Loss of the Coastguard Cutter `Curlew'

At about 1.0am on the 23rd April, 1857 a terrible tragedy occurred whilst the Curlew was moored near the Mouse light-vessel, at the western extremity of the Mouse Sand.  This lies in the channel between Kent and Essex not far from Maplin Sands.

It would appear that `The Scout' and the `Curlew'  (both Coastguard Cutters) anchored the previous evening on the flat of the Mouse Sand, about half a mile away from the Mouse light-vessel. At 12.0'clock Michael Hawkings relieved the lookout-man, and a bit later, about 1.0am he noticed a large steam vessel heading for the Curlew.  He shouted for all hands to come up on deck, and ran aft, and called out as loud as he could to the steamer.  Unfortunately he was too late and the steamer hit the Curlew stern on and broke the main boom.  Hawkings jumped up and caught hold of the bobstay of the steam vessel.  Someone called out to him `why did you not show a light?' Hawkings didn't hear anything else as he went under the water, and eventually found he was entangled in the rigging of the mast head of the Curlew.  The steam vessel lowered a boat, but they were drawn away from him, and eventually about half an hour later, he was picked up by the boat's crew of the Scout.  The crew of the Scout recognised the steam vessel as that of Antwerp's Baron Osy which was bound for London.  The Scout's boat remained around the mast of the Curlew for some hours in the hopes that some of the bodies might rise to the surface.  The persons who drowned were:

Mr William Shepherd, Second Mate in Command
Alexander Twinney, Mariner
Henry White, Gunner
William Redding, Mariner
Edward White, Mariner
William Weeller, Ordinary Mariner
Joseph Mathews, First Class Boy

An inquiry was held on May, 9th 1857, and noted that the Master and six men (only one of the crew Michael Hawkings being saved) lost their lives.  It was further agreed, after careful consideration, that the accident was entirely attributable to the neglect on the part of the Master of the Curlew, in not taking the precaution of exhibiting a light, in accordance with the Admiralty regulations.  This requires that all sailing vessels at anchor in roadsteads or fairways, shall be bound to exhibit between sunset and sunrise, a constant bright light at the masthead.

Four bodies were recovered and are interred at Queenborough Church graveyard, Sheppey, with the following inscription.....part of which is missing due to age.

Sacred to the memory of the Crew of HMC Curlew
which vessel was run down and sunk by the Steamer Baron Osey
off the Mouse Light on the morning of 23rd April 1857
Some of whose bodies are here interred
Wm. Shepherd, Commander
Edward White, Mariner
William Redding, Mariner
Joseph Mathews, 2nd Class C. Boy
This stone was erected by HM Coastguards ???and a few friends.
 

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