Who would be a fisherman – part 1

Life on a lightship was hard, stuck out in the middle of the sea for 2 months at a time with poor food and even worse sanitation. However, there was never a shortage of men (and only men in those days) to work on the vessels. Why was that.

In part, it was because most other jobs available to a working man were even worse. They could go down the pit perhaps, hard dangerous work but many did it, but not an option if you lived on the south coast of England.

Another option was fishing. So here’s a story about one of many fishing disaster off our port. I’d prefer a lightship job any day!

The story begins!

On the 14th of January, 1808, the Blyth fishing boats were caught in a storm when fishing. One of the last boats remaining to haul her lines was unable to reach the harbour. There was a strong wind from the north-east, with a very large tide and heavy sea, With the utmost effort of the crew they could not gain the harbour.

A boat, manned with six men, Thomes Talley, James Redford, John Hossack, Thomas Short, James Short, and James Twizell, went. out to render help. After reaching the struggling boat, and making an attempt to bring her into port, such had become the fury of the wind and sea that both boats were driven among the broken water, a little to the southward of the harbour. Every soul perished.

In the presence of hundreds of people who were anxiously watching the heart-rending scene of nine fine fellows exerting all their skill and straining every nerve to escape a death that appeared every moment more imminent but vain was the help of man, after a most heroic struggle of three hours they were at length overpowered.

This was the third disasters on the 14th of January, and it was long afterwards considered Blyth’s unlucky day. The fishermen never ventured to sea on that day for many following years.

Ten Newbiggin fishermen were lost on the same day, making a total of nineteen belonging to Blyth and Newbiggin.

£1,701 was promptly subscribed, chiefly in Newcastle and neighbour-hood, for their widows, orphans, and other dependants, in all 90 persons.

It was felt by all who witnessed the above distressing scene that had the brave men who went to the rescue of Robinson and his companion been furnished with a life-boat instead of a coble all would have ended well, and without the loss of a single life. This conviction led to measures being taken to procure a life-boat, which soon after was accomplished.

From John Wallace, The History of Blyth (1869)

Even the early lifeboats were no guarantee of safety as I’ll tell you in one of my next posts

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