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The West Somerset Free Press, Williton, Minehead, and Watchet Journal. Saturday 12 Sep 1903
Page 8 Column 2 and 3
GREAT GALE.
TERRIBLE HAVOC AT WATCHET.
COLLAPSE OF THE EASTERN WHARF.
GREAT DAMAGE TO THE EAST PIER.
TWO VESSELS LOST.
A storm of hurricane violence passed over the district on Thursday evening, accompanied by heavy rain. It commenced about four p.m. and lasted far into the night. An enormous amount of damage was done everywhere, lives lost, property destroyed, trees blown down by hundreds, and harm done to crops in general. The wind in the early part of the evening blew from the south-west, but changed its direction to west during the course of the storm, which for violence exceeded anything that has been known at this time of the year, when bad weather is generally rare. Lives were lost at Nether Stowey, telegraph wires were broken down at Williton, enormous damage was done at Watchet harbour, and the whole seaboard of the district suffered severely.
Of disasters at Watchet there is apparently no end. In recent years our columns have told with an unwelcome frequency of the destructive power of the sea and the ravages of the fire fiend, so far as the town is concerned, but the latest chapter in the history of misfortune bids fair to eclipse all its predecessors. It is not necessary here to recapitulate the incidents associated with the memorable storm of December 28th, 1900, except to state that the outcome was the destruction of the breakwater, followed, a few weeks later, by the partial washing down of the eastern pier. The harbour was at that time vested in the Harbour Commissioners, but as the result of negotiations the town was formed into an urban district, and the Council obtained from the Public Works Loan Commissioners a sum of £18,000 wherewith to reconstruct the harbour, the money being repayable in 30 years. Since becoming the harbour authority the Council, though handicapped by red tape, have done their best to expedite the work of restoration, the contractors (Messrs. Walker and Co., of London) having been busy during the last six months in pushing forward the work, which had made considerable progress. On Thursday evening, however, in the course of a few hours, the sea undid most of the labour of the past six months, the eastern pier and wharf now being further damaged to the extent of thousands of pounds, these being the more serious features in what may aptly be termed a scene of destruction.
Though the movements of the barometer indicated that there was “bad” weather about, not even the oldest seaman was prepared for the outburst which descended with hurricane fury in the evening. For the greater portion of the day the wind was south-west, but so long as it remained in that quarter little apprehension was felt, as it was “off the land” and consequently had little to play on the shipping, though, as usual, it raised the tide to a great height, it being estimated at least ten feet above the normal. Until about seven o'clock, or two hours to high water, the sea was what a seaman would term smooth, but about that hour the wind commenced to veer round towards the west – a change always fraught with apprehension. In this case any misgivings were unfortunately more than fulfilled. In less than an hour, where all had previously been comparatively calm became a wild waste of water, darkness closing in with the harbour works enveloped in a white mantle caused by the terrific force with which the waves struck the west pier and portions of the new breakwater.
Meanwhile it commenced to go hardly with the shipping, though it was particularly fortunate that only five craft were at the time in port. The smack Echo, moored just inside the old breakwater head, felt the full force of the sea in her exposed position, and her stern and bow moorings quickly gave way, the vessel being blown out to sea. Luckily there was no-one on board. For a brief period some of the keenest-eyed among the watchers were able to mark the vessel's course as she drove away before the gale, but she quickly disappeared from sight, her crew and all the onlookers being powerless to save her. Hardly had she been lost to view than the ketch Electric (Mr. J. PITTAWAY, skipper), owned by Messrs. Stoate and Sons, and having on board some 300 sacks, forming portion of a cargo of flour became a total wreck. She was lying in the middle berth, opposite the eastern wharf and not far from the junction of the old portion of the wharf with the section recently constructed by Messrs. Walker and Co. In her half-loaded condition she rode very heavily, but though in a bad quarter there seemed for a while a likelihood of her riding out the gale. All such hopes were, however, dispelled by the sudden collapse of a portion of the wharf which fell on to the vessel and sent her down like a stone, her masts being the only indication of her position. About the same time, so far as could be gauged amid the darkness and the almost blinding showers of spray, the steam crane used on the wharf also toppled over into the harbour, while the wall of the wharf, new and old, went in sections of tons at a time.
The scene at this time was one such as is rarely seen along this coast. The air was so thick with spume that it was difficult to see many yards, but by the flicker of the harbour lamps one could occasionally get a glimpse of the seething waters and the work of destruction in the eastern portion of the harbour. This portion had to bear the brunt of the gale, the impact of the waves with the masonry being at times terrific. All approach to the eastern pier was barred by the huge baulks and floating and other débris which accumulated, and those who went to investigate did so at great personal risk. The Commodore, which was in the inner berth at the eastern wharf, rode out the gale, though at times she rolled so much as to send her rail under water. The Mizpah, which was berthed in the west pier, was equally fortunate, though the only member of the crew who happened to be on board, and remained throughout the gale, must have had an unenviable experience. Late on the tide, the Beatrice, a steam barge, at present minus her propelling power and for some time past moored in the “cot” of the quay, broke adrift, and came across the stern moorings of the Mizpah, which for a time held her on. The check was only temporary, the Beatrice eventually getting free and drifting into the angle formed at the junction of the eastern pier and wharf. Here several willing helpers managed to get a line on board, and, with the assistance of the ebb tide, were able to draw the barge ahead of the huge accummulation <sic> in the corner.
The extent of the damage done could only be a matter of conjecture while the tide remained in, and no accurate estimate could be arrived at during the night, throughout which the wind continued to blow with unabated violence, accompanied by drenching storms. The owners of pleasure and other boats managed to save several of their more or less battered craft; the others were generally knocked to bits.
Walking round by the eastern wharf at early day-break the scene was an appalling one. The wharf, for at least one-half of its length, including the greater portion of the new section, had given way to the relentless waves, which had encroached as far as the first line of railway metals, which were within an an ace of being undermined. The siding was then occupied by several laden goods trucks, which the stationmaster (Mr. C. T. WIDDOWS) took early steps to remove. All the station staff as well as the usual gang of platelayers were requisitioned to assist in clearing the deposit of gravel which covered the siding, and which had first to be got rid off before the trucks could be moved. In the huge aperture, where a few hours previous stood the wharf, was a confused maze of timber, which had been principally stripped from the gantling and other portions of the works on the western side of the harbour. At the bottom of a large patch of beach formed by dèbris, lay the iron framework of Messrs. Stoate's crane, now a twisted and useless thing, while a short distance away, and wedged closely to the further corner, was a portion of the Electric's timbers, which had been broken away from the hull. The vessel, or rather what remained of her, was in the angle near by, an almost shapeless mass, and having not the least resemblance to what was a few hours before one of the smartest craft which sailed from the port. Her cargo of flour was scattered in all directions; sacks being found here and there imbedded in the débris or, in some cases, thrown right ashore by the curling waves. At this point it was a matter of difficulty to move about, the spot being literally covered with wreckage, and the difficulties of the situation were increased by the partial demolition of the wall which protects the piece of waste ground between the pier and the path leading to the pleasure-ground. Here the sea had broken up the masonry, some three feet thick, as thought it were a mere hoarding, lifting huge lumps right on to the pathway.
The eastern pier also suffered greatly, and as the structure now stands it is difficult to forecast what steps can be taken in connection with it. Since the outer portion was destroyed the contractors have erected the framework for a new section, which turns in shore some 50 feet more than the old, and to which it joins, a short distance beyond the landing steps. The gale, however, swept away the bulk-head dividing the new and the old, and with it a large section of the old pier, so that as matters now stand another section will have to be built to connect with the new work, which is isolated. Mr. HOLE's steam crane, which had recently been repaired and re-fitted, stood upon the pier at the point where the latest wash-out took place, and as the filling of the pier, consisting for the most part of rubbish, was carried away, the crane settled down until it canted over to almost a toppling position, its only support being a couple of cross ties in the pier. There it remained, it being impossible to extricate it in the short time which intervened between the tides. The pier, like the remainder of this side of the harbour, was freely littered with woodwork, &c.
Crossing over to the west pier, another devastating scene was witnessed. Just about midway in the structure the sea had left its impress in the shape of an enormous gap in the masonry, carrying away with it the coping, and the long bench, so familiar to hovellers and seamen generally. This is one of the most serious mishaps of all, as were the western pier destroyed the remainder of the harbour, as well as the tenement property on the north side of Market-street would not be worth much. The stone crusher, as well as a quantity of other plant belonging to the contractors, was also knocked over by the sea, but two large cranes, which were standing near the junction of the old pier with the new breakwater, escaped. In one respect only did the storm assist the contractors, viz., in the demolition of the old iron ore pier, from which an enormous quantity of material was removed during the night.
Apart from the harbour the damage done to other property was considerable. During the height of the gale the esplanade was impassable, an occurrence never before remembered, the huge waves washing right over it and tearing up the surface, which, in parts, now bears a resemblance to a beach. In Market-street, the rear premises of many of the houses were flooded, particularly so at the Town Slip House. Here a portion of the yard wall was broken down and various articles stored in a shed were scattered promiscuously over the yard, which was a couple of feet deep in water. The sea came right into the street, and also flooded West-street, and at the corner of Mr. BENNETT's house a large gap has again been made in the stone-work, minor casualties were reported from every part of the town, while the streets bore evidence of the liberal shedding of pantiles and chimney-pots that went on.
A few hours after the occurrence it is impossible to count the cost in figures, but, viewed in a general way, there is no doubt the present is the worst blow the town has ever suffered, the harbour now being weakened at all points. Particularly is it to be regretted that the new portion of the wharf should have given way under the strain, but this was probably caused by the water making inroads owning to the breaking down of a section of the old work.
Earlier in the day (Thursday) a schooner was noticed to be anchored in the bay, and thinking that assistance might be required the coxswain (Mr. A. BINDING) and the hon. Treas. (Mr. A. W. HORNE) made every preparation for a launch, a close watch being kept throughout the night by the coastguard and others. The vessel, however, rode out the gale, and this (Friday) morning was still riding at her anchors. Singularly enough, the Echo could also be seen in an opposite direction, stranded on the shore near East Quantoxhead, but up to the time of going to press no particulars were forthcoming of the damage she had sustained.