, and a noted strumpet, were committed to Gaol by the Mayor, for stealing a Turkey from the Kings Arms in that town, in order to take their trial the next quarter sessions when it is hoped such an example will be made of them, as will some means of reforming a number of abandoned and dissolute women who have for some time past infested the streets of that town every night.



Early on Saturday morning last, as the workmen were descending [by] the engine of the pit at Moorbank’s Colliery at Workington, one of the men having a low rope in his hand, set fire to a quantity of foul air, lodged in the shaft, which immediately went off with a great report, but happily did no damage to him; he therefore went down to the bottom, and another person descending after him, when he came to the workings, saw through a hole in the partitions which the baskets had worn, that the pit in which the pumps stood was on fire, which greatly shocked him; however he got safe to the bottom, where he gave the alarm to the men at the top, who immediately set the engine water on to extinguish the fire, which still continued burning from behind the backing of the pit, being fed by a lodgement of foul air, the water proved of no service; they then covered the top of the pit, and all other pits and communications of air, which had the desired effect. On Sunday morning the shaft was uncovered, the fire entirely Extinguished and very little harm has been done to the woodwork,

[ But what happened to the two men at the bottom of the pit?]



The people went to work in it on Monday morning. The above accident is supposed to have been occasioned by robbing the works too near the pit, which had caused the earth to settle, and opened some subterranean passage leading to a dyke in the west-side, which abounds with foul air, which air had found its way to the shaft, and communicated with the low-rope as the men descended, by means of the said hole in the partition.



We hear from Maryport, that on Monday the 12th inst.  Isaac Black, grocer, in Maryport, was cut for the stone, by Mr. Hugh James, surgeon of that place, who extracted four large stones from the bladder: the patient is likely to do well. Our correspondent further adds that it may be worth the observation of surgeons who perform this operation, not to rely too much upon the rule laid down by Authors, to depend upon the size and rough appearance of the stone as a certain proof that there are no more: the first stone which was extracted from this patient, being both large and rough on its surface.



Last Saturday afternoon, three men fishing in a small boat, in Laxey Bay [Isle of Mann] were put to sea; the gale was so violent that they could not reach any part of the island, and without any provisions, were necessitated to run for England, not with-standing the night was coming on, and the storm increasing; they, however, proved fortunate enough to reach Workington about six o’clock on Sunday morning.



Extract of a letter from Stranrar, to a gentleman in this town, dated Feb.7 “there were several ships wrek’d near Port-patrick with foreign Commodities; the spoil was seen tossing by the port; four wretches eager to catch it on a very stormy day pursued some hogsheads and barrels; but they were about to grasp a barrel, with prodigious violence it struck through the boat, and all immediately perished, in the view of many; the same day a soldier over-loaded with the spoil, sat down amongst the snow, to rest, and there in a few hours, died.



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Nev.Ramsden
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