Douglas Pennant, Richard; March, Princess Amelia, Jabez, Craigrownie, Hero.
AMLWCH. The morning of Wednesday last[22 January 1868] four men were seen
on Dulas Island, when a messenger was sent from Llysdulas, the seat of the
Honourable Lady Dinorben, 7 miles to Moelfre for the life-boat to try and save
the shipwrecked seamen, which was manned at once and succeeded in landing them
safe in Dulas. It proved that their vessel (the schooner Douglas
Pennant of Beaumaris, 80 nt, built Bangor 1841, Captain William Evans,
from Ramsey for Bangor) struck on Dulas island, and soon became a total wreck.
The name "Douglas-Pennant" is the surname of local quarry magnate Lord Penrhyn.
The vessel had entirely disappeared in one hour and a half after striking. The
crew saved themselves by swimming ashore on the island, and remained there all
night; but were safely rescued at noon on Wednesday, and kindly invited to
Llysdulas, where they remain, and all their wants are kindly attended to by
her ladyship, whose liberal hand is always opened to the distressed and needy.
Note that the tower on Dulas Island was built as a refuge for shipwrecked sailors
in 1841 by Col. James Hughes of Llysdulas - so the occupants of Llysdulas
had a long record of helping shipwrecked sailors.
MOELFRE, WEDNESDAY [19 February 1868], 12 noon.- A sudden gale, veering from S.S.E. to N.N.E., visited this place at 4:30 this morning. At 8:30 a.m., two vessels in the bay were flying signals of distress. The Society's Lifeboat, No. 6, under the coxswainship of Captain Rowland Hughes, was immediately launched, and brought ashore, after two trips, six men, forming the crew of the Richard, of Bangor, Captain William Pritchard, bound from Bangor to Glasgow, with a cargo of slates. The other was the March, of Liverpool, Captain Perry, from Mostyn to Holyhead, with coals. About fifteen vessels left anchorage here this morning; they are now beating against each other in Red Wharf Bay.
SHIPWRECK. Early on Wednesday morning [19 February 1868], two bodies were washed ashore at Borth y Forllwyd, Dulas Bay, (about a quarter of a mile from the wreck of the Royal Charter), which proved to be the crew of the Princess Amelia, of Holyhead, Owen Rowlands, master, laden with stones from Penllach to Holyhead breakwater, and is now a complete wreck. The sloop with a crew of 2, 26 nt, 39 ft long, had been built in Pwllheli in 1814 and was wrecked at Trwyn Gribin [just north of Moelfre]. The names of the deceased are Owen Rowlands, Tan y Bonc, and Joseph Williams, Tynffrwd, both of the parish of Penrhoslligwy. It is supposed that they attempted to land on this dangerous coast in their boat, as it was found on the beach with its keel upwards. There is some sign of wreckage (limestone blocks, anchors and a windlass) on the beach at Lligwy (near 53°21.78'N, 4°15.58'W) which may be from this wreck.
PENMON. Wreck of the brig Jabez.-
- About 3 p.m., on the 23rd March, a large coal-laden brig - the
Jabez, of Scarbro' - was seen to strike on the Dutchman's Bank [south of
Puffin Island]. The lifeboat immediately went to her assistance, and could
only approach under her bow, as she was lying stern to windward, and the very
heavy sea, such was the nature of it, that when the lifeboat was fast to the
ship, she shipped solid heavy seas, filling her a dozen times at least; but
she soon emptied herself. Eventually, however, after having taken five out of
the nine of the ship's crew on board, she was upset, immediately righted, and
was instantly bowled over again, only two hands keeping in her. The same thing
happened a third time, when from some cause (possibly the weight of the two
men inside her, or being held down by the drogue, grapnel, etc., which had
fallen out of her) she did not self-right so expeditiously, which, by some,
was considered a fortunate circumstance on this occasion, as she was not
carried so rapidly to leeward, which enabled the five sailors and six of her
own crew to regain her, with the loss of four oars and almost everything in
her. Three of the remaining crew got into the long boat, and were afterwards
picked up by the lifeboat and brought safe to Beaumaris, about half-past eight
p.m. The captain, - alas - failed to get into the long boat, took to his
dingy, and was lost sight of almost immediately. Thus eight lives were saved,
and, providentially, those of the whole lifeboat crew.
A meeting was held in
Beaumaris, to investigate the circumstances, under the superintendence of
Captain Robertson, R.N., assistant lifeboat inspector, who gave the crew great
credit for their bravery and promptitude, and has recommended that a larger
and better boat be immediately put upon the Penmon station. The brig soon
became a total wreck.
Craigrownie Lost 18-19 August 1868 near Porthwen: details.
AMLWCH. Shipwreck. - On Saturday night last [12th
December 1868], the brigantine Hero, of Falmouth, Thomas
Morrison, master, 68 tons register, from Runcorn bound for Ghent, in
Belgium, with a cargo of rock salt, sprung a leak and foundered about
two miles off Puffin Island. The crew, four in number, took to the boat
for their lives, and, being much exhausted after pumping, they stood by
until they saw the vessel going down, and then made for the light (Point
Lynas), and landed safe at Llaneilian, near Amlwch, about two o'clock on
Sunday morning last, the 13th December, when the hospitable old
fisherman, Mr William Rowlands, of Llaneilian, opened his cottage door
for their reception, and, as usual, kindly administered to their wants
in time of need; and afterwards conducted them to the Custom House,
Amlwch, as also to the agent of the Shipwreck and Fisherman Society,
where they received every attention, and were forwarded to their
respective homes by train on Monday morning last.
Note that the same vessel had signalled distress on the night
of 9th December 1868, from loss of sails, near Point of Ayr and was escorted by the lifeboat
to a safer anchorage in the Dee Estuary. Possibly, the stress of this
incident caused her to be more leaky - and the cargo of rock salt could
have swollen to aggravate this.