STORM AT LIVERPOOL. - On Friday evening [29 July 1836], between 8 and 9 o'clock, a storm of wind and rain swept over Liverpool. The wind was from the N.N.W. and soon blew with the force of a hurricane. Several vessels, which had passed Holyhead, inward bound, in the course of the day, finding it impossible to make the port before dark, stood off, and thereby escaped destruction on the banks. Not so the John Welch [Full-rigged ship, built Chester 1825, 257 tons, registered Liverpool, owned J Welch and co], from Jamaica and from Savanilla on the Spanish Main with a cargo of cotton and Nicaragua wood; she stood in among the banks, in the hope of reaching the port, from which she was only about an hour's sail, when she unfortunately struck on the Dove Point [also described as the Leasowes]. This was about 10 o'clock at night. The sea broke over the vessel with great fury, and washed the men, successively, off the deck. Some of them attempted to avoid the fury of the elements, by seeking refuge in the rigging: all, however, was unavailing, the whole of the crew, except two, having been washed overboard before daylight. The two survivors were taken off the wreck by the Hoylake life-boat early in the morning.
CORONER'S INQUEST. - THE WRECK ON EAST HOYLE BANK. - Four of the unhappy crew
of the John Welch which was wrecked near the river Mersey have been washed
ashore, and inquests held over their bodies. From the evidence adduced before
the coroner, it appears, that the vessel was bound for Liverpool, laden with
bales of cotton. Sixteen persons were on board, fourteen of whom, it is
dreadful to relate, perished in the storm. The pilot, it appears, was picked
up at Great Meols and one of the crew was found in a senseless state amongst
the rigging. Restoratives having been applied, he was restored to animation,
and is now in a fair way of recovery.
The John Welch is described as "lost" in Lloyds Register - so was
not refloated. Some cargo was said to have been saved.
At the same time, more wrecks occurred along the North Welsh coast:
RHYL. - In the violent storm on Friday night last, about eight o'clock, the Hopewell, a coasting vessel, laden with coal, bound for Conway, was totally lost off the Rhyl coast. There were two hands on board who had the care of the vessel, which they left, when there was no hope of saving her. No sooner had they left the vessel, than a heavy sea came and washed one of the hands, John Jones, overboard, who perished in the waves; the other, the son of the owner, also named John Jones, with great difficulty, reached the shore in safety.
During a very sudden and heavy gale on Friday night [29 July 1836] from N. to N. N. W. the schooner William of Dublin, from Chester River to Dublin, loaded with coals, was totally wrecked on Redwharf sands, when unfortunately the whole crew, consisting, it is supposed, of six persons, perished.
The sloop Commerce, of Liverpool, with a cargo of stones, went down near Penmaen Bach on Friday se'nnight, and the crew consisting of three men and two assistants, inhabitants of the last-mentioned place, who had gone on board to work the vessel out to sea, were drowned.