The Wreck of the LANCASTER
on
St Patrick's Causeway, Cardigan Bay.
The master despatched a boat to Mr. Hughes, deputy agent to Lloyd's residing at Pwllheli, requesting prompt assistance. Unfortunately, it was then low water, and no boats could be got out, but two were sent to her as soon as possible. Mr. Hughes offered the crew of an Irish herring smack £163.10 to go out which was refused.
About four or five o'clock the tide flowed over the vessel, and the master and remainder of the crew were compelled to abandon her, and arrived at Pwllheli in safety on Sunday morning, having passed the night on board the Mersey, then lying in Studwell roads. The vessel soon went to pieces and not a vestage [sic] was to be seen, when the two boats arrived at the place where she had struck.
The accident happened through the captain mistaking the position of the causeway. We understand it is not very correctly laid down in the chart. This shews the necessity of a new survey of Cardigan Bay, which we trust our gallant and honourable member Colonel Parry will be able to obtain. Early on Monday morning last, the shore near Barmouth was shrewed with large quantities of merchandies, evidently from the wreck of the Lanchaster. This consisted of puncheons of rum, empty casks, hogsheads of tobacco leaf, hats, bread, palm oil, staves, powder casks, and empty casks supposed to have contained fire arms marked 'Oùwith 'No. 500' enclosed in a diamond. Several sailors' chests were washed on shore, in one of which was a log book belonging to the Lancaster, stating that she rode at anchor on the 9th inst., near Studwell, Pwllheli. A letter was also picked up written by a Nicholas Cleary, Tavern, Hurst-street, Liverpool, and purporting to have been entrusted to the care of the mate of the ship Dido. The stern of the Lancaster came on shore on Tuesday. Several casks of goods have been driven on shore marked with the letter 'D', and which lead to the fear that the Dido must have shared the fate of the Lancaster. Goods have also been washed up marked 'S.L.' supposed to be part of the cargo of the Sarah of Liverpool, which was run down a few weeks since by the Silas Richards, American packet ship. Most of the articles are in a damaged state, particularly the bread, hats and tobacco leaf.
We regret to find that some of the country people seemed much inclined to plunder the property thus cast upon the shore, and to rapaciously excercise the disgraceful practice of wrecking. They broke open some of the rum puncheons, and drank to such an excess, that one man died in consequence. A great part of the property would no doubt have been pilfered, had it not been for the strenuous exertions of several respectable individuals. The most active were Mr. Anderson, collector of the customs, Mr. Robert Griffith, Mr. Richard Barrett, Mr. Hugh Roberts, and Mr. Anthony Thomas Morgan of Hendre.
Carnavon & Denbigh Herald, Saurday, 21 March 1835.