From book Lelia (with permission).
Cherokee: Barque of 365 tons gross.
Built: Canada 1853, owned Horsfall, Liverpool.
As well as the lifeboats provided by the Dock Board, the steam tug
companies maintained their own. A disaster in which ten men were lost
from one of these lifeboats occurred in 1854.
The barque
Cherokee of 265 tons net had sailed from Liverpool on Friday 17 February
1854 for Africa with general cargo. A severe NW gale, with gusts close
to hurricane strength, blew up and she was driven ashore on the East
Hoyle Bank at 9am on the morning of the next day. Two tugs set off with
lifeboats in tow to her rescue. Early on Saturday morning, the Steam
Tug Company's President took the Liverpool lifeboat in tow via
the Victoria channel. They were unable to approach the wreck because of
heavy surf. Meanwhile, at about 11am, the steam tug Victoria took
her company's lifeboat in tow. This lifeboat was crewed by 10 men who
were river boatmen and was commanded by Captain William Roberts of the
tug Albert who had volunteered for this rescue mission. They
proceeded out through the Rock Channel. A huge wave struck the
lifeboat and it capsized. The men on the tug tried to rescue them but
only one man was brought to safety. The lifeboat was a well tried boat
which had saved many and the crew had full confidence in her.
The crew on the Cherokee got off in their own boat and with
help from the Hoylake lifeboat. The Cherokee drifted off the
Bank at high tide and came ashore at Dove Point. She was upright and
not leaking so that she was put back into service. No lives were lost
from her crew of 17 but 10 lives were lost in the upsetting
of steam tug lifeboat.
Additional information: Contemporary newspapr report naming those lost [from Bolton Chronicle -
Saturday 25 February 1854]:
The most melancholy disaster which occurred during the gale, took place
at noon on Saturday, in which we regret to say ten persons lost their
lives. It appears that the barque Cherokee sailed for Africa yesterday
week, and was reported to be on shore on East Hoyle Bank about nine
o'clock Saturday morning. On the receipt of this intelligence,
preparations were made for sending steamers to her assistance. One of
the vessels sent out was the steam-tug Victoria, having the Steam-tug
Company's life-boat in tow. She was manned by 11 hands, all of them
except one being river boatmen. The exception was Captain William
Roberts, of the steam-tug Albert, who had volunteered his services to
command the life-boat. The Victoria, having the life-boat in tow,
proceeded on her course down the Rock Channel, and nothing occurred
until they reached a bank known as the Flats, when a heavy sea struck
the life-boat and capsized her, and all on board, with the exception of
one man, were drowned. The captain of the steam-tug and his crew made
every possible effort to save the poor fellows, but, in consequence of
the heavy sea running, they were unable do so. Henry Archer, the only
one saved, was in very exhausted state when brought on board the
steamtug. The following are the names of those who perished, except
one, whose name we were unable ascertain: Captain William Roberts, of
the steam-tug Albert, he has left a wife and four young children; Joseph
Davies, sen., left a wife and six children; Joseph Davies, jun,, son of
the above; James Gee, left a wife and one child; John Brown, left a wife
and six children; Hen. Pearson, left wife and two children; Stephen
Griffiths, left a wife and two children; Thomas Hayes, left a wife and
one child; Henry Wilson, left a wife and four children. By the
disastrous occurrence all the famihes of the unfortunate men are left
without the means of subsistence, and the case is, therefore, one
deserving of the sympathy of the benevolent. The boat was constructed
on the ordinary principle of life-boats, and was considered well adapted
for the service in which she was employed; her capabilities had been
frequently put to the test in cases of great peril, and the crew had the
utmost confidence in her as an excellent sea boat. The Hoylake
life-boat took off part of the crew of Cherokee early in the morning;
and the remainder were rescued at a later period in the day. At high
water the Cherokee drifted over the banks, and went ashore at Dove
Point. Some casks of rum and other goods have been washed on the beach
at Wallasey: they are supposed to be from the Cherokee. It is said that
several of the persons who assisted in recovering the spirits abstracted
some of the liquor, which they drank to such excess as to render
themselves insensible, and for some time they were in considerable
danger.
Information about salvage of Cherokee, [ON 1077, built Kingston, Canada, 1853, (on Lake Ontario), reported as 132 ft overall, 26 ft beam, 11 ft depth of hold, rig combining schooner and barque, with 3 masts, the foremast square-rigged, and the main and mizen schooner-rigged] she was taken to Graving Dock, Queens No 1, at Liverpool for repairs, then loaded in Prince's Dock and departed again on 24 March 1854. She is listed in MNL until 1876.